Night is the fifth episode of The Acolyte. It’s packed with action, a massive reveal, and devastating moments.
The article contains major spoilers from this episode and references events from previous episodes.
Recap of the story so far
Master Sol, Jecki, Yord, Osha, and five more Jedi arrive at Khofar to find Kelnacca, Mae’s third target. However, Qimir and Mae are also there. It’s a race to find the elusive Wookiee.
Mae changes her mind and decides that Osha being alive changes everything for her. She decides to turn herself in so she tricks Qimir and then heads to the known location of the Jedi Master. But when she gets there it’s too late, Kelnacca is already dead.
Just a few seconds after Mae finds Kelnacca’s body, Osha and all the Jedi arrive at the scene. She appears to be cornered but before anyone knows it, the dark figure is right behind Osha. The Jedi rush to attack this person but they’re all pushed away.
We’ve also got you covered with all of the possible background knowledge you need about The High Republic with a reading order guide for when you decide to jump into reading mode. And our Prep Guide for The Acolyte will give you all of the details you need to learn before you start the show.
A proper introduction
It’s been a long time since we witnessed such a badass introduction for a character. He went straight to the point, without speeches or theatricals. The masked figure just started fighting and killing Jedi as if they were nothing.
A total of eight Jedi arrived at Khofar but just a few minutes into this episode only three remained alive. It’s so resembling of the first time General Grievous appeared in Star Wars. As a small kid, I was completely shocked about this mighty enemy.
The leader of the CIS droid army fought half a dozen Jedi at the same time, including Council members Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti, and Aayla Secura. Not only did he fight them in a 1v6, but Grievous also obliterated them.
This episode is so similar and I couldn’t be happier about it. Watching someone with a red lightsaber fight and defeat multiple Jedi will never get old.
Too obvious to be true
I really thought that Qimir being behind the mask was too obvious to be true, everything pointed at him and none of it was subtle. Many elements of this show enhance the mysterious theme that is always present.
To be honest, my first reaction was of disappointment, not because I was so sure about Mother Koril being behind the mask but because it was a good opportunity to surprise us.
However, I understand that it has to make sense for the story and surprising the audience just for the sake of it isn’t the best idea.
Maybe the obviousness of the entire situation was on purpose. Many of us love to theorize and speculate about things like this, especially when it is related to Star Wars.
The idea of the truth being right in front of me was so unappealing that I felt the need to look for it elsewhere.
It was fun trying to figure out by trying to compare the height of the actors involved but even if I got it all wrong, it’s still a very fun feeling to be surprised when the big reveal happened.
They never stood a chance
The High Republic at this point in time is an era of peace. It’s been thousands of years since the Jedi faced the Sith, and even when they had to fight against the Nihil, the Jedi didn’t have to fight enemies that matched them in sword-fighting skills.
While they still train their lightsaber skills it doesn’t compare to the times of the Old Republic or when the CIS attacked the Republic.
When war is happening the only thing that can save you in difficult times is the ability to fight and defend others. Peaceful times do not “require” the same training.
After being almost destroyed, the Sith managed to survive for millennia by increasing their power and knowledge while staying in the shadows. By enforcing Darth Bane’s Rule of Two, they ensured that only the strongest would carry on the legacy of the Sith.
Thousands of years of cumulative knowledge inside the mind of a few individuals. Rituals, lightsaber techniques, sith alchemy, and forbidden knowledge are just some of the things that they use to achieve their ultimate goal of destroying the Jedi and the Republic.
When you put it into perspective, it’s not hard to see why Qimir was able to eliminate so many Jedi without breaking a sweat. Additionally, he is just more than a skilled duelist.
On top of that, Qimir was very prepared for the fight. His helmet is made out of Cortosis, an extremely rare metal that can deflect lightsaber strikes and deactivate the blades for a few seconds after getting hit.
If we forget that he cut down Jecki, it was very cool watching Qimir split his lightsaber into two. This feels heavily inspired by some of the moves of Cal Kestis in Jedi Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor.
As Yord states, he was messing up with their heads. The Sith know that fear, intimidation, and surprise are extremely powerful allies.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a Jedi or not, once you are inside your opponent’s mind it means that the battle is already in your favor.
Qimir won both the mental and physical battle against most of them, no wonder why they looked like Padawans trying to defeat an experienced master.
One of my favorite Star Wars monologues takes place during the Old Republic but it doesn’t matter that it’s so far in the past. It’s a word-by-word foreshadowing of what’s happening and how it’s going to culminate with Order 66.
“Our time has come. For three hundred years, we prepared. We grew stronger. While you rested in your cradle of power, believing your people were safe and protected. You were trusted to lead the Republic, but you were deceived as our powers of the dark side have blinded you. You assumed no force could challenge you and now, finally, we have returned. You were deceived and your Republic, shall fall” – Darth Malgus
Welcome to the High Republic
The High Republic stories often have interesting plots, dozens of appealing characters, and strong storytelling. But one of the most notable characteristics of it is that many characters die in tragic and horrible ways.
It doesn’t matter if they are powerful, important, or any other adjective that you can think of; no one is safe.
