Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 8.
With the first season of The Acolyte now finished, there are still a few things that don’t make sense about the series’ story. Although the recently aired season finale ties up a few loose threads, there are still plenty of character motivations and rushed plot moments that do not feel satisfying, both from character and story perspectives. Whether these moments were due to the failings of an 8-episode structure or otherwise, they stop the series from rising to heights it could have reached otherwise.
While the series may have its plot holes and pitfalls, that does not discredit the work that has been done. The Acolyte has more than a few spectacular moments, with jaw-dropping fight choreography, plenty of well-acted tension, and thought-provoking moments that recontextualize and even challenge how many viewers feel about the Jedi. Even so, these moments in the story have left audiences scratching their heads.
When Did Jecki And Osha Become Such Good Friends?
After Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen)’s death at the hands of The Stranger, Osha Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) laments as if the two of them were old friends. While her death is sad, especially for one so young, Osha acts as though she and Jecki had the relationship of two best friends. This is especially jarring considering she barely mentions Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett), who she had known for much longer.
Possibly due to the short structure of the series, Jecki and Osha never had the opportunity to build up their friendship on-screen. They missed out on the moments that would have built them up as friends in the eyes of the audience, making their relationship seem more as if they were acquaintances due to the circumstances as opposed to good friends. If the series had more time to build them up as friends, it would have made Jecki’s death even more tragic and impactful than it already was.
Why Did Mae Switch Places With Osha?
After attempting to convince her sister Osha that they need to be on their own side and failing in the process, Mae Aniseya knocks Osha out and switches places with her. At first glance, this could be rationalized given what her character is supposed to be. Mae’s goal at the beginning of the series was to kill all the Jedi that were stationed on Brendok when she and Osha were children.
How would pretending to be her sister help with that goal?
Since the beginning of the series, however, Mae has sworn off her life as an acolyte and claimed she was going to turn herself in to the Jedi. How would pretending to be her sister help with that goal? And even worse, why would she leave her sister on a planet with The Stranger, who may very well just decide to kill her? Mae’s motivation for this decision is never truly explored, as the series gives her little time on the ship with Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) regardless.
Why Did Torbin Drink The Poison?
His Reaction Seems Extreme Considering His Role
When Jedi Master Torbin drank the poison offered to him by Mae, it was the first real hint that the Jedi were covering up some sort of great evil. After all, what he and the others did on Brendok must have been so terrible that not only did he take a Barash Vow, but he killed himself when offered the opportunity by one of the people his actions affected. However, now that viewers have all the information, his decision here seems drastic at best.
On Brendok, Torbin was only a young Padawan who wanted to go back home to Coruscant. The worst thing he did was rush in to the witches’ home, only for Master Sol to be the one who killed Mother Aniseya. Little of the fault could be attributed to Torbin, especially when the Jedi Masters around him should have been the ones to handle the situation after it started to escalate.
Source: ScreenRant.com