The Acolyte Episode 7 - Choice Review

We finally learn the truth of what happened on Brendok. Here is our review for episode seven of The Acolyte!
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[@joshfactor1]

in his defense, it really did look like she was preparing to attack

[@sinistra7450]

It's not even that she turned into smoke, it's her face distorting during and turning into something that looks like a demon. I'd be creeped out too

[@Deanof316.]

Plus Mae was disappearing too

[@kamotrof]

And the entire atmosphere around the encounter is super hostile. “I was going to let Osha go with you” should have been the beginning of the encounter. But then they wouldn’t have a story. Dumb.

[@tawink]

It’s good that they put in Sol’s line screaming “Osha!” to inform us that he thinks she is Osha. Because as viewers we know the 2 girls have different faces but in universe they are supposed to look identical.

[@Catalyst375]

@@tawink They probably feel identical in the Force as well, given their symbionts are perfectly identical.

[@Roby1Kenobi]

I think the "noble intentions" line is true in another way as well, it's that same intention to get a child out of a bad situation that plays a part in getting Anakin off Tatooine

[@jeremy_eppley]

Sol is described as somewhat similar to Qui-Gon Jinn. It is definitely interesting to see both of them have a similar path of saving a child leading to unintended consequences.

[@bryannkam]

@@jeremy_eppley That would be especially foreboding if Osha does indeed fall to darkness. As it would make Mother Aniseya’s words of warning and caution to Torbin and Sol, regarding how actions like theirs will lead to the death of every Jedi in the galaxy, even more prophetic…

[@charlybravo1354]

I think the "noble intentions" line is true in another way as well, it's that same intention which makes a beloved franchise and an interesting idea of another Star Wars series quite a desaster.

[@corvus2512]

I’ve been mixed on this show, the first 4 episodes were very meh and the show has failed at making the twins interesting or compelling characters but it has gotten much more intriguing since episode 5. However, I saw so many people online getting really angry at this episode for making the Jedi evil but I don’t understand that criticism, this episode basically exonerates the Jedi. They genuinely didn’t know anyone was on the planet, they had real concern for the safety of the 2 girls, the council literally tells them not to take the girls and to stop interfering , Mae actually did start the fire and the conflict was initiated by the witches, first by invading the Jedi’s minds and clearly messing with their decision making even after they release them from the mind control and then the witches even attack first. Sol is the only one who does anything questionable or controversial when he lets his emotions cloud his judgment and then when he kills the mother out of fear she is about to attack. The episode basically clears the Jedi, aside from maybe Sol, of any wrong doing yet people are acting like the Jedi have been portrayed as Nazis or something….. wtf

[@snuffles504]

@@corvus2512 I largely agree with your comment, but the conflict was NOT initiated by the witches. Jedi broke into their home two nights in a row. Sol killed Anaseya, who was unarmed. Sol and Torbin initiated the conflict and condemned the whole situation to a tragic end.

[@harrisonjames4020]

“Your eyes can deceive you” No wonder Sol stressed the importance of that to the younglings in episode 1. From what he was seeing on Brendok he thought he was doing the right thing right up until he kills Anisaya and learns she was going to let her go

[@WhiteWolf496]

This is a huge part of the show. Yord thinking Osha killed Indara (obviously things changed there) what we see of Indara in ep3 makes us think she's somewhat to blame, while she's the one being reasonable. Qimir Pretending to not be a sith.

[@podracer35]

There's also that one youngling who said she saw fire. I thought that was Osha/Mae in the trailer, but it was someone new in present day. I feel like it's significant, but I don't know how

[@harrisonjames4020]

Also just realised it’s literally the first line of dialogue we hear in general from the very first trailer

[@JCVOX]

Wow. Great catch!

[@WillRose3]

He also tells Yord in episode 2 "don’t let fear affect your judgment" when he proposed Mae and Osha working together. A pretty generic lesson on its own, but likely carries a lot of weight behind the scenes. His fear of what might happen to the twins very much clouded his judgment.

[@petelannen3077]

A pissed off wookie Jedi is terrifying.

[@KayJayCrazy]

I was thinking that same thing, and with force powers? That's just OP for sure 😭😭

[@nathanderoche8923]

@@KayJayCrazyi mean not OP enough clearly, as he couldn’t defeat a single padawan in single combat……..

[@KayJayCrazy]

@@nathanderoche8923 okay well yeah that part 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

[@straybard_art]

@@nathanderoche8923to be fair, it was one Wookie Jedi against three, - if the fight kept going on and indara didn't interfere I think eventually Kel would have killed both.

[@straybard_art]

Yup - idk if you played Star Wars Kotor 2 but I think you’ll also find Hanharr terrifying

[@itsatrap1017]

“He is using a made-up destiny to justify his choices.” Sounds like the intense pressure the Jedi needlessly enforced on Anakin Skywalker.

[@straybard_art]

That's a good point I can now see it as well

[@trehubb6144]

Torbin literally let the intrusive thoughts win 😅😢

[@Bas-TB]

And his intrusive thoughts are really intruded.

[@C.Kirby1138]

The poor kid was literally mind-assaulted, and while it was played in a way that a lot of the audience might be going "yes please", he was violated in a very real way that people are brushing past.

[@trehubb6144]

​@@C.Kirby1138Y'all literally take things too far😂. The way this new generation ruins fantasy/sci Fi with points like that is wild 💀💀. It reminds me of when Mr incredible got sued because he saved someone who didn't wanna be saved😅. Like no one is being telepathically manipulated in real life , that's what makes fantasy projects cool. Let me guess we gotta go back and revisit Scarlett Witch on trial for doing this to the avengers 😭

[@Rdude4444]

@@trehubb6144 I would too if I was acting in this show (for lack of a better word)

[@officermurdoch4120]

“No one is being telepathically manipulated in real life”? Then what happened to the MAGA cultists? Because something must have happened to them, their passion for the orange guy is not normal.

