Star Wars’ newest TV show, Star Wars: The Acolyte, has officially premiered with a two-episode release on Disney+, and the meaning behind its title has finally been confirmed. The Acolyte is a thrilling new addition to Star Wars movies and TV shows for a number of reasons, although perhaps most of all because of its place in the Star Wars timeline. Set 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace during the High Republic Era, The Acolyte explores a period of Star Wars not yet shown on screen.

With that new era comes newfound details about the history of the Jedi, the Sith, and the Republic. It seems the history and nature of the Sith will be a particular focus of the new show. In fact, The Acolyte title has everything to do with the Sith, and it offers new insight into the structure and dynamics of the dark side Force-users.

The Sith Rule Of Two Requires An Acolyte

The Sith Rule of Two is a core tenet of the Sith, but it hasn’t always been clearly defined. Although Master Yoda told Mace Windu that there are always two Sith, “no more, no less. A master and an apprentice” in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, that has been proven to not exactly be true. Yoda’s explanation implies that only two Sith ever exist at one time; however, the Sith Rule of Two really refers not to the number of Sith alive at one time but to the specific dynamic between the master and the apprentice.

The Sith Rule of Two really refers not to the number of Sith alive at one time but to the specific dynamic between the master and the apprentice.

That was made especially clear in the Sith Rule of Two retcon in the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker junior novelization, written by Michael Kogge. In the novel, Rey discovers that the Jedi had misinterpreted this rule. Rather than only two Sith existing at once, ancient Jedi texts reveal that “The Sith were Many but often emerge Ruled by Two.” This completely changed the common understanding of the Sith, and now, it seems, The Acolyte will continue to build upon this new definition of the Sith Rule of Two.

Because the Sith are ruled by two, when an apprentice is ready to usurp their master, they must first identify a possible apprentice of their own. In fact, this is the very nature of a Sith apprentice; the Sith dynamic requires that the master wields power and the apprentice craves it. However, it isn’t until that apprentice successfully kills their master that they can take on an apprentice of their own. Therefore, a Sith apprentice seeking to become a master must identify an Acolyte—someone beneath the level of an apprentice who could potentially fill that role.

Interestingly, this shores up the Sith Rule of Two either way. If the Sith apprentice is successful in overthrowing their own master, then they can take the Acolyte as their apprentice as they planned. However, if they are unsuccessful and die in the attempt on their master’s life, then the same Acolyte can step into their place and become the Sith master’s new apprentice.

How A Sith Acolyte Proves Their Worth

As revealed in the canon comic book Darth Vader (2017) #1, written by Charles Soule, becoming a Sith requires killing a Jedi. The comic explains that this is precisely how the Sith obtain red lightsabers; they take the lightsaber of a fallen Jedi and ‘bleed’ the Kyber crystal within it by pouring their pain into it, turning it red. However, The Acolyte has built upon this idea significantly.

In the two-episode premiere of The Acolyte, Mae reveals that she is seeking the favor of a Sith who has tasked her with killing four Jedi. In her case, the number seems to be four because the Jedi represent individuals she feels have wronged her. It isn’t entirely clear what the Jedi did for her to feel that way, although there does seem to be some genuine culpability there, as one of the Jedi, Torbin, apologized to her and decided to take poison and die rather than confess what he’d done to the Jedi Council.

However, one of the most interesting aspects of this requirement was that at least one kill had to be done without any weapon or by taking and using the Jedi’s lightsaber. Presumably, this is so that Mae can take the Jedi’s lightsaber from them during the battle, thereby winning it and claiming it as her own to bleed. The scenes seemed to indicate that as well, with her reaching for the lightsabers of multiple Jedi she battled.

The Acolyte Is A Story Of The Sith In Transition

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore

The Sith in The Acolyte has yet to be revealed. Not only does the Sith conceal his face with a mask, but also, he uses a voice modulator to completely disguise his voice. In light of that, it’s quite possible that the Sith may be someone the Jedi would recognize — after all, he’s going to a lot of trouble to hide who he is. However, even outside of what this suggests for the Jedi, it means that the show has yet to reveal whether this is the Sith master or the Sith apprentice of the current two in The Acolyte.

Given that this Sith is so actively looking for the right Acolyte, it seems most likely that he is the apprentice, hoping to secure his own apprentice before usurping his master. This could prove quite interesting, as that would mean a Sith master is still out there and yet to be revealed. Moreover, it could mean The Acolyte showing a Sith apprentice overthrowing his master in real-time, which would be exciting.

Either way, though, it’s clear The Acolyte will be bringing brand-new insight into the Sith Rule of Two and to the history of the Sith. Already, in just a two-episode premiere, the show has revealed much more about the Sith and how they operate, particularly as it pertains to earning their way up the ranks. Star Wars: The Acolyte undoubtedly has much more to come, and this confirmation of the title’s meaning and additional information about the Sith suggest this show will reveal incredible new details about the Star Wars universe.

The first two episodes of The Acolyte are available to stream on Disney+.