This is a spoiler review for “Night”; the fifth episode of the Disney+ original series Star Wars: The Acolyte.
Following on from the cliffhanger ending of last week’s halfway point of the first series, the new episode unsurprisingly entitled Night – following last week’s Day – continues very much after the conclusion with the appearance of the unknown soul to us and the Jedi.
We find Osha waking up amidst the turmoil, seeing a body of a fallen Jedi next to her. She sits up and sees the mysterious assailant fighting the remaining Jedi – Sol, Jord and Jecki. Osha stands in the shadows; Sol instructs Jord to take the civilian Osha back to the ship and safety.
Osha being a stubborn individual cannot leave Sol to fight alone. Meanwhile, a fleeing Mae is encountered by Jecki and placed under arrest. We then have a duelling battle and these fight scenes are very well done with new tweaks in the fighting style shown.
About halfway through the episode; things come to ahead when Jecki stands up to the Sith. Her valour is in vain though as the Sith kills her with three short jolts through her young chest. As she falls, the mysterious fighter’s helmet is broken and he is revealed to be Qimir, after all this time.
While not a surprise to eagle-eyed viewers, the reveal is well done and the exposition spoken by the Sith lord is necessary. He is fittingly angry and displays that effectively and his displeasure with Mae’s decision to betray him.
The Sith’s power is a match for all Jedi seemingly and this is a dangerous new challenger. Qimir is challenging the codes and rules of Jedi, questioning Sol attacking him with his back turned.
The episode ends with Qimir alone on the planet surveying his damage and yet there has been a switcheroo. Mae has cut her hair to resemble Osha and is now leaving the planet with Sol. While Osha has been left with the Sith. Was this part of the plan all along and we are uncertain of Mae’s intentions?
Again with three episodes remaining there seems to be a lot still to cram into this first season and with the short run time again of this thirty five minute episode you hope the scope and vision grows in coming weeks.
However, the contrast between this and last week’s episode was well night and day, personally one longer episode would have carried greater emotional heft and a better pay off than the division of one episode into two distinct parts. That belies the work done in season openers and the dichotomy of the twins being used as narrative tools.
The cinematography, production design and performances were all elevated in this episode; Lee Jung-jae adding the action stunt skills to his ever impressive growing collection of quivers with special praise for Manny Jacinto as Qimir whose reveal was effectively handled and impressed with his dark side portrayal.
A better episode this week which like the England football team is all we ask for.
Check out the previous review for episode four here.
Chatter Box Film 