Star Wars fans torn as The Acolyte's return answers some burning questions

Star Wars fans are torn over a new The Acolyte release that answers some burning questions; that being said, those answers should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Before the Disney Plus series The Acolyte was released in June 2024, there was quite a bit of hype from Star Wars fans, and understandably so.

Set during the end of the High Republic era, roughly a millennium before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, it’s arguably one of the most interesting times in the galaxy far, far away.

While The Acolyte had some interesting moments, such as the first-ever live-action introduction of an infamous Sith Lord, the mixed reaction to the characters and writing ultimately led to the demise of the series, cancelled after just one season.

Don’t get me wrong, The Acolyte is still popular amongst some Star Wars fans who would love to see it get a second chance with season two, but unfortunately for them, that’s unlikely to happen.

However, just because we’ll probably never get a second season of The Acolyte, that doesn't mean that there’s no additional content to consume, such as this officially released visual guide that expands on its lore.

That being said, it’s worth taking this “lore” with a pinch of salt, because a lot of it is open to interpretation, whether it's considered canon or not. Nevertheless, the Star Wars The Acolyte Visual Guide, released this month, has gotten fans chin-wagging.

“Delve deeper into Star Wars: The Acolyte with the definitive visual guide featuring key facts, gorgeous imagery and behind-the-scenes insights from the Disney Plus series,” reads the description of the book.

“Decades before the birth of Darth Vader, explore the glorious High Republic era in the Star Wars galaxy. During this exciting time, the noble Jedi are protectors of peace and justice, and the Republic is thriving – but a threat to their power is growing in the shadows.”

As reported by Comic Basics, a line from the book reads: “After the defeat of Sith conquerors, the Republic emerges from the ashes of galactic conflict to reach unprecedented heights in the long strength of peace that follows.”

This might suggest that the Sith once ruled the galaxy, but when defeated, the Republic was created - which sounds credible, but not every Star Wars fan is having it.

“A misinterpretation of a visual guide that may or may not be canon? Shocking,” exclaimed Redditor CrazyEvilCatDan.

“It might as well mean that the Republic was once overshadowed by the Sith Empire, and that once it was defeated, it was free to reach those 'unprecedented heights’ the guide mentions,” interrupts mrmgl.

“The Sith post-date the Republic and the Jedi by many millennia,” said magistrate-of-truth. “Proto-Sith like the Ordu Aspectu and the Sith purebloods date back further, but there is no evidence that the Republic rose from a Sith Empire. The Rakatans, perhaps, but not the Sith.”

“In canon sources, the current Republic is treated as having been reformed in 1032 BBY after the defeat of the Sith,” replied EmperorofZeon.

“This is distinguished from the *Old* Republic, which has the longevity you're thinking of but was conquered by the Sith Empire during the Jedi-Sith War (analogue to the ‘New Sith Wars’ from Legends) some point before that reorganisation date.”

You can always rely on Star Wars fans to teach you something new about the franchise, so thank you. You can watch the entire Star Wars saga right now on Disney Plus, including the one and only season of The Acolyte.