The Third episode of The Acolyte dives into the past, bringing some answers about Mae and Osha’s past, while presenting a lot more questions.
Following the first two episodes, the latest chapter in The Acolyte (directed by Kogonada), takes viewers back 16 years to that fateful encounter on Brendok. It’s a crucial event in the lives of both Mae and Osha, especially since neither of them knew the other had survived. We also know it somehow involves four Jedi, who were also rattled by whatever happened.
As such, it’s nice that the show isn’t making us wait too long before taking us back to that moment, though it’s clear we still don’t have the full story. It also feels like the perfect time to have this kind of episode, which features NOTHING from the current storyline, as Episode 2 ended with the team recalled the Coruscant to gather themselves and plan their next moves.
It’s a natural break point, so it doesn’t feel like we’re detouring from the main story. The result is easily my favorite episode of the show so far.
As always, I’ll be knee deep in spoilers throughout this recap. If you haven’t watched the latest episode yet, come back after. Don’t forget to check out my previous recap of Episode 1 and 2.
Two of a Kind
The episode kicks off on the planet of Brendok, showing the younger versions of Mae and Osha (who we previously saw in the first episode’s vision sequence), underneath the bunta tree. From the outset. They can already utilize the Force to some degree, with Mae seeming to have a better grasp on it than Osha.
Even at this early point in their lives, and with limited screentime, we can see how their personalities diverge from one another. Mae’s more controlled, or maybe determined is a better word for it. It’s clear she wants to make her community proud and is eager to fulfill whatever role is chosen for her.
Osha, on the other hand, is a bit more distracted. In the way of so many kids growing up in a small community, she wonders about the larger galaxy. She yearns to discover what else she can do beyond the role she’s been chosen for.
These differences are shown not only in how they individually react to the upcoming Ascension ceremony, but their mannerisms and overall demeanor. Later on, we see this distinctly during their training session with Mother Aniseya. As she discusses the “Thread” and taking on power during the Ascension, Osha is inattentive while Mae tries to get her to pay attention. It’s a familiar looking sibling squabble; one that was all too familiar to me as a parent.
Beyond that, when Mother wants them to practice/demonstrate, it is Mae who steps forward, while Osha shrinks behind her. Ostensibly, they’re the same and can wield the same power. And I don’t mean this in a general twin sense of things; I mean literally. But we’ll talk about that in a bit. Regardless, it’s clear Osha is more unsure of her skills, or even her desire to use them.
It’s an intriguing idea; two people of equal ability (presumably), but with different results in how well they can use it. Perhaps we’re looking at another Force Dyad here. We’ve seen some sort of connection, thanks to Osha’s vision in the first episode, between the two, which is also enforced by their sibling rhyme, “Always one, but born as two.”
We’ve seen older Mae in action, taking down full Jedi Masters. But when Osha tried to use the Force during the prison escape (trying to call Pip to her), she couldn’t do it. Is it merely due to not practicing in a few years, or is it tied to something deeper. Something like a mental block, which could also be among the reasons she ultimately left the Order. I hope the show dives into this more in later episodes.
Either way, though they are twins the pair are very much different people. Which can be even harder considering they’re the only children around in their Coven.
Witch, Please
That’s right, a Coven. The group of women, led by Mother Aniseya, are witches. What kind of witches isn’t explicitly said, but they do seem distinctly different from the Dathomir Witches we’ve gotten to know pretty well lately.
For one, the way they use and refer to the Force (which I’ll talk about more in a sec) is very different. The marking bestowed onto them from the Ascension ceremony—the spiral which Mae gets—is totally different from the facial markings of the Dathomiri clans. Plus, when they pull on their power, it glows blue instead of the green we’ve seen the others use.
There is a mention this is the first Ascension since their “exile.” So perhaps they are connected to one another, and the exile is what makes them seem so different. Then again, it’s also not wild to assume that any group of Force-wielding women who aren’t Jedi, would be considered witches, regardless of where/how they practice. All we know is that Mother Aniseya says they were “hunted and persecuted” because some people considered their powers “dark.” Who did the hunting is a great question…
Either way, it’s neat! As I mentioned last week, I’m really digging the chance to see other Force sects explored. Sure, we’ve seen others on screen (notably with the witches of Dathomir), but this is really the first time we, as an audience, have been able to simply observe their community and practices. We get to sit in as Mother explains their views on the Force, and their role within it.
