The Acolyte season 1, episode 6, titled “Teach / Corrupt,” marked a point of appreciation for many viewers, including myself, due to its deliberate pacing and deeper character exploration. While this episode offered a welcome change, allowing the narrative to breathe and delve into individual characters, a persistent issue continues to cast a shadow over the series: inconsistent writing and perplexing character motivations. Despite enjoying aspects such as the scenes featuring Osha and Qimir, and Lee Jung-Jae’s compelling portrayal of Jedi Master Sol, it’s impossible to ignore the flaws, particularly concerning one character’s baffling actions in The Acolyte episode 6.
While a slower narrative pace can be beneficial, in The Acolyte, it inadvertently highlights the stretched runtime, seemingly designed to fill an eight-episode season. The parallels between Osha and Qimir’s interactions and Rey and Kylo Ren’s dynamic in Star Wars: The Last Jedi became increasingly obvious upon re-watching the episode, bordering on being overly derivative. However, these stylistic choices are not the primary concern. My main issue, consistent throughout the season, lies in the writing and character development, specifically the perplexing treatment of Mae in The Acolyte episode 6.
Related: Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide – Cast Members, Biggest Takeaways & Easter Eggs
This comprehensive Acolyte episode guide offers everything you need to navigate Star Wars: The Acolyte, from subtle references and trivia to crucial insights from each new episode.
What Was Mae’s Objective in The Acolyte Episode 6?
The Unclear Rationale Behind Impersonating Osha
The most significant point of contention in The Acolyte episode 6 revolves around Mae Aniseya and her seemingly nebulous motivations, or rather, the conspicuous lack thereof, for impersonating her twin sister, Osha. From the outset of the series, Mae’s purported goal was to assassinate Master Sol and the other Jedi Masters implicated in taking Osha away during their childhood. This objective was initially presented as driven by revenge for an unspecified transgression, compounded by her commitment to her enigmatic master to prove her worth as his acolyte. However, episode 3 introduced a jarring contradiction when Mae attempted to kill a young Osha, casting serious doubt on the revenge narrative.
The Acolyte consistently oscillates regarding Mae’s desires, underlying reasons, and strategies for achieving her ambiguous goals.
Episode 4 further muddied the waters when Mae inexplicably chose to surrender herself in Osha’s place, severing ties with her master and ostensibly abandoning her mission to eliminate the Jedi. This action precipitates confusion regarding Mae’s subsequent plan when she assumed Osha’s identity and accompanied Master Sol. She was presented with numerous opportunities to strike against him but refrained, and if her intentions were to seek answers or refuge from Qimir, awaiting their arrival at the Jedi Temple would have been a more logical course of action. The Acolyte persists in presenting a contradictory portrayal of Mae’s objectives, motivations, and tactical approaches.
Will The Acolyte Ever Clarify Mae’s Motivation?
The Unlikelihood of Flashbacks Resolving Character Inconsistencies
Despite indications suggesting that episode 7 will delve into another flashback sequence, skepticism remains regarding The Acolyte‘s capacity to elucidate Mae’s perplexing motivations. Even if the impending episode clarifies her goals when Master Sol finally discloses the truth surrounding the tragic night of her family’s demise, it is unlikely to retroactively justify the consistently sloppy writing that has plagued Mae’s character arc. This issue is particularly pronounced in her convoluted relationship with Osha, whom Mae initially appeared to be avenging, only to then declare “I’ll kill you” during a flashback. Subsequently, she was prepared to sacrifice herself for Osha, only to then switch places and abandon her sister to the dubious mercies of Qimir.
One could meticulously dissect Mae’s actions scene by scene, attempting to rationalize her contradictory behavior, yet it increasingly feels like preemptively resolving plot holes that should have been addressed by the writers themselves. Perhaps this assessment is overly critical, and the concluding episodes will seamlessly integrate all narrative threads upon the full unveiling of the central mystery. Regardless, the journey to this point has been marked by frustration, primarily because the show’s central character is burdened with inconsistent and poorly defined goals and motivations. Whether this perspective will evolve upon the completion of The Acolyte season 1 remains to be seen.
New episodes of The Acolyte are available every Tuesday, exclusively on Disney+.
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7/10
Release Date 2024 – 2023
Showrunner Leslye Headland
Directors Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez
Writers Leslye Headland, Charmaine De Grate, Kor Adana
Franchise(s) Star Wars
Cast
Amandla Stenberg
Mae
Lee Jung-jae
Master Sol
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 their zenith. This sci-fi thriller follows a former Padawan who reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes – all pointing towards a dark force emerging from the shadows, threatening to bring about the downfall of the High Republic.
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
Seasons 1
Streaming Service(s) Dis
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