Episode 1 of The Acolyte delves into a century before the Empire's ascendance, a serene era where the Jedi Order and Galactic Republic flourished without the shadow of war. Yet, within this peace, a select few harbored a secret power—the Force. Among them, a formidable assassin named Mae, driven by vengeance, dares to emerge from the shadows.
The narrative commences in Ueda, where Mae, cloaked in mystery, hunts down a Jedi Master, Indara. With a fiery gaze, she challenges Indara to "strike with your full might." Whether it's Mae's theatrical antics or her daring words that evoke laughter, the audience is left to speculate.
As the extraterrestrials are swiftly dealt with, Indara and Mae engage in a clash of blades. In a flash of malice, Mae captures an unsuspecting bystander and throws her over the balcony's edge. Miraculously, Indara swoops in, saving the innocent and averting a grisly fate. As their duel intensifies, Indara recognizes Mae and finally unsheathes her lightsaber.
"A Jedi does not wield her blade unless death is imminent," Mae snarls, hurling a blade at the bartender, which Indara deftly repels with a Force Push. But Mae's next move is swift and fatal—she throws the second blade straight at Indara's chest. One wonders, couldn't Indara have countered with both hands? Alas, it was not so. With Indara fallen, Mae disappears into the night.
The narrative shifts to Osha, her twin sister, aboard a spacecraft accompanied by Pip, her droid, and her comrade, Fillick. Their mission: to extinguish a fire in the vastness of space, where oxygen is a rare commodity. How does Osha plan to tackle this? By summoning a space fire extinguisher, of course. As Osha stares at the blaze, visions of her younger self dance before her eyes. Suddenly, a Jedi named Jord appears, his gaze laden with suspicion. He became a knight just two years ago and his past with Osha is complex. He's here because he doesn't trust her, not after what transpired with Indara. Osha, having belonged to the Jedi Order since childhood, has been mourning the loss of her seemingly departed sister ever since.
Deeply convinced that Osha was the perpetrator behind Indara's demise, the group was stunned to arrive at such a verdict. However, the barkeep's presence added to the intrigue as he recognized her instantly. She was apprehended and hastily whisked away.
Onboard the prison vessel, the inmates hatched a daring escape plan, with one of them masterminding a shutdown of the electronics and commandeering the ship's droids. One would assume they'd take stringent measures before such arrests, but alas. We witnessed a Pirates of the Caribbean-esque sequence, where Mae, imprisoned and desperate, reached out for Pip. She eventually broke free and made a dash for the cockpit.
As the other convicts fled in escape pods, Mae clung to her seat as the ship crashed onto a snowy planet. The scene shifted to the Jedi Council, where Master Sol and Vernestra awaited. Vernestra delivered news of Osha's capture. These fugitives were soon apprehended in a subsequent scene at the Temple, with the passage of time and distance between locales left ambiguous.
Among them, the last inmate saved by Osha confessed to stealing the final escape pod and making a dash. Sol, aware of Osha's survival, hastened to Yord. He apologized for not bringing Osha herself and the two embarked on a joint mission to locate the woman.
As Osha stepped out of the ship, she experienced another vision with her sister. Mae confessed to Indara's murder, vowing to eliminate the rest as well. But all this unfolded within a dream, Sol emphasized, including the recurrent mention of the fire. He assured that Osha was the sole survivor. The Jedi tracked down Osha, who narrowly avoided a perilous fall. Alongside Yord, they spoke, Osha confirming Mae's survival. She was then taken into custody.
As the episode drew to a close, we shifted to Mae, and wouldn't you know? She was still alive! The most predictable twist in television history. With such gripping narratives, perhaps an amnesia plotline awaits? We shall await with bated breath.
