Qimir isn't the first Force user in the galaxy far, far away to try to lure a good person to the dark side, but his attempt to make Osha his new apprentice. the acolytesixth episode of it was bigger than just two people. The moment she donned the cortosis helmet was an ominous sign of what might await her, with a scene directly tying Osha to the major. War of the galaxies figures like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren and Rey.
“Cortosi, useful against lightsabers, but also a sensory deprivation helmet. How we used to be young,” Qimir said to Osha. That sinister helmet was unlike any Jedi Padawan training helmet. Instead, it looked more like some infamous places that have played a role in life of War of the galaxies' the best heroes and villains.
In The Empire Strikes Back Yoda told Luke Skywalker to enter the famous cave on the swamp planet. Also known as the Cave of Evil, Yoda said that this place was “strong with the dark side of the Force” and a “dominion of evil”. When Luke asked what was inside, Yoda replied, “Just what you carry with you.”
Qimir's words about his cortosis helmet echoed the same idea. What was inside his helmet. “It's just you and the Force,” he told Osha. “And what you bring with you.”
On Dagobah, Luke saw a vision of Darth Vader who struck out in anger. Vader's mask then fell away to reveal Luke's face, a warning of the future that awaited Luke if he succumbed to the dark side. If not for his experience in the Cave of Evil, Luke might have killed his father and joined the Emperor.
Kylo Ren (who shares many connections with Qimir) killed his father, in part because he also went through Dagobah's cave of evil under Snoke's direction. Inside, Kylo saw a vision of his uncle and former Master, whom he was able to take down. However, the former Ben Solo was unable to kill the visions of his parents Leia and Han. (Instead of facing his own “failure,” he destroyed the cave.)
If it weren't for what happened on Dagobah, Kylo Ren might not have killed his father when they met on Starkiller Base years later. Han Solo's death allowed Kylo Ren to become even more powerful.
The Jedi who rescued Ben Solo's soul also suffered his own dark side tribulation. In Ahch-To (a place remarkably similar to the secret planet of Qimir!) Rey entered the mirror cave. Despite being on the world where the Jedi Order was founded, that cave had strong ties to the dark side. The Jedi used it to train their Padawans for the same reason Yoda sent Luke to the evil cave of Dagobah. The Order knew that one day an evil path tempts all Jedi. The best way to avoid walking was to prepare for the day ahead.
That dark place had called to Rey, who felt compelled to enter. Her inability to ignore the mirror cave's call worried Luke Skywalker greatly. However, Rey never succumbed to the dark side, who teased her with information about her parents and true identity. Like Luke before her, Rey passed her true test when Kylo Ren offered to rule the galaxy with her.
Anakin Skywalker also had to see his possible dark future long before his visions of Padmé's death began to haunt him. Anakin— whose tragic story is already intimately linked to that of Osha and Mae—Once he saw what would become of him if he did not become ruler the planet Mortis, the center of the Force itself. The powerful figure of the Son, the manifestation of the dark side, showed Anakin what he could become one day.
The horrifying sight didn't make Anakin stay and replaced Mortis' leader, the Father, who then wiped Anakin's memory. But if he had Darth Vader would never have existed.
Anakin would eventually fall to the dark side just as the Father had feared. I the acolyte we made sure to remember Anakin's fate when Osha donned Qimir's dark side helmet as he suggested. What did she bring there with her? He found the darkness and the sound of his own breathing.
It was a sound that evoked Darth Vader's iconic mechanical breathing.
Osha doesn't know anything about Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader, or Dagobah's Cave of Evil, Mortis, or Ahch-To's mirror cave. But we do. We also know that not everyone who sees a vision of a dire future avoids it. Sometimes good Jedi fall to the dark side.
What did Osha wear to that helmet? The real question is what will she take with her when she takes it off? Hopefully whatever it is doesn't sound anything like the story of Darth Vader and Kylo Ren.
Mikey Walsh is a Nerdist staff writer still hoping Qimir is Darth Plagueis even though he isn't. You can follow it Twitter i Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
