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Although I valued the ideas of The Acolyte's opening, Episode 3 reveals the more fundamental problems at the core of the show's narrative. Watching the investigation of the Force and how that differs between the witches of Aniseya and the Jedi is amazing. Aniseya's insightful instruction to Mae and Osha on the power of one, power of two, and the power of many connects with subsequent study that the Force is something that belongs to everyone rather than something someone may own. With the introduction of the Jedi, this mindset begs problems.
This represents a stalemate in which the moral boundaries are erasing. As the witches and the Jedi represent their own convictions, both sides make wise and poor actions. Episode 3 of Star Wars better than most other productions explores the morally dubious places through these scenes. Though both believe their manner of seeing and applying the Force is right, the Jedi and the witches are not that different. Loving when Star Wars explores below surface level, as in The Last Jedi, The Acolyte Episode 3's intricate philosophical investigation was exhilarating to encounter.
The first thing that caught me as The Acolyte episode 3 started was its beauty. Brendok's wide establishing views were breathtaking, and the medieval-like fort housing Aniseya's coven inspired awe only found in Star Wars. From the spiritual tree and its otherworldly creatures where Osha and Mae hang out to the blue and red moons that fit The Acolyte's insignia, the CGI components of Brendok all mix naturally. One of the strongest points of the episode, this lack of startling CGI helped the characters stand out the more.
With a passionate display of emotions when catastrophe falls in the last act, Lee Jung-jae keeps Jedi Master Sol filled with compassion and empathy hardly seen from Star Wars' space wizards. Where Amandla Stenberg shines as Mae and Osha in The Acolyte's debut, this time the compliments land completely on young twin performers Leah and Lauren Brady, who portray each separate twin. Thanks to the Bradys' subtle performances, it is easy to distinguish the Brady twins even if Osha and Mae seem practically exact.
The primary mystery of The Acolyte's premiere—why Mae was killing Jedi, what happened to Mae and Osha as children, and how the Sith fit into events—piqued my most interest. The third Acolyte episode offers, to varied degrees, hints at responses to all three. The episode transports us to the planet Brendok, hinted to as Mae and Osha's tragic scene. With their mother Aniseya raising the twins as the future of a coven of Force-sensitive witches, this flashback chronicles their childhood with her.
Apart from displaying the differences between Osha and Mae, episode 3 clarifies why Mae dislikes the Jedi while the former does not. Osha's disappointment with Aniseya's coven sharply contrasts with Mae's loyalty, therefore illustrating how differently youngsters could respond to dogmatic lessons. The latter's deadly resentment from the premiere becomes clear as the Jedi approaches to entice Osha away from Mae's view.
Building on the great foundations of its premiere, the third Acolyte episode offers an outstanding flashback episode with rich fantasy, superb acting, and a closer examination of the philosophical concerns of the show. By the end of The Acolyte's premiere, I was happy. Though with some pace issues, I liked what showrunner Leslye Headland was creating. Still, after seeing The Acolyte episodes 1 and 2, I was eager to see more—an enthusiasm more than satisfied thanks to the outstanding episode 3.
The rest of the show's qualities are amazing given issues as weighty as those of The Acolyte episode 3 addresses. With these themes and ideas all precisely relating to the mystery of the Sith, this is evidence of Leslye Headland's well-defined show's strategy. Though it lacks clear action scenes and a startling, instantaneous change of time period, The Acolyte episode 3 is an amazing production that catches the best elements of Star Wars, including a deeper examination of the Force, without losing sight of the mystery the program is telling at its central focus.
These responses are much appreciated, but the increasing of additional questions will make episode 3 even more great. Strictly from Osha's point of view, the culminating tragedy foreshadowed at—a fire ignited by Mae—is depicted. Only Sol and Mae remain when Osha escapes; Aniseya and the witches are dead. Mae passes out looking to be dead, and Sol picks Osha in. But the absence of burn marks obscures the witches' deaths in the future, suggesting that Mae's viewpoint will only highlight more about The Acolyte's mystery - and the Sith villain.
With more morally demanding projects like Revenge of the Sith, The Last Jedi, and Andor standing tall as the franchise's strongest stories, Star Wars has long flourished in the gray region. Fascinatingly, The Acolyte episode 3 leaves open interpretation of who is good and bad. Though imperfect, the Jedi mean well; they take children from their homes and reject other Force users since they think their approach is right. On the other hand, the witches wish to dwell in peace and only transmit their lessons via dark-side oriented powers. The Acolyte is content to investigate how various ideas collide, hence whose path is right is not relevant. From the black-and- white of Star Wars Rebellion vs. Empire, Jedi vs. Sith, and light vs. dark, this is a striking change.