This doesn’t mean that the show was all for naught, though. In addition to the show remaining beloved by many viewers, The Acolyte has some very important lessons to teach the franchise. In fact, Star Wars’ upcoming movies in particular would be wise to pay attention to what worked well in The Acolyte—one key aspect in particular.
The Acolyte Proved Star Wars Fans Aren’t Really Tired Of The Sith
Although The Acolyte faced many controversies, audiences were generally enthusiastic about Qimir/the Stranger. On the one hand, this was undoubtedly due to Manny Jacinto’s incredible acting. However, the character himself was also very compelling, not only because he was initially presented as a quirky accomplice to Mae only to be revealed as someone terrifying, but also because Qimir represented a brand-new Sith in the franchise.
Although the Sith are a major part of Star Wars, there have actually been surprisingly few on the Star Wars screen thus far. Palpatine and Darth Vader dominated most of the Star Wars timeline, although the prequels also introduced Darth Maul and Count Dooku. However, the sequel trilogy failed to introduce new Sith, as Kylo Ren technically was not a Sith Lord, and other shows and movies have consistently included only Vader and Palpatine.
Yet, Star Wars audiences clearly continue to be fascinated by Sith stories. This became evident following The Acolyte episode 5, in which Qimir’s true identity and status as a Sith were revealed. In fact, it was following this episode that so prominently featured Qimir that interest in The Acolyte grew considerably. This is precisely what Star Wars should take away from The Acolyte: Sith stories still sell.
Sith stories still sell.
New Sith Lords Mean Moving Away From The Skywalker Saga
If Star Wars can apply this lesson from The Acolyte to the franchise’s future, it will have multiple positive impacts. On the one hand, yes, it is likely to increase interest in upcoming projects. Additionally, though, introducing new Sith will address Star Wars’ current problem with the Skywalker Saga. Specifically, since the Skywalker Saga ended with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the franchise has clearly struggled to move forward or identify what shape future movies and shows will now take.
Introducing new Sith will require Star Wars to explore new eras on the timeline, which is precisely what the franchise needs to move beyond the Skywalkers. Indeed, there are centuries of Sith stories to be told long before the prequel trilogy. Hopefully, even with the cancelation, Star Wars will learn from The Acolyte and consider ways future movies and TV shows in the franchise can implement brand-new Sith.
