The Acolyte Kills One of Its Best Characters in Episode 5

After witnessing two episodes of The Acolyte for Disney+ we were convinced that this was going to be a strong addition to the Star Wars universe. And it is. However, the series also just killed off one of its biggest assets — and while there are still several pivotal stories to explore before the series wraps up, we’re a little bummed about the loss of young Jedi Jecki Lon, played by Logan star Dafne Keen. Here’s why we think Star Wars could have actually benefitted from offering her more screen time (or an entirely different fate).

THE ACOLYTE | ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.	

A Well-Crafted, Fresh Addition to the Jedi

Despite the long-running nature of the Star Wars universe and its vast pool of Jedi characters (well, excluding a time when most were deceased), there’s a comfortable tendency to follow Jedi that we know and love. That’s why Luke lasted for so long, why Ahsoka finally earned her own impeccable series, why Rey is slated to return, and why Obi-Wan received a prequel. Fans love nostalgia, and we’re all for it.

That being said, it’s rare to find a new heavy-hitting Jedi that feels like a worthy protagonist — and Jecki managed to pique our interest during her memorable stint on The Acolyte. She had a strong sense of morals, was open to discussing nuances that her peers weren’t as receptive to, and even proved to be very diplomatic when necessary. Plus, she actually managed to get along with Osha, and that could have been an interesting pair to expand upon due to their evident chemistry. Instead, she officially falls into the fallen Jedi category, and we kind of hate that for us.

She’s a Total Badass

It essentially goes without saying that Jecki had one of the coolest fight sequences the franchise has seen in quite some time with her epic clash in the fifth episode. Her willingness to jump right into battle against a masked villain who’s capable of disarming an entire team was clearly a bold move — and even though it didn’t work out in her favor, it was still a superb moment to witness.

In the one-on-one fight, the young Jedi even wields two lightsabers against this unconventional foe, while also presenting some genuinely impressive hand-to-hand skills. Unlike some of the other Jedi of recent times (Rey, Ezra, Sabine, etc.) she is very much equipped for battle, and that would have been a nice element to utilize in the climactic final act.

Untapped Potential for Future Star Wars Stories

As we’ve come to realize, a lot of the Star Wars series via Disney+ have a chance at returning for additional seasons. It’s currently happening with The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and Andor, so we know that they like to have their options. If there was an interest in this point of the timeline for fans (which I believe is still the case), we could have pivoted to focus on the younger generation of Jedi which would bridge the gap between eras.

Furthermore, we love when a character can make an appearance several years later with a little more experience — and a powerhouse battle-seasoned Jedi like Jecki could have offered so much more. While we do understand that a high-stakes franchise requires impactful, unexpected loss, we definitely wish that Jecki could have been an exception.

The Acolyte is currently streaming on Disney+