Star Wars Just Debunked One Hugely Popular Anakin Skywalker Origin Theory (2024)

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 3

The Acolyte episode 3 has officially debunked a long-held theory regarding the origins of Anakin Skywalker. Born to no father, Anakin Skywalker was conceived by Shmi Skywalker alone before he was discovered by the Jedi and believed to be the galaxy's prophesized Chosen One. Now, the origins of a key Darth Plagueis power heavily suggest that the Sith Lords were not behind Anakin's conception in the established Star Wars canon.

The Acolyte episode 3 reveals the origins of Osha Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) and her twin sister Mae. Having been born to a coven of Force-using witches on the world of Brendock, Osha and Mae were not conceived through conventional means. Instead, their births are tied with the power the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis the Wise was said to have possessed before his murder at the hands of his apprentice Darth Sidious (Palpatine). To that end, this new episode of The Acolyte debunks a major theory about Anakin's conception almost 90 years later in the Star Wars timeline.

The Acolyte Reveals The Force Power Used By Darth Plagueis & The Sith

Crafted By The Witches Of Brendok

In The Acolyte episode 3 which reveals Osha and Mae's origins, it's revealed that the Witches of Brendok led by Mother Aniseya were living in exile, their powers and belief in the Force as "a great thread" being met with fear and suspicion. To that end, the Force cult was actively attempting to keep their activities hidden from the Jedi stationed on Brendok. This is especially true regarding the existence of Aniseya's and Mother Koril's twin daughters.

Ahead of the young girls' ascension ceremony into the coven, Osha and Mae were discovered by the Jedi when they left the coven's compound. This resulted in a series of events leading to the coven's apparent destruction, Osha leaving with the Jedi, and Mae believed to have died. However, it was also revealed that Mae and Osha have no father. Instead, the twins were created by Mother Aniseya through the Force and conceived in the existing womb of Mother Koril.

With Mother Aniseya confirming that this incredible ability to create life was seen as "unnatural", it's no wonder that they tried to keep the girls hidden from the Jedi Order. Likewise, this looks to be the very same power wielded by Darth Plagueis who could influence the midi-chlorians to create life. While this is a very cool connection to the greater Star Wars canon and a new chapter for the legacy of the Sith, it also debunks a belief about Anakin's similar conception.

Anakin Skywalker Could Not Have Been Created Using This Method

"There Was No Father"

Even though Anakin Skywalker was also conceived without a father, the process of creating life used by Aniseya looks to be limited to just females in an existing womb. After all, all babies start as female before the addition of a Y chromosome that comes from a father as seen with natural births. As such, Osha and Mae being born as twin females supports the idea that Aniseya's power to create life only goes as far as females.

To that end, the heavy foreshadowing in this episode that Darth Plagueis will learn (or has already learned) this same Force power would mean that he didn't trigger Anakin's birth as many have theorized since the release of Revenge of the Sith. While this was an idea George Lucas had in early drafts of Episode III, he ended up changing his mind. Likewise, it's also been confirmed that Palpatine didn't trigger Anakin's birth either. To that end, these exciting reveals in The Acolyte episode 3 strongly suggest that one of the predominant Anakin origin theories has officially been debunked.

Anakin Really Was Born By The Will Of The Force

Born To Be Its Chosen One (Without Sith Manipulation)

Even without The Acolyte supporting the idea that the Sith had nothing to do with Anakin's conception, it's still an odd theory that they were somehow able to manipulate the Chosen One prophecy to such a degree. Instead, it makes much more sense that Anakin was either conceived by the midi-chlorians or the Force itself. After all, the Force's ability to create life would presumably be not as limited. As the Chosen One, Anakin's birth is still far more miraculous, tying into the balance of the Force itself.

To that end, it's an important distinction that while Mae and Osha were born using a power that Darth Plagueis likely wielded himself, that doesn't mean he was behind Anakin's conception, nor that Mae and Osha are somehow "Chosen One" predecessors. That said, The Acolyte could still very well reveal the twins' existence as a powerful Force Dyad, not unlike the sequels' Rey Skywalker and Kylo Ren.

The Acolyte episode 3 is streaming now. New episodes are released Tuesday nights on Disney+.

The Acolyte

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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.

Cast

Dafne Keen , Lee Jung-jae , Amandla Stenberg , Jodie Turner-Smith , Joonas Suotamo , Carrie-Anne Moss , Margarita Levieva , Charlie Barnett , Dean-Charles Chapman

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Disney+

Franchise(s)

Star Wars

Writers

Leslye Headland , Charmaine De Grate , Kor Adana

Directors

Leslye Headland , Alex Garcia Lopez

Showrunner

Leslye Headland