After last week’s exciting look into the past, The Acolyte comes back to the present with Episode 4. This episode starts right where Episode 2 left off, on Khofar with Kelnacca.
Written by Claire Kiechel and Kor Adana and directed by Alex Garcia Lopez, this 32-minute episode takes us on a thrilling adventure in the jungles of Khofar while deepening the mystery of who “The Master” might be.
On Coruscant, Osha (Amandla Stenberg) quietly watches a Padawan training session, waiting for the right moment to say goodbye to Jecki (Dafne Keen). Jecki is upset that Osha is leaving, but Osha explains that she doesn’t need to be part of the investigation anymore: “Mae is the Jedi’s problem, and I am not a Jedi.”
After Episode 3, it’s clearer why Osha is hesitant to face her sister. Mae allegedly burned down the temple, killed their family, and even threatened Osha. Despite saying goodbye to Jecki, Osha doesn’t plan to say goodbye to Sol (Lee Jung-jae). Osha sees some of herself in Jecki, as she was once in Jecki’s place as Sol’s Padawan.
Meanwhile, in the Jedi Temple, Sol and the Council are discussing Mae’s situation. After fighting her on Olega, it’s clear she is someone’s apprentice—but whose? Master Vernestra is worried about what this means for the Jedi and insists they shouldn’t tell the High Council because then the Senate will know.
To fix their current issues and hopefully prevent another Jedi from being killed by Mae, Vernestra wants Kelnacca to come back from Khofar. However, this is easier said than done. Before leaving Sol, Vernestra gently criticizes him for not realizing Mae survived the fire on Brendok.
Seeing how things happened, it’s understandable why Sol thought Mae died. But maybe once we see what really happened, we’ll understand why Sol couldn’t sense that Mae was still alive.
The Review
The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 4 Review
This episode of The Acolyte shines in its production design. Khofar's misty forests are impressive and feel genuinely alien. The characters also get some development, with Yord offering surprising wisdom and a new creature, Bazil, providing comedic relief. However, the plot stalls. Unlike previous episodes that balanced answers with questions, this one offers little progress on the central mystery. The big reveal at the end, a menacing Sith Lord, is exciting, but it comes after a long wait. Hints about Kelnacca's past and Qimir's dark side feel predictable. In short, great visuals can't save a slow episode.
Review Breakdown
-
Plot
-
Visuals
-
Character Development
