The Acolyte actor Dafne Keen, who plays Jedi padawan Jecki Lon, has defended creator Leslye Headland’s decision to kill off many Jedis in Episode 5. However, Keen also criticized the habit of directors of blockbuster franchises to bring back popular dead characters back to life.
It seems like The Acolyte has finally found its footing, with Episode 5 raising the stakes for Jedi Master Sol. The fifth episode, titled “Night,” raises the stakes for Jedi Master Sol after he witnesses the death of his Jedi companions and padawans at the hands of Qimir, also known as The Stranger. Qimir reveals himself as a Sith and slaughters Sol’s entire Jedi team, including Keen’s Jecki Lon.
In her recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dafne Keen reveals that she feels a bit “cheeky” about directors’ decision of bringing back dead characters to life in the prominent sagas.
This is what she said:
“There are so many directors in blockbuster sagas that are so scared to kill off their characters, and are so comfortable with bringing characters back to life, and all of these little writer tricks that I think are actually quite cheeky. And I really like that she [Headland] was actually killing people. Because if you’re not making it dangerous, then why are we even here?”
Jecki’s death is a bold move from Headland, as many viewers took her as one of the endgame characters. Keen’s absence will certainly be felt in the upcoming episodes, as her character was compelling and had potential to emerge as one of the greatest Star Wars characters ever. On the flip side, Jecki’s demise makes it personal for Sol. We know that vengeance is not the Jedi way. Which is why Sol’s journey and purpose have now become more complex than before. It is possible that his conflicted emotions may get the better of him as we reach the series’ finale, potentially deviating him from the Jedi code.
Stream all episodes of Star Wars’ The Acolyte on Disney+ Hotstar. Stay tuned for more updates.
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