Headland additionally was keen to supply a distinction to a traditional Star Wars narrative. When Luke Skywalker discovers the reality about Darth Vader, he responds with forgiveness. Osha responds to her betrayal with ruthlessness—and but it is onerous to not establish with the last word ache she feels in that second. Sol had good intentions in his want to guard Osha, however finally was the reason for her loneliness.
It will get at a central theme of the sequence. To Headland, the Jedi “are extraordinarily flawed. They at all times have been,” she says.
On the earth of The Acolyte, you perceive why the Darkish Aspect is alluring to somebody like Osha, who realizes she has been lied to for her whole grownup life. (It is not simply due to Jacinto’s cheekbones and biceps, though it’s that, too.) When she’s launched to the “If Evil, Why Scorching?” meme as it has been utilized in reference to The Stranger, Headland says: “The Darkish Aspect’s horny.”
So the place do these two loopy children and their lightsaber go from right here? Headland is cautious about telegraphing an excessive amount of about the way forward for The Acolyte, which has not but been renewed for a second season, however she does say that she needs to maneuver ahead in time as she explores this relationship. “To me, it is so tragic,” she says. “It’s extremely Gothic in a number of methods. One to crave the facility, one to carry it. Hopefully that picture offers you the sense that they’re equals, however in some unspecified time in the future, to be able to fulfill this, they can not be.”
She additionally notes: “Then there’s the complication of our pricey buddy Plagueis.” That’d be the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis, who’s talked about within the prequels as a historic determine and makes his first onscreen look within the Acolyte finale. (Canonically, he’s notable for making an attempt to govern the Power to create life, one thing we’ve seen Aniseya do efficiently in The Acolyte, and for mentoring an apprentice named Sheev Palpatine.) “I might look ahead,” Headland says of Plagueis, “to seeing him actively disturbing what they’re making an attempt to do.”
Maybe there’s an alternate for Osha and The Stranger? “There are many choices moreover being a Sith and apprentice and grasp,” she says.
Past Plagueis, The Acolyte finale additionally teased one other extraordinarily acquainted Star Wars determine. After the Battle Membership second, we reduce to black—after which to Jedi Vernestra (Rebecca Henderson) strolling into a gathering with a sure tiny, white-haired inexperienced man. Headland says that introducing Yoda at this level within the story “simply made sense.”
“In Vernestra’s effort to guard the Jedi,” Headland mentioned, “in some unspecified time in the future, she must inform her superior.”
The diminutive Jedi Grasp is the primary iconic Lucas-era Star Wars character to point out up on this sequence; working with him made Headland “starstruck,” a uncommon prevalence for her. “I may barely communicate,” she says. “I had nothing to say. Every part that I’ve ever felt about Star Wars simply rushed again to me. It was overwhelming.”
