Summary

  • The Acolyte teases the return of Darth Plagueis's legacy, hinting at elements from Legends becoming canon again.
  • The Darth Plagueis novel, despite being part of the non-canon Legends, still holds significance in Star Wars lore.
  • The Acolyte Season 2 provides the opportunity to bring elements from the Darth Plagueis novel back to the official Star Wars canon.

The Acolyte season 2. As seen in The Acolyte's finale, Darth Plagueis made his first on-screen debut. Although the Sith Lord's appearance was brief, it does tease that elements of his legacy that are currently considered non-canonical could become part of the official Star Wars canon once more.

The dark Sith master who trained Darth Sidious, Darth Plagueis was first referenced in Revenge of the Sith. Known as "Darth Plagueis the Wise", Palpatine shares with Anakin Skywalker how Plagueis had great powers in the dark side including the ability to create life via the Force and to prevent the ones he loved from dying. However, Plagueis was ultimately killed in his sleep by Palpatine himself. However, there's so much more about Plagueis' history that was later revealed in Legends, and The Acolyte season 2 could finally be how Star Wars makes it canon again.

Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars The Phantom Menace, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker from Star Wars A New Hope, Daisy Ridley as Rey from Star Wars The Force Awakens
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7

This One Star Wars Book Has Always "Felt" Like Canon

Some Elements Are Still Canonical (But Not All)

Released in January of 2012, James Luceno's novel Darth Plagueis was one of the last Star Wars books to have been published before Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm and the subsequent continuity purge of the Star Wars canon and the Expanded Universe, rendering anything that wasn't a movie or show under the non-canon banner now known as Legends. While this included the Darth Plague novel, many still consider the book part of the canon, especially with reports that George Lucas himself consulted on the story with Luceno.

Likewise, Luceno went on to reference and integrate elements from Plagueis into his future novel Tarkin, which did become part of the new Star Wars canon. This includes elements that Palpatine still owned 11-4D during the reign of the Galactic Empire, the droid that was once his master's and made its debut in the Plagueis novel. So many of the core elements such as Plagueis' "Grand Design" and his activities both before and during the beginning of the Skywalker saga have officially remained non-canon. However, that could soon change following the Sith Lord's new appearance in The Acolyte.

The Acolyte Season 2 Is The Perfect Chance To Make It So

Bringing Plagueis' Legacy Back To The Official Canon

Palpatine and Darth Plagueis in Darth Plagueis, with Palpatine kneeling in front of Plagueis

While there would likely need to be some tweaks and adjustments made, the Darth Plagueis novel could easily be used as core inspiration when and if the Sith Lord's history is adapted for The Acolyte season 2. Likewise, Plagueis being revealed as an alien Muun in the first season's finale is a good sign, one that proves Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland's respect and love of Legends, seeing as how the Sith's species was first established in Luceno's book. Hopefully, more elements of Plagueis' past and how he continued the Sith Imperative ahead of The Phantom Menace will be revealed in the near future.

All episodes of The Acolyte are now streaming on Disney+

The Acolyte Poster Showing Jedi Order, Mae, and a Sith Lord Holding Lightsabers

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The Acolyte
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
7/10
124
6.2/10
Release Date
2024 - 2024-00-00
Showrunner
Leslye Headland
Directors
Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez

Cast

See All

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

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.

Writers
Leslye Headland, Charmaine De Grate, Kor Adana
Franchise(s)
Star Wars
Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
Dis