Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episode 7.
Summary
- Sol’s redemption in The Acolyte is in Osha’s hands, similar to how Vader’s was in Luke’s hands in Star Wars.
- Osha may choose between forgiveness or resentment towards Sol after learning the truth.
- The emphasis on the “betrayal of the father” in Star Wars influences Sol’s redemption arc.
Leslye Headland, showrunner of Star Wars: The Acolyte, has revealed that Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae)’s redemption has already been set up by Darth Vader’s in Star Wars. The Acolyte episode 7 at long last revealed the full truth of what unfolded that fateful night on Brendok from the Jedi’s point of view, and it made one devastating truth clear: Sol was not as innocent as he first seemed in the matter. Clouded by his emotions, Sol was not only responsible for Mother Aniseya (Jodie Turner-Smith)’s death, but he also lied about it to Osha (Amandla Stenberg).
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Now, Headland has provided her perspective on Sol’s redemption. Speaking exclusively to Screen Rant, Headland insists that Sol’s redemption is “in the hands of the person harmed” – which, in this case, is Osha. She then brings up Darth Vader and the nature of his redemption, in that it’s Luke’s perspective and his alone on whether he deserves it or not. This is, according to Headland, the same with Sol and Osha (and Mae). It’s in their hands, and “itโs not an easy moral question for the audience to answer.”
I mean, I think [Sol’s redemption is] in the hands of the person harmed. Thatโs truly what it is. Does Vader deserve redemption? Luke thinks so. And we saw what Anakin did, but Luke believes that.
So, I think itโs in Oshaโs hands. To me, itโs between the two of them [Mae and Osha], itโs not an easy moral question for the audience to answer
.
Headland goes on to share that this is because of the emphasis Star Wars has always placed on “the betrayal of the father.” She insists that “that is Star Wars,” in that Darth Vader’s iconic “I am your father” is “the thing that makes it go from incredible filmmaking and escapism to probably the greatest modern fairy tale to ever be created.” Because of this, Sol’s redemption after his betrayal is also solely up to Osha, just as it was with Luke.
I mean, the showโฆ this was always going to be the penultimate episode because itโs the betrayal of the father. Thereโs nothing biggerโI mean, that is Star Wars. Star Wars before [The Empire Strikes Back] was a groundbreaking, thrilling, incredible, transformative, transportive, marvel of filmmaking, of groundbreaking special effects, Ralph McQuarrie, absolutely everything.
But the thing that cinches it is โI am your father.โ Thatโs the thing that makes it go from incredible filmmaking and escapism to probably the greatest modern fairy tale to ever be created
. So, yeah. The betrayal of the father, specifically father-daughter, itโs up to her.
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Osha Will Have To Choose Between Luke’s & Leia’s Perspectives
Will She Harbor Resentment Towards Sol, Or Choose To Forgive Him?
Sol is a good person who made some bad choices that night on Brendok, but that doesn’t make things any less complicated, and Headland is absolutely right; only Osha gets to determine whether he should earn redemption for that or not. Given that she’s currently in the Stranger’s “care” and could likely have heard about the truth of these events from Qimir’s perspective, this may be an ugly process, particularly for Sol. Osha, however, still has two paths ahead of her: taking Luke’s approach to Vader’s redemption or Leia’s.
It’s clear throughout Star Wars canon that Leia was never quite able to forgive her biological father for everything he did to her and the rest of the galaxy, despite the good Luke still saw in him. Much of this is underlined in both Beth Revis’ The Princess and the Scoundrel and Claudia Gray’s Bloodline. This could very well be the path Osha goes down, especially with the Stranger’s desire to sway her to the dark side. Still, however, hope remains, just as it always does in Star Wars – meaning Sol could still get his redemption in The Acolyte.
The Acolyte episode 7 is now streaming. The final episode releases Tuesday at 9 PM ET on Disney+.