It’s unattainable to debate the Star Wars TV present The Acolyte with out mentioning Manny Jacinto‘s scene-stealing (and bicep-baring) presence.
The Acolyte, which premiered on Disney+ in June 2024, is about earlier than the occasions of the Skywalker Saga as a sequence of murders lead Jedi Grasp Sol (Lee Jung-jae) to reconnect with former pupil Osha (Amandla Stenberg) — and her not-so-dead twin sister, Mae. Sol rapidly learns that sinister forces are at play as Mae’s historical past with a mysterious Sith grasp is uncovered.
When Jacinto was launched as a smuggler named Qimir, viewers have been entertained by his antics as he helped Mae please their unseen chief. The fifth episode, nonetheless, turned out to be one for the historical past books when the Jedi warriors met The Stranger, who was orchestrating the crime by way of Mae. An epic battle revealed Jacinto’s character Qimir as the person behind the sinister helmet.
Shortly after the episode aired, an outpouring of help got here in for Jacinto. It wasn’t simply Jacinto’s efficiency as an actor that followers have been rooting for, with The Stranger receiving simply as a lot love on social media.
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Creator Leslye Headland wasn’t stunned by the response.
“Initially, even up till capturing, The Stranger was not in loads of the remainder of the season. He was far more of a tee-up for a second season arc,” Headland instructed Inverse in July 2024. “However I noticed Manny’s display screen check early on in pre-production, and I simply thought, ‘There can be riots within the streets if I don’t [go further]. Right here we go. I assume I’m rewriting an episode.’ Manny was so spectacular in each facet.”
Headland praised Jacinto for his potential not solely to inform a compelling story — however to make viewers root for a extra villainous arc.
“As a filmmaker, in my head, I’m like, ‘I’m constructive that is going to work. If I can get Manny Jacinto, this may work. If I don’t, this character gained’t exist. We’re going to have to start out from scratch and determine one thing else,’” she added. “I used to be so grateful he did the present, however he surpassed my expectations.”
Hold scrolling to see why Star Wars followers are rooting for the darkish aspect due to Jacinto’s The Stranger:
1st Introduction
When Jacinto made his Star Wars debut on The Acolyte, he gave the impression to be a easy smuggler named Qimir who was serving to Mae get revenge for what occurred in her previous. Mae’s orders from her and Qimir’s grasp required her to kill 4 Jedi from her previous — and one of many kills needed to be with no weapon. Qimir’s position was to provide the poison for one of many murders however he caught round lengthy sufficient for Osha to trick him into considering she was Mae to get extra data out of him.
It seemingly labored — till Jacinto delivered a surprisingly seductive line supply when telling Osha she regarded identical to Mae. The outcome was a number of followers holding a more in-depth eye on Qimir shifting ahead.
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In Disguise
The fourth episode of the present adopted Sol and Osha’s makes an attempt to cease Mae from killing the brand new Jedi on her checklist a.okay.a Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo), a Wookiee residing in seclusion. Mae was already there, nonetheless, with Qimir’s assist. She turned on Qimir when she determined she didn’t wish to proceed the mission and he was seemingly left for lifeless.
In the meantime, the Jedi group ran right into a mysterious determine carrying a helmet and wielding a crimson lightsaber (which is famously the colour that can be wielded by villains Darth Vader and Kylo Ren). This deliberate run-in became the unknown villain — now generally known as The Stranger — dealing with off in opposition to a handful of Jedi warriors and arising victorious.
His impeccable expertise on the battleground earned him much more help.
The Unmasking
Since everybody needed to know who was underneath the helmet, The Acolyte didn’t maintain Us ready lengthy. An professional transfer from Jecki’s (Dafne Eager) lightsaber triggered The Stranger’s helmet to come back off and for Jacinto’s face to hit our screens.
The Stranger wasn’t too involved that his identification was blown as he continued to kill off anybody who was there. His dedication to the chaos — coupled with an outfit that confirmed off his spectacular biceps — made Jacinto’s episode the discuss of the web.
A Candy Second
An antagonist wants one among two issues to enchantment to the viewers: a tragic backstory or a charged second with one other character that has Us craving for them to change into a pair. Star Wars took the second route — though hints have additionally been dropped about The Stranger’s previous — by having him kind an sudden reference to Osha.
After initially working together with her sister, The Stranger made it clear he didn’t belief Mae’s devotion to him anymore. The Stranger is on the seek for a pupil, however alongside the way in which he notices a pure evolution between him and Osha.
The fifth episode ended with Mae swapping locations with Osha, who was knocked out in opposition to her will. Alongside got here The Stranger, who was form sufficient to make use of his jacket as a blanket for Osha like a real gentleman.
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Realizing What the Viewers Desires
There was no plot-related purpose for Osha to get up within the sixth episode on an unknown planet solely to observe The Stranger as he took a shower within the lake. Regardless, The Acolyte blessed Us with a second the place Jacinto stripped down and later emerged from the water in a scene that felt ripped straight from some Star Wars fan fiction (and that could be a praise).
Escalating the Rigidity
The complete sixth episode centered on Osha studying extra about The Stranger — together with the truth that they aren’t as completely different as she initially thought. Osha even placed on his helmet, however the lead-up to the second was much more thrilling.
Osha and The Stranger shared a number of scenes that may solely be described as emotionally charged and exploding with sexual pressure. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply Osha who was affected within the hours after the episode dropped. Star Wars followers expressed their overwhelming gratitude to Headland for bringing the concept of Osha and The Stranger bonding session on a non-public island to life.
