There was a hidden Easter egg in The Acolyte episode 6 that made a huge callback to Vernestra Rwoh’s time in the High Republic novels. The Acolyte is set during the High Republic era, about 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The new Star Wars show is only the first to bring this part of the Star Wars timeline into live-action, though – it’s been the focus of a wide array of novels and comic books for years now. Vernestra Rwoh has served as the main link between The Acolyte and the High Republic books, and a recent Easter egg made that connection even stronger.
A detail shared by Star Wars revealed that Vernestra’s ship, which was briefly seen in The Acolyte episode 6, was named after her former Padawan, Imri Cantaros. Vernestra took the Cantaros to Khofar to investigate the Sith Lord of The Acolyte’s massacre, and while it only played a small part in the episode, it serves as a great reference to multiple High Republic stories. Imri became Vernestra’s Padawan at the dedication of the Starlight Beacon, and he had a huge history with her both before and after that moment. It’s a nice callback to
Vernestra’s past, but it also may hint at her future in The Acolyte.
Could Vernestra Be Struggling With Attachments?
The fact that Vernestra named her ship after Imri may be a hint that she is harboring some long-held attachments. Her history with Imri was strained at best, and it likely left Vernestra with quite a few regrets. After the fall of the Starlight Beacon, Imri was assumed dead, which was quite painful for Vernestra. That wasn’t the end of the strife Imri caused her, though, because a later book revealed he had survived and was hiding in the Nihil Occlusion Zone. Being surrounded by Nihil marauders was extremely dangerous for a Padawan, and though she eventually saved him, it still filled her with even more guilt.
Vernestra had quite a few bad experiences with the Jedi she grew close to. Imri was a big cause of grief and guilt, and she also blamed herself for not saving her former Master, Stellan Gios, who died on the Starlight Beacon. It’s entirely possible that Vernestra had some attachment issues, and the name of her ship might be evidence that she hadn’t fully healed from her past tragedies. That would definitely add some interesting characterization to Vernestra, but it might even be evidence of a huge theory about The Acolyte episode 6.
While speaking to Osha, the Stranger revealed that he had a large, winding scar on his back, and he said his former Master gave it to him. The scar seemed suspiciously like the type of wound a lightwhip might inflict, which has led many to believe the Stranger was Vernestra’s former Padawan. If Vernestra was struggling with her attachment to Imri Cantaros while training him, it might have caused a rift between her and the Stranger. The Stranger may have even reminded Vernestra of Imri, as she had to bring him back from the brink of the dark side after the death of his first Master.
What seemed at first like a simple reference to the High Republic novels and comics may actually be the key to the Stranger’s past and a huge part of The Acolyte. The Stranger’s scar was already a huge hint that he was Vernestra’s former Padawan, but this Easter egg added even more fuel to the fire. If the theory does prove true, it would perfectly build off all the history and tragedies Vernestra had in the High Republic novels, and it would fit with The Acolyte’s darker tone. This Easter egg may be proof that Vernestra Rwoh will soon become quite important to The Acolyte.
New episodes of The Acolyte premiere on Tuesday nights on Disney+.