The new Star Wars series, The Acolyte, has just arrived on Disney+ and features one of the key points in the Jedi’s war against the Sith.
In the second episode of The Acolyte, Lucasfilm’s new live-action series set in the Star Wars universe, the central character is revealed to have an interesting mission to eliminate the Jedi without using any weapons. Showrunner Leslye Headland gives us a deeper insight into this extraordinary feat.
In the second episode of the series, we see Mae under the command of a dark side enigmatic warrior who has tasked her with killing several Jedi, but with a very different situation for at least one of the victims: no one can use any weapon. This order has created a lot of speculation among fans.
In an interview with GQ, Leslie Helland explained the reasoning behind this desire. “At this point we want to make it clear that Jedi don’t attack unarmed people. That’s against their code. They don’t fight battle druids or other lightsabers. Simply put, Jedi don’t try to hurt unarmed people even if they’re attacked,” Helland said.
Psychological warfare
Helland explains Mae’s strategy: “What Mae is doing, killing without a lightsaber, represents psychological warfare.” He tries to persuade the Jedi to break their code. And if you achieve that, it’s an even stronger victory. Mae always tries that first, but due to her lack of discipline, she always ends up pulling the knives because she wants to kill. In the first two episodes, he managed to kill two Jedi with a gun, but two more remained. Your objective is to kill one without using a weapon. But he wants everyone dead.
The question many are asking is whether May can accomplish this deadly mission without the use of weapons. To find out, we’ll have to wait until episode 4. The Acolyte follows the investigation of a series of shocking crimes that pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-ja) against a dangerous warrior from the past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, nefarious forces go down a dark path, revealing that nothing is as it seems.
Star cast
The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-Jae, Manny Jacinto, Daphne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Jonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Leslye Headland as creator and executive producer, along with Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. With King and Jason Micallef, The Acolyte promises to be a hit. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are co-executive producers, while Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Eileen Shim and Rob Brew round out the production team.
Headland also directed the premiere episodes (Ep. 101 and 102). Directors Kogonada (Ep. 103 & 107), Alex Garcia Lopez (Ep. 104 & 105) and Hanel Culpepper (Ep. 106 & 108) complete series directing duties. “I wanted to tell a Sith story,” Headland said in an interview with EW. “I was dreaming about Star Wars. But the most exciting time to do it seemed to be something before The Phantom Menace.”
Award-winning soundtrack
Award-winning composer Michael Abel, known for his work on Get Out and Us, provided Acolyte’s soundtrack, adding more emotion and depth to the series.
With its compelling narrative and exploration of Jedi ethics, The Acolyte is shaping up to be a series that not only entertains, but challenges the expectations and norms of the Star Wars universe. Will Mae accomplish her mission without breaking the Jedi Code? That’s a question that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.
The series invites us to reflect on the boundaries and principles on which it is based, a strength that tests not only the characters but also the audience.