In the episode, named Teach/Corrupt, the narrative jumped between twins Osha and Mae (both played by Amandla Stenberg) and their respective experiences with The Stranger (Manny Jacinto) and Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae). The twins' journey mirrored each other, with both being drawn into meaningful conversations with characters would could potentially become their masters.
While viewers were moved by Lee's emotional performance as a grieving Master Sol after the events of Episode 5, it was Osha and The Stranger's interactions that saw them compare the narrative to the sequel trilogy film. But before we explain why fair warning, this article contains spoilers for Episode 6 of The Acolyte.
After being knocked out by her sister at the end of last week's episode, Osha wakes up alone and begins to investigate where she is. Viewers are told that she is on an "unknown planet" but several aspects of the location make it clear that they are actually on Ahch-To, where Rey (Daisy Ridley) finds and trains with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).
Firstly, the location looks almost identical to Ahch-To, and small creatures roaming the planet look like smaller versions of the Thala-sirens that are seen in The Last Jedi. Then there's the similarities between Osha and The Stranger's interactions with Rey and Kylo Ren's conversations in the film.
Viewers shared their thoughts on these connections on social media, with one person writing: "Unknown Planet, yeah right I recognise where that is"
Another person added: "IF 'unknown planet' is Ahch-To the implications of that, it's connection to light and dark, being the place where they converge and then the through line from Qimir/Osha to Rey/Kylo...I have tingles."
One person wrote about the similarities in Osha's ensemble in the episode to Rey's outfit in The Last Jedi, saying: "Okay but like THE OUTFITS??? The grey with holes for the shoulders for the girl, the long good boy sweater for the guy... Like there was definitely some inspiration here right???? Tell me I am not just crazy. It won't be the only parallel..."
Another fan of the show said: "thought it would be decades until we saw a story that truly resonates on the same wavelength as the last jedi, a poetic equal. mythically gorgeous, exceedingly horny, and dramatic as hell. ah, star wars is magical (and sexy) again."
Other viewers likened Jacinto's The Stranger taking off his clothes and going swimming to Adam Driver being shirtless as Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi. Comparing The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland to Johnson one person wrote in a tongue-in-cheek fashion: "rian johnson: let's make the bad guy shirtless, leslye headland: hold my lightsaber".
The new episode also hinted at a dark connection between Vernestra (Rebecca Henderson) and The Stranger. Jacinto's villain was seen with whip-like wounds on his back, and in the same episode it was revealed that Vernestra's lightsaber is a whip.
The Stranger talked of being betrayed to Osha but did not say who by, however some fans have put the two together and questioned whether the character's master could have been Vernestra all along.
One person wrote: "I'm so sorry to Vern fans but showing those scars and introducing the lightwhip in the same episode is not a great sign for ole Vernestra"
Another viewer said: "Qimir was once a Jedi. Now he's fallen to the dark side to 'tip the scales.' Vernestra his master that gave him that scar with her lightsaber whip?!"
Viewers will have to wait and see if the pair do share a connection once the story continues, and with only two episodes left questions will likely be answered sooner rather than later.
