The Acolyte ending explained: Season 2, Star Wars cameos, and a major mystery revealed

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EntertainmentTVSci-Fi ShowsStar Wars TV ShowsThe AcolyteThe Acolyte ending explained: Season 2, Star Wars cameos, and a major mystery revealedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Vernestra Rwoh in The Acolyte episode 8

Of course, we’ll be getting intobig spoilersto answer these details as best we can. Somake sure you’re up to date on the Star Wars showbefore reading on…

The Acolyte ending explained SPOILERS

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Sol in The Acolyte finale

The finale begins right where we left off inThe Acolyte episode 6. Osha has put on Qimir’s Sith helmet and is breathing heavily when she has a disturbing vision: Mae is about to kill Sol. After realizing that the pair are on Brendok, she decides to follow them there with Qimir in tow on his ship, as they vow to see who makes it to Mae first.

They’re not the only ones heading there either as Vernestra receives a visit from Senator Rayencourt, who is none too pleased that she’s been running a murder investigation under wraps. She tells him she’s keeping it close for now, and then recruits a bunch of Jedi to head to Brendok with her.

Meanwhile, Mae has escaped Sol’s restraints on the ship and flees to the escape pod. She tries to lose him in the field around Brendok, and with the help of Bazil sabotaging Sol, she almost does. The pair make it down to the planet, at the same time as Qimir and Osha, lining up some pretty epic fights between them all. There’s a lot of emotional truths trading sides too between the sisters as Mae tries to tell Osha that Sol killed their mother.

However, she doesn’t actually believe it until she hears it from Sol’s mouth, after Mae draws a confession from him. Osha is devastated and really,reallyangry, deciding to Force choke her pseudo father to death and bleed her Kyber crystal red.

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Vernestra and her group arrive not long after as they begin the search to find the twins. She also senses someone else in the Force: Qimir. It’s pretty clear that he was her former pupil and he is not too excited about a reunion. Mae, Osha, and Qimir flee into the woods, but the Jedi are closing in. They make the hard choice for Qimir to remove Mae’s memories of her sister so she won’t be able to help the Jedi find them.

It’s not long until Vernestra tries to do just that, asking Mae to help her find her former pupil who has “turned to evil”, but not before she stages a cover-up to the Jedi Council. Using Sol as her scapegoat, she tells them the story of Brendok and claims Sol decided to kill a series of Jedi to prevent his role in the fire coming to light.

The episode ends with Qimir and Osha back on their planet set to begin her training, and pretty much holding hands. The final scene features Vernestra opening a door to a very familiar figure, Yoda, and asking for his guidance.

Who is in the cave?

(Image credit: Disney Plus)

Darth Plagueis in The Acolyte (2024)

Well, it’s never completely spelled out, but it seems pretty clear thatthe figure hiding in the cave is none other than Darth Plagueis. His introductionhas been teased throughout, and he is a major player for the Sith during this time period. His Muun-like appearance also helps back this up.

If you’re looking for a refresher on Darth Plagueis, he was Palpatine’s master and was able to create life using the Midi-chlorians. We first heard of him duringRevenge of the Sithwhen Palpatine helps use his story to lure Anakin to the dark side.

Is Sol really dead?

(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

Lee Jung-jae as Master Sol in The Acolyte

Is there more to Senator Rayencourt?

(Image credit: Disney Plus)

David Harewood as Senator Rayencourt in The Acolyte episode 8 (2024)

David Harewood’s Senator Rayencourt had only been namechecked before we see him in episode 8. However, it seems like he may be an important character going forward. A new creation for this Star Wars show, he’s very suspicious of the Jedi and calls for an external review into their happenings before their power grows even more unchecked. However,some fans are already a bit suspicious of the character, wondering if there may be more to his motivations.

How does Vernestra know Qimir?

(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

Manny Jacinto as Qimir in The Acolyte

Yes, yourtheories on that mysterious scar that Qimir haswere right. His former Jedi Master is Vernestra. This is teased when she senses him in the Force on Brendok and then is confirmed when she calls him a “former pupil” to Mae at the end of the finale. What we don’t know is what happened between them. Qimir hinted it was a dark past and when Vernestra senses him, she says, “You’re alive?” To paraphrase the Joker, we want to know how he got those scars…

How did the Jedi cover up the Sith?

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

The Acolyte

Whether shetells Yoda in that final scene is more up in the air. Speaking of him…

Why does Yoda cameo?

(Image credit: Disney Plus)

Yoda in The Acolyte episode 8 (2024)

Well, Yoda’s cameo in The Acolyte finale actually makes a lot of sense. He’sGrand Master of the Jedi Order at this point, making him a natural person for Vernestra to seek counsel from. We never find out what she’s going to tell him in the finale though… Maybe in season 2?

Will there be The Acolyte season 2?

(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

Amandla Stenberg as Osha in The Acolyte

The Acolyte finale certainly feels like it’s setting up a season 2, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Showrunner Leslye Headland is keen though, and toldNerdist: “I have no idea. Well, not that I have no idea. I would say there are conversations. And I don’t know when that will happen. I don’t know when that decision will be made.”

It certainly feels like there are some big story threads left to unravel if season 2 happens after those big cameos too. Let’s hope!

The Acolyte is available to watch in full onDisneyPlus. For more, check out our guides to:

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

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”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

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”

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