I’ll never forget when the two main protagonists of a specific story died in a horrible way right before it ended. I was shocked and very sad, just like how you felt when Yord and Jecki died.
That feeling of utter surprise and sorrow is something that High Republic fans have experienced for some years now.
In these stories, there’s no chosen one, or characters that you know survive because they appear in another movie or series (with the exception of Yoda and Yaddle). Getting too attached to a character comes with a risk.
I was wondering if the Acolyte would maintain this sort of “spirit” and thankfully it did. It’s very refreshing to get into a Star Wars story where you don’t know who will make it until the end. If you want to experience Star Wars stories that are less predictable I really suggest that you dive into the High Republic era books and comics.
Always two, a master and apprentice
Qimir has officially proclaimed himself as a Sith, but now we have to wonder what’s his role. Is he the mastermind pulling all the strings or the apprentice who does the bidding of an even more powerful master?
The most powerful Dark Lords of the Sith rarely do the dirty work themselves. They are masters of manipulation and have many people at their disposal. With this in mind, I really think that there’s someone else above Qimir. He is indeed powerful but Master Sol almost takes him down.
Qimir is looking for an Acolyte, which is the Sith equivalent of a Padawan. During the Old Republic era, it was very common for Sith Lords to choose an Acolyte, train them, and then fight together to dethrone the Sith Lord’s master. If they succeeded, both of them would rise in rank, and eventually, the cycle would repeat.
Following this logic, it makes perfect sense that Qimir is searching for an Acolyte with the potential to be a powerful ally. But it’s also possible that Qimir is the man behind it all, having an Acolyte would be a great way to expand his influence.
Unlike the Jedi, Sith often grouped multiple Acolytes and had them go through different tests until only the strongest remained. Maybe that’s what’s happening, it’s really hard to know but with only three episodes left, I’m not sure that we’ll be able to learn all we want.
We still need answers
Many people continue to tease us about what really happened in Brendok. Qimir and Mae know what Sol did in the past, you can see his eyes go wide when it’s brought up. I really like how Qimir asks Sol about what he has done with his darkness.
When he is about to kill Qimir, we can see that he is fighting with the intention to do harm, not to defend others. It’s understandable that he’s mad because the other Jedi were killed but a Jedi Master shouldn’t act like that. Did he behave like that back in Brendok?
In a breakdown for a previous episode, I mentioned how it seemed so odd that Sol is so attached to Osha. Like if he was trying to compensate for some wrongdoing. He has stated multiple times that he will explain things but that is yet to happen.
I wasn’t sure about it but now that Mae told Osha that she was brainwashed there are no doubts that the Jedi Master is hiding something, not only from Osha but from the Jedi Order, just like Torbin.
What if Mae is telling the truth and Osha’s memories have been altered? That would match everything that everyone but Sol has said, directly and indirectly.
It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens with Mae and Osha “exchanging” places. Sol is the only remaining target of Mae, and considering what happened I am fully expecting him to die.
I wonder what Qimir will tell Osha, is he going to reveal the actual truth and his plans? How is that encounter going to affect Osha? In the best-case scenario, she manages to escape. Worst case? she joins Qimir in his journey to destroy the Jedi.
Final thoughts about The Acolyte Episode 5
This episode is my favorite of the series so far. The battle sequence was fun and entertaining, though I didn’t enjoy that the space where it took place was so reduced.
The best lightsaber battles happen in places where the characters are able to move freely. The Phantom Menace, Revenge of the Sith, and the Knights of the Old Republic cinematics are a testament to this. It might not be as good as the most iconic ones but at least it’s a lot better than what we saw in the sequels.
What will the Jedi do when they know of these events? Whatever happens, it can’t be in conflict with the line that denies any knowledge of Sith encounters in Episode I.
My guess is that Sol will only tell Vernestra about it, she will join him but ultimately none of them will survive.
What happened on Brendok should answer most of our questions regarding Osha and Mae’s past but what about their future?
Let’s not forget that according to Mother Aniseya, they are one being split in two. They are linked to each other and I assume that this also includes their fates.
This episode had some very cool references to other moments in Star Wars. Kylo Ren’s theme sounding twice when Qimir kills Yord and later when he heals Osha is probably my favorite one but watching Jecki fighting with two lightsabers reminded me of Ahsoka (despite the obvious difference in skill).
There are many questions left but the only thing that I’m almost certain of is that this series is going to have a very tragic and sad ending, just like so many other High Republic stories.
Star Wars The Acolyte Episode Breakdowns
Everything you may have missed while watching Star Wars The Acolyte TV Series. We did detailed breakdowns and analysis of every moment and scene from each episode, all of the characters and their story arks and backgrounds. We've also done our best to help you better understand The High Republic era by providing references and details about anthing you may have missed or be unfamiliar with if you have not read the books and comics.
Star Wars The Acolyte: what you should know before watching
Here’s everything you should know before venturing into The Acolyte series that takes place before the Star Wars Prequel trilogy. It’s a new era, never before seen on the TV or big screen in the Disney Canon timeline, The High Republic Era!
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