The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Day

For an episode where not much happens, we still manage to gain some interesting insights. The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 4, “Day,” spans only a few hours but packs a real punch when it comes to learning more about these characters and their interconnectivity.

We finally get to see more of Mae’s personality and motivations. It’s surprising that she’s not as cold-hearted as the Jedi narrative has made her out to be.

Meanwhile, Osha becomes a perfect sounding board for us to better understand Osha as a person outside of her sister and her past as a Jedi. Which, ultimately, leads us to more questions.

Mae Is More Than Meets the Eye

The first three episodes do a great job of building up Mae as a person, but only from the perspective of the Jedi Order. Because we don’t spend much face time with Mae as she sets up her next mission, we haven’t been able to see how she truly is. Until now.

Because The Acolyte chooses to split time between Mae and Osha for this episode, viewers are able to see Mae as she is through her eyes, not anyone else’s. We get to see her interact with Qimir, which shows us that she does connect with people.

Qimir’s bond with Mae also teaches us just how invisible and unwanted she feels. Every time Qimir shows her that he cares about her and her wellbeing, she questions it and believes he’s only doing it because of his master, the mysterious figure we keep seeing with the red saber.

There is a vulnerability presented by Mae that has our hearts aching for her. It allows us to look at her and see a young woman who is in over her head and just wants to reunite with her sister.

However, considering this show hasn’t shied away from telling us to always question what we see and hear, I am inclined to still be a bit wary. Mae’s fear of “the master” seems to be genuine and her desire to just be loyal to Osha remains sound. However, there is still something that doesn’t sit right with me.

Honestly, that unease is probably fully on the shoulders of the Jedi Order. There are still so many unknowns about the truth of what happened 16 years ago that they could be seeping into how we approach the present day.

Maybe the unease felt about what Mae presents as her true self is still shadowed by how Master Sol and the other Jedi have spoken of her.

Osha and Sol Show There’s More Than Meets The Eye

The deeper we dive into the story of Osha and Mae, the more shady Master Sol seems. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that he has some secrets hidden deep within his soul. 

The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 4, “Day,” is no different. We have a moment between him and Osha where he tells her that going on this mission to apprehend Mae will allow the both of them to face their past.

What exactly does that even mean? To make matters worse, Sol adds that he has some more he needs to tell Osha, but not until they have Mae in custody. 

It really leaves us wondering why it’s imperative that he wait to reveal the truth until they have Mae. At this point, my money is on Sol being a big part of the demise of the witch coven that Osha and Mae called family. 

After all, during The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 3, “Destiny,” when Sol appears to save Osha — very conveniently, I might add — the witches are all on the ground dead. Their bodies seem to be unmarred and intact, heavily implying that the fire didn’t kill them.

His statement about facing their past also implies that there is more to the story about Osha joining the Jedi Order. Which, if we are being completely fair, that line of thought starts the moment Sol asks Osha to join them on this mission.

Osha’s reaction when she asks if she will be joining as a Jedi leans strongly toward a desire to be seen as such. There is an excitement and keenness to how she asks that leads us to believe there is more to the story about her leaving the Order. 

All this time, Osha has reinforced Yord and Sol’s claims that she left the Order of her own accord. But what if she didn’t? What if she left because she was kindly asked to?

I don’t see her leaving the Jedi Order as being a demand. If that were the case, she wouldn’t trust or respect Sol, nor would she willingly spend all this extended time with him.

The more time we spend with Osha and the other Jedi, the more we question what we are told to be true. Secrets still abound, and this story is no longer about the murder of Jedi but about what really happened all those years ago.

Who is the Mysterious Master?

Going back to Mae for a moment, there is definitely a level of unease about her that seems genuine. It seems honest and true as she mentions it with Qimir, and that is backed up by her reaction to finding Kelnacca deceased.

Mae doesn’t like or respect the mysterious figure that has given her this “final test” of killing a Jedi without a weapon. She is terrified of him, which leads us to believe that all her actions aren’t out of anger or spite, but fear. 

Something about this mysterious master has her terrified of her own shadow, especially the closer she gets to his presence. When she thought Osha was dead, it was easier for her to justify that fear as being revenge. 

However, now that she knows her sister is alive, she has seen her face-to-face. Therefore, her loyalty to this person no longer exists, and she can now walk through the world, showing just how uneasy he makes her feel.

That fear on her face and in her voice when she says, “he is here,” can be felt all the way down to our bones. This is a person we don’t ever want to cross paths with. 

But who is he? It’s clear from the final moments of the episode that he has a strong connection to the force and can fight off equally strong Jedi, but his identity remains a mystery.

Perhaps his identity is key to the complete story of what happened 16 years ago.

Stray Thoughts:

• I want to see more bonding between Osha and Jecki. They just have great onscreen chemistry.
• Yord continues to be the quintessential professional, no-nonsense Jedi…which makes him absolutely delightful.
• We need a “tracker for our tracker” is such a hilarious line.
• I’m especially bummed we didn’t get to see the Jedi group interact with an alive Kelnacca. I’m a sucker for Wookie characters, and I had hoped we’d get more of him.

 

What did you think of this episode of The Acolyte? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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