[@PerovNigma]

Now I feel bad for thinking the worst of Aniseya. I took her line with Osha in episode 3, about discussing her wish with the coven, as her saying _"Oh, yes, you can totally do whatever you want with your life, as long as we agree to it first."_ But then she actually stood against the coven in the name of Osha's autonomy.

[@unincognito3689]

I thought her being emotional made it quite obvious she meant what she said

[@bemasaberwyn55]

The ultimate expression of "your focus determines your reality" IMHO

[@ersimn]

perfect comment

[@bemasaberwyn55]

@@ersimn thanks

[@MichaelLudden]

The best part is he unironically loved your comment 😂

[@jasonisonbass]

I think Torbin running off to break in the coven was due to Mother Aniseya’s manipulation from earlier. Remember the quote from earlier in the season - she can get in your mind and stay with you. She amplified his need to get off of the planet and go home and that stayed with him to the point of acting irrationally. Ironically resulting in Aniseya’s own death along with the coven when her intention was to protect the coven and her children.

[@TevyaSmolka]

Yup that makes sense to me

[@ariesstorm9577]

This makes sense to me now, at the time of watching it felt almost cartoonish how he just ups and heads straight off to the compound. But then again it helps to remind that he is still a Padawan and like most Padawans can still act before he thinks, a decision we know he later comes to regret.

[@rkrushenick]

Unless she’s the Sith Lord and she did this to set the Jedi up by playing the long game.

[@Haven6419]

@@rkrushenickNow THAT would be an interesting twist! But I don’t see how that would fit. Now Korill on the other hand…if she’s still alive and driving The Stranger that is something I wouldn’t have seen coming, and also could go a long way in redeeming this show. Let’s not kid ourselves. This show has been all over the place and hasn’t quite made a whole lot of sense. I’m praying that six days from now It’ll all come together, but my hopes aren’t high.

[@straybard_art]

Oooh that's an interesting thing

[@ruairiedwards8616]

Really loved that there was a hod to the The Great Hyperspace Disaster, the event that kicked off The High Republic era

[@danielrubinstein1621]

I just thought it was weird that she called it "A hyperspace disaster" instead of "THE Hyperspace Disaster". That feels like an event that would still be known to people just 100 years later. Like it'd be in their history classes.

[@VTedeman]

​@@danielrubinstein1621 for all we know, there could happen another three before the Acolyte begins 😮

[@DanyTheMe]

​@@danielrubinstein1621 I think only people like Leia or padmei take history classes (or any scholarly pursuits) in this universe. Most folk in star wars grow up in survival mode and only have oral traditions plus a few folk stories as their way of learning history.

[@BrianHartman]

I think you misunderstood one thing: As far as I understand it, Torbin(sp?) doesn't drink poison "rather than confess his crime". He drinks poison to *atone* for his crime.

[@Jorizzle22]

That's how I feel too.

[@Bas-TB]

I think the forgiveness and death are more important than the concession of the crime.

[@jacos133]

But what crime did he even commit. It's pretty weak if it's because he feels guilty for the witches deaths. They're clearly evil and attacked the Jedi, and had plans for other evil intentions through the thread.

[@DenDhur]

​@@jacos133 Exactly, I can understand him feeling guilt to the point of suicide if he struck the witches down himself. Now it's just, I wanna go home, witches goes crazy, they all die somehow? From entering Kelnacca and that's enough for him to just want to off himself?

[@enbentz]

@@DenDhur I think you're not considering the fact that NONE of that happens if Torbin doesn't jet off with the speeder and put everyone in that situation. He IS the catalyst to the coven's downfall. Maybe you are considering that, but I think it's extremely poignant. If you made a rash decision and then because of that decision a whole community perishes, I think you'd feel pretty guilty, especially when that decision came from pure selfishness and fear.

[@theDaoistBean]

Seems that the driving force of the show is how destructive codependency is...having it with the twins and looking for it with Sol and Qimir.

[@loosegoose2466]

Great point

[@DimaJeydar]

That’s what the credits song is about I think?

[@Rdude4444]

@@theDaoistBean don’t forget diversity

[@theDaoistBean]

@Rdude4444 I don't, diversity has been behind all Star Wars from 1977 when the Empire was homogenous and monochromatic and the Rebels were all sorts of ppl and species Anyone that hasn't seen that just isn't paying attention. But always good to point out.

[@myriadmediamusings]

Man if I had a Republic Credit for every time a shattering conflict in Star Wars came about because of a grave misunderstanding... Sadly is reflective of real life I suppose.

[@Jorizzle22]

True!

[@straybard_art]

Sad but true 👍

[@FilonisHat]

Sol, like Yord, is a young Jedi Knight in this episode. His youth and newness to the role has him trying to act, trying to live up to the role of a Jedi Knight. His insecurities and their manifestations are interesting to watch as they play out.

[@kruelangel]

We also see him and Torbin give in to fear. Sol is fearful of Aniseya's power, of not getting Osha as his padawan, of the witches. All of this could be avoided with a simple hello, not by slicing the front door.

[@Haven6419]

@@kruelangelMeanwhile Indura is blaming everyone but herself. She had just as much - if not more - of a hand in this as everyone else and she knows it! You can read it like a book on her face. That’s why she chose to tell “the truth.”

