It’s no secret that theStar WarsDisney+ shows have been a bit of a mixed bag overall. WhileThe Mandaloriandid a great job of showing the potential of a week-to-week big-budgetStar Warsshow upon its 2019 debut, its subsequent seasons declined in quality somewhat.The Book of Boba Fettwas also met with a divisive critical reception, and thoughAhsokafared a little better, it still didn’t reach the critical heights ofThe Mandalorian’s first season.
This consistently mixed reception (aside from the acclaimedAndor) came to a head with the release ofStar Wars: The Acolytelast year. The first piece of live-action High Republic content,The Acolytehad a strong premise, but it was also met with a divisive reception from both fans and critics alike. Despite beingDisney+’s second most-watched show of last year,The Acolytewill not be receiving a second season. But there’s one concept inThe Acolytethat could live on in a new kind ofStar Warsvideo game.
The Acolyte May Have Paved The Way for a Sith-Centered Game
The Acolyte Started to Shine a Unique Light on The Sith
In mostStar Warscanon movies and shows, the Sith are portrayed as one-note villains. Audiences are told repeatedly that the Sith are the greatest evil in the galaxy, that they’re power-hungry psychopaths who are willing to betray and kill anyone to rise to the top. And often, audiences are shown that as well, with The Emperor being overtly evil throughout the Skywalker Saga.
ButStar Wars: The Acolyteattempted to subvert this binary view a little.The AcolyteintroducedManny Jacinto’s Qimir/Stranger, a former Jedi Padawan who was cast out of the Jedi Order and ultimately became a Sith Lord. While Qimir is undeniably an antagonist, his reasons for violence aren’t quite as one-note as most Sith’s are.
Qimir despises the Jedi Order and its ability to dictate who gets to use the Force and for what purpose. He claims that the Jedi essentially kidnap children and indoctrinate them into their religion, forcing them to believe that there’s only one way to harness the power of the Force.The Acolyteis one of the few pieces of mainstreamStar Warscanon media to depict the Jedi as potential villains, and it’s a fascinating perspective that needs to be explored again soon. And in the absence ofThe AcolyteSeason 2, aStar Warsvideo game could be the one to explore it.
There’s a Lot of Potential in a Sith-Centered Star Wars Game
Though a handful ofStar Warsgames have let players become a Sith, it’s usually made overtly clear that they’ve chosen the “evil” path.Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis a good example of this. While players can become a Sith, they’ll often need to commit some pretty heinous acts togain Dark Side points. And though there’s some intriguing Sith lore to find on Korriban, most of it revolves around the evil acts Sith Lords have done to one another over the centuries.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2explores the concept of being a Sitha little more even-handedly. Mostly through the dialogue of Kreia, players are prompted to think about the Jedi’s rule over the galaxy, and how their dogma can be its own form of ignorance and indifference. It’s about time anotherStar Warsgame explored that concept.
