Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Acolyte episode 6!
Summary
The Acolyteshowrunner Leslye Headland has revealed the heartbreaking truth behind what happens when someone leaves the Jedi, explaining the intricacies behind the decision. TheStar Warsshow’s major focus has been on twin sisters Osha and Mae (Amandla Stenberg), with Osha being a former Padawan who left that life behind. However, episode 6 revealed that Qimir, who turned out to be the mysterious Sith master onThe Acolyte’s cast, was also a former Jedi who betrayed his master long ago. He later left them, though it’s unclear how the process would have gone.
Speaking withCollider, Headland revealed more about how people leave the Jedi, explaining that there’s a heartbreaking ceremony involved in the process. ConsultingStar Wars' creative manager Pablo Hidalgo, the showrunner explained howForce users who leave must give up their lightsabers before they depart.Check out what Headland had to say about the ceremony below:
Pablo Hidalgo and I talked about that alotbecause, obviously, in Ahsokawe see that, but in live-action, we haven’t totally seen the process of what that would look like. But one thing Pablo and I talked about was turning in your saber — that there would be a ceremony around relinquishing your saber and that it would happen of your own free will. It wouldn’t betakenfrom you, you would offer it up, and it would be a part of the ceremony of your leaving. So, I just loved the concept of [Qimir] tapping into, again, this part of [Osha] that is quote-unquote missing and saying, “How does it feel to hold one in your hand again?” Because that’s a tactile way of saying, “Clearly, you miss it.”
Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide - Cast Members, Biggest Takeaways & Easter Eggs
Here’s everything you need to follow along with Star Wars: The Acolyte, from references and trivia to main takeaways from each new episode.
This Jedi Ceremony Sounds Like The Most Painful Moment Imaginable
The ceremony for Jedi to leave the Order appears to be one of the most painful moments a Force user can go through, giving up their place among people like them, as well as their defining weapon. Depending on how much animosity there is surrounding someone leaving, it could be an emotionally tumultuous event for anyone who decides they don’t want to be there anymore. While it’s unclear if Qimir went through a similar ceremony, the fact Headland and Hidalgo discussed it means it’s an important factor inThe Acolyte.
Leaving the Jedi Order in general also makes one more susceptible to influence from the dark side, since a Force user no longer has loyalty to the guardians of the light. This is further established inThe Acolyteepisode 6, with Qimir explaining his backstory throughout andOsha putting on his Sith helmetat the very end. While leaving the Jedi isn’t directly tied with embracing the dark side, it does open the door to outside influence, making the ceremony all the more tragic for those enticed by the Force’s other uses.
Given thatThe Acolyteepisode 7 is teasing a Jedi twist,the ceremony Headland mentions could have a larger role to play in the upcoming episodes.Perhaps it will shine a brighter light on why Qimir left the Order, while also indicating how tensions can form between Jedi and those who are forced to give up the mantle. With plenty of mysterious backstory left to be presented, the show could reveal more about this ceremony and its impact on those who go through it in the next episodes.
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.
