Summary
The Acolytehas introduced brand-new insights about the Sith inStar Wars, and this theory suggests it could completely re-frame one key scene fromStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Set 100 years beforeStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceinthe High Republic Era,The Acolytehad the perfect opportunity to shed new light uponStar Warsmovies and TV shows, and so far, it has taken advantage. Arguably the biggest impactThe Acolytehas had is on the history and understanding of the Sith.
Star Wars’most powerful Sithhave long been one of the biggest areas of interest in the franchise, dating back to Darth Vader inA New Hope. However, it seemed doubtfulThe Acolytewould introduce a new Sith, as the Jedi believed they were extinct during this era. Qimir/the Stranger, presumed to beStar Wars’newest Sith, therefore shook things up considerably, and secrets about him are still being revealed. Already, though,the introduction of Qimir and his interests inThe Acolytemay have major implications forStar Wars, one keyAttack of the Clonesscene in particular.
9 Theories About Manny Jacinto’s Sith Lord After The Acolyte Episode 6
The Acolyte episode 6 revealed a lot about Qimir, but it also sparked more questions, leading to many theories about the Sith Lord—here are 9 of them.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
InAttack of the Clones, Count Dooku had Obi-Wan Kenobi captured on Geonosis and went, seemingly, to interrogate him. However, things took an interesting turn when he instead began revealing much of his (and his master’s) plan to Obi-Wan. In the interaction, Dooku referenced the corruption of the Senate, no doubt setting the stage for his opposition as the leader of the Separatists in the Clone Wars.
From there, Dooku elaborated, shockingly detailing precisely what he and Darth Sidious were scheming. Specifically, Dooku asked Obi-Wan,“What if I told you that the Republic is now under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith?“When Obi-Wan protested, Dooku again revealed essential information, telling Obi-Wan directly that the dark side of the Force had clouded their vision—something that Palpatine very specifically did to make sure he went undetected.
Most unbelievable of all, though, is thatCount Dooku even named Darth Sidious directly, telling Obi-Wan that he controlled multiple senators. Surely, this was in an effort to win over Obi-Wan’s trust, as it was only then that Dooku asked Obi-Wan to join him, telling him together they could destroy the Sith (an obvious lie). When Obi-Wan refused, Dooku abandoned his efforts and left.
At first, this frankly seemed almost like sentimentality. Dooku, by all accounts, seems to have genuinely cared for his former Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn, and, as Obi-Wan was Qui-Gon’s Padawan, that soft spot seems to have transferred. Dooku even alluded to this, in fact, telling Obi-Wan,“Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you. I wish he were still alive; I could use his help right now.“Much more may have been at work, however.
It has always seemed a bit odd that Count Dooku would reveal so much of the truth to Obi-Wan inAttack of the Clones. While, yes, Dooku was very conceited and loved to boast, this was an odd misstep even for him. However,The Acolytemay have revealed why Count Dooku was behaving this way and what intentions were lurking beneath the surface.
It has always seemed a bit odd that Count Dooku would reveal so much of the truth to Obi-Wan inAttack of the Clones.
The Acolytehas introduced a new structure to the Sith or, at least, an amendment tothe Sith Rule of Two. The original Rule of Two indicated that there were only ever two Sith, a master and an apprentice. For quite some time, this seemed to be the case, until the sequel trilogy complicated that. Now, though,The Acolytehas made a much bigger alteration, revealing that there is another part of this lineage.
Specifically,The Acolyterevealed that the true Sith structure is: Master, Apprentice, and Acolyte. As the Rule of Two already established, the apprentice will always seek to overthrow the master; with an acolyte being next in line, the apprentice can finally strike. This is precisely why Qimir is seeking an acolyte, and, presumably, this means he is the Sith apprentice seeking to overthrow his master. While this is fascinating enough in the show, it may also mean that this odd scene inAttack of the Clonescan finally be explained.
Count Dooku
Clearly, based on what Count Dooku was willing to tell Obi-Wan, he had every intention of overthrowing his master, andhe may have even been positioning himself to be a hero to both the Jedi and the Republic. After all, Dooku told Obi-Wan that the Sith had infiltrated the Senate. While he may have been a fallen Jedi, this would have (falsely) shown the Jedi that he was working against the Sith and shown the Republic that he was looking to protect them.
This would have also brought the Jedi over to Dooku’s side, using the Jedi Order itself as a weapon, which would have made it even more likely that Darth Sidious would have fallen to them. In fact,this plan would have been all the more effective given the Jedi’s history with Count Dooku. The Jedi had already proven their willingness to still trust Dooku, as they refused to believe he could be behind Padmé’s assassination attempt when she suspected he was.
Interestingly, this would have seen him taking up the torch for Palpatine, presumably playing the same role of the secret Sith in the Senate that Palpatine went on to play. This was nevertheless a terrible plan. It would have taken much more than one conversation and a reference to Obi-Wan’s beloved former master to get him to betray the Jedi and the Republic and work in secret as Dooku’s Sith apprentice. Even so, it seems quite likely that Count Dooku was hoping Obi-Wan would become his Acolyte.
It seems quite likely that Count Dooku was hoping Obi-Wan would become his Acolyte.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
In the end, Obi-Wan unsurprisingly rejected Count Dooku’s offer, remaining committed to the dark side of the Force and the Jedi. At that point, Dooku’s allegiance to Palpatine seemed to grow stronger than ever, especially considering how hard he fought for Sidious and the Separatists during the Clone Wars. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as, inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine had Anakin execute him.
It’s possible that, given his impressive wisdom, Palpatine may have even uncovered this attempt by Dooku somehow, which could have contributed to his decision to have his apprentice killed and replaced. Of course, it’s more likely that Dooku was always expendable and temporary for Palpatine. Not only had he already proven how swiftly he could replace an apprentice following Darth Maul’s death, but also, he clearly always had his sights truly set on Anakin. Even so, this new information inThe Acolytesuggests what Count Dooku may have been up to all along.
New episodes of The Acolyte release on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
The Acolyte
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.
