Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episode 5.
Summary
The Acolyteepisode 5 just revealed the identity of the mysterious Sith Lord, and it threatens to breakStar Warscanon. After the Sith’s helmet took repeated hits, it was revealed that Qimir was the Sith Lord all along. This was theorized since the first time Manny Jacinto’s character appeared onscreen, and the reveal came in heartbreaking fashion withJecki Lon’s (Dafne Keen)lifeless body initially obscuring the view of Qimir’s face.
Qimir referred to himself as a Sith when asked, and this may create issues moving forward inThe Acolyte. It was theorized leading up toThe Acolyteepisode 5 that this Sith Lord wasn’t actually a Sith at all and was instead just a dark side user. While it’s safe to assume that this Sith Lord doesn’t go by “Darth Qimir,” it’ll be interesting to see ifThe Acolyteretcons this character as another Sith Lord audiences have heard of before, or adds a new name to the Sith Order.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide - Cast Members, Biggest Takeaways & Easter Eggs
Here’s everything you need to follow along with Star Wars: The Acolyte, from references and trivia to main takeaways from each new episode.
The Jedi Now Know The Sith Have Survived
Qimir Failed To Kill All The Jedi
After Qimir was unmasked, he toldMaster Solthat he only revealed himself because Mae exposed him. Because Sol and the other Jedi had seen his face, he was left with no other choice but to kill them all. Due to Osha’s quick thinking, Sol and who he thought was Osha (but really was Mae) escaped and made it back to the Jedi’s ship. It’s unclear what kind of message, if any, made it out from the other Jedi on Khofar before or during their battle with Qimir.
Because Sol was able to survive,it’s likely that he has revealed that the Sith had survived. It’s unclear if he reports directly toMaster Vernestra Rwoh, or if he’d go right to the Jedi High Council. When Qui-Gon Jinn encountered a Sith in Darth Maul inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, he reported directly to the High Council. However, it’s already been established that Master Vernestra does not want to report to the High Council because they have to report to the Republic Senate - and then politics come into play.
Sol & Mae Have Left Khofar… & Are Surely Headed To Coruscant
Where They Will Definitely Tell Other Jedi Of The Sith
It’s unclear why Mae decided to take on her sister’s identity and join Sol on the trip back to Coruscant, but both of them definitely know of Qimir’s identity and the fact that he is a Sith. It’s hard to imagine thatnews of a dark side user, never mind a Sith, wouldn’t spread quickly in the Jedi Temple.While it’s possible that Master Vernestra will be able to keep a lid on these developments, it’d be hard to think that she’d be the only other Jedi to learn of such news.
Whether or not Sol and Mae make it back to Coruscant,Master Vernestra will be left with explaining the deaths of so many Jedi.When it was justMaster Indaraand Master Torbin who had been murdered, it was easier to keep things quiet, but with the death count now sitting around ten or so Jedi, it will be a lot harder to manage. Mae and Sol’s survival complicates a lot of things, not just because of Qimir and the Sith being able to stay in the shadows, but because it’s led to a Jedi massacre.
Trailer footage shows Master Vernestra using her lightsaber whip on what looks to be Khofar, so it’s possible thatThe Acolytewill return to the scene of the Jedi massacre.
Why The Jedi Think The Sith Are Extinct In The Acolyte & The Phantom Menace
Before Darth Maul emerged from the shadows in The Phantom Menace, the Jedi believed the Sith to be extinct. Why did they make this mistake?
Will The Jedi Learn The Sith Still Exist?
This Is Certainly The Biggest Question From The Acolyte
BeforeThe Acolytepremiered, manyStar Warsviewers questioned how a Sith could have appeared nearly 100 years prior to the events ofThe Phantom Menace, when it had been asserted that the Sith had been extinct for almost 1,000 years. One of the theories was that none of the characters fromThe Acolytewould live to tell the tale and reveal that the Sith still survived. While this still seems to be Qimir’s idea,it may no longer be an achievable goal.
The Acolyte’s final three episodes will have to address whether the Jedi find out about the Sith’s survival or not. If they do find out about their survival, it will be imperative thatThe Acolytefills in the holes and shows audiences why the Jedi Council didn’t remember this incident duringThe Phantom Menace. The show must reconcile the conclusion ofThe Acolyte’s storyline with the events ofThe Phantom Menace, otherwise it may breakStar Warscanon.
The Acolyteepisode 5 is now streaming. New episodes release Tuesdays on Disney+.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