The Thread
There’s a lot of things I loved in this week’s episode of The Acolyte. One aspect, that’s stuck with since I first watched it (the other week), however, is how Mother Aniseya and her witches view the Force. They refer to it as the Thread:
“All living things are connected by the same Thread. A Thread woven through all of existence.
Some call it a Force and claim to use it. But we know, the Thread is not a power you wield. Pull the Thread. Change everything. It ties you to your destiny. It binds you to others.”
It’s such a beautiful way of viewing things. And when you really think about it, isn’t all that dissimilar to how the Jedi look at things. I like the concept that pulling on the Thread has an impact on everything. It feels reminiscent of how the Path of the Open Hand (from The High Republic Phase 2) looked at things. Of course, they went to the extreme of saying no one should use the Force because of the repercussions it can have.
I’ve found myself thinking about it quite a lot over the past couple weeks, however. The idea behind it is relatively simple: use power as you wish, but know there will be consequences. This can be for good or bad, which is why it pays to be mindful of how you choose to wield power.
It feels very poignant, especially as we consider where the Jedi end up, and how the Sith ultimately return to power.
Who Wields the Power
Whatever they call it, these witches are powerful. Just look at how quickly, nonchalantly, Mother Aniseya was able to take control of Torbin’s mind. Yes, he’s a Padawan still at this point, but it’s done effortlessly, even as she continues to hold a conversation.
Shortly after that, during Mother Aniseya’s meeting with her advisors, Koril mentions simply killing the Jedi. Just, casually talking about dispatching four Jedi, and something in their tone/reaction to it makes it believable they can do it.
Oh, and that’s not to mention the little fact that Mae and Osha HAVE NO FATHER. In an echo of Shmi’s statement to Qui-Gonn, Mother Aniseya tells Indara “They have no father.” Later on we learn Mother Koril carried them, while Mother Aniseya herself somehow created them. That’s not something done easily, I imagine.
It’s a pretty massive revelation. Honestly, I’m struggling at what the implications of such a thing could be. We don’t have the specific details, but it does sound distinct from Anakin’s immaculate conception. The twins here were intentionally created by an individual with a purpose. Anakin was a vergence in the Force.
No matter how you look at it, the fact Mae and Osha were created using the Force is a big deal. How it may come into play later on could lead to some very interesting stories as well.
Jedi Rescue?
Up to this point, we’ve been led to believe, the Jedi rescued Osha when she was younger, but we can see the reality of that is a bit…skewed. Or it depends on a certain point of view. What we see, is Sol and the others trying to locate the children, despite the fact they seem to be well taken care of. They have a loving family and are cared for, aside from normal desires to branch out.
The only problem seems to be they’re Force-sensitives being raised by Witches. Too often, we see anyone using the Force—aside from the Jedi—as “bad” or, at the least, “not on the side of good.” That’s pretty much all we’ve been shown so far on screen. Though some of the novels/comics have dove into this concept a bit, it’s typically, you’re either a Jedi or a bad guy.
As such, it was neat to be more immersed in the Coven and see they aren’t evil…just different. Sadly, it seems the Jedi of this era have become more dogmatic in this perspective; even as previous High Republic Jedi were more open to various sects. It’s clear these Jedi think that, unless users are trained within the precepts of the Jedi Order, they will upset the balance or use it wrong. But, like Luke Skywalker tells Rey, “The Force does not belong to the Jedi. To say that if the Jedi die, the light dies, is vanity.”
As we know from the Prequels, that’s a lesson the Jedi won’t learn until too late, but it does give us some insight into why they’re doing some shady stuff. They see younglings with Force potential being trained by others, and immediately think they need to be “rescued.” A justification for, essentially, stalking the girls in order to find the Coven’s location and come in uninvited.
If you’ll allow me the chance to put on my Native headdress for a moment….This is pretty much exactly how most colonizers tend to think. The idea only they can bring “civilization” to others. Or, more apt to the Jedi, that they are the custodians of what is good/right. Indara even mentions there’s a Republic law about training children in the Force and that Jedi have “a right to test potential Padawans.”
