Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episode 8.
Summary
The Acolyteseason 1 finale introduced a lot of things into theStar Warsuniverse, and its new Supreme Chancellor of the Republic has a secret link to the sequel trilogy. During theHigh Republic eraTV show, the deadly actions of the Sith named “The Stranger” have garnered the attention of some within the Republic senate. This has ledJedi Master Vernestra Rwohto have some interactions with senators, specifically some who wish to have an external review of the Jedi Order conducted by the Senate.
This all comes to a tee when Vernestra has to (falsely) testify about the events on Brendok to members of the senate. The episode revealed a new Supreme Chancellor, named Drellik, who fills the role that viewers saw bothFinnis Valorumand Sheev Palpatine fill in the prequels.Drellik is the first ever live-action non-human Supreme Chancellor, and his species is actually notable for its connection toStar Wars:The Force Awakens.
The Acolyte Ending Explained: The Shadow Of Darth Vader Descends In The High Republic Era
The Acolyte episode 8 wraps up season 1 of the High Republic show by casting the shadow of the dark side, and Darth Vader, over the Jedi Order.
The Republic’s Chancellor Is A Very Familiar Species
The Tarsunt Supreme Chancellor Drellik
Drellik being an alien is yet another example of the effortThe Acolytehas put into increasing the number of aliensin more varied roles in the series when compared to the otherStar Warsshows. He’s a member of the Tarsunt species, one that audiences may remember first appearing as members of the Resistance inThe Force Awakens. This species also, however, appeared as the Chancellor of theNew Republicin that movie – but viewers would only know this if they paid good attention to one specific scene.
There was also a Tarsunt Jedi youngling in the first episode ofThe Acolyte.
There’s A Tarsunt Chancellor In The New Republic Era Too
Chancellor Lanever Villecham
InThe Force Awakens, when theFirst Orderfires Starkiller Base at the New Republic’s capital, Hosnian Prime, standing in the crowd on the planet is none other than Tarsunt Chancellor Lanever Villecham. First established in the movie, and it being pretty much his only appearance, Chancellor Villecham was the final Chancellor of the New Republic before he personally witnessed its destruction.This makes the Tarsunt species the only non-human species to canonically be Chancellor of the New or Old Republic more than once.
Lanever Villecham, as Chancellor during the rise of the First Order, was not the most effective being in the galaxy. He consistently refused to acknowledge the First Order as a threat, despite evidence from General Leia Organa that they were planning to strike. Much like this, it seems that Chancellor Drellik inThe Acolyteis also not seeing the threat right under his nose in the Sith whose apprentice will eventually occupy his office.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
