Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte Episodes 1 & 2

Summary

  • Vernestra Rwoh in The Acolyte looks to be a key predecessor to Mace Windu, during the High Republic with the implication in The Acolyte that she holds the revered title of "Master of the Order."
  • Master of the Order holds high authority among the Jedi Council, making decisions and guiding the Jedi Order as a whole.
  • Vernestra Rwoh and Mace Windu share similarities beyond their roles, including unique lightsabers and fighting styles.

Vernestra Rwoh was a Mirialan Jedi Master during the High Republic Era, an age of peace and prosperity set hundreds of years before the events of The Phantom Menace. To that end, Rwoh's live-action appearance in the new Acolyte series reveals a very cool tie between herself and Samuel L. Jackson's iconic Jedi Master.

I'm very excited by what I've seen so far from The Acolyte. Following its premiere, several brand-new characters have been introduced, though it's important to note that Vernestra is one of the show's few pre-existing characters from the High Republic's novels and comics. Having read several of them, I already had a familiarity with this Jedi prodigy who became one of the youngest of the Order to ever be knighted at the age of 15. However, the opportunity to see an adult, live-action "Vern" in The Acolyte has cemented my belief that she's one of the coolest Jedi, especially with her teased title as "Master of the Order".

Mae, Master Indara, and Mother Aniseya in The Acolyte in a combined image
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Star Wars: The Acolyte Cast & Character Guide

Here's everything we know about The Acolyte's cast and the characters they will be portraying in Star Wars' most mysterious project yet.

Star Wars' Master Of The Order Explained

Elected Leader Of The Jedi Council

Jedi Council Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Ki-Adi-Mundi in the council chambers on Coruscant

In the Star Wars canon, the title "Master of the Order" is given to a trusted and elected Jedi Master who's chosen to lead the Jedi High Council. The Master of the Order is the one who ultimately has the final say, breaking any stalemates over decisions that need to be made, while also serving as the guiding force as the Jedi Order works to fulfill its purpose as galaxy-wide guardians of peace and justice. It's one of the highest ranks and revered roles a Jedi can receive among the Order, one that Vernestra seems to hold as seen in the premiere of The Acolyte.

Star Wars the High Republic Vernestra Rwoh Wielding a Blue Lightsaber
Vernestra Rwoh
Created By
Justina Ireland

A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic, Vernestra "Vern" Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to achieve the rank of Knight. She served at a time of crisis for the Republic, battling on the front lines against the Nihil, the Nameless, and the Drengir, and proving herself wise beyond her years. Vern will appear in live-action in The Acolyte, set over a hundred years after she became a Master, at the tail end of the High Republic Era.

First Appearance
Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage
Alias
Vern
RELATIONSHIPS
Stellan Gios (Master), Imri Cantaros (Padawan)
Alliance
Jedi
Race
Mirialan
TV Shows
The Acolyte
Franchise
Star Wars

In her conversations with Jedi Master Sol during his investigation into recent Jedi murders, Master Vernestra clearly holds a high degree of authority with the ability to approve and/or deny the proposed missions of her fellow Masters. Likewise, when Jedi Knight Yord Fandar pushes back against Sol's decision to enlist the assistance of his former Padawan Osha in The Acolyte's second episode, Sol says that he has the of the Jedi after speaking only with Master Rwoh who agrees Osha could be an asset. This implies that Vernestra does indeed speak on behalf of all Jedi as Master of the Order.

Mace Windu Was Master Of The Order In The Prequel Era

Leading The Jedi Before And During The Clone Wars

Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu with a purple lightsaber in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, with a swirling purple ring in the background.
Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury
 

100 years later, Jedi Master Mace Windu was elected as Master of the Order. Leading the Jedi High Council alongside Grand Master Yoda, Mace Windu was a critical influence over the entire Order. This includes when the Jedi became so entangled with the Republic and its politics that they became its generals and commanders of the Republic's armies with the dawn of the Clone Wars and the conflict against the Separatist Alliance, despite their original role to be keepers of the pace rather than outright soldiers.

Samuel L Jackson As Mace Windu in Star Wars
Mace Windu
Created By
George Lucas

One of the most prominent Jedi during the prequel era, Mace Windu served as a crucial member of the Jedi Council, considered second only to Yoda himself. Windu was a remarkable figure among the Jedi, having turned his own temptation toward the dark side to his advantage, even creating a new lightsaber form known as Vaapad. Mace ultimately failed in his mission to protect the Jedi, apparently killed by Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker at the end of the Clone Wars.

Died
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Alliance
Jedi
Race
Human
Franchise
Star Wars

As Master of the Order, Mace Windu was regarded as a true champion of the Jedi, known for his unwavering commitment to the Jedi Path and its traditions. Even as the Jedi Order continued down its path of corruption and justifications made that the Jedi's role in the Clone Wars was in the name of restring galactic peace, Mace Windu was one of the first to grow suspicious of the growing corruption of the Republic and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. He also held very little patience for more rebellious or unorthodox Jedi such as Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin Skywalker, or Ahsoka Tano.

Rebecca Henderson's Vernestra Rwoh Is Surprisingly Similar To Mace

They've Got More In Common Beyond Their Jobs

Beyond their shared roles as Master of the Order during their respective eras, I also love how much both Jedi Masters have in common beyond this revered title. For example, Vern and Mace both wield more unique purple-bladed lightsabers, creating an informal trend for known Masters of the Orders. Likewise, both were so skilled as duelists that they each created their own fighting styles. While Windu created a uniquely powerful yet intensely disciplined lightsaber form, Vern modified her lightsaber at a young age to feature an impressive lightwhip function, one I can't wait to see fully realized in live-action with future episodes of The Acolyte.

The Acolyte's two-episode premiere is streaming now on Disney+ with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.

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

Your Rating

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The Acolyte
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
7/10
123
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