Disney+ hasn't officially renewed The Acolyte for Season 2 yet, but showrunner Leslye Headland is already thinking about what more episodes could explore. Meanwhile, what would Manny Jacinto, who plays The Stranger (Qimir), like to see explored in Season 2?
Warning! Spoilers for The Acolyte Season 1 follow:
First, a quick roundup of where Season 1 leaves things. In the series finale, Qimir takes on Osha as his acolyte (with Darth Plagueis watching from the shadows, but that’s a whole other rabbit hole). It’s suggested that Qimir will train Osha in the dark side of the Force, with a potential encounter with Plagueis (and maybe even a young Palpatine) to come. Meanwhile, the Jedi look determined to hunt the pair down, particularly Master Vernestra Rwoh, who we assume was once Qimir’s master before her Padawan turned to the dark side.
Amid all this is a definite sexual tension between Qimir and Osha and the potential for a romantic relationship the Jedi would frown upon. It’s this attraction that Jacinto would love to explore in a potential Season 2, and it’s something he said would feel fresh for Star Wars.
Speaking to GQ, Jacinto touched on how Star Wars fans are way ahead of the show itself and are already dreaming up scenarios for the pair.
“In the fan art I've seen, there's a good amount that implies… something between Osha and the Stranger,” Jacinto said.
“That's something that people, I think, have been yearning for in this genre, or at least in this IP, and I love that people are honing in on it and encouraging it. So I think people can look forward to more of that, possibly. If people want it, we can explore that in a subsequent season.”
In a separate interview with IndieWire, Leslye Headland acknowledged that Osha and the Stranger are ultimately “doomed” despite the promise of future adventures. That’s because of the Sith Rule of Two and Plagueis’ inevitable rise to power.
“Even though [Osha and The Stranger] are standing there, sort of looking out at the sunset, ready to conquer the world, the tragedy is we know they don’t," Headland said.
"We know there can only be two. We know Plagueis is there. We know that these two are doomed in some way. So to me it’s a bittersweet tragedy, this foreboding ending. But that’s because I know about the Sith lineage and all these other things, whereas I think a different subset of the audience can be like, ‘They’re married!’”
Perhaps, if The Acolyte does get a second season, we will eventually see Qimir and Osha tie the knot. While we wait to find out, check out IGN's Episode 8 review, as well as our Biggest Burning Questions and How the Finale Sets Up the Potential Season 2.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
