A red-tinted image of slaughtered Jedi in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and Jedi Master Sol in The Acolyte episode 5.The Acolyte episode 4 teased an epic showdown between several Jedi and a single Sith Lord, but episode 5 featured a massacre unlike anything seen since Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. The final installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy had countless Jedi deaths, from Palpatine defeating four Jedi Masters to the utter devastation of Order 66. While the franchise has certainly had Jedi fall in battle against overwhelming odds in other Star Wars stories since then, the team behind The Acolyte seems determined to push the boundaries of what can be done in one TV episode.

The result is nearly non-stop action, chases, and lightsaber duels that haven’t been attempted in live-action since Revenge of the Sith. It establishes how serious a threat the new Sith Lord is and clarifies why news of the Sith’s return didn’t spread through the Jedi Order before the prequel trilogy. The ensuing slaughter also foreshadows the fate of the Order 100 years later in the timeline, the first Jedi massacre of many to come. However, while Palpatine was able to kill countless Jedi through deception and numbers, The Acolyte‘s Sith Lord takes a different approach.

The Acolyte’s Sith Lord Just Destroyed An Entire Team Of Jedi

A squad of Jedi working together couldn’t defeat him

Qimir (Manny Jacinto) wields his dual wield lightsabers in The Acolyte episode 5
Sol and Jecki vs Qimir in Acolyte Episode 5 Qimir Kills Jecki in Acolyte Episode 5 Qimir Puts Saber to Mae's Head in Acolyte Episode 5 Jedi Master Sol in Acolyte Episode 5Qimir (Manny Jacinto) wields his dual wield lightsabers in The Acolyte episode 5 Sol and Jecki vs Qimir in Acolyte Episode 5
 Qimir Kills Jecki in Acolyte Episode 5 Qimir Puts Saber to Mae's Head in Acolyte Episode 5 Jedi Master Sol in Acolyte Episode 5

Rather than cut straight to the duel between the Jedi and the Sith Lord, The Acolyte episode 5 begins with Osha waking up next to a dead Knight. This immediately sets the tone for the rest of the episode and ensures the viewer subconsciously knows that almost none of the Jedi will get off the planet alive. The Sith Lord then duels multiple Jedi at once, killing each one differently and never slowing down for an instant. Even Palpatine killing three Jedi in quick succession in Revenge of the Sith is nothing compared to this Sith Lord’s fighting prowess.

Even by Star Wars standards, this Sith Lord is particularly brutal in how he kills each of the Jedi. Two Jedi are seemingly impaled at the same time, Jecki Lon is stabbed repeatedly, and Yord Fandar has his neck snapped. Master Sol’s horrified expression adds greater emotion to the scene and makes the massacre even more tragic.

Only A Master & Apprentice Team Could Threaten The Sith Lord

And even then it wasn’t enough

Jedi Master Sol Faces Sith in Acolyte Episode 5

The Acolyte episode 5 does show that this Sith Lord is not unbeatable, but only a master and apprentice working together could put up a fight. This is in line with the Sith Lords of the prequel trilogy, where only the most powerful Jedi Masters could fight a Sith Lord on their own for very long. Sadly, even the most skilled Jedi are no match for the Sith Lord, leaving Sol and Osha as the only survivors.

They outsmart the Sith Lord thanks to the creatures attracted to light, even if it is only a temporary setback. If a squad of Jedi was no match for this Sith Lord, it seems unlikely that anyone the Order sends can hope to defeat him. Now that he is responsible for the greatest Jedi massacre since Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, more Jedi are guaranteed to die by the Sith Lord’s hand in the remaining episodes of The Acolyte, keeping the Sith’s existence for another century.