Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episode 8.

Summary

  • Osha's anger towards Sol led to turning his lightsaber crystal red, symbolizing her embrace of the dark side in a heartbreaking final moment.
  • Kyber crystal "bleeding" explains why Sith lightsabers are red, a rite of age depicted in The Acolyte episode 8.
  • Osha's unintentional kyber crystal bleeding mirrors past Star Wars characters, adding depth to her commitment to the dark side.

Star Wars fans, which included a surprising scene where a blue lightsaber turned red. After eight episodes of following the stories of Osha Aniseya and Jedi Master Sol, and seeing the bond they shared, their final scene together was utterly heartbreaking. Mae Aniseya always hated Sol because she saw him kill her mother as a child, and she had time to come to her decision to turn him in. Osha, however, trusted Sol completely, leaving her unprepared for the anger and betrayal she felt after learning the truth.

Osha choosing to kill Sol while he pleaded with her was already a devastating moment, but it was accompanied by the blue kyber crystal inside Sol's lightsaber slowly turning red. When Osha attacked Qimir, she was stunned to see the blade slowly turn red as well, symbolizing her embracing the dark side of the Force. This was a fitting moment for Osha's arc, as it aligns with similar scenes for other characters in previous Star Wars stories. However, viewers who have only seen the Star Wars movies and TV shows may be unclear about why the blue lightsaber turned red.

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Osha "Bled" The Kyber Crystal In Sol's Lightsaber

Her negative emotions changed the crystal in the Force

Osha Aniseya's hand holding Jedi Master Sol's lightsaber as the blue kyber crystal turn red in The Acolyte episode 8.

The kyber crystal inside a Jedi lightsaber focuses the energy blade and determines its color, with blue and green being the most common hues. Because the kyber crystals are attuned to the Force, their color can be changed, and this is what happened when Osha learned the truth about Sol killing her mother. Osha's anger, pain, and hatred poured into the kyber crystal through the Force, causing it to "bleed" and turn a deep shade of red. While this is the first time kyber crystal bleeding has appeared in a live-action Star Wars project, it has appeared in other media.

Every Sith Lightsaber Is Powered By A Corrupted Jedi Crystal

This is a rite of age for a Sith apprentice

Kyber crystal bleeding is how all Sith Lords create red lightsabers and is considered a rite of age. Immediately after the events of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine explained the process of bleeding a kyber crystal and tasked Darth Vader with finding a Jedi survivor and killing them to take their crystal. Upon killing Jedi Master Kirak Infil'a, Vader took his crystal to Mustafar and poured his pain into it to create his crimson lightsaber. While not a Sith Lord, Kylo Ren bled the crystals of the Jedi students he killed to make his unique lightsaber.

In the original Star Wars Expanded Universe, now known as "Legends," the Sith used synthetic red crystals for their lightsabers.

However, while this is usually done during a ritual, Star Wars has established that kyber crystal bleeding can happen in the heat of the moment. In Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, Dagan Gera was so angry while recounting his backstory to Cal Kestis that he didn't realize the kyber crystal in his hand was beginning to turn red. This is similar to what happened with Osha in The Acolyte episode 8, with the crystal slowly turning red without her knowing. Intentional or not, it perfectly complements Osha's commitment to the dark side, making her the new title character of The Acolyte.

The Acolyte episode 8 is now streaming on Disney+.

The Acolyte Poster Showing Jedi Order, Mae, and a Sith Lord Holding Lightsabers

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The Acolyte
Release Date
2024 - 2024-00-00
Showrunner
Leslye Headland
Directors
Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Writers
Leslye Headland, Charmaine De Grate, Kor Adana
Franchise(s)
Star Wars
Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
Dis