Acolyte features Darth Plagueis on screen for the first time, revealing that his superpower has a more complicated history than previously believed.
The Acolyte series took an unexpected turn into the Star Wars universe, introducing Darth Plagueis to the screen for the first time. Showrunner Leslye Headland has confirmed that the terrifying figure in Brendock is actually one of the most powerful of the Sith, Darth Plagueis. Until now, little had been established about Plagueis in the official canon.
The first creatures were created with energy
In the Legends stories, Plagueis’ history is extensive, but in the Star Wars movies and series, information about Plagueis is mainly limited to his role as Palpatine’s Sith Master and his incredible ability to create life and remove death. With the arrival of the acolyte, this story has become richer, indicating where the obsession with creating life comes from.
As Acolyte’s ending points out, Osha and Mai are not the first creatures created with the Force. Explaining to Mai why he killed his mother, Anicea, Sol says that he believes his mother created them using his powers, adding that “there have been very few powers in the history of the galaxy.” Although not direct proof that others were created with the power, it does mean that Soul knows there is a history of this power.
Desperate to save and understand Osha, Sol probably researched everything he could about the concepts within the Force and its ability to create life. Although he cannot confirm that the Force vergence exists in Brendock and was used to create the girls, his comments to Mae suggest that he found something valuable in his research. It is reasonable to think that this power existed long before the use of anisea. It seems implausible that Anicea found and used this power on her own.
A search for the ancient power of the Sith
Whether or not the series is renewed for a second season, the return of Darth Plagueis in the Acolyte finale carries a lot of weight. If renewed, perhaps the story of Plagueis will be explored further by seeing Kimimir and Osha on an unfamiliar planet. It’s unclear what Plagueis has to do with Kymir, whether he’s the Sith master or if he’s a serial real Sith, Kymir being a mere impersonator.
However, Darth Plagueis’ legacy speaks for itself and is already sanctified in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, when Palpatine shares Plagueis’ tragedy with Anakin. Although this means that the ending is the last episode of Acolyte, the implications are the same. Plagueis makes it clear that he is interested in Kymir and Osha, especially Osha, as it is proven that he is created with power, the power that Plagueis seeks.
If Sol’s comment to Mee indicates that others have the power to create life, then Plagueis is not looking for a new power, but one that the Sith already have. Since the Jedi see it as “unnatural”, it seems unlikely that the creation of life could be the power of the light side of the Force. If so, Plaguey’s efforts may have been aimed at recapturing the abilities he knew once belonged to the Sith.
The creation of Osha and May has nothing to do with Anakin
Although there were concerns that Osha and May’s origins might affect Anakin Skywalker’s status as the Chosen One, that did not happen. Clearly, neither Osha nor Mae are the chosen ones, and neither will take that title away from Anakin. Although Osha and Mae were created with the Force and have no father, their origin stories are completely different.
The prophecy of the Chosen One was essentially the Messiah who would restore balance to the Force, and the Jedi continued that perception by seeing Anakin (before his fall, of course) as a savior. This is a far cry from Osha and Mai’s story, which has more to do with the Jedi’s anxiety at finding out what Anisea did. In fact, fear of the witches’ power led to the coven’s massacre.
Anakin’s Legacy and the Search for Plagueis
If there’s anything to do with Anakin’s story with Mae and Osha, it’s probably Darth Plagueis who makes him crave this power. No, The Acolyte will not ruin Anakin Skywalker’s legacy. In fact, The Acolyte seems to be setting the stage for Star Wars to reveal new details about Anakin Skywalker’s concept of the life-creating force exploring Plagueis.
All episodes of The Acolyte are now available on Disney+.