[@kruelangel]

@@Haven6419 Agree. I guess the title of this episode is more about the Jedi's choice than Osha's.

[@MikeJ00017]

⁠@@Haven6419how did Indara do anything wrong? She talked to the council, they said no, she was done with it. 10 seconds later Torbin runs off and the goal was to keep him from interfering with the witches. Next thing you know, she is saving Kelnacca from his possession. Only thing she did wrong, was not telling the council the whole truth and even that decision is actually very understandable.

[@WillRose3]

I think this episode did a pretty good job showcasing the difference in maturity between a Jedi Padawan, Knight, and Master.

[@user-kg8ti1ou1y]

i love that they didn't just portrayed both sides as good or evil. but different interest and perspective.

[@WillRose3]

Love your reviews. I had no idea about the taboo of Wookiees using their claws. Really enjoy learning new things like this.

[@JarrettOriginal]

They all acted out of fear and it lead to the worst possible outcome.

[@JediPastorAaron]

Mae didn’t start the fire. It was always burning…

[@emmanuelsilvera8032]

🤦

[@macehead]

Dad?

[@forrestpenrod2294]

As the force was turning...

[@ssotkow]

Qimir: [shrugs] "... semantics"

[@hoos3014]

💯

[@paolabrugiatti]

The question that has not been developed (and obviously neither has been answered) is why does Sol has those intentions (that need) of "taking care" of a child. I think there it might be more about his past we don't know about. Actually, I believe that is why Indara tries to ease those intentions that are growing back again inside of him.

[@Bas-TB]

Between the remark Indera gave him about the Jedi given her a padawan and not him, as well as him feeling it through the force. I feel there is enough there and what there is might be rather boring.

[@IdenNonya]

I think you might be right but some people just have strong maternal instincts, and conflate it with what they think might be "good"

[@katlinfergusson8169]

Sol was 4 when the Jedi came for him. There's no past for him to dwell on. That's why the jedi take children so young. They don't have time to form their own personality, or views. The jedi take them so young so they can shape them into what they want like a ball of clay.

[@DanyTheMe]

I think that's where Quimir fits into all of this. Maybe he was his padawan, or was on his way to becoming his padawan before something happened.

[@jonburk]

More than ever I'm convinced this should have been a movie. The twists and reveals just aren't strong enough for weekly 30 minute episodes. We've had far too much time to speculate, making the payoffs underwhelming.

[@isaiasherrero7889]

agreed!

[@PanCakeFace]

this whole situation was basically the waco siege

[@Cory_J]

I thought the same thing. A well-intended attempt to save innocents from an insular cult spirals out of control and kills everyone. That had to have been an inspiration.

[@elementalturnip]

Episode 7 really came along and said "what I told you was true, from a certain point of view."

[@luckystarpiano]

❤yup I think the entire series was an exploration of the “certain point of view” approach…and I just love it!!

[@danielrubinstein1621]

I enjoyed this episode and I've mostly enjoyed the show so far, but man, if I pull up Disney+ next Tuesday and the finale only has a 30 minute runtime listed, I'm gonna be mad.

[@officermurdoch4120]

It has to be an one hour episode!

[@rowdystaudi]

I agree. From what I am hearing, it's like 44 mins. Runtime has been my main gripe on the series (as well as many of the Star Wars series). They have their work cut out wrapping this up!

[@joshuadesautels]

"Weith your permission, my Masters...I have encountered a vergence in the Force." "This again?"

[@Cybermat47]

‘How many witches died this time?’ ‘What?’ ‘What?’

[@Lr.Laecro.Lirus3445]

Honestly, seeing Kelnacca almost crushing Torbins skull was quite terrifying to me. But what's even more impressive than that was Torbins indurance. He really fought against it as hard as he could or as hard as it's even possible. Gotta give respect to him and Sol alike.

[@jaricarlon9968]

Here I go again with the theories . Maybe Palpatines backstory in the Canon was that he was raised by abusive matriarchal witches and then he decides to turn the galaxy into a man's world with help from Darth plagius??

[@pascalmaranus]

"...while Sol is waving his lightsaber around in front of kids." I'm sorry, but that cracked me up. That sounded so wrong and I can't unsee it now. I'll go sit in the corner.

[@youkofoxy]

Well, that was a confusion of misunderstanding, and needs/wants all crashing down.

[@andycalmes4201]

The way the witches all died was not clear at all. I found that to be frustrating. And the song at the end really made this episode feel very…not for me.

[@iamskipper]

In a galaxy far far away…. It’s really easy to burn the entire stone cave down filled with magical witches.

[@BackyardEpicMovies]

It's not wise to upset a Jedi Wookiee.

[@elixier33]

Yeah they might take their clothes off

[@LordViktorHun88]

Yeah, let alone engage in a fist fight with him. 😁

[@Progger11]

But sir, no one worries about upsetting a Jedi droid.

[@Haven6419]

Han’s quote was literally all I could think about 😂

[@johnmarc1986]

What the hell is with the pop song in the credits?

[@sackthebastard]

That threw me off so hard. I was already in a strange place mentally when the episode ended and that song was the nail in the coffin lmao.

[@velvetlagoon4430]

It threw me off.

[@paleo-chicagobears2454]

I hated that so much

[@officermurdoch4120]

Why?

[@Christobanistan]

@@officermurdoch4120 It's like hearing Lorde in a period piece, only the tone doesn't even match SW.

[@skyblueo]

I respect that you are examining the themes of this show. The Acolyte haters aren't seeing this as a the tragedy that it is. The inability of both groups to respect each other and their fear of each other is at the heart of this tragedy. Both groups scream, what about the children, while creating a disastrous situation for those children. This is a tragedy of good intentions complicated by fear and distrust. These groups mirror each other in that way, and this show is all about reflections and pairings.

