Movies

The Acolyte episode 8 review: A hopeless ending

BBG News

The Acolyte episode 8 review: A hopeless ending

As a lifelong Star Wars fan and avid gamer, I have eagerly followed the release of “The Acolyte,” a captivating new series set in the High Republic era. The intricate storyline, rich characters, and immersive world-building have kept me hooked since the very first episode. Each installment has been a thrilling journey, filled with suspense and unraveling mysteries that have left me on the edge of my seat.

Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Acolyte, episode 8, “The Acolyte.”

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each installment of “The Acolyte” so far, leading up to the final episode. The methodical unfolding of intriguing enigmas and the well-executed character development have kept me engaged. The standalone storyline in the High Republic era, filled with unexpected twists and connections to prior tales, has been a delightful change of pace.

Although I found pleasure in certain parts of the final episode, titled “The Acolyte,” it ranked as my least preferred installment. The finale left me with a complex emotional response towards the series, as a whole. My main complaint lies in the fact that this particular episode concluded without much optimism. In Star Wars narratives, there’s usually an element of hope, even in the darkest stories such as “Revenge of the Sith” and the first season of “Andor.”

In simpler terms, The story of The Acolyte concluded sadly with little promise. The image of Sol meeting his demise at Osha’s hands and then being exploited to conceal all wrongdoings brought to mind the ending of The Dark Knight. There, Batman willingly took the fall for Harvey Dent’s misdeeds. However, unlike Batman, who had control over his fate, Sol was powerless in the situation.

sixteen years ago, on the planet Brendok, Sol committed a grievous error. He mercilessly took the lives of Mother Aniseya and attempted to abduct Osha and Mae from their sacred gathering. Since then, he had made other blunders; however, his most regrettable mistake was not being granted the chance to make amends. Tragically, Osha, driven by despair, ended his life as she succumbed to the dark side.

From the beginning, Osha’s descent into darkness was subtly hinted at through the abandonment of the prisoner she saved, sensing the ominous presence within her. Witnessing her bleeding kyber crystal in the visual spectacle that ensued was a captivating payoff after having only read about it in tales such as “The Rise of Kylo Ren.” Her transformation felt genuine and deserved, with Sol’s demise serving as a poignant culmination. However, this dark turn in Star Wars left me feeling uneasy and disheartened.

Towards the finish, the show seemed to make an argument for the allure of the dark side, implying that Osha’s choice was valid. However, Star Wars has consistently warned against the perils of the dark side. Though it may be tempting in times of vulnerability or error, wholeheartedly embracing darkness is a risky and erroneous path.

At the finale, a scene featuring Osha and the Mysterious Figure left me with an uneasy feeling of optimism, yet I’m skeptical. Should The Acolyte continue for additional seasons, I fervently hope that this moment will be depicted as a misstep in Osha’s path, ultimately leading her to acknowledge that aligning herself with the Mysterious Figure and learning dark arts was a mistake. Her supposed “protection” of Mae through memory erasure and identity alteration did not make it right.

For the remainder of the Jedi Order, the outcome seemed bleak and dismal. The revelation that Qimir was once taught by Vernestra Rwoh, along with her admitting blame towards Sol, suggests that her shortcomings may have contributed to his turning to the dark side. The losses of Indara, Torbin, Kelnacca, Jecki, and Yord leave one feeling as if their sacrifices were for nothing.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but be intrigued by how this storyline delves into the early stages of the Jedi Order’s downfall and the resurgence of the ancient Sith. It’s important to note that the Jedi won’t even suspect the Sith have returned for another hundred years. Consequently, most characters privy to the Sith’s existence had to face unfortunate fates: death for some or memory wipes for others like Mae and Osha. Alternatively, they chose to align themselves with the dark side and join the Sith.

In simpler terms, I get why specific storyline choices were made in this Star Wars installment, considering the larger series narrative. If it weren’t part of Star Wars, I might have enjoyed this conclusion just as much since many elements seemed well-deserved.

In my opinion, “The Acolyte” deviated excessively from the fundamental principles of Star Wars for me. Despite enjoying much of this story, its conclusion left me unsatisfied.

Personally, I’m really hoping for a second season of this show. The stories of Osha, Mae, Qimir, and Vernestra feel incomplete to me. I’m eager to discover more about the mysterious figure in the cave, who seems to be Darth Plagueis. And what is it that Vernestra shares with Yoda? A new season could even change my perspective on this entire episode.

Read More

2024-07-18 00:22

Previous post My Sims 4 character just wants to paint grilled cheese sandwiches
Next post Call of Duty MW3 Season 5 countdown and leaks