The Sith are some of the most central figures in Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and, most famously, Darth Vader. While these characters have given audiences some vital information when it comes to the Sith, there’s not much known about their origin and history.

While there are plenty of now non-canon novels in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (now called Legends), these novels can clue audiences into what the Sith’s history might be, but not really what it is. With so many little bits and pieces of the Sith’s legacy, it’s a bit hard for Star Wars to paint a full picture. With new Star Wars stories hopefully on the horizon, it’s time that Lucasfilm finally introduces the history of the Sith beyond what audiences learned in The Phantom Menace.

There Are So Many Gaps In Sith History

Especially After The Acolyte's Cancelation

When The Acolyte premiered last summer, it attempted to explain and expand audiences' knowledge of the Sith at the height of the Jedi’s power at the end of the High Republic Era. Though The Acolyte was met with mixed reviews, it provided a unique perspective on the Sith's state before the Skywalker saga's events. The Acolyte attempted to fill in many gaps audiences have in Sith history.

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However, with The Acolyte’s cancelation after season 1, audiences have been left with more questions than answers. It’s clear that The Acolyte was meant to have a two or even three-season arc, but with it being cut short, there’s no telling where the show would have gone, and how characters like The Stranger/Qimir, Osha, or Darth Plagueis factor into the overall Sith history. While a few Star Wars novels are set to be published that follow characters from The Acolyte, it’s unlikely audiences will get any kind of resolution.

Star Wars Should Make A “Tales of the Sith” Series

Like The Other Animated Shows

Over the last few years, Star Wars has released two series of shorts that usually follow two characters to help fill plot holes or the audience's gap in understanding. So far, Lucasfilm has released Tales of the Jedi in 2022, which followed Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku through different points in their lives. Last year, Tales of the Empire premiered with the show following Barriss Offee, both of whom were adversaries of Ahsoka Tano. While the shows were met with mixed reviews, they have left fans wondering what “Tales” show would come next.

With Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire rounding out our knowledge of particular characters and even introducing new ones, a Tales of the Sith series seems like a natural progression.

With the Sith being such a big part of Star Wars’ legacy, it seems only fitting that audiences get to learn more about certain characters in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise. With Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire rounding out our knowledge of particular characters and even introducing new ones, a Tales of the Sith series seems like a natural progression. Creating a show dedicated to the Sith that can fix the mistakes of The Acolyte is key if this kind of story wants to keep being told.

After The Acolyte’s Cancelation, The Stranger Is A Perfect Character To Focus On

Manny Jacinto’s portrayal of Qimir/The Stranger in The Acolyte was one of the show’s bright spots. Not only was he convincing as the aloof smuggler, but he was menacing and terrifying as a Sith. With questions left unanswered after The Acolyte’s cancelation, and the fact that Jacinto’s character was well received and liked amongst audiences, he’s the perfect character to revisit in a Tales of the Sith series.

Tales of the Sith Can See The Stranger’s Fall to the Dark Side

Master Vernestra (Rebecca Henderson) looking shocked in The Acolyte season 1 episode 6

In The Acolyte, it was teased that The Stranger was a former student of Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh. Audiences saw whip marks on The Stranger’s back; plus, Vernestra’s instant recognition of him through the Force indicates the pair knew each other - and their relationship didn’t end well. With this in mind, creating a short that shows The Stranger as Vernestra’s Padawan and how she failed him would be compelling. The Stranger accepting his darkness and leaning into his emotions like he encouraged Osha to do would be a story worth telling.

The Stranger’s Work As A Sith Looking for an Acolyte Would Help Clear Up Plot Holes

Qimir fighting in The Acolyte

One of the criticisms of The Acolyte was that it wasn’t clear why The Stranger required a pupil. While audiences know of the Sith Rule of Two, there was never any real confirmation that The Stranger was a Sith. So, seeing him soon before the events of The Acolyte and his possible work with Darth Plagueis would help audiences understand why the Sith Lord cameoed in The Acolyte’s finale.

Darth Plagueis cameoed in The Acolyte finale, but never spoke, and it was unclear why he was on the same planet as The Stranger and Osha.

The Stranger’s and Osha’s Story Can Get a Better Ending

Manny Jacinto as Qimir and Amandla Stenberg as Osha in The Acolyte

The Acolyte ended with Osha accepting her darkness and agreeing to go and train with The Stranger. While fans speculated that there was more to their relationship, and that there may be a Sith love story in the making, because The Acolyte was canceled, it’s something that’ll likely never be resolved. Taking the time to see where the pair went after The Acolyte’s finale would help wrap up their story in a way that’s more satisfying than the cliffhanger audiences were left with instead.

“Tales of the Sith” Can Retcon The Events From One Of Star Wars’ Best Legends Novels

Another compelling story that can be adapted for a Tales of the Sith miniseries is that of young Sheev Palpatine. There’s little known about the legendary Sith Lord’s origins in canon, but within the Legends pantheon, his beginnings as a Sith were told in James Luceno’s novel, Darth Plagueis. The novel is fantastic and really dives into both Plagueis’ and Palpatine’s thoughts. It also showcases why it was so easy for Palptine to rise to power. With this in mind, adapting and recanonizing parts of Darth Plagueis would be incredibly smart, and would make Legends fans very happy.

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Palpatine’s Friendship With Plagueis Could Play Out Onscreen

In Darth Plagueis, Palpatine learns of his potential as a Sith through his friendship with the Muun, Hego Damask, who is actually Plagueis. Plagueis tells a young Palpatine to give in to his feelings, and it ultimately leads to Palpatine killing his entire family and bodyguards with the Force. Seeing Palpatine as a young man on Naboo and his recruitment by the Sith would be compelling - and something audiences would have never seen from Palpatine before.

Palpatine’s Sith Training Was Hard in Legends, And It Should Be Brought Back

Darth Plagueis peering out of a cave in The Acolyte season finale.

In Legends, Palpatine’s Sith training commenced for over a decade, and it was often harsh. While the Jedi often encouraged their Padawans to grow within the Force, that wasn’t the case in Darth Plagueis. Palpatine didn’t wield a lightsaber for years of his apprenticeship. One or more of these training sequences would serve as an interesting foil to Tales of the Jedi episode 5, which saw Anakin Skywalker give intense training to Ahsoka Tano. Seeing these two training styles in opposition would help highlight just how cruel of a master Plagueis was and how strong Palpatine had to be.

Tales of the Sith Could Conclude With Palpatine Taking On the Role of Sith Master

Star Wars, Darth Sidious shooting force lightning toward the reader with a wicked look on his face.

The end of Darth Plagueis overlapped with the events of The Phantom Menace, and if Tales of the Sith followed this, it would be a fantastic full-circle moment. Seeing Palpatine strike down his master to fulfill the Rule of Two with The Phantom Menace taking place in the background would not only enrich that movie but would also show why it took Palpatine so long to initiate the Clone Wars and eventually take over the galaxy. If Palpatine’s origins match his from Legends, it’ll be fantastic to see how he grew into the Sith Lord audiences are so familiar with.

With Star Wars Celebration 2025 coming up in April, it’s possible Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm could announce another “Tales” show and, if they do, it’ll hopefullly explore the Sith more. With Star Wars films like Dawn of the Jedi in the works, getting to know more about the Sith history before that will be important background for fans. No matter what, it’s clear that since Disney bought Lucasfilm, Star Wars has needed to tell more Sith stories, and a Tales of the Sith series would be the perfect way to do that.

Star Wars Franchise Poster
Created by
George Lucas
TV Show(s)
Star Wars: Visions
Movie(s)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Character(s)
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand iral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren