Though D23 concluded without an expected announcement of a second season of The Acolyte, there’s no reason to give up hope that we’ll see Osha, Mae, and co. on our screens again. The question all fans are asking (besides are we getting season 2 or not) is what’s going to happen next?

The Acolyte, for those who need a refresher, is an original live action series on Disney+ set within the Star Wars Galaxy. It takes place in the High Republic era, approximately 100 years before The Phantom Menace. The series follows Mae and Osha, twin sisters separated as children. Mae is seeking revenge on the Jedi responsible for destroying her childhood home. Osha has abandoned her Jedi training, but reconnects with the Jedi to aid a murder investigation.

What Happened in Season 1?

When we left off in the season 1 finale (also titled “The Acolyte), Mae (Amandla Stenberg) was with the Jedi, having had her memory wiped by the Stranger/Qimir (Manny Jacinto) so she couldn’t tell the Jedi anything about the Stranger and Osha’s whereabouts or identities. 

Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) had discovered Master Sol’s (Lee Jung-Jae) murder. However, she had hidden the cause of his death from the Jedi Council. 

Osha (also played by Amandla Stenberg) and the Stranger were last seen gazing at the sunset together on Ahch-To an Unknown Planet. The pair held hands around Sol’s lightsaber, which Osha had cracked, “bleeding” the kyber crystal and turning the blade red.

Wow, that was quite a finale, now that I think about it.

If you, like me, are wondering where the story and characters can possibly go from here, I think we can look at creator Leslye Headland’s inspirations for clues. Based on the stories and themes of the films she’s cited, here are a few possible plot points or character moments I think we can expect in The Acolyte’s second season.

Inspiration: Frozen

Prediction: Mae and Osha Will Reunite (and Possibly Team Up for Several Episodes)

Headland once described her initial idea for The Acolyte as “Frozen meets Kill Bill.” (Well, technically, she said that Frozen and Kill Bill have a lot in common, but that’s not quite as sound byte-y.) She also described her teary reaction to seeing Frozen for the first time. She emphasized that the emotional core of the story was the relationship between the two sisters.

Through that lens, we can see how important the relationship between Mae and Osha is, and will be, to the story of The Acolyte. The sisters’ separation at the end of the season almost guarantees they’ll reunite at some point in season 2. Osha may even need to help Mae regain her memories over time. Depending on how long that takes, we might see the twins join forces for a mission. What that mission might be will depend on a few things…

Inspiration: Kill Bill

Prediction: Mae Will Regain Her Memories and Take Further Revenge on the Jedi

Much of Mae’s story in season 1 already had strong echoes of Kill Bill. Similarly to the Bride (Uma Thurman’s character in Kill Bill), Mae was hunting down and taking revenge on each of the Jedi who were responsible for killing her mother, separating her from her sister, and destroying her home. Mae may not regain her memories until after Osha finds her again. But I think it’s possible that she’ll start to remember things while she’s still with the Jedi. 

Mae could wake up in an unfamiliar place surrounded by people who want to kill her. But if she’s regained some of her memories, she’ll be equipped to seriously damage the Jedi Order from within. Of course, we already know the Jedi stick around another hundred years for the prequels. However, I could see Mae’s infiltration of their order becoming a major link in the chain of events that leads to their downfall.

Inspiration: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Prediction: Osha and Qimir’s Relationship Will Be Confirmed as Definitely Romantic 

The fight choreography in The Acolyte has been rightfully compared to that in the Wuxia films Headland was inspired by such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, there is also a major parallel in character dynamics. Headland cited a romantic storyline from the Ang Lee film when describing the dynamic between Osha and Qimir, stating “the relationship between Lo and Jen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was an influence in the writer’s room… The intentional parallel is that they are equals and their relationship is earned through mutual vulnerability, not intimidation or manipulation.”

We’ve seen Osha and the Stranger share a couple looks and gestures that hint at a possible romance. That is, if holding hands around your dead former Jedi Master’s lightsaber counts. But I believe we’ll get definitive, undeniable proof that these two characters have romantic feelings for each other. (The hand-holding may be enough proof for some, but as a Reylo who was in the trenches in 2019 during that “kiss of gratitude” discourse, forgive me if I want irrefutable evidence!)

But I don’t think Osha and Qimir are going to end up in a house with a white picket fence. This is Star Wars, after all, which cannot seem to let couples be happy. The best we can probably hope for is an ambiguous ending to their love story, much like that of Jen and Lo in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

What We’ll Definitely See (IF We Actually Get a Second Season)

Whatever Leslye and company might have planned, I trust that we’re going to see some more really interesting storytelling ideas. We’ll also see incredible fight choreography, and cast members whose face cards continue to never get declined. While we wait anxiously for a season 2 announcement, I’m planning to rewatch season 1. Maybe I’ll even marathon some of the inspiration films. If you haven’t seen Frozen, Kill Bill, or Crouching Tiger, I highly recommend you watch those as well!