Exploring the Connection Between ‘Revenge of the Sith’ and ‘The Acolyte’ Through Darth Plagueis

In “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” audiences are acquainted with the legend of Darth Plagueis the Wise through a chilling tale being told by the Emperor Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker. The story essentially led Anakin astray to the dark side but also opened up a new portal for exploring the treacherous past of Sith. The upcoming “The Acolyte” is a golden chance to shed light on the mystery behind Darth Plagueis and how it has drastically affected the Star Wars Universe.

Mention of Darth Plagueis

The only time a Star Wars narrative made a direct mention of Darth Plagueis was in “Revenge of the Sith.” where, while speaking to Anakin, Palpatine narrated that there once existed a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise that he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life. There’s major thematic connective tissue: Plagueis’ search for immortality and the ability to create life. The short yet very important story has to do with the greater Sith myth and sets the stage for an exploration of those ideas in more depth in “The Acolyte.” This power story of deceit saw how Plagueis ended up dying at the hands of his own apprentice, Palpatine, and from then on, that ambitious thirst for power.

What Is “The Acolyte” Based On

“The Acolyte” is set about a century before “The Phantom Menace” and focuses on the final days of the High Republic, during which the Jedi Order is at its height. It is full of untapped lore and ripe with the material to explain the rise of the dark side. As the timeline shows, he is the prime candidate for a major apperance in the series, along with his master, Darth Tenebrous. This offers an extensive plot that would intertwine the dark machinations of the Sith with the waning days of Jedi dominance.

“The Acolyte” is an opportunity to finally bring Darth Plagueis out of the background and into the foreground of Star Wars storytelling. Though really a background character until now, his influence has cast ripples through entirety of the franchise. “The Acoloyte” could finally give viewers a much more rounded perspective of the Dark Side and, particularly, the long-term influences of the Sith.

The Darth Plagueis

The Darth Plagueis: a captivating and powerful yarn from the seductive side of the dark end. His teachings and influence over Palpatine are the important facts for understanding the long-term intentions of the Sith. His obsession with immortality and eventual betrayal by Palpatine highlight the nastiness of Sith relationships in the Rule of Two. The Rule of Two is the doctrine defined by Darth Bane – that in any point throughout the history of time, there will only be two Sith, a Master and an Apprentice. The idea was that the Sith would always be powerful, albeit through a line of apprenticeship and betrayal.

What Can We Expect from “The Acolyte”

With the addition of Darth Plagueis to “The Acolyte,” the thematic line with the show – revelation of secrets residing on the dark side, emerging powers – comes more into focus. Plafueis himself was the very embodiment of danger and the pull of the Sith behind an enigmatic mask of mystery and powers. His addition to “The Acolyte” is sure to capture audiences, linking the High Republic’s twilight with the dark ascent of the Sith.

“The Acolyte,” through its exposition of the story of Darth Plagueis, could well serve as a compelling way to draw a thread of historical roots for the dark side, thus adding new layers of complexity and intrigue into the Star Wars saga.