One of The Acolyte‘s biggest strengths was that it was almost completely devoid of any legacy Star Wars characters. The High Republic time period dictated that for the most part, as did creator Leslye Headland’s story, which dove into aspects of the franchise that had yet to be explored.
There was one character who everyone knows and was alive during the time period though, and the show waited until literally the last possible second to introduce them. It was a decision that wasn’t made lightly.
After lying about what happened to Sol and the rest of the dead Jedi, Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh decides to tell her superior about what’s going on. “Sorry to disturb you, Master,” Vernestra says. “We need to talk.” As the scene ends, we see the unmistakable green ears of Master Yoda perk up.
“There were some, I’d say almost spiritual conversations about using such an iconic character,” Headland told Inverse. “I felt strongly about it because I felt that to me, Vernestra was in a situation that was so heightened and really needed to be taken care of internally. She was already feeling this pressure of, ‘If you don’t have a suspect, then we have a real problem.’ Rayencourt suggests the internal review of the Jedi, obviously at the small council, but Chancellor Drellik doesn’t doesn’t confirm or deny that request. It felt like she had to report to her superior and let him know what’s up, and probably tell him about what happened between her and her padawan.”
So that’s the story reason, but Headland and Lucasfilm knew that bringing in such a popular and well-explored character could have greater ramifications too.
“I was also just interested in Phantom Menace,” Headland continued. “When he immediately is like, ‘There’s always a master and apprentice.’ It’s not like he was alive during the New Sith Wars, so I guess there’s a chance that it was a piece of information that was passed down through the generations. But because I had the opportunity to work in Star Wars, I just think a more interesting version of this is that he has some sort of understanding of what’s going on—and it’s not like it’s the first time Yoda has hidden something from the Senate and the Republic. In The Clone Wars season six it’s revealed that he covered up the creation of the clone army and asked everybody to not say who was behind it. So it just felt to me that there was something fun to explore there if we were allowed to talk about, and to do more seasons. There was a large conversation about including him. But I just thought… I mean, it’s my show.”
Yes it is. And now we’ll, hopefully if a season two happens, get to see what Yoda does with this information about a pair of murderous dark side villains. Will he agree with Vernestra’s lie? Will he, himself, seek them out? Come on Lucasfilm, renew this show!
Watch Yoda’s cameo over on Disney+ and read more from Headland at Inverse.
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