With the debut of The Acolyte, Star Wars fans are grappling with a series that has divided opinions. While some viewers have embraced the show, others have criticized it, but despite the mixed reviews, The Acolyte remains popular, consistently ranking in the top ten on streaming charts.
What’s the Buzz About The Acolyte?
The Acolyte has been both praised and condemned, but one thing’s clear: director Leslye Headland delivered on her promise to create a love letter to Star Wars, filled with fan service. The series is brimming with Easter eggs, but it’s also made some notable changes to Star Wars lore, causing some fans to cry foul. A particularly controversial moment involves the depiction of a Kyber Crystal that’s crying, which marks a shift from its traditional role as a Jedi weapon to a Sith tool.
Why Do Kyber Crystals Turn Red?
In the Star Wars universe, red lightsabers are typically associated with villains. The color comes from Kyber Crystals, small sentient stones that naturally align with the light side of the Force. Jedi undergo a rigorous process to find and bond with these crystals. Sith, on the other hand, corrupt these crystals by infusing them with their dark emotions—hate, pain, and anger. This process, known as “bleeding,” can lead to the crystal becoming unstable or even breaking apart.
In The Acolyte, the crystal changes color rather quickly. This raised questions among fans. If Osha’s crystal could turn red so easily, why didn’t Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber do the same after his immense rage during the Jedi Purge?
Why Didn’t Anakin’s Lightsaber Change?
The reason Anakin’s lightsaber didn’t change color is relatively straightforward. Osha’s anger and actions were directly channeled into the crystal, causing it to bleed. Anakin, despite his horrific actions, never saw himself as wrong. He was deeply consumed by the dark side but remained convinced of his own righteousness, even as he committed atrocities.
Had Anakin recognized his fall or felt remorse, the crystal might have shown signs of bleeding. But since he never saw his actions as corrupt, the crystal didn’t transform. Furthermore, Star Wars canon values continuity, and keeping Anakin’s original blue lightsaber from the prequel trilogy consistent with his character arc in the original trilogy was important for maintaining narrative cohesion.
In the end, The Acolyte‘s take on Kyber Crystals might be new and controversial, but it’s part of the broader Star Wars universe’s ongoing evolution. Fans might debate these changes, but they also open up new dimensions for the lore.
