The season finale for Star Wars: The Acolyte delivered a satisfying conclusion, expertly weaving together lingering plot threads while leaving tantalizing mysteries to lure viewers back for a potential second season. Spoiler Alert: This review delves into major plot points from The Acolyte’s season finale. Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched the episode yet.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Season Finale picks up were episode 6 leaves off
The episode begins where episode six left off, with Osha (played by Amandla Stenberg, who also plays Osha’s twin sister Mae) convulsing while wearing the mask. The Stranger (formerly known as Qimir and played by Manny Jacinto) removes the helmet, and Osha reveals visions of Mae killing Sol without a weapon. Believing this fulfills their mission, they set off to find Mae. Meanwhile, Mae and Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) are on a ship, where Sol confesses his actions on Brenda’s planet. Mae uses Pip to escape and flees in a spacecraft, with Sol in pursuit. Sol is about to fire on Mae’s ship when his tracker, Basil, sabotages his weapons, causing Mae to crash-land. Back at the Jedi Temple, Jedi Master Vernestra (Rebecca Henderson) is confronted by Senator Rayencourt (David Harewood), who accuses the Jedi of hiding information and wants a full review of the Order.
Simultaneously, on the island, a mysterious hooded figure (potentially Darth Plagueis) observes Osha and the Stranger departing to find Mae. Sol, having landed on Brant Dock, activates a beacon to signal the Jedi. Osha and the Stranger reach the fortress gate, and the Stranger disappears, only to reappear inside and engage Sol in a lightsaber battle. Meanwhile, Osha finds Mae in their old bedroom, and Mae reveals that Sol killed their mother. A fight ensues between the sisters, just as Vernestra and the Jedi arrive. Mae escapes during the distraction, and the Stranger and Sol continue their duel. Sol gains the upper hand and damages the Stranger’s lightsaber, but Mae attacks Sol and takes his weapon. Instead of using it, she throws it away, seeking justice and truth.
The Truth Revealed
In a shocking twist, Sol reveals to Mae that they are not twins but one person divided into two by the witches using the vergence. He also confesses to killing their mother, which Osha overhears. Enraged, Osha uses the Force to choke Sol, causing the kyber crystal in his lightsaber to turn red. Sol dies, and the Stranger attempts to comfort Osha, but she ignites the now-red lightsaber at him.
At that moment, Vernestra and the Jedi arrive, and Vernestra senses the Stranger, recognizing him. Mae convinces Osha to leave with her, and they climb down the same path Mae fell from as a child. The Jedi find Sol’s body and deduce what happened. Mae and Osha return to their childhood tree, where the Stranger appears. Osha decides to train with him, and they wipe Mae’s memory to tie up loose ends. The Jedi arrive and arrest Mae, taking her back to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Subsequently, Vernestra has a conversation with Mae, and Yoda appears at the end, signaling a potential discussion about the events. Overall, the season finale was a satisfying conclusion, offering closure while setting the stage for future storylines. The action sequences were well-executed, and the revelations about the characters’ origins added depth to the narrative. However, some emotional moments could have been more impactful.
Introducing more Star Wars lore and unanswred questions
As you can see with this season finale. This episode was definitely good. I don’t think they knocked it out of the park, but it was solid. We had loose ends tied up, which is great, but there’s still plenty of mystery. We now have the Stranger and Osha training together, and of course, the question of Darth Plagueis looms. Is he just waiting in the wings? We know from older Star Wars lore that he’s involved with the kyber crystal cave and seeks the power to create and preserve life. Plus, the revelation that the Stranger is Vernestra’s former pupil leaves many questions unanswered, making me eager for season two, if we get one.
Lee Jung-jae’s protrayal of Sol was done well, conveying the character’s complexity in a way that kept me engaged without being overly attached, as many characters don’t survive. I hoped for more focus on the Stranger, learning more about him, but he ended up being more of a side character, despite the great action. We got some reveals for Venestra, but that’s about it. They’re clearly saving some for season two. There were some really cool moments, like the kyber crystal changing color. Seeing it being bled and turning fully red when she ignited the lightsaber was awesome. Plagueis, obviously, is going to be the main talking point from this episode.
Season Finale gives hopes for a potential season 2
The story’s direction was somewhat predictable for certain characters, but I still enjoyed their journeys. Sol’s downfall, driven by seemingly good intentions but ultimately flawed choices, was tragic and symbolic of the Jedi Order’s decline. This reflects the show’s mission to illustrate the Jedi’s journey from the High Republic to the prequels. Although the episode was captivating, it missed an opportunity to fully ignite the emotional stakes, particularly with Mae and Osha. We learned that Mae’s true allegiance lies with her sister, and Osha harbors anger. However, the way this was presented this season didn’t fully invest me in their journey. So, in the episode’s emotional climax, while I thought it was well done, I wasn’t as invested as I could have been.
The season finale of Star Wars: The Acolyte left me hoping that in season two, we’ll be more invested in Mae and Osha’s stories now that we’ve had this development. Overall, the show was good. While the first half of the season was hit and miss for me, the second half really hooked me. Although it’s not one of the great Disney Plus shows, in my opinion, it did deliver by the end. Furthermore, I think all of this will be better on a rewatch. This is partly due to the flow of the season itself. When you go back and watch the episodes again, you’ll have all the information, so your brain will be able to fill in the gaps. Admittedly, the show could have been better with a little restructuring or maybe just combining some episodes so it wasn’t divided into eight. Nevertheless, now that I’ll be able to go back and rewatch the full season of Star Wars: The Acolyte, I think I’ll have a good time.