[@leah-station88]

Ooo I love this

[@straybard_art]

I think that's a really good and deep analysis and I hope as time goes on more people appreciate what you have gleaned from this episode.

[@Derek-pg4yk]

The show was supposed to be about the Sith. How has this show been about a Sith Acolyte? By the way who is the Sith Acolyte?

[@DanyTheMe]

​@@Derek-pg4yk it's called "the acolyte", not "the sith's apprentice" The show is supposed to be about the acolyte, her past and how she becomes the acolyte. Which has literally been the focus since ep 1.

[@Cineburk]

Trust me. The Acolyte "haters" definitely see the show as a tragedy.

[@bairdduvessa]

I was happy that I was wrong, that it was Sol who fucked up and not Trinity.

[@rikard.h]

She did too. All of them did except Kelnacca. Indara was the leader of the expedition but lost control over the group. She didn't control her padawan. She let herself be convinced by Sol multiple times during episode 7 to make bad decisions instead of standing firm by the principles she spoke by earlier. At the end of the episode she does it again when she says they shouldn't report to the council. What she disapproved of earlier (bringing Osha with them to train her) is exactly the thing she uses to convince Sol to keep everything under wraps. She says it's for Osha's sake, but it could be more to protect herself/the group. She feels guilty from the failed mission, using Osha to cover it up, AND for convincing Sol that his initial (bad) idea was worth fulfilling, thus forcing him live out a big lie which was probably bad for both him and Osha. He does have to take ownership later when Osha leaves the order for whatever reason.

[@GoreyBits]

Somehow, this show is worse than The Last Jedi.

[@AndyofCT]

I’m still waiting for some kind of payoff…

[@Sekir80]

Good luck. But secretly, me too.

[@isaiasherrero7889]

same!

[@Cineburk]

I think they're saving it all for Season 2...

[@TheWxwookie]

​@@CineburkSeason 2?!? They already lost over 75% of their viewerships.

[@shadowoftime01]

HOW DID TORBIN BECOME A MASTER IN 6 YEARS!?! He’s clearly not ready to be a knight in the 16 years ago flashback. He took the vow of silence and doing nothing 10 years prior to his death. Like the series so far, but this is the only thing that’s been bugging me about it.

[@DanyTheMe]

The events of this last episode were probably the catalyst for him taking things more seriously. Maybe he does his best to make up for it in those six years and reaches the rank of master, but once he does his guilt finally catches up to him and so he takes the vow.

[@ohroonoko]

Torbin becomes a monastic Jedi. That's a different track from your typical warrior Jedi. Probably easier to become a Master.

[@Cineburk]

Wait, that's the *only* thing that bugs you about the show? Seriously?

[@kamotrof]

Still no explanation on how a wall lamp getting dropped on the floor of a stone fortress and burns the entire stone fortress down…

[@Artoosa]

Did you not see the wiring in the wall sparking? It spread to it and then throughout the complex to the power generator.

[@Derek-pg4yk]

Also, how did the witches die? One second they are doing their stupid chant thing and the next minute they are dead. Haha

[@Artoosa]

@@Derek-pg4yk Yea that I am confused about, I think that needs more explanation. Very weird.

[@Cineburk]

@@Derek-pg4yk It's like when you unplug a USB drive in the middle of a transfer and it corrupts the file. Apparently if you unplug witches in the middle of a swaying-mind meld, it kills all of them. Not good system design.

[@ash23neuro]

​@@Derek-pg4yk Indara somehow killed them 😵‍💫

[@jaredlocke4300]

This show "reads" like a first draft

[@ConnorHavelka]

About Torbin: I think the reason he acts so rashly and not in the right mind is because of his weird possession thing. Becoming totally unbalanced might just be a nasty effect of her possession. I mean we see the same damage with Kelnacca after all, scribbling their symbols years after the incident

[@hesohit]

he was still effected because he moved into isolation and drank poison just thinking about that night.

[@thetlamb]

I always get nervous when a series puts a lot of weight on a finale and this show feels like it’s doing just that. And the fact the episodes have been so short doesn’t instill me with confidence.

[@foodini666]

Try to enjoy something rather than be negative ….

[@thetlamb]

@@foodini666 trying not to be that fan honestly. I’ve actually enjoyed it for the most part. Just feeling like a lot of questions won’t get answered (which isn’t necessarily bad just slightly disappointing)

[@trombonegamer14]

Well this aged like milk

[@thetlamb]

@@trombonegamer14 I will gladly admit I was wrong.

[@annalivia1308]

Quimir also desperately wants a pupil.

[@joeybates292]

Sol is one of the most tragic Jedi's now, imo. His desire to be noble. His attachment, and sort of "need" for a padawan, and his failure in training her. His running away in episode 6 makes sense... HIs attachment has been his tragedy.

[@jordanwhite352]

Reminds me of Obi-Wan.

[@jacobjackson2787]

Tragic Jedi? He's just stupid, he could've told the Jedi about the sith but doesn't and runs away to tell a story to someone who was there for most of it. How does that make sense? He sees random girls who wandered off in the woods and based on the mom getting upset about it he assumed they are in danger.. stupid. Only thing I'd say he did that was logical was kill the witch that turned into a ghost demon thing lol.

[@sinistra7450]

I don't really understand his immediate attachment to Osha... Like come on, you haven't even met that girl, let alone form memories with her! I think there is one more missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle the story doesn't reveal yet. Remember, Qimir told Osha that Sol's power is not in him but in Osha (or something like this). I bet this will have a significance later.

