The Acolyte continues to be a point of discussion among Star Wars fans, and episode 6, “Teach / Corrupt,” offers a slower, more character-focused narrative. While this change of pace is welcome, and aspects like Master Sol and Osha’s scenes resonate, a persistent issue remains – the perplexing motivations of Mae. This episode, while enjoyable in parts, highlights the inconsistent writing surrounding Mae’s character and her overall goals within The Acolyte series.
While episode 6 provides space for character development, it also underscores a feeling of stretched runtime across the season. The parallels between Osha and Qimir’s interactions and Rey and Kylo Ren’s dynamic in Star Wars: The Last Jedi become increasingly noticeable, bordering on overt homage. However, these stylistic choices are secondary to the fundamental problem: the writing and character inconsistencies, particularly concerning Mae, which episode 6 exacerbates.
Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) and Mae Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) in The Acolyte
Decoding Mae’s Ambiguous Objectives in The Acolyte Episode 6
The Unclear Rationale Behind Impersonating Osha
A central point of frustration in The Acolyte episode 6 revolves around Mae Aniseya’s actions and the ambiguity of her objectives, specifically her impersonation of Osha. From the outset, Mae’s primary directive seemed to be eliminating Master Sol and the Jedi Order members involved in Osha’s childhood trauma. This vendetta was seemingly fueled by a desire for revenge for past grievances and a mission assigned by her shadowy master to prove her worth as a dark side acolyte. However, the flashback in episode 3, where Mae attempts to harm young Osha, casts doubt on the revenge narrative, muddying the waters of her motivations.
The Acolyte repeatedly presents conflicting signals regarding Mae’s desires, her underlying reasons, and the strategies she employs to achieve her aims. Episode 4 further complicates matters when Mae surprisingly chooses to surrender herself in place of Osha. This act seemingly severs her ties with her dark master and any apparent motivation to harm the Jedi. Consequently, her subsequent impersonation of Osha and decision to accompany Sol becomes even more perplexing. She had ample opportunities to strike against Sol, yet refrained. If her goal was information or protection from Qimir, waiting until the Jedi Temple seems like a more logical course of action. This back-and-forth portrayal leaves viewers struggling to grasp Mae’s consistent throughline.
Will The Acolyte Episode Guide Ever Clarify Mae’s True Intentions?
Doubts About Flashbacks Resolving Character Inconsistencies
Despite anticipation for episode 7 potentially being another flashback-heavy installment, skepticism remains about The Acolyte‘s capacity to effectively elucidate Mae’s motivations. Even if the upcoming episode reveals crucial truths about the night of the tragic fire and Sol’s involvement, it may not fully redeem the inconsistencies plaguing Mae’s character arc. Her relationship with Osha, initially presented as a driving force for revenge, is undermined by Mae’s own aggressive actions towards her sister in the past, including the chilling “I’ll kill you” line in the earlier flashback. Furthermore, her willingness to sacrifice Osha to Qimir after seemingly intending to protect her by surrendering herself creates a jarring disconnect.
Analyzing Mae’s actions scene-by-scene to retroactively justify her contradictory behavior feels like an exercise in creative writing rather than insightful analysis. While there’s hope that the final episodes might cohesively resolve the overarching mystery, the journey is marred by the frustratingly inconsistent portrayal of the central character’s core motivations. The lack of clarity surrounding Mae’s goals makes it challenging to fully invest in her narrative arc. As The Acolyte season 1 progresses towards its conclusion, it remains to be seen whether these concerns will be addressed and if a more cohesive understanding of Mae will emerge.
The Acolyte continues to release new episodes every Tuesday, exclusively on Disney+.
