Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episodes 1 and 2.
Summary
TheStar Warsfranchise’s fascinating new Jedi Master seemingly proves at least one part of the Sith Code to be right inThe Acolyte. Although the first Sith were fallen Jedi, the two organizations, ultimately, have fundamentally different philosophies. The Sith are not simply Jedi who use the dark side of the Force, as they have formed their own distinct culture throughout their history, building unique lightsabers, using a different organizational structure, and, of course, creating their own code that differs significantly from that of the Jedi Order.
During the events ofThe Acolyte, the Sith are operating in secret, keeping their numbers to only two Dark Lords at a time and maintaining the façade that they were destroyed at the conclusion of the Jedi-Sith War.The Acolyteepisodes 1 and 2imply that Mae’s mysterious master is a Dark Lord of the Sith, makingMae a potential Sith apprentice. The pilot episode shows Mae’s master wielding a red-bladed lightsaber, but an even stronger hint comes in the following episode, withMae and her associate Qimir quoting the first line of the Sith Codein casual conversation.
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 Sith Code Insists That “Peace Is A Lie”
The first line of the Sith Code is “Peace is a lie. There is only passion.” This part of the Sith Code directly references the Jedi Code and parodies it. Both iterations of the Jedi Code reference peace and passion, with the first line reading “There is no emotion, there is peace” or “emotion, yet peace.” The third line reads “There is no passion, there is serenity” or “passion, yet serenity.”The Sith fundamentally reject the Jedi Order’s goal of attaining peace, viewing peace as a notion representative of both weakness and stagnation.
Through Victory my chains are Broken.
The Force shall free me."
To the Sith, Jedi ideals are dogma that restricts their adherents. The Jedi – particularly in the prequel trilogy era – suppress their emotions and forego attachments. The Sith, on the other hand, express themselves freely and serve their own interests. The Sith believe that they are “free,” unlike the Jedi, yet their use of the dark side, ultimately, leaves them unbalanced and inevitably corrodes them into murderous, power-hungry versions of themselves. The Jedi are not immune to becoming unbalanced, as the Order had lost its way by the prequels, losing sight of the galaxy they were sworn to protect.
Why Star Wars' New Sith Acolyte Is Killing Jedi
The Acolyte introduces the titular character as a Jedi killer, with secret motivations and Sith code providing reasons for the gruesome murders.
Sol May Be A Jedi, But He Shows No Signs Of Peace
One ofThe Acolyte’sprotagonists,Jedi Master Sol, is portrayed as a highly competent and compassionate Jedi, though he struggles with his past. Sol was one of four Jedi involved in an event on the planet Brendok that leftOsha Aniseya’s family presumed dead. While Osha would go on to train as a Jedi (and eventually leave the Order), her sister, Mae, survived and swore to murder the four Jedi, possibly receiving training from a Sith Lord. What exactly occurred on Brendok has yet to be revealed, but it motivates Mae’s revenge and is a source of guilt for Sol.
Sol struggles with his attachment to Osha and is wracked with guilt over whatever happened on Brendok, and he is not alone. Another of the four Jedi on Brendok is Jedi Master Torbin, whose similar guilt led him to takethe Barash Vowand cease interaction with others for over a decade. Torbin sought forgiveness for whatever his actions on Brendok might have been and even willingly consumed a lethal poison given to him by Mae. While the Jedi of the High Republic era were far more balanced than their prequel-era counterparts,their behavior seems atypical for any Jedi.
Sol
Master Sol is a wise, highly respected, powerful Jedi Master, strong in the ways of the Force, who is going through emotional conflict.
The Jedi Of The Acolyte Prove The Sith Are Right
While the full details of the occurrence on Brendok have yet to be revealed, at least two Jedi Masters feel extreme guilt over it, and one dark side user seeks revenge because of it. An argument can be made thatthis proves that the Sith Code’s first line is right.The High Republic erais a time of peace, with the Sith seemingly destroyed and the Jedi at the most balanced point in their history. Yet a minimally-trained dark side user has managed to publicly kill one Jedi Master, motivated by what may have been wrongdoing on the Jedi Order’s part.
Moreover, two other Jedi struggle with guilt and their attachments. While some of the conflicts set between the supposed destruction of the Sith and their prequel-era reemergence were secretly orchestrated by the Dark Lords, the Jedi’s actions inThe Acolytemay have been due to their own failings, tainting an era defined by peace. This proves the Sith Code to be true, confirmed that even when peace is supposedly abundant, there is still something darker lurking beneath the surface.
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.
