GamesRadar+ VerdictSecrets are at last revealed in an episode that retreads old ground and speeds through what should be pivotal moments.
GamesRadar+ Verdict
GamesRadar+ Verdict
Secrets are at last revealed in an episode that retreads old ground and speeds through what should be pivotal moments.
Secrets are at last revealed in an episode that retreads old ground and speeds through what should be pivotal moments.
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Warning: The following contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 7. Turn back now if you’re not up to date!
The Acolytehas finally lifted the veil on its closely-held secrets – and the long-awaited answers are… disappointing?
The episode takes us back to Brendok, where we watch the events of that fateful night the witches died unfold again, though, this time, from the Jedi’s point of view. It’s an excellent opportunity to murky the waters, blur the boundaries between dark and light, and generally make us question what we know about the Jedi Order.
We discover that Indara has no intention of ever taking the twins back to Coruscant, too, and the tragedy essentially comes down to Padawan Torbin being homesick and impatient. Bad things for a Jedi to be, of course, but when he races away with Sol in tow to find proof of the vergence and return to Coruscant, it’s 0-100 in the worst way. It just all feels rushed.
Impulsive action
(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)
When Torbin and Sol arrive, Mae has already set the fire that will spiral out of control across the entire coven. She doesn’t mean for it to spread so much, though, so she seeks the help of Mother Aniseya, who is facing Sol and Torbin.
Koril then possesses Kelnacca, and another well-choreographed fight scene plays out as the Jedi try to subdue him. This is how Torbin gets his scars, and Lee Jung-jae and Carrie-Anne Moss both get to show off some impressive acrobatics, so it’s interesting enough to watch. The problem, though, is that the entire coven is working in tandem to possess Kelnacca, and when Indara moves to free him from the mind control, every single woman seemingly drops dead. Why? I have absolutely no idea. Did Indara do something to them, or was it merely a side effect of their powers being countered? It’s left frustratingly unexplained.
The choice to lie to Osha about what happened on Brendok comes down to Indara saying they shouldn’t take her dream away from her after so much tragedy. It’s a bizarrely saccharine – and plot-convenient – sentiment from a Jedi who all episode has been cautioning against attachment and going against the Council. It’s a strange ending to a strange flashback, and to learn the Brendok mystery essentially boils down to a couple of impulsive decisions made on the spur of the moment is very disappointing when the opportunity to delve into the Jedi’s way of thinking against adark coven of witcheswith their own ideas on the Force was so vast.
The wrong perspective
(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)
Quite frankly, it’s an entire episode that probably could’ve been slimmed down to a much shorter flashback interspersed with the – far more interesting – situations Mae and Osha find themselves in now. That would’ve avoided showing us the same events again from an ever-so-slightly different angle, and it would also mean Sol could’ve been explaining his own actions, fleshing out the weird, more rushed moments. When the present is so fascinating, spending an entire episode stuck in the past is a misjudgment.
It’s also intriguing to learn that the twins are one life form split into two, which ties into The Acolyte’s overall themes of duality. Could they be adyad? We’ll have to wait to find out. Again, this is something the episode could have dwelled on more if we hadn’t spent theentireruntime on Brendok.
There are still questions remaining as we head into the finale, then, and I’m struggling to see how The Acolyte can wrap up Osha and Mae’s story in just one more episode when they’re still separated. We might be looking at future seasons, but I’m still hoping for season 1 to tell a complete story in its own right (as the showrunner promised). At the moment, it looks unlikely, and that would be a shame for a series that has held such potential.
The Acolyte continues weekly onDisneyPlus. For more on the Star Wars show, check out our deep dives on:
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More about the acolyte
Star Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla StenbergThe Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show
Star Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg
Star Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg
The Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show
The Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show
LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest►
Latest
I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”