So who is The Acolyte’s Master? We think episode 4 makes it pretty clear

The Acolyte is maintaining the identification of the mysterious Sith Grasp secret, however — in our humble opinion — it couldn’t be clearer.

[Ed. note: This post is going to discuss the end of episode 4 of The Acolyte; spoilers are below.]

For a second, issues look actually unhealthy for the Grasp: Mae (Amandla Stenberg) and her loyalties have crossed over to the Jedi, leaving no matter her mission was unfulfilled. However when she exhibits as much as the home of Jedi Grasp Kelnacca to search out him lifeless (pour one out for an actual one), the home surrounded, and herself underneath suspicion, who ought to seem however her Grasp? Kicking ass even in a roughly four-on-one struggle.

There’s not many who may maintain their very own like that, even with the fearsome energy of the Darkish Facet. However now that the Grasp has bared their tooth — actually, with that bitchin’ helmet — we’ve gotten a greater sense of who they’re.

The reply is so clear!! Simply ask any of us.

The Grasp is… Qimir

If it wasn’t clear sufficient earlier than, it’s actually clear now. We final see Qimir (Manny Jacinto) when he will get caught in Mae’s entice, pleading together with her to let him down and never defect to the opposite facet. However we actually final see Qimir when he exhibits as much as struggle all of the Jedi and showcase the finer factors of his masks.

Let’s have a look at the information, lets? He’s dropped from the narrative (alternative); he’s to date scanned as wily and filled with guile (means) in a approach Star Wars characters traditionally aren’t; and his conversations with Mae this episode appeared remarkably… loaded (motive, or no matter we wish to name it). And what higher technique to watch his plan unfurl, masterfully shaping it as he goes alongside? In spite of everything, it labored for Sauron. —Zosha Millman

The Grasp is… a 3rd sister

Boy, it positive does seem to be it’s Manny Jacinto’s character, Qimir, proper? And just like the writers are taking part in that off as an enormous secret? However I’m reckoning that The Acolyte is cleverer than that. This present is essentially constructed round withholding as a lot data from the viewers as doable, generally producing a pretty complicated expertise. So I’m going to guess that the writers have additionally withheld one other fundamental reality. Mae and Osha aren’t twins, they’re triplets, and the third, lacking sister is the key Sith Grasp.

Take into consideration it. Star Wars has already carried out the Drive dyad factor. How do you iterate on that concept, make it extra thrilling, and lift the stakes? I offer you: the Drive triad. The place was their third sister in the course of the flashbacks of The Acolyte episode 3? No concept. Possibly she doesn’t get together with Mae any greater than Osha does, and selected to specific that extra forcefully, by avoiding the 2 of them. Possibly she had a Drive premonition about which approach the winds have been blowing for the coven, and jumped ship lengthy earlier than the occasions of episode 3. Possibly Mom Koril, the Zabrak coven member, realized Mom Aniseya was going to undermine her in elevating their daughters, and hid the third woman away for herself, which made the misplaced daughter so offended and lonely, she turned to the Darkish Facet.

Or, I dunno, perhaps the key Sith Grasp is three Child Yodas in a trenchcoat and helm. Wouldn’t that be a headline-grabber? —Tasha Robinson

The Grasp is… Mom Koril

Picture: Lucasfilm

Episode 3 of The Acolyte is all about what the story didn’t present: what actually brought on that e book fireplace to unfold uncontrollably; regardless of the Jedi did on Brendok that was so traumatic that Grasp Torbin devoted his life to the artwork of hovering; and the physique of Mom Koril, the Zabrak witch and start mom to Mae and Osha, who ought to be justifiably pissed about numerous stuff!

Mom Koril is one of many extra apparent solutions to be the Drive-wielder behind the toothy Sith masks, which just about makes me second-guess my very own principle. However the proof is sturdy right here; Koril would have the motive (her spouse and all of her buddies are lifeless!), bears a deep connection to her daughter/apprentice Mae, and, over the previous decade or so, in all probability discovered some powerfully arcane shit in regards to the Darkish Facet of the Drive. Plus, she’s the perfect candidate for saving Mae from what appeared to make sure loss of life on Brendok. Zabrak know survive a lethal fall right into a cavernous pit. —Michael McWhertor

The Grasp is… Vernestra Rwoh

Picture: Lucasfilm

Like a Star Wars fan, I’ve a foul feeling about this obstructionist Jedi Grasp. And like a Star Trek fan, I do know one factor: If there’s one official within the hierarchy who retains standing between the heroes and investigating the thriller, that official will undoubtedly turn into concerned within the thriller earlier than the top of the story.

You may say to me, “Susana, Rebecca Henderson is married to the showrunner. Leslye Headland wouldn’t make her wife the bad guy.” And I’d say that making anyone a foul man is simply giving them a meatier function.

You may say, “But Vernestra Rwoh is about the only character in the show who’s from the High Republic books! They wouldn’t turn an established good guy into a bad guy!” And I’d argue that the final time we noticed Grasp Rwoh, she was so disillusioned with the Jedi Order that she’d officially divested herself from it to hunt a lifetime of isolation within the distant areas of the galaxy. How did she get from there to a rating Jedi Knight? Did she climb these ranks solely to separate the group from inside? J’ACCUSE! —Susana Polo

The Grasp is… Keef Girgo

Picture: Lucasfilm

Who is Keef Girgo, you may ask? Who isn’t Keef Girgo, is extra like it. Keef Girgo is the assumed identify underneath which Cassian Andor goes to jail in Andor. At first look, it looks like simply one other very foolish Star Wars identify. However what if… it was extra??? What if Keef Girgo was truly a long-dead Sith Lord (with a really foolish Star Wars identify), and Andor grasped for the primary identify that got here to thoughts when confronted with Empire forces? What if Keef Girgo is the pendulum on which the galaxy swings?

Reader, at this level I’ve to degree with you. I simply wished to kind Keef Girgo yet another time. I’ve missed it a lot. I wanted my repair. So I’ll depart you with how I ended my earlier missive on Keef Girgo:

Keef. Girgo. Keef! Girgo! Say it loud, and there’s (cantina) music taking part in. Say it tender and it’s virtually like (a tauntaun) braying. Keef Girgo! I can’t cease saying Keef Girgo! —Pete Volk

The Grasp is… Jar Jar Binks

Picture: Lucasfilm

I’ve by no means been a fan of the Sith Lord Jar Jar principle, but when Lucasfilm is going to do it, this is the second. For these who don’t know, a fan theory on Reddit kicked off the concept that perhaps Jar Jar Binks wasn’t fairly who he portrayed himself to be. In actual fact, the idea asks, what if he was solely pretending to be a bumbling fool as a result of he was truly the key, super-powerful Sith Lord manipulating even Palpatine himself.

On its face, this principle is tremendously foolish, which is not less than half the enjoyable. So why trouble making it canon now? Effectively, The Acolyte is in a precarious place. On the one hand, it has to disclose somebody because the mysterious Grasp that Mae’s been following. Alternatively, as different folks right here have indicated, there aren’t many good choices within the present itself, and there aren’t even too many nice ones within the bigger Star Wars canon. So why not shake it up? Why not reveal that Jar Jar’s not only a Sith Lord, however a near-immortal who’s been working in opposition to the Jedi and Yoda particularly for practically so long as both of them have been alive — all the way in which again to the times of the Excessive Republic.

You thought Star Wars was the story of the Skywalkers? No, with this, The Acolyte would reveal that it’s truly a few thousand-year-long struggle between two equally goofy-looking creatures who hate one another’s guts. —Austen Goslin