The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Lost/Found

The Star Wars universe has expanded once again. This time, we are transported to a time before the prequel series. To a time when there was peace between the Republic and the Jedi Order.

What is most interesting about The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 1, “Lost/Found,” is how well the writers make us believe one thing is true until almost the end of the episode. Despite the evidence to the contrary, viewers are able to find themselves questioning what is truth and what is fiction.

From the start, the Jedi teaching that our eyes can deceive us is put to the test, and viewers are forced to decide what they trust more, what they see or what they perceive.

A Trick of the Mind

For example, anyone who is paying attention will notice that the murderer from the opening sequence is wearing loose, purple clothing. But then, when it cuts to Osha waking up in her bunk on the Trade Federation ship, she looks exactly like the murderer, but her clothes are distinctly different.

That said, there are other differences if people pay close enough attention to details. The murderer’s hair is slightly different from that of Osha’s, but not so drastically that if you aren’t looking, you will notice. This is why it’s so easy for the eyewitness to say a description that matches that of Osha. 

After we are introduced to Osha and her backstory—her history with the Jedi Order—the storytelling cuts to Master Sol teaching younglings. It is a perfect segway because it verbally reiterates that we shouldn’t trust just our eyes to understand what is going on.

In fact, there is a sense that when Master Sol is told that Osha is the one who killed his colleague and friend, Master Indara, he doesn’t fully believe it. At first we can assume it is due to his emotional attachment to the young woman. However, once he brings up that she had a sister our minds are able to make the connection that he isn’t trusting everything reported at face value.

After all, he knows very well that our eyes can deceive us.

Osha and Mae — a Brewing Storm

It’s very clear from the start of “Lost/Found” that nothing is completely as it seems and that this “peace” being talked about is about to end. While it’s great to see familiar aspects of Star Wars life, such as certain alien races, locations, and weaponry, there is more to this story than just familiarity. 

The tale of light versus dark is as old as time itself. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Osha will be representing light while her twin, Mae, will come to represent dark. 

The stage is being set for a storm on the horizon, and it will not have a clear-cut answer as to who is on which side. Based on how Yord and Jecki react to Osha versus Master Sol’s reaction, the “light” isn’t going to have an easy time of it initially.

After all, currently, Sol is the only one who believes Osha when she says she didn’t commit the murders and that her sister is still alive. Granted, Yord and Jecki didn’t even know of Mae’s existence until moments before landing on Carlac.

That being said, these two sisters haven’t seen each other for many years, and yet their minds are still connected in some ways. While normally, a family reunion after years of thinking one of you was dead sounds fantastic, there isn’t any indication that this one will be as such.

There is a good chance that once Osha and Mae come face to face once more, they will battle each other. We can all see the battle on the horizon, but we don’t know who is the stronger of the two just yet. 

Getting Osha out of trouble for the murder of Indara is definitely the top priority. The next is locating Mae and bringing her to justice or at least learning more about her motives. 

The Acolyte already has us intrigued for more, and we are only on the first episode.

Stray Thoughts:

• The performances by Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Barnett, and Amandla Stenberg are next level. They bring these characters to life in a way that has us on the edge of our seats wanting more.
• Amandla Stenberg is especially a force of nature, being able to harness both the reserved and kind-natured Osha and the volatile Mae.
• Pip is our new favorite droid.
• Ueda and Carlac are interesting planets; I’m interested in learning more about them.

 

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The Acolyte airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Disney+.

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