In the pilot episode of "The Acolyte," written and directed by Leslye Headland, the series kicks off with a tantalizing mystery hinted at by the ominous line from the trailer, “Someone is killing Jedi.” However, it quickly becomes apparent that this isn’t a traditional whodunit. Instead, the central enigma revolves around the identity and motives of a Sith assassin.
The episode sets a dark tone with its opening scene on the planet Ueda, featuring a dramatic bar fight where the Jedi Master Indara (played by Carrie-Anne Moss) is unexpectedly and swiftly killed by an assassin, raising questions about the killer's identity and motives.
We are introduced to the main character, Osha Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg), a former Jedi turned mechanic. Osha's life is abruptly upended when she is accused of Master Indara's murder by her old friend, Jedi Knight Yord (Charlie Barnett), and his Padawan. Despite a witness identifying her as the murderer, Osha's involvement remains dubious.
During a transport back to face justice, convicts on the ship stage an escape, leaving Osha stranded as the ship crash-lands on the planet Carlacc. Here, Osha experiences a dream in which her presumed dead twin sister, Mae, confesses to the murder. This revelation propels the narrative forward, suggesting that Mae is alive and entangled in a deeper conspiracy.
The plot thickens as we meet new characters such as Master Sol (Lee Jung-Jae), Osha's former mentor, and Jecki (Dafne Keen), a Padawan. Sol and Yord eventually find Osha on Carlacc, but a climactic chase leads her to a precarious position reminiscent of "The Fugitive."
Mae emerges as a central figure, seemingly allied with a con-artist named Qimir (Manny Jacinto). She seeks a weapon to carry out her mission to eliminate four Jedi, a plan that includes infiltrating a local Jedi Temple on the planet Olega twice. Her interactions with Master Torbin lead to his cryptic last words and subsequent suicide by poison.
The narrative is interspersed with nods to classic "Star Wars" lines and themes, notably the iconic “I have a bad feeling about this.” As the Jedi devise a plan to trap Mae, the writing wavers with some inconsistencies and clichéd lines.
Mae's mission remains shrouded in mystery, particularly her motivations and the significance of an event called Brendok from sixteen years ago. Despite believing her sister dead, Osha seems to have an uncanny insight into Mae's intentions, raising suspicions about their possible collusion.
The episode concludes with Osha allowing Mae to escape during a confrontation, suggesting a complex relationship between the sisters. The next episode teases further intrigue as the story moves to the forest retreat of Kelnacca, a Wookiee Jedi and Mae's next target. The narrative leaves viewers questioning alliances and the true nature of the characters' intentions.