The Acolyte‘s Manny Jacinto explains why he believes his fearsome new Sith Lord is such a tremendous success. Officially known as “The Stranger,” Manny Jacinto plays the first new canon Sith Lord to make their on-screen debut since Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones back in 2002. He’s proven to be an absolute hit, in large part because of Jacinto’s own performance, married with stunning fight choreography.

Speaking to Gizmodo, Jacinto has explained why he thinks this new Sith Lord is so popular – and how he differs to other Sith who’ve been seen before.

“He’s just very unapologetic with who he is. He’s like, ‘Take me for who I am, I don’t want to be somebody else anymore.’ He was a Jedi in a previous life, but — and who knows what happened in that transformation — but if anything, he’s joyful, he doesn’t have second thoughts about it. He’s accepted it. He says to Sol [in episode five], “I’ve accepted my darkness, what have you done with yours?” He’s an outsider, he knows that he’s an outcast, he knows that he’s a black sheep, and he won’t apologize for that.”

Star Wars has tended to be a story of redemption, meaning it’s always been important there are hints of light in the darkness. The Stranger is very different, though, because he’s a Sith Lord without a hint of regret, and redemption certainly isn’t in store for him.

The Stranger’s Story Is Even More Of A Mystery Now

The Acolyte episode 8 raised even more questions about the Sith Lord’s true identity. It revealed he was a former Jedi, the one-time Padawan of Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, but he had long since been thought killed. Instead, he had turned to the dark side – joyfully, with no hint of regret, although he may well hate his former master. This story will clearly be explored in The Acolyte season 2 (should Disney renewe this latest Star Wars TV show).

What is clear, though, is that The Acolyte‘s new Sith Lord is an absolute hit. There have been Sith before who were clearly beyond redemption, but they are few and far between in canon; Palpatine himself is probably the best example, and his enduring popularity is rooted in the fact he is simply evil incarnate. The Stranger is something rather more complex, precisely because he so clearly has a backstory, and it is one rooted in the Jedi themselves.

The Acolyte‘s ending sees the Stranger enter into an unconventional relationship with Osha. The two feel more like equals in the darkness rather than master and apprentice, and there are undeniable hints of a romantic relationship that will surely go wrong as they continue to grow in their individual unapologetic darkness. It will be fascinating to see whether Amandla Stenberg’s Osha can become as iconic as The Acolyte season 1’s Sith Lord.