Warning: Spoilers follow for Episode 4 of The Acolyte.
The fourth episode of The Acolyte gave fans their best look yet at Star Wars' newest villain, 'The Master,' or as he is now lovingly known, 'Darth Teeth.'
This week's episode, 'Day', brought Mae's Master out of the shadows and into the spotlight for a showdown with the Jedi on Khofer. The mysterious masked menace floated down Mary Poppins-style, but instead of an umbrella, the villainous figure wielded a red-bladed lightsaber that they quickly ignited, ready for battle.
"I find him to be very scary," creator Leslye Headland told Entertainment Weekly after the episode. "I think that because this is a show about the bad guys, he is incredibly powerful, menacing, all of those things."
The design of the helmet worn by the big bad certainly caught attention, with viewers taking to social media to point out one specific detail: the mask features what looks like a row of metallic teeth. It wasn't long before "Darth Teeth" emerged as a nickname for the as-yet-unnamed character and started trending online.
#TheAcolyte Spoilers
— BB ? misses Tech (@StarWarsBean) June 19, 2024
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DARTH TEETH UH OH pic.twitter.com/0LlRqXnPgj
this design is just crazy!! possibly one of my fav helmet designs like woah?? i love how creepy and eerie it is. it’s giving slasher but make it star wars!! #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/lVo5A8gIMU
— nena ♡ acolyte era (@lothalsjedi) June 19, 2024
#TheAcolyte spoilers
— Hell ✨️ Acolyte era (@hellikait) June 19, 2024
They finally made a truly scary sith mask, god damn this thing is ugly /pos pic.twitter.com/OqsjuaMTil
Have we decided on what we’re calling him for now until the official name drop on the show? The Master? Darth Teeth? Darth Master Teeth!? #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/pTM3tEAj7Z
— Mike-EL (@JediMike1128) June 19, 2024
Man, they really know how to keep me coming back. Give me more Darth Teeth now. #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/jXcJTN9NHO
— Risebluesun (@risebluesun) June 19, 2024
Others have said it before, but this seriously has to be one of the scariest looking Sith we’ve ever seen in any live action Star Wars project.
— jacob. (@jtimsuggs) June 19, 2024
Also how their mask looks to have been reforged in the same way that Kylo Ren’s was. #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/G7x4eY1IaN
Darth Teeth… DaRth Teeth… Dr Teeth. I solved it! #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/cN0KQLFOVK
— Candace Kaw (@candaceisageek) June 19, 2024
Darth Teeth’s fan club should be called the Cavity Cavalry #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/978WQkYnDv
— Mollie ✨ Jecki Jam Fam (@DarthMaullie) June 18, 2024
The identity of The Master is still under wraps (beneath their daunting dental disguise), but we seem to be getting closer to finding out who the supposed Sith is. This week's episode dropped a few clues that seemingly supported a fan theory that has floated around since the premiere that suggests Qimir is behind the mask.
Viewers also raised questions about whether The Master is a member of the Sith or another villainous faction after the episode brought back an unexpected Star Wars prequel character, sparking a lore debate among fans.
With four episodes of The Acolyte remaining, there are lots of jigsaw pieces still to slot into place, which became even more apparent this week. IGN's review of Episode 4 noted that the pace has started to pick up now we're at the midway point, "thanks to more Jedi, more creatures, and most of the main characters colliding."
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.
