Summary
Darth Jar Jar is unlikely to ever become canon inStar Wars, butStar Wars: The Acolytejust revealed a major Sith plot twist that is almost as good.The Darth Jar Jar theoryinitially started as a bit of a joke in the franchise, but over time,Star Warsaudiences have come to genuinely hope a Sith Jar Jar Binks will be canonized inStar Warsmovies and TV shows. The theory posits that, based on some of Jar Jar Binks' odd behaviors and his at times unusual physical abilities, he may in fact be Force-sensitive.
The real crux of the theory, however, is that beyond just being Force-sensitive,Jar Jar Binks is a Sith who has been working with Palpatine in secret. This is substantiated by the number of times Jar Jar’s actions benefited Palpatine, most notably when Jar Jar pushed for Palpatine to receive emergency powers in the Senate. While this theory is almost certainly too outlandish to ever be confirmed in canon,Star Warsjust gave audiences the next best thing with its Sith reveal inThe Acolyteepisode 5.
6 Unanswered Questions About The Acolyte’s Sith Lord After Episode 5
While The Acolyte episode 5 answered one of the show’s biggest questions, it also created new mysteries surrounding its compelling Sith Lord.
Star Wars' New Sith Lord Plays The Darth Jar Jar Twist Straight
The Acolyte’smost recent plot twist involved the reveal thatQimir, once thought to be Mae’s somewhat quirky accomplice, was in fact the masked villain known as the Stranger. Although episode 4 had already dropped a number of hints that this twist was coming, making it somewhat less surprising, what made this twist downright shocking was the way Qimir’s demeanor completely switched. Although he had previously been a bit odd and perhaps even charming, he turned into a ruthless killer who cut down multiple Jedi without a second thought.
This may be as close asStar Warsever comes to making Darth Jar Jar canon.
This may be as close asStar Warscomes to making Darth Jar Jar canon, as Qimir’s story mirrors the arc of Darth Jar Jar—a goofy sidekick who is ultimately revealed to secretly be a Sith. In Qimir’s case, this is a bit complicated, asThe Acolytehasn’t confirmed that Qimir/the Stranger is a Sith. Rather, Qimir is clearly a dark side Force-user who tells Master Sol that the Jedi might refer to him as such. Even with confirmation of Qimir’s Sith status hanging in the balance, though,The Acolytehas introduced a Darth Jar Jar-style plot twist.
Qimir Has Captured The Imagination… Just Like Darth Jar Jar
The similarities between Qimir and the theoretical Darth Jar Jar don’t end there, though. Rather,Qimir is also reminiscent of Darth Jar Jar in his popularity. Unfortunately,The Acolytefell victim to harsh scrutiny and criticism even before the show released, and the backlash didn’t ease up when episodes began premiering. Up untilThe Acolyteepisode 5, in fact, each new episode seemed to spur on new waves of negativity. This changed with the episode in which Qimir/the Stranger was finally unmasked.
Following that reveal in episode 5,The Acolytehas experienced a bit of a turning point in reception. Part of this is undoubtedly the Darth Jar Jar effect; even with the turn being somewhat predictable, this silly sidekick to terrifying villain arc is a compelling one. However, likeStar Warsvillains before him, Qimir has also captivated audiences with stunning lightsaber skills, brutal lines, and, yes, his looks. While those factors are surely at play,Star Wars: The Acolytehas also drawnStar Warsaudiences in with this story so closely aligned with the fan-favorite Darth Jar Jar theory.
New episodes of The Acolyte release on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
