A Recap of ‘The Acolyte’ Episodes 7 & 8
Written by Michael Lee
*All Media used in this article is courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd. & Disney
Video Courtesy: Walt Disney Pictures
‘The Acolyte’ Episode 7 Recap: “Choice”
Sixteen years earlier, on the planet Brendock; Sol, Torbin, Kelnacca, and Indara are collecting samples of planetary flora and fauna, surveying the planet for research to report back to the Jedi Council. They are investigating a potential vergence in the Force, one that could potentially create life. The investigation has been a large undertaking for the Jedi, as they’ve been on Brendock for seven weeks with nothing to show for it. Torbin is upset at their lack of progress but his Master, Indara, informs him that this planet was categorized as lifeless due to a hyperspace disaster yet Brendock is somehow thriving. Torbin expresses his distaste for the mission but Sol reminds him of the vergence and its importance to the Jedi, to which Kelnacca agrees with a mighty, yet timid roar.
Sometime later, Sol stumbles across the tree to which we’ve seen Mae and Osha under before. It is revealed that the scene has played out the same as we’ve seen it from Mae and Osha’s perspective in Episode 3, but this time with Sol watching. Again, Mae and Osha are fighting over the insect they’ve captured, with their bickering directly in Sol’s view. Sol is surprised, as they have believed this planet to be uninhabited, so Sol immediately contacts Indara over his commlink. Sol follows Mae and Osha, being led back to their coven by Mother Koril. Sol scales the wall of their encampment, now having a full view of Mae, Osha, Mother Aniseya and the rest of the coven, again witnessing scenes we’ve already seen play out, this time however, from the Jedi’s perspective. Sol sees members of the coven worshiping a massive crater built into the cliff as he watches on, carefully.
Back at the Jedi’s camp, Indara and Sol discuss his findings. They are not Nightsisters of Dathomir, of this Indarra is sure, but a different kind of Force witch, something they do not immediately understand. Sol informs them they are making two young girls, Osha and Mae, perform some sort of ritual ceremony. Indara wishes to inform the High Council for guidance, but Sol begs her to see for herself what he’s seen.
The group of Jedi arrive at the coven’s gate, with Kelnacca hotwiring the gate in order for the Jedi to gain access. Indara wishes to go alone, but Torbin and Sol convince her it’s better to go as a group. We see the Jedi meet with the Witches once again, but again from the perspective of the Jedi. Though we see Mother Aniseya haunt Torbin, worming her way around his head, promising that she can help him escape this planet. She sees the weakness in Torbin and attempts to exploit it but Torbin manages to shake her grip upon him. Mother Aniseya excuses the Jedi and they go back to their ship, again to test Osha and Mae.
Sol tells Indara that he believes Osha is meant to be his Padawan, that it is destined to be. Sol argues that Osha must be trained as a Jedi, but Indara refuses, citing that she is too old to undergo the Jedi trials. Torbin brings Mae aboard, asking to test her blood, likely to gauge her Midacholorian count. Indara gives Mae the test, but Mae purposefully fails. Indara asks Mae about their Ascension ritual, with Mae saying that she and Osha will eventually lead their coven. They excuse Mae, but Sol begs Indara to try a different approach with Osha. Osha informs the Jedi of her wish to join them, but Indara isn’t entirely sure.
Indara sends the bloodwork of the twins to the Jedi High Council and awaits their further instruction, advising Torbin, Sol, and Kelnacca to return to their field studies while she waits. Sol informs Indara that Osha passed the test, but informs Sol to await the Council.
Later, Sol senses that something is amiss and Indara reveals that the Council denies both Mae and Osha to join the Jedi. Sol attempts to argue with Indara, but Indarra is firm. Torbin arrives with the blood analysis of the twins, claiming they have an extremely high Midochlorian count. But the two share the same symbionts are the same, which would not be the case if they were truly twins. He argues that even identical twins would have different symbionts. They agree that they are artificially created with a single consciousness split into two bodies, with Sol arguing they are the vergence they have been seeking. Torbin hears enough, as he is ready to return home, so he takes a speeder back to the coven despite Sol and Indara’s yells, hoping to find proof that Mae and Osha are indeed vergence in the Force.
