The Sith Lord of The Acolyte is clearly opposed to the Jedi, but I’m convinced I found the perfect theory that explains just how connected to the Jedi he really is. The Jedi of the High Republic era, the time when The Acolyte takes place, thought the Sith were extinct. That fact worked in the Sith’s advantage, as it allowed them to grow in strength through the ages without having the Jedi try to destroy them. It was such a major advantage, and part of a centuries-long plan, that any member of the Sith would need a very compelling reason to jeopardize it.
Qimir, also known as the Stranger, didn’t have a very compelling reason to attack the Jedi on Khofar in The Acolyte episode 5. If he wanted to kill Mae and prevent her from revealing himself and his new red lightsaber to the Jedi, he could have done so without engaging them all at the same time. His decision to expose himself will likely be explained in future episodes of The Acolyte, but I believe one theory figured it out early. Everything about it makes sense to me, and I’m now confident that the Stranger is much more connected to the Jedi than he let on.
The Acolyte’s Sith Lord Has A Name… One With Deep Meaning
After he had been unmasked and revealed as Qimir, the Stranger told Sol that he had no name. It now seems Qimir was a completely made-up alias, but it was still important to the stranger. As XDarthThunderX pointed out, the name “Qimir” was likely inspired by the Arabic name “Qamar.”
The post also noted that the name “Qamar” means moon, which creates an interesting connection to Master Sol. Since “Sol” means “sun” in many of the real world’s languages, like Spanish and Latin, it seems Sol and Qimir are more closely connected than they at first seemed, potentially even by blood. There were several hints that the two knew each other long before they met on Olega. Qimir made multiple references to Sol’s dark past, and he had more information about Sol’s relationship with Osha, and what he failed to tell her about Brendok, than he could have gained from Mae alone.
Even though Qimir was a fake name, the fact that the Stranger chose an alias that was so closely tied to Sol’s name speaks volumes. Out of all the names in the galaxy, the Stranger picked one that hinted he was a dark reflection of Sol, the moon to his sun. The name Qimir is an indication that the Stranger was specifically targeting Sol. It’s possible he chose the name simply as a play on his opposition to the Jedi, but I think it’s indication of a deeper connection, one that speaks to The Acolyte’s focus on dualism even more.
The Acolyte Is All About Dualism
A major recurring theme of The Acolyte so far has been the idea of dualism and the concept of Yin and Yang. The most overt example of this theme is the relationship between Mae and Osha Aniseya. The twins are essentially two halves of one whole, a sentiment Mae put into words with her childhood rhyme, “You’re with me, I’m with you. Always one, but born as two.” One half, Mae, is aligned with the dark side, while the other half, Osha, is aligned with the light side. Mae and Osha, then, perfectly embody Yin and Yang: light and dark combine to make one whole.
Osha and Mae are the most prominent example of this theme, but The Acolyte is dripping in dualism. The moons of Brendok are another example, as one dark moon and one illuminated moon combined during the Ascension ceremony. Even The Acolyte episode 5 embraced this theme, as Mae went with Sol and the Stranger took Osha, which made both a pairing of light and dark. If Sol and Qimir turn out to be more connected than they seem, it would fit perfectly into The Acolyte’s larger motif of showing two halves of the same whole.
Since Sol was the effective leader of the Jedi sent to Khofar and the Stranger was the only Sith there, the two had already been set up as mirror images of each other. The Acolyte leaned into this comparison even more: throughout the episode, the Stranger used Sol’s words and actions against him. One of the best examples of that was when Sol criticized the Stranger for not showing his face to his student, and Qimir asserted that Sol did the same by not telling Osha the truth about Brendok. I think that Sol and the Stranger are connected by more than just their roles, though.
Are Sol & Qimir Actually Brothers?
There are several theories about how The Stranger and Sol could have met each other before Khofar. It’s possible they were both present on Brendok the night the coven burned down, or Qimir might have been Sol’s Padawan at some time. The post’s theory stands above the rest, though, especially considering the similarities in their names. I’m fully convinced Sol and Qimir are long-lost brothers who were separated at birth. Their names are the key part of this theory, and the fact that the Stranger created a fake name and considered himself “nameless” also speaks to the importance of his true name.
The Stranger must have had some reason to hide or abandon the name he was given at birth. I believe the reason for his change of name is that Sol would recognize the Stranger’s name more than he would his face. If that was the case, the only explanation I find compelling for why Sol would know the Stranger’s birth name would be if they were brothers.
If Sol did have a brother, I simply refuse to believe he wouldn’t appear in The Acolyte at all.
There are also several hints that support the idea of Sol and Qimir being brothers. Sol told Osha in The Acolyte episode 3 that he was taken from his home when he was four years old, and he mentioned that he had some memories of his family and how he was different from them. Sol’s wording was a hint that he wasn’t an only child, as he didn’t just say parents, and if he could remember he had a brother, he’d likely remember his name. If Sol did have a brother, I simply refuse to believe he wouldn’t appear in The Acolyte at all.
I also believe that being brothers is the only theory that effectively explains how Sol and Qimir knew each other before Olega. If they knew each other from Brendok, Sol would likely have had much more than a simple feeling. Sol would have been able to recognize the same dark side user he encountered on one of the worst nights of his life, a night he still remembers vividly. If the Stranger was Sol’s Padawan, he would have recognized Qimir’s face the moment he saw him on Olega, even if he had grown considerably since he last saw Sol.
If they were separated at birth or in early childhood, though, Sol might only be able to vaguely remember Qimir, given his young age and the amount of time that had passed. They would also be connected through the Force – moreso than the average pair of people are. That would explain Sol’s familiar feeling and the Stranger’s line, “You don’t remember me?” It would also explain why Sol didn’t recognize Qimir on Olega: if the only memory he had of his brother’s face was as a baby, he’d never recognize him as an adult.
When I first heard this theory, it felt like the last puzzle piece of The Acolyte was finally falling into place. Everything about it makes sense to me. It explains why the Stranger would expose himself – so he could get to Sol – it explains how they knew each other better than any other theory, and it fits perfectly into The Acolyte’s narrative and themes. It’s a brilliant theory, and I’m fully convinced it predicted the last twist of The Acolyte weeks before its reveal.