In additional than methods than one, The Acolyte is being poisitioned as a unique Star Wars present than the opposite live-action choices. Not solely is it winding again the clock to the High Republic era, it’s additionally doing one thing totally different on the motion entrance with some Drive-powered martial arts much like wuxia movies. Now we all know the present’s obtained some additional taste within the type of a lightsaber that’s additionally a whip.
It solely will get a small glimpse within the latest teaser, however that doesn’t take away from how cool it’s to see it transition from a plain ol’ lightsaber to a full-on whip. Throughout the context of the present, this weapon belongs to fan-favorite Excessive Republic character Vernestra Rwoh (performed by Rebecca Henderson), a Jedi who as a teen realized from a Drive imaginative and prescient the right way to modify her lightsaber to incorporate the extra mode.
Lightwhips are mentioned to be troublesome to regulate and weaker than an ordinary lightsaber. Within the bigger franchise context, the weapon’s been round for the reason that Unique Trilogy: 1985’s Star Wars #95 by Mary Jo Duffy and Cynthia Martin launched a Sith Lord named Lumiya who crafted her personal single-blade lightwhip, fairly than one with a number of tassels. It turned her trademark weapon, and whereas she obtained one over on Luke Skywalker throughout their first encounter, he ultimately overcame it and beat her utilizing his utilizing his two-saber type. The final time they fought, it was on the planet Terephon, the place he beat her with a single saber and despatched it plummeting right into a chasm.
After these comics and different EU materials had been deemed non-canon, the lightwhip wouldn’t seem once more till the center grade novel The Excessive Republic: A Check of Braveness by Justina Eire. Within the new canon, it goes all the way in which again to the Sith Wars, and helped Jedi maintain their very own in opposition to the Siths’ Forbidden Types. The lightwhip obtained extra play from the Nightsisters of the Excessive Republic period than the Jedi, which motivated Vernestra to maintain it secret from the Jedi Order. When it got here time to ultimately reveal the lightwhip, it was as she and her buddies had been stranded on the jungle moon Wevo: it was useful within the slicing via the grass, and helped her win in a battle in opposition to Imri Cantaros, a Padawan at risk of falling to the Darkish Aspect.
Lightsabers are all effectively and good, nevertheless it’s all the time good to see Drive customers combine up their arsenal with one thing like a crossguard, or a gun or a lightsaber…that’s also a gun. Hopefully this isn’t the final we see of the lightwhip—given how a lot final 12 months’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor leaned on the Excessive Republic for its storytelling, it’d be an excellent alternative for the third recreation to provide Cal the lightwhip as one other saber variant.
Star Wars: The Acolyte premieres June 4 on Disney+.
Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and all the pieces you must learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.
Trending Merchandise