Back at the coven, we see the same scenes unfold, with Osha informing Mother Aniseya that she wishes to become a Jedi. Mother Koril radicalizes Mae with her anger, hoping she will be enough to stop the Jedi from taking Osha. The coven discusses with Mother Anisiya that they do not wish for Osha to go, but she informs them it is Osha’s decision and no one else's. We see Mae start the fire once again.
Sol immediately follows Torbin and the two of them confront the entirety of the Force Coven before Indara and Kelnacca arrive, attempting to save the girls from their Ascension ceremony. The Coven attempts to prepare for combat as they too confront Sol and Torbin. Mother Aniseya references her distaste for the Jedi Way to Sol and suddenly Mae arrives, begging her mother for help with the spreading fire as the Coven and Jedi prepare for battle. Torbin withdraws his lightsaber and Mother Aniseya screams “No” and melts into smoke as Sol withdraws his lightsaber, killing her. Her last words to Sol is that she was going to let Osha go.
Kelnacca arrives, but the witches inhibit him, using him to attack both Sol and Torbin only for Indarra to overpower them, releasing Kelnacca. The witches are all attempting to cast some sort of spell, likely for possessing the Wookie, but they fail, ultimately falling dead from the power. The fire rages on and Mae and Osha are separated from the same burning bridge, choosing to save Osha over Mae, as he only has the power to save one. Sol takes Mae and the team return to Coruscant. Indara decides to blame the entire incident on Mae and she does not inform the council of the true happenings on Brendock so that Sol can train Osha as his Padawan.
‘The Acolyte’ Episode 7 Recap: “The Acolyte”
The episode begins with Osha inside Qimirs cave, with Osha still meditating inside Qimir’s Sith helmet. When Osha begins to panic within the mask, Qimir attempts to use the Force to remove the helmet, but his eyes turn black, as if he has become possessed. He removes the helmet, but not without a struggle. Osha informs Qimir that she saw a vision of Mae murdering Sol without a weapon and though she had a lightsaber in hand, she did not use it. Qimir informs Osha of his similar vision, with Osha remarking that the future is not fixed and that she will change it. Qimir is ready to track Sol and Mae, telling Osha that he knows where they are and the two board his ship.
Meanwhile Sol has set course for Brendok, with Mae still bound on the medbay bed. Sol informs Mae that he will contact Vernestra to meet him on Brendok, along with a group of Jedi soldiers. Mae questions Sol about this, with Sol informing her of a vergence on the planet, planning to use both Osha and Mae to prove for once and for all an existence of a vergence on Brendock. Mae activates Pip, now hacked, to attempt to escape.
Mae confronts Sol about her mothers murder, with Sol admitting it was an accident. Mae asks why Sol didn’t tell Osha of the truth and questions his decision to blame Mae for the tragic events. Sol still blames Mae for the fire, telling her she still trapped everyone within the fortress. Mae counters his point, blaming him and the other Jedi for invading their home, blaming the four Jedi for the death of the coven. With this, Mae uses Pip to unlock her restraints. Sol defends the Jedi’s rights to intervene, admitting to Mae that his biggest regret was that he couldn’t save both girls. He informs Mae that she and Oshs are not twins or even sisters, but Mae manages to subdue Soll with Pip’s stun gun.
Mae flees, escaping in an escape pod with Bazil on her heel, heads for Brendok. Sol pursues Mae through an asteroid belt, trying to close in on Mae’s ship until Bazil rips out several wires within the cockpit, causing Sol and Mae’s ship to collide, leaving both ships hurtling toward Brendok’s atmosphere.
