The disputed origin story of Osha & Mae clarified
The third Acolyte episode is an odd one; it is a whole flashback episode exposing some of what actually happened on the planet Brendok 16 years before the main events of the show. It looks at a coven of witches who have hidden themselves on a far-off planet in an attempt to stay out of the wary sight of the Republic and the Jedi. The witches have special Force abilities that set them apart from the Jedi and the Sith, much like the Nightsisters of Dathomir.
The only children living on Brendok are Osha and Mae, hence it is rather evident the Force produced them. Mother Aniseya talks about their odd pregnancy during one conversation with Mother Koril; although she doesn't say so specifically, the connotation is not very subtle. One phrase in particular jumps out: "There is no father," a straight-forward quotation from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, used to describe Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One.
No, Mae and Osha Aren't Replacing Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars.
Does this imply that, a century before The Phantom Menace's events, Star Wars unveiled two fresh "Chosen Ones"? Some are arguing that, however this is overdone and predicated on a misinterpretation of events in The Acolyte. Assuming Mother Aniseya's remarks are accurate, the obvious consequence is she used the Force to produce the twins under her responsibility. By contrast, the will of the Force itself shaped Anakin Skywalker, the actual Chosen One.
Anakin and the twins differ clearly, too; he is male while they are feminine. Mother Aniseya most likely conceived Osha and Mae using the Force to control the Midi-chlorians in Mother Koril's womb, and X chrosomes would only be present, so clarifying why both twins are female. Anakin is still remarkable since he was a male infant and the Y chromosomes the Force's will produced seem magically generated. Though it's far less exact than it first seems, the words "There is no father" could suggest a correlation.
Does The Acolyte Episode 3 Broken Star Wars Canon have broken canon?
Spoilers for The Acolyte episode 3 abound in this page. No, Star Wars Canon has not been breached in the third Acolyte episode; rather, it fits very remarkably. The conversation ahead of The Acolyte Episode 3 was intense to say the least, with critical observers saying this would somehow destroy the mythology irreversibly. With review bombing on websites like Rotten Tomatoes, some circles already had a backlash against The Acolyte; this episode was seen as the turning point for the fandom toward the Disney+ show.
Certainly debatable is the third Acolyte episode. Though, to be fair, George Lucas meant viewers to be disillusioned with the Jedi, so that's not a problem; this episode is lore-heavy and centers on a new Force cult living on the planet Brendok, so it clearly implies a surprisingly negative opinion of the Jedi. The fundamental question is where Osha and Mae came from; some claim this has the odd effect of making Anakin Skywalker less unique as a persona.
The Force of Mother Aniseya Since Revenge of the Sith, Power Has Been Part Of Canon.
More amazingly still, Mother Aniseya's usage of the Force was set up nineteen years earlier in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. She is obviously exercising a similar authority to that of Darth Plagueis, whose sad story Palpatine himself taught Anakin Skywalker. Palpatine told Anakin, "Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life." Before emphasizing on the idea of conquering death as another of Plagueis' ability, Palpatine said.
If this were how Plagueis discovered the power, it wouldn't be shocking. Once more, presuming the dialogue between Mothers Aniseya and Koril is to be believed, this is probably certainly what is being addressed in The Acolyte; a forbidden dark side power allowing a Force user to generate life by directly impacting the Midi-chlorians. Given the shadow of the Sith hovering above The Acolyte, it wouldn't be surprising if this were how Plagueis discovered the power. Quite unlike breaking Canon, The Acolyte fits rather nicely.
The Origin of Osha & Mae Might Still Surprise Us
One should be aware that Osha and Mae's origin narrative could have more turns. Because Episode 3 is portrayed just from Osha's point of view, the Acolyte is using a smart narrative approach modeled from Star Wars: The Last Jedi—that of the unreliable narrator. Showrunner Leslye Headland has hinted more may be revealed in coming flashbacks, possibly from Mae's viewpoint:
"We do discuss it and explore that if you stay watching the show. I would say there is no one correct response to it. Regarding what she means by saying, certain characters believe particular things while others think different things. You will so have to observe and choose which side of that debate you agree with." The Acolyte Episode 3 uses Disney+'s weekly drop structure unlike shows created for binge-watching. It is meant to hide as much as it exposes, hence it is way too soon to predict the direction of this story. This is why the above debate emphasizes that it is supposing Aniseya is speaking the truth; that might not be the case. Just time—along with the next five episodes—will reveal.