[@kds5065]

I was underwhelmed by the "reveal" of what went wrong on Brendock.

[@GoreyBits]

Same. This show as a whole is underwhelming.

[@kayurp]

Agree with you both. I’m not sure what is the point of this show other than more SW.

[@DanyTheMe]

​@@kayurpI'm sorry, but what's the point of anything star wars if not to be more star wars?

[@xxxbillybobswag5747]

@@DanyTheMethe problem is disneys pumping these shows out with a quantity over quality mindset

[@nicksmith9020]

I really feel like these episodes would’ve been better switched around. I understand that we’re supposed to remember the Jedi don’t know the witches love and care for the girls. But it’s pretty hard to see that when we the audience know that’s not the case. I feel like the payoff and the “oh sh*t” moment would’ve been much better if all season we think the Jedi were doing a good thing by saving these girls from captivity, when actually the Jedi are in fact the bad guys here and they did actually take things way, way too far.

[@DapperManDan]

I kind of agree with this... portions of this could/would have worked better in episode 3. Both episodes would have had to be edited slightly different though.

[@nicksmith9020]

@@DapperManDanyeah I agree with this too

[@corvus2512]

I’ve been mixed on this show, the first 4 episodes were very meh and the show has failed at making the twins interesting or compelling characters but it has gotten much more intriguing since episode 5. However, I saw so many people online getting really angry at this episode for making the Jedi evil but I don’t understand that criticism, this episode basically exonerates the Jedi. They genuinely didn’t know anyone was on the planet, they had real concern for the safety of the 2 girls, the council literally tells them not to take the girls and to stop interfering , Mae actually did start the fire and the conflict was initiated by the witches, first by invading the Jedi’s minds and clearly messing with their decision making even after they release them from the mind control and then the witches even attack first. Sol is the only one who does anything questionable or controversial when he lets his emotions cloud his judgment and then when he kills the mother out of fear she is about to attack. The episode basically clears the Jedi, aside from maybe Sol, of any wrong doing yet people are acting like the Jedi have been portrayed as Nazis or something….. wtf

[@DanyTheMe]

I agree with you in spirit, but Sol for sure strikes first. The witches did that thing to torbin, but we saw that it was more of a persuasion attempt than an attack. He was never harmed. The witches don't start fighting until Sol stabs their leader for doing that mist form thing. (who then explicitly says she only intended to get Osha and let her join the jedi) I feel like the whole point of the episode is to show that both sides acted based on fear and their own assumptions about the other side's intentions. It for sure paints the jedis intentions as noble, saying it paints then as bad ignores the literal plot. It just paints their black and white view of the force and their complete denial of desire as flaws (which literally is a central theme of the original movies and the prequels)

[@pascalmaranus]

It was clear this episode had to go back to show what happened in ep. 3. But I would have preferred it to go back and forth between Sol telling Mae the story and Qimir telling Osha the same story simultaneously. I understand that would still raise the question of whether either of them is telling the whole truth or not. But still... The strongest parts of last week's episode was everything between Qimir and Osha, so it would have been nice to continue that conversation forward in this episode. My initial response to the truth behind the fire was: "Oh, that's underwhelming." But Sol's choice to drop Mae to save Osha was where I went: "Well, all right... At least now there's a solid reason to feel so guilty." Yes, he killed their mother before that, but that could have been explained of a simple misreading of the situation and therefore an accident. Saving Osha was a deliberate choice.

[@WhiteWolf496]

I agree but the show doesn't have the time to do that at this stage imo. It would kinda need to be totally differently structured and also have more episodes imo.

[@pascalmaranus]

@@WhiteWolf496 doesn’t have the time? They spend 5-7 minutes a week on credits 🙈 If a longer episode is around 40min (without recap and credits) and this was only 30, there’s 25% less time used. I’d say there was plenty of time for all of that. The Disney+ shows are so behind in quality storytelling compared to something like HotD on Max, because they don’t write the episodes to let stories play out properly. As an example I used before: all those deaths a few weeks ago didn’t mean anything, because there was barely any time spent with the characters that died.

[@KDIY]

@@pascalmaranus I agree, this could've been a 1-hour per episode or a 2.5-hour movie.

[@mrvoltar]

Thanks, Alex. I completely missed the significance of Sol sharing Torbin's impatience. It seems as innocuous as Torbin's impatience but it really is the catalyst for all the bad choices and willful misunderstanding. I really expected a literal witch hunt instead of a figurative one in Sol's head. This show was a lot more kind to the order than my imagination was. I kind of think that the leftovers of the witches were in Kelnacca's brain.

[@RedMangabey]

So the "big reveal" was something we already knew: Mae started a fire that in fact was the thing that made the jedi and the witches react to the situation and what destroyed the coven. She is the one the most at fault there, not the Jedi. At that point everything could have been handled with them just talking to each other. The reasons for things escalating out of control, like Torbin rushing to the fortress, Mae setting everything on fire and Sol attacking Aniseya are not convincing enough and just too exaggerated in my opinion.

[@MichaelLudden]

Oof. No one could convincingly defend this episode. Not even you 😢

[@Paul-Johnathan]

😂 the show is terrible. The character decisions make no sense and the writing is atrocious.

[@danlaplante]

This episode felt underwhelming. I think I was expecting a much more severe “sin” but the Jedi team’s actions weren’t shockingly dark

[@Bas-TB]

None of the actions they took is that dark, but their choices ended up killing all of the coven.

[@royalwarlord2342]

They weren’t “shockingly” dark, but every way in which they acted and maneuvered this wasn’t very Jedi at all, and thats kind of the whole point.