Back at Coruscant in the Jedi Temple, Master Rwoh meets with Sentaro Rayencourt. He informs Vernestra that he has heard of their murder investigation and questions her decision to not report this to the Senate. She explains the need to keep it internal, exposing that she does not believe there is a larger threat to the Senate, only to the Jedi and that they are close to apprehending the suspect in question.
Rayencourt informs Vernestra that the Jedi are a system of unchecked power, only posing as a religion. He informs her that he believes that the Jedi are cultists of delusion who only claim to control the uncontrollable. Vernestra counters, saying they do not control the Force, but Rayencourt refers to their emotions, not their magic. Rwoh retaliates, saying that his opinion is not one shared by the rest of the Senate. Rayencourt warns her that he has reported her lack of transparency to Supreme Chancellor Drellik.
Osha and Qimir cross the causeway to the starship, with Qimir questioning Osha’s unwillingness to share her ultimate destination. Qimir asks Osha to be his Padawan, but she declines. After their starship departs, a cloaked figure, with glowing orange eyes watches on. This is suspected to be Darth Plagueis, Palpatine’s Master referenced in Revenge of the Sith.
Meanwhile, Sol has arrived on Brendok and activates his transponder switch. He leaves, while Bazil watches from the cockpit. Back at the Jedi Council, Vernestra uses a transmitter, telling them she needs to get in touch with them, urgently. A Jedi arrives to inform her that they have tracked Sol to Brendok. She prepares her starship for departure, speaking to a resolution. Mae and Qimirr also land on Brendok close to the coven’s former fortress with Osha informing Qimir that Sol has already arrived.
Sol spots Mae and Qimir’s ship and walks through the abandoned fortress, haunted by the memories of his sixteen year old trauma. Osha and Qimir reach the fortress, with Osha proposing repairing the elevator instead of climbing. Qimirr disappears. Suddenly, Mae appears, climbing out of the pit with Pip, visiting her and Osha’s old bedroom. Back at the elevator base, Osha hotwires the elevator, restoring it.
Sol is confronted by Qimir and the two engage in combat. Mae and Osha meet in their childhood bedroom and the two attempt to reason with one another, but the two break out in hand to hand combat. Mae informs Osha that she witnessed Sol killing their mother. She accuses Sol of lying to Osha since she left their home. Mae asserts that Sol is responsible for Osha's negative emotions. With nervousness in her voice, Mae approaches Osha, emphasizing that Sol is the one who failed, not Osha. Mae retreats.
As Sol and Qimir duel, the two are evenly matched until Sol breaks the deadlock by deactivating his lightsaber and breaking free. Mae interrupts Sol and manages to steal his lightsaber. Qimir urges Mae to strike Sol down, but Mae argues he should stand trial. Sol reveals that she and Osha are not twins but rather the same individual. Sol theorizes that Mother Aniseya, utilizing the vergence on Brendok, harnessed the power of the Force to create life. Specifically, Sol believes that Aniseya used this ability to bring forth both Mae and Osha into existence through her manipulation of the Force. While Sol speaks, Osha arrives, stealing Sol’s lightsaber.
Sol reveals the entire truth to Osha, revealing how her mother died and the circumstances surrounding their initial meeting. This angers Osha, upset by Sol’s manipulation. Osha angrily kills Sol using the Force, corrupting the kyber crystal in his lightsaber which bleeds, turning from blue to red, showcasing Osha’s final descent to the Dark Side.
She and Mae escape before Vernestra arrives with a group of Jedi and locates Sol’s body. When landing, Verenestra senses Qimir, as it is revealed the two somehow know each other. Osha and Mae finally reconcile, and Osha finally agrees to train with Qimir. He wipes Mae’s memory. Back on Coruscant, the Senate has grown weary of the Jedi and launches into an investigation. It is here that Vernestra blames the events on Brendok on Sol, as well as the murders of Indara, Torbin, and Kelnacca. We learn that Qimir was once her apprentice, as she reveals to Mae. As the series ends, Vernestra reports to Jedi Master Yoda.
