I Still Have 10 Burning Questions After The Acolyte Episode 7

Summary

• The High Republic Era may not have been so perfect after all.
• The witches of Brendok aren’t a race, and their recruitment process is unclear.
• The connection between Mae and Osha hints at a deeper mystery awaiting resolution in the finale.

The Acolyte episode 7 is the penultimate episode of Star Wars‘ newest show, and while it may have addressed several mysteries, these 10 questions remain for me in advance of the finale. The Acolyte has proven truly unique among Star Wars movies and TV shows not only because of its place in the Star Wars timeline but also because of its genre. Yes, The Acolyte is set in the High Republic Era, 100 years before the prequels, which has opened up thrilling story opportunities.

However, The Acolyte is also a mystery show, the likes of which Star Wars hasn’t really seen before. This turn for the franchise has been fascinating to watch, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed trying to crack the cases before the show reveals the truth. With just one episode left, though, I’d still like answers to these 10 major questions.

10 Was There Ever A True Golden Age Of The Jedi?

The High Republic Is Meant To Be The Golden Age…But Issues Are Rampant

One of the first things I noticed about The Acolyte was that it still didn’t feel like the golden age of the Jedi. Although the High Republic Era is billed as such, many of the issues seen in the prequel trilogy Jedi Order were already apparent in The Acolyte’s Order. In fact, in the very first episode, Vernestra Rwoh and Master Sol discuss nervousness about politicians finding out that one of their own is killing Jedi, with Sol even referencing their “political enemies.”

One of the key issues with the prequel trilogy Jedi was their involvement in politics.

One of the key issues with the prequel trilogy Jedi was their involvement in politics, which allowed them to be consumed and corrupted by the Clone Wars. Moreover, to hear a Jedi during this era use the word ‘enemies’ is a bit shocking. Arguably, this could be because minimal time passes (in the grand scheme of things) between The Acolyte and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and because The Acolyte is set toward the end of this era. Yet, with The Acolyte revealing such deep flaws, it’s unclear whether this was truly a golden age at all.

9 How Were The Witches Of Brendok Recruited/Identified?

The Witches Of Brendok Are A Group—Not A Race

Unlike the Nightsisters of Dathomir, which are all Zabrak females, the witches of Brendok aren’t unified by one race. Rather, they represent species from across the galaxy. While this has been seen in other groups, such as the Imperial Inquisitors or even the Jedi themselves, it’s a bit unusual for a coven and, more importantly, the recruitment processes for the Inquisitors and the Jedi are clear. With the witches of Brendok, that isn’t the case.

In fact, their mysterious origins only make this that much more intriguing to me. The Acolyte’s showrunner Leslye Headland has vaguely alluded to Mother Aniseya originating from a different Force cult and creating her own, the witches of Brendok, but that only makes me even more curious. I’m desperate to know more about when she started the coven and how she recruited these witches.

8 Why Did Mae Turn To Smoke When Mother Aniseya Did?

This Connection Could Be Due To How Mae Was Made

Mother Aniseya’s death in The Acolyte episode 7 was absolutely brutal to watch for a number of reasons. For one, it was agonizing to be an observer, knowing that Sol was working from a completely misguided place that would lead to tragedy. For another, it was just outright sad that Mother Aniseya died when she certainly didn’t deserve to and Mae saw it happen all because of a series of miscommunications and poor choices by the Jedi.

However, this death was also an incredible moment, as it revealed Mother Aniseya’s ability to turn herself into a mysterious black smoke. What truly interested me most about this power, though, was that it seemed to take Mae right along with her; just as Mother Aniseya turned to smoke, so too did Mae, and it seemed obvious that Mae wasn’t controlling it. Was this some sort of protection built in for the twins? Does that mean, somewhere else, Osha began turning to smoke too? Hopefully, the finale or a possible second season will flesh this ability out.

7 Why Did The Jedi Stop Looking For A Vergence?

According To Master Sol, Nothing Was More Important

In The Acolyte episode 7, the four Jedi stationed on Brendok are looking for a vergence in the Force, something that has been identified in Star Wars before as a particularly strong concentration of the Force, centered on one location or, less often, an object or a person. Curiously, Master Sol explains to Jedi Padawan Torbin that nothing could be more important to the Jedi than identifying, studying, and protecting such a vergence. Immediately, this raised questions for me.

If a vergence was of such critical importance to the Jedi, then why did they stop looking for one? After all, despite Qui-Gon Jinn insisting that Anakin represented a vergence in the Force, the Jedi initially rejected him as a potential Jedi Initiate. Perhaps the vergence that created Osha and Mae will scare the Jedi off, especially if Osha ultimately joins the dark side of the Force, as I believe she will. Surely if this quest on Brendok led to carnage and devastation, the Jedi would change their minds.

6 Are The Witches Of Brendok Connected To The Nightsisters?

The Witches Of Brendok Aren’t Nightsisters, But They Could Have Other Connections

Both showrunner Leslye Headland and The Acolyte itself have confirmed that the witches of Brendok are not Nightsisters as many thought they might be at first. However, that doesn’t mean there is no connection between them. In fact, The Acolyte already offered a major hint that they could be linked in some way, as episode 7 name-dropped the Nightsisters directly.

Headland subtly nodded towards the Nightsisters being in Mother Koril’s potential future.