[@Derek-pg4yk]

@@Bas-TBwhat action killed them? One minute they were in the Wookies mind and the next minute they are dead. I don’t get it?

[@jessedelgado4203]

The entire series follows the Star Wars "from a certain point of view" trope BIG TIME!!! lol

[@laurants]

How can he take this sow seriously?

[@CynUnion-ji9uj]

My only real wrinkles with this episode is Indara says Sol submitting himself to the council(which props to sol for immediately being like "i messed up, i gotta report it) would Ruin Osha's dream, but didn't the show also tell us Indara was part of the decision for Osha to leave/be kicked out? I'm curious what happened there even if its not the most relevant to the events of the show. Also Torbin is called a master and had taken the Barash Vow when we first meet him. Is master just an honorific or did he reach the rank and then take the vow out of shame of getting that far? Again, its mostly not relevant to the story being told, so hopefully the acolyte gets a reference book that will answer my tiny noodly questions. Over all i enjoyed this episode, and I'm interested by the answers it gave. I kinda expected the broadstrokes at this point, there was a misunderstanding, Sol and Co messed up big time, the witches were divided in intent, koril is a bit of an instigator. But you can see where the misunderstanding comes from. a lack of communication and overwhelming noble intent, that same nobility that will lead to the Jedi slipping further and further. Sol saw the mother doing shadow magick that (possibly) threatened one of the girls lives, so he acted on instinct. Torbin was just homesick and the witches abused that and made him paranoid. Kelnacca, my perfect man, had his lovely nature vacation ruined by everyone who wasn't Indara, and then he was getting puppeted by like 20 witches. Speaking of misunderstandings, The Tree is the vergence, right? Like The Mother used the power from the tree to split one baby into two? Or maybe the hole in the compound was the vergence? Sol and Indara say splitting one consciousness into two would require the power of a vergence and the prayer hole and the tree are the two obvious candidates.

[@Olamchesed]

Its strange how Sol wants Osha. Probably because he can't have a Padawan, but really wants one.

[@jaredlocke4300]

How did Torbin go from teen to middle aged with male pattern baldness in 16 years?

[@7oy]

The stress of being a jedi with a guilty conscience will do that to you.

[@prosperoeaton8201]

That happened to several of my high school friends. I was lucky to be spared.

[@Ross-Ross-Ross]

I think there's another small moment during Osha's test that contributed to Torbin rushing off afterwards. When Sol tells her "You must have the courage to say what you want," he's encouraging her to pursue her own desires, which is not very Jedi-like, and we see that Indara doesn't like this. The camera cuts to Torbin, whose desire is to leave the planet. I think he's also encouraged to be selfish by Sol's misguided words.

[@jacobjackson2787]

So he goes to abduct children?

[@Christobanistan]

This is total nonsense. The Jedi did NOTHING wrong. NOTHING that would cause that kid to end himself by poison 16 years later. Nothing to cover up, they were attacked and they did NOT start the fire! This just makes no sense. Worst episode so far.

[@Reeser17]

What was weird was sol trying to hold up the bridge when he could have force picked up the girls.

[@SuperPlacido1]

He had no time to think!

[@jacobjackson2787]

​@@SuperPlacido1oh come on 😂

[@Sekir80]

@@jacobjackson2787 Insert jim carrey spitting water meme.

[@bellflouryt4484]

I really don’t think the Jedi were out of line in the way they acted. Sol acted out of a belief that there were people in danger, which turned out to be the case. Anaseia turning into a creepy fog cloud and disintegrating Mai is more than a little suspicious, then she proceeds to use her last words to spite him, and make him out to be the bad guy in this conflict. Yes, a coverup is bad, but the witches were extremely suspicious, from the Jedi perspective. Andara wasn’t interested in deescalating, as this was her mission. She should recognize her padawan’s obvious discomfort and leave after he is taken under control by the scary witches.

[@royalwarlord2342]

But thats your issue and the Jedi’s issue. As well as the witches. You have to let go of your beliefs and have more of a neutral view on the galaxy and everything in it. Playing your hand like it’s the only possible “win” from your point of view is why everyone here lost. I dont think it could be any clearer after this episode

[@bellflouryt4484]

@@royalwarlord2342 It is irresponsible and say “oh that’s out of my control, oh well! sucks to be them!”, when you are a space wizard with de facto leverage over every other space wizard, as ordained by a galactic republic. No, people can change their fate, and the fate of others. Complacency is failure. Action is what makes us more than droids, and is the gift of we can, and should, make use of. The galaxy is not neutral, because we, as people, exist in it, alongside other people. Now, this is not to say to force ourselves into every conflict, but it is to say that, when we can help, and are given reason to do so m n, we should try to help.

[@josephchurch7871]

Very tragic episode that pays off the state we find the four Jedi in at the beginning of the series and Mae’s anger. Koril is still in play and I’m looking forward to seeing how she is still involved.

[@trombonegamer14]

Lol

[@weathertopz4368]

I completely missed how badly the witches looked the way they treated the girls to Sol. That helps explain a lot of the reactions I didn't really understand in the episode.

[@Crystalgate]

it's interesting hearing the opinions of someone who does like this show, it gives me a better idea of what went wrong.

