Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 3
Summary
The Acolyteepisode 3 features a wealth of exciting Easter eggs and references to the greaterStar Warscanon. Set further back in the timeline compared toThe Acolyte’sfirst two episodes,The Acolyteepisode 3 revealsthe origins of Osha Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) and her twin sister Maewhen they were children, having been raised by a coven of Force-using witches. To that end, major connections to the overallStar Warscanon are revealed along with key parallels to the beginnings of the Skywalker saga withThe Phantom Menace.
As seen inThe Acolyteepisode 3, young Osha and Mae are preparing for their ascension ceremony on the world of Brendok where they’ll be officially inducted into Mother Aniseya’s coven. However, Osha’s doubts about becoming a witch combined with the arrival of Jedi Knights resulted in a tragic sequence of events, one that would see Osha and Mae taking divergent paths before reuniting inThe Acolyte’smore present-day episodes of theHigh Republic Era.To that end, here are 18 of the biggest Easter eggs and references inThe Acolyteepisode 3.
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18Zabrak
Mother Koril
Mother Koril is a leading Zabrak member of this new Force cult of witches. Zabraks are a common humanoid species in theStar Warsgalaxy, while alsobeing the same species as Darth Maul and the prequels' Jedi Master Eeth Koth. Charged with caring for Osha and Mae, it’s later revealed that Koril was the one who carried and gave birth to the twins, explaining her determined desire to keep them safe.
17Spice Creams
A Galaxy’s Edge Treat
Young Osha and Mae are featured desperately wanting to eat spice creams at the beginning ofThe Acolyteepisode 3. Cavaellin spice creams are a cookie-type treat with a colored, fruit-like filling in between two cookies. While spice creams first originated in the 2019 recipe bookStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook, the ones inThe Acolyteappear to be a different variation, appearing as more flat and square.
16The Thread
A New Way Of Looking At The Force
While teaching Mae and Osha, Mother Aniseya (Jodie Turner-Smith) reveals thattheir coven believes in the Force as a “Great Thread” rather than a force to be wielded. This serves to be a new philosophy and way to look at the galaxy’s energy field that binds all living things. There is one singular thread that connects everyone. It also seems as though this new coven believes that strength is found by connecting the thread through unity: the power of one can become the power of two, and subsequently the many.
15Jogun
Classic Star Wars Fruit
Using her power through the Force, Aniseya levitates a fruit to her hand during her demonstration to the twins. As such,this fruit very much resembles a Jogun, a classic fruit seen in previousStar Warsprojects such asThe Clone Wars,Rebels, and more. However, this would be a rare instance in which a Jogun appears in live-action.
14Galaxy’s Fear of Witches
Resembles The Nightsisters
Hiding inside a fortress on Brendock,Aniseya confirms during the twins' ascension ceremony that their coven was met with fear across the galaxy and their gifts met with suspicion. This is not unlike theNightsisters of Dathomir, an established coven of dark-side witches who have most prominently been featured inThe Clone Warsand more recently in live-action withAhsoka. As such, one has to wonder if there’s any connection between the two covens.
13Twi’lek
A Member of Aniseya’s Coven
During the ascension ceremony,a Twi’lek woman is featured among the ranks of witches. Much like Zabraks, Twi’leks are also some of the most commonly featured alien humanoids living across the galaxy. It’s also notable that this Twi’lek has several of the coven’s spiral symbols tattooed on her signature headtails. Notable Twi’leks in theStar Warscanon include General Hera Syndulla and Jedi Master Aayla Secura.
12Witches in Exile
Peridea?
Aniseya also confirms inThe Acolyteepisode 3 that their coven was recently exiled, tying into the aforementioned fear and suspicions they’d been facing. As such, this is yet another parallel to the Nightsisters and theirown exile on the extragalactic world of Peridea, one that has recently ended during the New Republic Era as seen inAhsoka. This begs the question as to how and where the Witches of Brendock were exiled from.
11The Moons of Brendok
The Light And The Dark
During the ascension ceremony, Brendock’s dual red and blue moons are revealed.The moons should look quite familiar consideringThe Acolyte’slogo. Likewise, there’s also a potential connection to Legends to Tython’s moons of Ashla and Bogan, each representing the light and dark side of the Force. Something similar may be at play here as well on Brendock.
10“Dark, Unnatural”
Connections To Darth Plagueis
Hinting at a power to create life, Aniseya says this ability was seen as"dark and unnatural". This is more than likely some major foreshadowing forDarth Plagueis the Wise, Palpatine’s Sith master.Aniseya’s words mirror Palpatine’s when talking to Anakin about his master’s ability to create life inRevenge of the Sith. As such, the coven’s power is likely the source of Plagueis' abilities in theStar Warscanon.
9Bows and Arrows
Also Used By The Nightsisters
When the Jedi breach the coven’s fortress, a group of witches are seen armed with bows and arrows.As such, this is yet another connection to the Nightsisters. They also used bows during General Grievious' slaughter of their coven on Dathomir during the Clone Wars.
