The Acolyteepisode 3 introduced a shocking new Force power, but it was actually set up five years ago in a forgotten but highly-influentialStar Warsshort story. Viewers were taken aback whenThe Acolyterevealed the true origin of thetwins Osha and Mae, who - according to Mother Aniseya - were conceived by her own Force power. This has proved to be extremely controversial, with some insistingthe idea of children born of the Force somehow makes Anakin Skywalker less special.
Over on Twitter,Albert M. Padilla- host of The Cantina Cast podcast - has pointed out that this Force power has been alluded to before, in E. Anne Convery’s short story “Bug.” Published inStar Wars: The Clone Wars - Stories of Light & Dark, this focused in on the Nightsisters of Dathomir.
“Bug” has proved to be a surprisingly important short story, foreshadowing the survival of Nightsisters - and even featuring a character who feels like the inspiration for Lady Morgan Elsbeth, a major character inThe Mandalorianseason 2 andAhsoka.
Witches Have Created Life Before In Star Wars Canon
In truth,The Acolyte’s new Force power was set up inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. There, Palpatine told Anakin Skywalker the tale ofDarth Plagueis, his Sith mentor. According to Palpatine, Darth Plagueis possessed the power to coerce the Midi-chlorians into creating life. But “Bug” proves Plagueis wasn’t the only one who could do this; a Nightsister named Falta was able to do it as well. It’s interestiing to note that this has now been linked twice with witchcraft.
The Sith have always tended to steal Force powers from other traditions; in ancient times they even possessed so-called Darkseekers, who scoured the galaxy seeking potential rival cults. They would steal their secrets and then kill them, ensuring nobody could challenge their dark side power. The Sith are known to have dedicated a great deal of time to doing this with the Nightsisters, so it’s possibleDarth Plagueis learned his powers from one coven of witches or another.
There’s A Key Difference Between The Nightsisters & This Coven
There is, however, one key difference between the power used by the Nightsister Falta and the one wielded by the coven inThe Acolyte. Mother Aniseya apparently created the twins in Mother Koril’s womb, while Falta grew her child in one of the Niightsisters' trademark pods. That makes Mother Aniseya’s implied feat inThe Acolytea little more impressive, but they’re clearly variants of the same Force power.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