[@MSnell]

I always appreciate Alex’s perspective on the episodes of shows I don’t love, but this one really didn’t land for me. Nothing that Torbin did made his Barish Vow and suicide seem believable. Aside from his sudden decision to rush off and grab the girls as “proof” he was basically acting in self defense during that entire sequence. Even if all the witches died, they basically killed themselves by choosing to possess Kelnacca. None of that needs to be on their conscience. Mother Coral telling Mae to “get angry” and be ready for a fight obviously leans towards the dark side. Even if we don’t know exactly what the witches were up to I think it’s clear that they weren’t entirely innocent. Mother Aniseya turning herself and Mae into smoke was weirdly out of place in that particular moment and could have easily been mistaken as a violent action. I understand Sol’s guilt for killing her but his reaction was understandable. After building this mystery up for 7 episodes and making us wonder what atrocity the Jedi could have possibly committed that tore them apart so much, this just fell completely flat for me.

[@WhiteWolf496]

I feel that part of Torbin was still traumatised from his own possession. I really think some flashbacks to the years between Brendok and "present day" would have helped fleshed out the characters more. And how Torbin ended up feeling the way he did. Seeing Osha train, maybe some more Yord to give him depth. How the possession impacted Kelnacca. And how Indara dealt with everything.

[@forrestpenrod2294]

Torbin is responsible for all those deaths. What I appreciate about the show is we got four different reactions to grief. Indara and Sol continued on in different ways. Kalacca and Torbin closed inwards in different ways.

[@larynOneka8080]

If you break into someone's home in an attempt to kidnap their child and they try to stop you from doing so you can't kill them and claim self-defense. Where do you live?

[@MSnell]

@@forrestpenrod2294 I live in the real world where I'm not trying to break into a cult of space witches that possess people and create/groom children with dark magic.

[@snuffles504]

​@@larynOneka8080 SAY IT LOUDER. Some fans are so dead set on viewing the Jedi as infallible white knights that this show is really rocking their world.

[@BackyardStudios25]

Really disliked the pop song playing over the credits this episode. Did not feel like Star Wars at all. I think some of the acting is particularly bad. The show thrives when action is happening. Other than that this story has been pretty subpar. And I really wanted this show to be great.

[@isaiasherrero7889]

agreed and with one episode left how the heck do they answer all the questions that we still have? It's simply impossible!

[@user-vy5fc3ho2y]

If the 4 Jedi thought something was wrong with the Coven, then the Council should have sent backup.

[@jimcecil4558]

It definitely feels like 1 fertilized egg split into 2 using the force.

[@megacodeheals722]

Still waiting for my Sith series. Poor marketing to get us to watch the show.

[@madisonbadger9454]

So, why did Torbin willingly drink the poison??? He really didn’t do anything wrong.

[@HenryLouis21]

Because he continued to escalate the situation the situation and his desperation and fear of wanting to get off the planet

[@madisonbadger9454]

@@HenryLouis21 I mean. I would be terrified and want to get off the planet with Sith witches. He deserves suicide for that ???????

[@madisonbadger9454]

@@HenryLouis21I would want to get off a planet full of Darkside witches too. They entered his mind and took over his spirit. It’s perfectly logical that he would be scared. Yet, he deserves suicide for that?

[@xxxbillybobswag5747]

Because the show has shitty writers

[@haydenharris846]

I gotta be honest, I’ve been trying to stay positive about this series but it’s just such a missed opportunity. The story about the sisters is really not that interesting and the writing and plot lines have just been lackluster. I’m hoping they scrap this series for maybe an Old Republic story that can redeem this disappointment

[@l33t9r0u93]

I just think they should have switched torbin and kelnecca in the present time torbin taking the barash vow doesn't make sense whereas with kelnacca it makes much more sense.

[@DapperManDan]

Kelnacca isolating himself on a forest planet goes more a long with what happens with Wookiee's when they use their claws in battle. on Kashyyyck they are banishd to shadowlands or the forest floor to survive on their own.

[@snuffles504]

@@l33t9r0u93 I think their reactions make sense given what we know. The witches' possession of Kelnacca seems to have screwed with his head, so he peaces out to the most remote post he can find and obsesses over their magic. Torbin might feel solely responsible for the whole event and may not feel he can trust his own mind, so he turns all his attention inward to reconcile his turmoil in a way that can't affect anyone else.

[@Bas-TB]

I those were my initial thoughts as well, it would also prevented us from wanting a Mae vs Kelnacca fight. But Mae wouldn’t seek an arrest back in ep4 if it was just Torbin or Indera to fight. I see Torbin’s reasons, he wasn’t in the right mindspace to begin with, his mind was taken over because of that, because of that he rushed back to the site, he wasn’t de-escalating the situation, he had to fight a fellow Jedi, by the way his head like he most have had a concussion and they were lying to the Jedi council. So very traumatic and it could create a rift between him and the Jedi he wanted to be.

[@Starfighterace421]

I also like how this leads to the mentality we see towards the Jedi in the first Dooku episode of Tales of the Jedi

[@kcgetmoney]

Come on man. 😂😂😂

[@Paul-Johnathan]

😂 comically obvious

[@isaiasherrero7889]

With one episode left, I don't know if we're going to have enough time to answer every question sadly.

[@josephstagg3947]

Don't ask questions. Just consume product and get excited for next product.

[@Crocthunder]

Its annoying that the lore and world building is good but execution is hurting it a lot , the message of 2 groups making assumptions about each other is also a great message and that sometimes talking is important cause Torbin/Korril going full aggro was fucked cause everyone has prejudices about one another

[@RedPolarBearRanger]

My opinion about Sol killing her was not intentional at all it was more like manslaughter than murder that was committed here.

[@jordanwhite352]

Hr still pulled a Luke Skywalker in The last Jedi and let his own insecurities and fear get to him thus ruining it for everybody.

[@chrisp6967]

That end credit song right? Barf

[@user-wn8rs8tz2y]

Sol wants a pupil.....

