‘The Acolyte’ Episode Seven Recap: “Choice”

*Warning: the following article contains spoilers for episode seven of The Acolyte*

Did you think the third episode of The Acolyte was terrible? For some, it’s the worst episode of the series so far. In my opinion, it took a ridiculously inert turn as director Kogonada and writers Jasmyne Flournoy and Eileen Shim pulled back the curtain on what happened to Brendok, leading to Osha (Lauren Brady) and Mae’s (Leah Brady) separation. The stilted acting and unnatural dialogue didn’t help, and I prayed to God the rest of the series wasn’t like this. 

The show picked itself back up with its subsequent episodes. However, last week, Sol (Lee Jung-jae) teased Mae (Amandla Stenberg) that the two needed to talk, which inevitably ensured another flashback episode that reveals all his wrongdoings on Brendok would be at the front and center of “Choice.” Kogonada is back in the director’s chair, and Flournoy is returning as writer, but alongside Charmaine DeGraté and Jen Richards. The result is an inconsistent episode that reminds us of the worst aspects of episode three, but it also has a pretty sick lightsaber battle that showcases an interesting future for Kogonada in the world of blockbuster filmmaking. 

The good news about this episode is how it focuses on the Jedi’s mission to find a ‘vergence’ in the Force on Brendok, which has the power to create life. Sol is accompanied by Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss), Torbin (Dean Charles-Chapman), and Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo) to investigate the whereabouts of the ‘vergence’ on the planet. While walking in the woods, he spots Osha and Mae as they talk to each other and are caught by Mother Koril (Margarita Levieva) to return to their coven. Sol follows them and discovers they are being trained by Mother Aniseya (Jodie Turner-Smith). As they can hone in on the Force in such a way that he has never seen, Sol fears for the twins’ lives and asks Indara to speak with Aniseya so they can undergo a test. 

The rest of this moment fills in the blank on the missing scenes in the third episode, probably why it felt so unnatural and never once worked. Even then, the repurposed footage from episode three isn’t more powerful, especially with the revelation of new information about Sol. The only scene that adds a thrilling touch to episode three is when Aniseya peers into Torbin’s mind as it becomes corrupted. James Friend’s cold cinematography works in his favor, as the muted colors amplify the tension between Torbin, who has completely lost control of himself, and Aniseya. In episode three, the moment came out of nowhere and felt terribly out of place. Now, it makes far more sense, but that important context shouldn’t have been revealed this way. 

Regarding Sol’s “truth,” Mae started the fire but did not kill Mother Aniseya, who would have let Osha go to Coruscant and become a Jedi. Rather, Sol is the one who pierced his lightsaber through her stomach in an attempt to save Torbin from being possessed by her mind again. In the act of revolt, Koril possesses Kelnacca, and a nicely shot and choreographed fight scene ensues between the Jedi, the possessed, and the witch. It’s in that scene where Kogonada felt like he gave a damn for the first time. He crafts a lightsaber battle that, while he can’t top the fifth episode, is still easy to observe in its own right and shows he has the juice to craft large-scale setpieces in a known sandbox, even if the screenplays he has to work with don’t do him (and its actors) any favors. 

We then see Sol saving Osha and fabricating a story about how Mae is the one who killed Aniseya and destroyed the coven in an attempt to prevent her from joining the Jedi. Of course, we’ve now seen the real truth, but not Mae’s reaction to Sol’s story, which will unfold by next week. But I’m now unconvinced that The Acolyte’s finale will stick the landing. While Kogonada’s directing was far superior here, and the point of view of the Jedi has now fully revealed their corrupted desires (to anyone who thinks this is not something George Lucas would do, rewatch the prequels), the narrative inconsistencies that have been permeating most episodes are too glaring to ignore. 

Perhaps the finale will radically differ from what came before, but my hopes aren’t up, especially with such a short runtime that never allows us to sit too long with the protagonists. But who knows, maybe this is where The Acolyte will truly find its footing and tease an even bigger second season instead of whatever the hell this show has been, sometimes excellent, oftentimes middling, and, in some areas, very lackluster. 

The seventh episode of The Acolyte is now available to stream on Disney+.