It’s always the midpoint where SW shows tend to slip. With the character and plotline already introduced, these episodes can feel drawn out, as if they’re just a vehicle to get everyone to the finale. Episode 4 of The Acolyte isn’t slow or uninteresting, but it tries to deliver significant changes that come across as sudden and doubtful.
Questionable “masters” all around
This episode begins with Osha telling Jecki she’s leaving the Temple, as she’s served her purpose with the Jedi’s mission. I liked how Osha watched the other Padawans train and the snippets of friendship between her and Jecki. These minor dynamics are delivered well, and I just find them fun.
In contrast, Mae and Qimir’s relationship is… confusing. I can’t get a good read on them, despite their partnership during this episode. Qimir clearly likes Mae and has some loyalty towards her, but she doesn’t seem to feel anything towards him and treats him like a tool. It makes the origin of their “friendship” questionable, especially having gained such odd details about how Qimir came to be under the same “Master” as Mae. He says that this guy “collects” people – which sounds un-Jedi-like – and Qimir is in his debt. Makes you wonder if his past is as dark as Mae’s.
Moving on from Mae and her unknown Master, we return to Osha and Sol. I want a little more from every dynamic in this show, but this is my favorite one by a landslide. I enjoy their backstory and affection for one another. And oh man, the break of hope in Osha’s voice when she thinks Sol wants her to become a Jedi again… that’s the crown jewel of this episode.
But then Sol had to ruin it. When he asks Osha to accompany him in tracking down Mae and Osha initially refuses, Sol just has to say “She is still your sister” which – barf, no, absolutely not. I will stand by this until the day I die – being “family” is NO excuse for forcing a relationship. Someone sharing your blood doesn’t mean anything. It’s a common trope, but I hate it every time. It’s the people you choose who are your family, whether or not they’re your blood.
Jungle therapy expedition
With Osha convinced, the mission takes place – with a hilariously large band of Jedi. I get it: Mae bested Sol and Yord before, and the Council wants to be ready this time around. Seriously, though, there are so many Jedi here! No one putting this team together thought “maybe this is enough” before they hit double digits?
(I know it’s just for the sake of the eventual battle having enough redshirts to make the death toll seem significant, but the Council doesn’t know that!)
As before with Osha and Jecki, I was excited for Osha and Yord to have a one-on-one convo. Since they were friends in the past, their relationship is rife with potential. Yord’s gruffness slipping to reveal his protectiveness of Osha was a very nice moment. And Osha asking Yord to take the shot at Mae if she can’t do it herself speaks to a deep trust in their bond, one that hasn’t yet broken.
Also, while I like the literal instruction of “Face yourself,” I’ll just quote my confusion from my notes here: “I don’t think there’s a parallel to be made between the sisters when one of them tried to burn down their home and the other… didn’t.”
The jungle environment was great – very Star Wars – and alien life on different planets is always fun to explore. Although the throwaway line about the centipede things being drawn to light will clearly be relevant for the upcoming battle scene next episode. Obviously, things will go poorly and Osha will use the light to defeat her opponent. Quote me on that.
Back to my favorite part of this show – friendship convos! Finally, we learn why Osha left the Order. This confirms my thoughts on the last episode. During that one, I wondered why Osha said Mae “destroyed [her] life” when the coven wasn’t Osha’s calling. But now, knowing that Osha’s emotions towards Mae forced her away from the Jedi, the line makes sense. Jecki’s trust in Osha and her reassurances were particularly sweet.
Character depth ≠ more speeches
Returning to Mae and Qimir’s journey, we get a very interesting monologue. (Side note: isn’t it odd that both groups (Mae and the Jedi) are here at the exact same time? Either one party is really quick or really slow.) Mae subdues Qimir and declares that she doesn’t hold loyalty to her Master anymore but to Osha. If Mae turns herself in to Kelnacca, she can escape her Master and find Osha again.
This was… kind of wild. Technically, with what we know about Mae, this isn’t so much a motivation shift as an illumination of her true motive. She sought revenge on the Jedi because she believed she had nothing left, but now she knows this is untrue. If she has a chance of being with Osha, however small, she’ll take it.
I don’t have an issue with Mae’s choice, even if the way she tells Qimir her decision feels very split-second. It would’ve been better to show how Mae has had this plan since arriving on Khofar, waiting for her chance to abandon Qimir. But that’s not my biggest issue with this episode.
My main complaint with SW shows – and this applies to all forms of media, really – is the heavy-handed dialogue. I hate the assumption that, as an audience, we can’t understand what’s going on without characters outright stating each event. And that’s why Mae’s speech let me down so much – why was it a speech??
It would’ve been far more fascinating for Mae to incapacitate Qimir but tell him nothing, or at least very little. Saying something vague about her loyalties shifting would be good, and then the audience doesn’t yet know why she’s heading out on her own.
Then, when Mae enters Kelnacca’s residence, she could call out for him and announce that she’s surrendering. Her motivations would still be ambiguous, and the next episode could elucidate exactly what those motivations are. It would be so fun for fans to theorize about her actions while waiting for the confirmation!
Also, no matter what, Mae should’ve said “No” or just reacted in terror to the fatal lightsaber burn on Kelnacca. Saying “He’s here” is a perfect example of the spoon-feeding dialogue I was just complaining about.
On the other side of things, while Mae is making dramatic changes, so is Osha. While Mae is becoming more and more determined to redeem herself, however, Osha is building herself up to stand against Mae. I do like Osha being able to sense with the Force again (although some more detail about how that happened would be nice), but her outright telling Sol she wants to fight Mae and face her past is frustratingly in-your-face.
However, Sol has a very interesting line to Osha, implying he knows far more about her past than he’s letting on. After the previous episode, my theory was that it was the other three Jedi on Brendok who did something to Mae. But now, it seems as if Sol was part of that as well – although I stand by my theory that he was culpable to a lesser degree.
I didn’t expect this episode to end right before the fight scene with Mae’s Master, but it’s a solid cliffhanger for next week! How many redshirts do you think are gonna die? I’m guessing three or four.
Half-hoping my favorite character dies
I think Osha and Mae will have another confrontation next episode that’ll end in a draw – or Osha will leave Mae to try and save her friends from Mae’s Master. Or – and ooh, this could be fun – Sol is killed by him, pushing Osha fully into the dark side. Osha slips away, and Mae is the one who has to bring her back. She discovers the truth about their birth – that they were a dyad meant to represent the light and the dark – and despairs, thinking that she cannot save Osha if Mae herself is doomed to be dark. But eventually, she is able to fight her nature and reach out to Osha, saving her sister just in time for them to defeat the Master side-by-side.
Yeah, I’m not letting go of the dyad theory. I know this is a stretch, but wouldn’t it be such a ride?
I’m looking forward to this upcoming battle, and I really hope we get a satisfying reveal of the “Master.” He’s been built up as a mysterious and powerful figure, and a Legend of Korra season 1 reveal would be disappointing.
Although, while this guy is interesting, he’s not that cool. Someone literally said “What is that?” at the end of this episode. What? Are you serious? He’s a guy with armor and a lightsaber! He just looks like your average Inquisitor!
However, no one in this timeframe has ever seen an Inquisitor. Maybe some of these Padawans don’t even know that Siths exist? Is that supposed to be the implication – that what is average to a SW fan is unknown to the ancient Jedi?
Still. His design is just painfully average and I stand by that. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s under that mask, in any case! Until the next episode – just don’t let Sol or Jecki or Yord die, and I’ll be satisfied!
Here are my live thoughts!
