Star Wars' New Sith Lord Embodies One Massive Jedi Teaching
If you've been keeping up with the latest happenings in the Star Wars galaxy, you've probably heard of the new "Sith Lord" in The Acolyte. Manny Jacinto's character, Qimir, is a pretty terrifying dark side user who's definitely not afraid to show off his power.
But hold on a second. While Qimir seems to be Sith, there's a chance he's a whole different kind of dark side user, something beyond the traditional Dark Lords we've seen in previous Star Wars media. In fact, something interesting happened in The Acolyte episode 6 that gives us a clue about Qimir's true nature, and it's actually a key teaching of the Jedi.
So, what's the big deal? Well, in episode 6, Qimir brings Osha (Amandla Stenberg) to his home on a remote ocean world in the Outer Rim. He reveals some personal details about his past, including something surprising about the super intimidating helmet he wore during that epic Jedi massacre in the previous episode.
Qimir's Helmet: More Than Meets the Eye
Turns out, Qimir's cortosis helmet is more than just a way to temporarily disable lightsabers. It can also block out mental probes from other Force users, cutting off any external distractions. It's like a sensory deprivation device, and Qimir even confirms that it's similar to the ones he and Osha used as Jedi younglings.
By blocking out almost everything, Qimir says the helmet allows for a powerful connection with the Force: "So it's just you and the Force...and what you bring with you". This explains why Qimir was able to take down so many Jedi at once, showing how much he trusts in the Force. Even though he's using the Dark Side, he's incredibly connected to it, and it ties into the bigger themes of The Acolyte.
Jedi Teaching, Sith Execution
Now, here's where the Jedi connection comes in. In one of the early scenes in The Acolyte, Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) tells a group of Jedi younglings: "Your eyes can deceive you. We must not trust them." This is a recurring theme throughout the show, and it's a really important lesson in the Jedi Order.
The Jedi believe in trusting the Force above their physical senses. This is something that Luke Skywalker learned in A New Hope when he had to face a training droid with his eyes closed. It's also a lesson that Yoda taught younglings in the prequels, and it pops up in The Last Jedi and Ahsoka too. This Jedi training technique is even officially called Zatochi in the Star Wars canon.
Qimir: The Sith Master of Deception
Here's where things get interesting. Even though Qimir was once a Jedi, he seems to still value this lesson, even though he's embraced the dark side. You could even argue that the Sith and other Dark Side users understand this lesson better than the Jedi, because they use deception all the time.
Think of it this way: Qimir and his helmet are like the ultimate fulfillment of that Jedi lesson. He trusts the Force so much that he doesn't even need to fully see during combat. He's completely immersed in the dark side, and his helmet is a symbol of his total commitment to the Force.
More Acolyte to Come
So, as you watch the rest of The Acolyte, keep an eye on Qimir and his helmet. It's a great reminder that even in the darkest corners of the galaxy, there can be echoes of the Jedi's teachings. And who knows, maybe this new Sith Lord is even a Jedi in disguise, using his old training to conquer the galaxy.