Moreover, in a recent interview, Headland subtly nodded towards the Nightsisters possibly being in Mother Koril’s future. Specifically, Headland said that Mother Koril’s race (Zabrak) may be a hint about where she ends up. While many had theorized that Mother Koril might be revealed as the true Sith master, Headland’s comments fit much better with the idea that Koril joins a new coven—the Nightsisters. Of course, it still remains to be seen whether she survived the massacre on Brendok.

5 Why Didn’t The Jedi Believe Osha Was The Chosen One?

Osha Seemingly Had No Father, So Why Didn’t The Jedi Think Of The Chosen One Prophecy?

Mae and Osha aren’t the Chosen One in Star Wars for a number of reasons, the most prominent being that Anakin Skywalker has been confirmed time and again to be the true Chosen One. However, that doesn’t explain why the Jedi in The Acolyte never considered the possibility that Osha was the Chosen One when she first arrived on Coruscant. In fact, the Jedi of the prequel trilogy all seemed quite familiar with the prophecy, suggesting that the Acolyte’s Jedi would have that same level of knowledge, and they obviously did not know of Anakin’s existence yet.

In retrospect it may be clear why Anakin is the Chosen One and Osha is not, but for the Jedi of the time, Osha having no father would have been enough to raise suspicion. Add to that the mysterious circumstances of her childhood and her unusual age when being admitted to the Jedi Order, and it would make sense for there to be heavy speculation that she was the Chosen One, as she was evidently special. Confusingly, though, none of the Jedi in The Acolyte mentioned this possibility, making it unclear when the Jedi began taking the prophecy so seriously.

4 Is Mother Koril Dead?

The Witches Of Brendok Are Confirmed To Be Dead, But Mother Koril May Have Survived

The Acolyte episode 7 finally confirmed what really happened on Brendok, including how the entire coven was killed. While Mae had initially been blamed by both Osha and Master Sol for the attack, the episode proved her innocent, revealing that the Jedi had framed her after killing the witches themselves. However, while most of the coven fell to Master Indara as she was fighting to relinquish Kelnacca from his possession, Mother Koril doesn’t seem to have been among the dead.

That, combined with Leslye Headland’s comments about the future Mother Koril could potentially have, suggests that Koril didn’t really die on Brendok all those years ago. If that’s the case, then theories about her becoming the Sith master or joining the Nightsisters obviously become all the more plausible. Unfortunately, her survival remains to be seen, and The Acolyte’s finale may not confirm it one way or another.

Unfortunately, her survival remains to be seen, and
The Acolyte’s
finale may not confirm it one way or another.

3 What Other Power Does Osha Not Know She Holds?

The Witches Of Brendok Suggest Something Deeper

In episode 7, significantly more detail is revealed about the day the witches were killed, including what conversations within the coven looked like when it was clear that Mother Aniseya was considering allowing Osha to leave with the Jedi. Interestingly, one witch specifically warned, “The girl has yet to discover the power she holds.” This immediately struck me as odd because it implies there is additional power in Osha yet to be revealed.

If the witch was referring solely to the Force (or the ‘Thread,’ as the witches of Brendok call it), it wouldn’t have been true that Osha hadn’t discovered this power. After all, the coven had clearly been training the girls for some time. In that case, it seems as though the witch was referencing another, yet undisclosed power that Osha possesses, which I find much more exciting than her abilities with the Force. In fact, I am specifically wondering whether her odd creation via a vergence in the Force could have led to an incredible, brand-new power in Star Wars.

2 What Does It Mean For The Twins To Have The Same Consciousness?

The Jedi Uncovered The Truth Of Osha And Mae’s Creation

One of the most interesting revelations in The Acolyte episode 7 is that Osha and Mae might not really be twins after all. Instead, Master Indara posits that their symbionts are identical because they are really one consciousness split into two bodies—something that only a vergence in the Force could have accomplished. While Indara mentioned this as a possibility, not as a fact, this would be a fascinating new concept in the franchise.

Star Wars may have had twins and miraculous conceptions before, but the franchise has yet to depict something like this on screen, and the implications could be immense. If Osha and Mae are truly one consciousness, so many other questions open up. Can one survive without the other? Is this a new take on a Force Dyad? Most interesting to me, too, are questions regarding whether Osha and Mae know about this and what they will do when they uncover it.

1 Did/Does Qimir Have A Connection To The Witches Of Brendok?

This Would Explain His Interest In Osha And Mae

Of course, many burning questions still remain about Star Wars’ newest heartthrob, Qimir/the Stranger, who sadly wasn’t in episode 7. However, this episode did reinforce questions about whether Qimir has any connection to the witches of Brendok pre-dating his attempts to take Mae on as an acolyte. He does seem to have a very specific interest in Osha and Mae, and he shares the ability to get into another person’s mind that Mother Aniseya revealed in episodes 3 and 7.

Moreover, Qimir having some connection to Brendok could explain other lingering plot holes like who caught Mae, saving her from the fire after Sol dropped her to save Osha. Clearly, The Acolyte’s upcoming finale has a massive amount of ground to cover. While it’s unlikely that all the mysteries in The Acolyte will be revealed in the finale, I’m hopeful that these 10 questions will be answered.

The final episode of The Acolyte releases on Tuesday, July 16th, at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.