Summary
- The Acolyte’s Qimir has the most revealing shirtless scene in Star Wars, surpassing Kylo Ren’s scene in The Last Jedi.
- Qimir’s scene serves a specific purpose in The Acolyte’s plot, highlighting his power of deception and vulnerability.
- The Acolyte pushes Star Wars boundaries with an intimate, vulnerable scene, setting a new standard for future live-action content.
Star Wars has had shirtless dark-side users in the past, such as Anakin Skywalker or Kylo Ren, but The Acolyte took it so much further. Star Wars has a long history of showing its main characters without a shirt: Luke Skywalker got the franchise’s first shirtless scene came in The Empire Strikes Back. Since then, Star Wars has included more shirtless scenes, usually via Star Wars‘ most powerful Sith Lords. The most recent example wasn’t necessarily a Sith Lord – it was Kylo Ren’s scene in Star Wars: The Last Jedi – but it continued a trend of dark side users baring their chests.
The Acolyte episode 6 drew inspiration from the dark side users who came before, but the Stranger went the extra mile. In a first for the franchise, Qimir stripped naked and walked into the water to bathe himself. The Acolyte only showed his legs and chest, of course, but it was still much more revealing than anything else in the live-action Star Wars movies and shows. Qimir’s shirtless scene didn’t just take a shirtless scene further than Star Wars has gone before, it even improved upon the most recent example.
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Qimir’s Shirtless Scene Is Way More Intense Than Kylo Ren’s
While they both feature a shirtless dark-side user, Kylo Ren and Qimir’s shirtless scenes couldn’t be more different. In The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren’s shirtless scene was mostly played for a laugh. Qimir’s, however, was deadly serious. Taking his shirt off tempted Osha both to strike him down and to be more vulnerable herself, which brought her closer to the dark side. It also revealed quite a bit about The Acolyte‘s Sith Lord, like his sprawling scar, which led him to reveal more about his past life as a Jedi.
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren’s heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
- Died
- Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker
- Alliance
- Jedi, First Order
Qimir’s Scene Serves A Specific Purpose
Another aspect of the scene that made Qimir’s removal of his shirt better than Kylo Ren’s was the purpose it served in The Acolyte‘s plot. Showing Qimir without a shirt showed his vulnerability, but it also showed how he weaponized that vulnerability. He may have seemed defenseless, but Qimir was still just as dangerous with his shirt off as he was on the battlefield. Having no shirt on let him slip past Osha’s guard, just as his cortosis helmet and gauntlet allowed him to slip past the Jedi’s lightsabers. This scene highlighted the best weapon in Qimir’s arsenal: his power of deception.
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Star Wars Has Found A Way To Push This Boundary
Kylo Ren’s shirtless scene also emphasized his vulnerability, but it wasn’t the main way The Last Jedi communicated that he was vulnerable. Kylo Ren’s entire characterization centered around his vulnerability, and having his shirt off was just one way the sequel trilogy displayed that. It was an intense, personal moment, but Qimir’s removal of his shirt pushed the boundaries and made Star Wars intimate in a way Kylo Ren’s never did. Qimir’s shirtless scene was perhaps the most revealing and intimate scene Star Wars has ever shown in live-action, and The Acolyte pushed the franchise’s boundaries expertly.
New episodes of The Acolyte premiere on Tuesday nights on Disney+.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes – all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
- Cast
- Amandla Stenberg , Lee Jung-jae , Joonas Suotamo , Charlie Barnett , Dafne Keen , Leah Brady , Manny Jacinto , Rebecca Henderson , Carrie-Anne Moss , Jodie Turner-Smith , Dean-Charles Chapman , Lauren Brady , Anthony J. Abraham , Thara Shöön , Danielle Xin Yao Waterman , Sienna Khiroya , Jeramiah Evans , Dan Milne , Thomas Coombes , Archie Singh Swali , Nick Court , Ed Kear , Jumayn Hunter , Scroobius Pip , Abigail Thorn , Margarita Levieva , Amy Tsang , Saskia Allen , Deborah Rosan , Tabitha Alege , Paul Bullion , Indra Ové , Derek Arnold , Lewis Young
- Character(s)
- Mae , Master Sol , Kelnacca , Yord Fandar , Jecki Lon , Little Mae , Qimir , Master Vernestra Rwoh , Master Indara , Mother Aniseya , Master Torbin , Padawan Torbin , Little Osha , Fillik , Tasi Lowa , Youngling , Restrained Convict , Convict , Olega Urchin , Olega Master , Olega Padawan , Scavenger , Ensign Eurus , Mother Koril , Ensign Rane , Scout Sarria , Ensign Shima , Elder Jaalyn , Master Lakshay , Master Holden , Master Ki-Adi-Mundi , Jedi Knight
- Showrunner
- Leslye Headland