[@louisroy4911]

I’m not sure Sol is transposing his emotions on anyone. To me it reads like he’s just good at reading people and has a great intuition in the force. To me, it looks like Indara is deflecting his concerns purely because they’re an inconvinience for her.

[@Jooshyb]

Beware of self-fulfilling prophecies

[@isthatjackson]

This reveal was a let down for me. If I’m being incredibly blunt this show will be forgotten by me before long and I’m afraid we may never get a season 2.

[@muffridah8207]

Master Turbin used too much Force when lubing his light saber. As a consequence he was left with life long pain and guilt, makes sense that he ended it all.

[@jeandragyn4143]

What I learned about this episode is dont piss off a Jedi wookie.

[@jeffreygrant3383]

Respectfully, I find everyone in this episode to be written like idiots who can’t communicate. One would say lack of communication came from fear, I’d say it’s from a lack of common sense.

[@kevinpeterson6468]

Does he like everything that Star Wars has done?

[@MatiPryjomko]

Unfortunately yes.

[@TheWxwookie]

​@@MatiPryjomkoNo matter how bad it is. They love the High Republic.

[@prosperoeaton8201]

No, he doesn't. I've seen him be quite critical at times.

[@SparklingDracs]

Not when he gets invites to the studio, no.

[@bertman4]

It's amazing how combustible stone can be...

[@Bru21om]

“Gooooooooood Intentions!!!” -Ned Flanders in Hurricane Neddy

[@elwizschold]

The Acolyte is weird to me. I really like almost every episode as I'm watching, but I don't really think about the show between episodes. I feel there hasn't really been a mystery in the show yet, so the "twists" don't really land for me. That said, I hope others enjoy the show more than I do :)

[@tacobowler]

What is the difference between a vergence in the force and a force nexus?

[@cit5184]

No difference, they're synonyms for the same thing

[@andycalmes4201]

Where was there a mention of a force “nexus?”

[@tacobowler]

@@andycalmes4201 no, but the definition Alex used for a vergence, including a few of the examples he used, was what I had thought was a nexus. Like the degobah cave.

[@darthjesus7079]

@@tacobowler I too think it's the same thing, but maybe the word "nexus" hasn't appeared in canon yet? I don't know, but every example for the term "Force nexus" I can think of at the moment comes from Legends material.

[@batman1992ap]

@@tacobowlerI believe their the exact same thing

[@DDDJr]

A virgin in the force.

[@fraliexb]

10:35 the way Mother Aniseya smoke transports herself away, with Mae, reminds me of Spectres from His Dark Materials "bridge world".

[@cedarandsound]

The Acolyte feels like fan fiction rather than canon. It’s so emblematic of when Mark Hamill made it known his thoughts on gritty hobo Luke not being the right way to go about things.

[@davidlewis5189]

Yet he still took the job...

[@cedarandsound]

​@@davidlewis5189 These are things he expressed after he took the job, meaning he found out after signing the contract and showing up to set. The only options for him were to quit or continue, based on his interviews it sounds like he shrugged and continued. What are you suggesting he should've done?

[@wonkywaddlingwaterwingedwriter]

Mollie just pay the ransom so we can get Alex back.

[@nathanshank280]

😂😂

[@straybard_art]

I'm confused - whats the inside joke?

[@Ulysses75]

Also gives a neat spin to the confrontation between Qimir and Sol in Ep5 where Sol says “what do you want?” and Qimir says “I want a pupil” which is EXACTLY what Sol shows that he wants in this latest episode. N’dara even says to Sol “that’s why I have a padawan, and you do not”. He seeks a noble cause, maybe he seeks a padawan to train so that he can be moving towards becoming a Jedi Master?

[@rikard.h]

Oh that's good. This episode connects back to so many things earlier in the show. That line is also another reason why Sol lost his cool in that fight with Qimir. He know very well his desires clouded his judgement on Brendok and is reminded yet again.

[@cowetascore8476]

The central mystery of this show is how the f*ck it ever got greenlighted

[@Crocthunder]

Id love to see you chat with Generation tech more, hes got some DEEP insight

[@thebeerthrillers]

Not a single character is SMART in this show, and its why actions and things happen.

[@BigMan.270]

You need smart scriptwriters to have smart characters.

[@thebeerthrillers]

@@BigMan.270 Exactly!

[@ariesstorm9577]

Also there’s a cool KOTOR Easter egg/reference in this episode. Torbin is said to be from the planet Bonadan, a planet known for making suits of armour in both KOTOR games.

[@mudawott]

Making Indaras death retroactively really tragic is such a ballsy decision and they did it so well. Episode 3 paints her badly, but her fight in episode one where she protects a civilian and gets herself killed also paints a picture. Marrying them by having Indara be the voice of reason, someone who covered up what happened not to save anyones hide but Osha's. She cleans up Sol's mess because Osha needed someone. Even the way her death is the first because in Mae's mind it was Indara and Sol who caused everything. At every turn she is a jedi. Pragmatic, yet compassionate and kind. Torbins panic and desire to get off world is motivated by having been possessed and bored. It was the job of Soul to stop him from doing something stupid and sol instead encoueages it. I actually felt bad for him.

[@xoronin]

There are many things I could say but I'm going to be a rational human being and say I'm glad you liked it...

[@baybears9507]

How does he like this? I truly love this channel but his defense of this awful show makes me question any future opinions of his

[@xoronin]

@@baybears9507 I hear you trust me. all I can say is "everything is awesome" if you know you know lol

[@DenDhur]

​He keeps gaslighting himself to like every single thing SW releases or rather he has removed any sense of criticism because criticism = "negativity" = bad fan.