Hence why, despite the kids being cared for, feel the need to test them and potentially whisk them away so they can be trained in the “right” way. As we know from real world history, however, that’s not the case.
That said, the scenes with the testing give us some great character moments with Sol. He feels like a legitimately decent person; a solid combination of the best aspects of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The way he connects to Osha and comforts her shows the depth of his compassion and desire to do good.
And here lies the conundrum people always struggle with when it comes to colonization and assimilation. It’s hard to square away the idea that good people, with genuine good intentions (though there’s plenty who don’t) can still do something so fundamentally wrong. Historically, this leads to a lot of rationalizing; convincing themselves that the ends justify the means.
As such, I’m intrigued by this idea that, even as we see how genuinely great Sol is, we know these circumstances don’t feel right. In trying to do good, the Jedi here ultimately cause more harm.
We Didn’t Start the Fire
In the previous Acolyte recap, I mentioned how I felt the real mystery of the show has to do with whatever happened on Brendok. This episode pretty much cements that idea, because it’s clear we’re still aren’t getting the full picture. Only getting to see the night of the fire from Osha’s perspective is fairly limiting, and leaves plenty of gaps that need to be filled.
We’ve been told Mae started the fire that killed everyone. What we see, is Mae, angry at Osha for being truthful to the Jedi, light fire to Osha’s journal/sketchbook. Yet, we never see her actually set fire to anything else. We don’t know what happened on the other side of that door before it took ablaze. What we do know, is when Osha escaped and went with Sol, the community was already littered with bodies.
Time in Star Wars can be a wonky thing, but we’re talking a few minutes here, at most. No way a group of Force-wielding witches are able to be wiped out so quickly/thoroughly due to a fire. If I were a betting man, I’d say they were already dead well before the fire reached to those parts.
Couple that with the reaction of the Jedi following the events, with Torbin and Kelnacca going into extreme isolation and it’s obvious there’s still more to the story about what happened. The implications here aren’t looking good for the Jedi.
It’s a dark route for the story to take and one we haven’t seen really explored in Star Wars before. It makes the concept of the Jedi, and their eventual downfall both more complex and tragic. But we’ll have to keep waiting a little bit longer to find out the whole truth.
Tidbits
Lightsabers – Intriguing that, despite being secluded on this planet and not really allowed to leave the fortress, both Mae and Osha recognize Lightsabers. When they’re hiding behind the witches when the Jedi disrupt the Ascenion, Osha whispers to Mae, “Look at how they wear their sabers.” Makes me wonder if the witches carry some form of them as well…
Fear – At one point Mother Aniseya says, “Ascension is about walking through fear.” This feels eerily similar to when Luke Skywalker tells Rey, “Confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi.” Once again, it shows that these different sects aren’t all the different from one another. Just thought it was a neat little connection.
Mech Wizard – Osha’s escape from her room, shows that she’s always been mechanically inclined. Perhaps why she became a Meknek after leaving the Order.
Easter Eggs
There are a few more references/Easter eggs that I noticed during this week’s episode…though I wouldn’t be surprised if I missed some!
Moons – look in the background during the Ascension ceremony and you’ll see that Brendok’s moons form the circular ‘O’ used within The Acolyte’s main logo.
Testing – The same testing process that we initially saw used for Anakin in The Phantom Menace returns!
Lothcat – a Lothcat pops up as one of the testing objects.
A Floating City – The second image in the test looks awfully familiar. I highly doubt it’s Cloud City itself, but likely another floating type city-structure. Either way, I thought it was neat to see that type of design pop-up elsewhere.
Horse Toys – Okay, I don’t actually have anything for you here…but I KNOW those horse-esque toys on Osha’s bed (when she’s packing up to leave with the Jedi) look familiar. They aren’t fathiers, but could be something out of Legends. Hoping someone reading this might be able to pinpoint it.
I’ve made no secret that this episode is my favorite of The Acolyte so far. It does some interesting things with Star Wars lore, while throwing in some excellent character moments and filling in some much needed information. It certainly leaves a lot of questions still, but it only serves to make the main mystery of the show more compelling.
