Summary
The mysterious villain ofThe Acolyteis fully revealed in one incredible work of art. The master who has been trainingMae (Amandla Stenberg)in the secrets of the dark side has been revealed to have beenQimir (Manny Jacinto)all along, despite the latter’s presumed role as her helper. After her master loses his mask and reveals his true identity, Qimir becomes a completely different person. Suddenly, he takes on a sinister demeanor with lightsaber skills to match.
The Acolyte’s Sith Lord Helmet Explained
The Sith Lord of The Acolyte wore a very unique helmet, but it wasn’t just a cool mask, it also helped him in battle in a few surprising ways.
Digital artistuzuriarthas brought this Sith Lord to life in her latest piece on Instagram. Qimir stands menacingly in the foreground, holding his red lightsaber and staring straight ahead through disheveled hair. The caption simply reads, “The Stranger,” a short and simple addition to match its mysterious subject.
Shadowing Qimir’s menacing stance is a shadowy look at the helmet that had been concealing his identity. Cast in shades of red and black,the art has a chilling effect worthy of the villain responsible for such a devastating Jedi massacre. It also perfectly captures Jacinto’s essence in the role, catching that smug yet threatening look that had everyone floored when his face was finally revealed.
The Stranger Follows George Lucas' Oldest Trick
Qimir’s first introduction inThe Acolytemade him seem like he was nothing more than a nervous criminal who was tangled up with the mysterious dark side user who had been training Mae. This is a pretty familiar strategy inStar Wars, calling all the way back toThe Empire Strikes Backwhen Luke Skywalker was seeking out the Jedi Master Yoda to train him in the ways of the Force. When Luke finally finds Yoda in the swamps of Dagobah,Yoda also seems like much less than the great master he really is.
Having The Acolyte mirror these past Star Wars reveals ties the projects together and implies that The Stranger will play a large role in the franchise.
This deception is also used by Darth Sidious, who poses as a harmless senator for years before making his move to seize the power of the Republic. The popular theory that Jar Jar Binks was meant to be a sinister agent of the dark side also echoes this trick, casting a possible Sith Lord as a silly and helpless character who seems to be no real threat. HavingThe Acolytemirror these pastStar Warsreveals ties the projects together and implies that The Stranger will play a large role in the franchise.
The Acolyteepisode 6 is now streaming. New episodes release Tuesdays at 9 PM ET 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.
