Star Wars: The Acolyte has brought horror back to Star Wars’ most dangerous villains. The Star Wars franchise has introduced many memorable villains since the first Star Wars movie, which was later retitled A New Hope, was released in theaters. Darth Vader instantly became one of the most iconic antagonists of all time, and he was later joined by other compelling dark side-wielding characters like Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul, and Count Dooku. There’s a reason Darth Vader remains the most popular villain of the bunch, though.

Now, over 40 years later, The Acolyte has introduced an entirely new Sith Lord, one whose identity has yet to be revealed. This character does expose one thing about the Sith and the franchise as a whole, however: the Star Wars villains that feel truly otherworldly and downright terrifying make the most impact. Some Sith are merely out to seek the ultimate power; others, like Vader and The Acolyte’s Sith, revel in how they use it and how they present themselves to the world, as well.

Darth Vader’s Character Design Was Genuinely Horrifying

One of the reasons Darth Vader became such a massive figure in popular culture was because of his character design. It’s the eerie mystery of what lies beneath the suit that makes him so compelling. How he moves, how he talks, and how he breathes all make the audience wonder what happened to him, the secrets that are hiding behind the mask. Darth Vader’s breathing, especially, contributed to Vader’s horrifying presence. The audience’s senses are heightened as soon as that familiar mechanical hiss reaches their ears – it’s the added anticipation that truly cements the terror of Darth Vader’s approach.

The audience’s senses are heightened as soon as that familiar mechanical hiss reaches their ears – it’s the added anticipation that truly cements the terror of Darth Vader’s approach.

That terror became even more pronounced after the Star Wars prequel trilogy was released. Vader’s true form was hidden no more, but that made him all the more haunting. Underneath the armor, the helmet, and the voice modulator was a man in excruciating pain, and yet he was still one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy. That pain and rage colors every moment of Darth Vader’s time on screen, despite his often outwardly calm demeanor. He’s unpredictable and menacing. Running away is the only option.

Palpatine, Maul, And Dooku Were Completely Different Kinds Of Sith

Though Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul, and Count Dooku were all important to the story in their own way, they could never make as much of an impact as Darth Vader. That’s not because they lack power – far from it. It’s because rather than use the terror of the dark side to intimidate and frighten their opponents, they instead use it to power themselves, combining brute force with wit to outsmart and defeat their enemies. Their wins are impressive, yes, but not downright terrifying.

Vader, on the other hand, doesn’t only use his brute strength. He plays with his adversaries. He frightens them into submission, chokes the life out of people just to make a point, and never shows the full range of his abilities. Palpatine’s villainy stems from his cunning, Dooku’s strength lies in his grace and calm, and Maul’s power comes from his desperate need to prove himself. They are all worthy Star Wars villains, but that horror element, that one spark that makes an antagonist truly petrifying, is missing from their characterization.

The Dark Side Is All About Power, But That Isn’t What Makes It So Terrifying

To the Sith, the dark side is all about power – obtaining it, harnessing it, nurturing it, and accumulating more of it. Their passion and hatred fuel their quest for dominance, which is what makes the dark side so dangerous for the Jedi. But that lust for power isn’t what makes the dark side so chilling. It’s what can be done with it that truly brings horror to life in Star Wars.

The horror lies in the dark side mind probe, during which a Force-wielder roots around and irrevocably changes someone’s mind, forcing them to reveal their deepest secrets. It’s in the Dathomirian Nightsisters’ dominion over death, the way they resurrect their fallen sisters as corpses to fight for them. It’s in the haunting power of the Nameless, terrifying Force-sensitive creatures that feed on the Jedi’s life force and leave them to die as desiccated husks. The dark side is terrifying because its limits are unknown, and therefore, the horrors that can be inflicted while using it are positively endless.

The lightsaber duels between Palpatine and Yoda, Darth Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Dooku and Anakin Skywalker are all captivating, certainly, but none of that compares to the chill in the air when Darth Vader enters a room. The way the other characters react to his mere presence is very telling – they shy away from him before he even steps into the light, and The Acolyte’s Sith Lord has the same effect.

The Acolyte’s Sith Lord Is Sinister In The Best Way

Those horror beats that are so fundamental to Darth Vader’s character and the dark side are present in The Acolyte’s new Sith Lord. Nowhere is this more apparent than in The Acolyte episode 4, “Day,” in which the Sith Lord gives the Jedi and the audience a taste of their true power for the very first time.

The Sith’s eerie mask was only the beginning. When they first arrive, they enter the scene like a wraith, silent and menacing as they descend from the heavens. Osha’s back stiffens the second she senses him, and the fear in her eyes is palpable. This person doesn’t need to raise their red lightsaber to make their adversaries feel petrified, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t add to their dramatic appearance. Their movements aren’t smooth and graceful; in fact, the way the Sith moves feels physically impossible somehow – it’s wrong in a way that makes it difficult to avert your eyes.

Much like Darth Vader, The Acolyte ’s Sith comes across as an unstoppable, twisted force of nature. How can the Jedi stop someone who lives so comfortably in the shadows? How can anyone?

Sure, it’s clear that this is no ordinary dark side wielder. The Force push they used against the Jedi was incredibly powerful, and there was a real sense that over a dozen Jedi wouldn’t be able to defeat this person, wherever they came from. There’s more to it than that, though. Much like Darth Vader, The Acolyte’s Sith comes across as an unstoppable, twisted force of nature. How can the Jedi defeat someone who lives so comfortably in the shadows? How can anyone?

The true nature of the dark side is hidden from both the audience and the Jedi, and that is exactly what makes the characters that wield it so compelling. It is those who utilize and embody its limitless potential, however, those who symbolize the fear and depravity that have made the biggest impact on the franchise. Though Star Wars: The Acolyte’s Sith Lord is currently still a mystery, there’s so much horrifying potential there.

The Acolyte Episodes
Release Date

“Lost / Found”
Tuesday, June 4

“Revenge / Justice”
Tuesday, June 4

“Destiny”
Tuesday, June 11

“Day”
Tuesday, June 18

Episode 5
Tuesday, June 25

Episode 6
Tuesday, July 2

Episode 7
Tuesday, July 9

Episode 8
Tuesday, July 16

New episodes of The Acolyte release Tuesdays exclusively on Disney+.