Aside from disguising your identification and searching extraordinarily badass, helmets worn by wielders of the Darkish facet of the Power might need a deeper that means than simply trying usually evil. In The Acolyte Episode 6, “Train/Corrupt,” the Stranger (Manny Jacinto) — previously generally known as Qimir — means that Osha (Amandla Stenberg) check out his evil helmet and see how she likes it.This results in a chilling closing shot, which appears to overtly echo an analogous second from Revenge of the Sith. But when we consider what Qimir is saying in regards to the goal of his helmet, sure issues we assumed about Darth Vader at the moment are very totally different. In re-exploring the character of the Jedi and the Sith, The Acolyte appears to be utilizing the Stranger’s helmet as a brand new metaphor to assist us unlearn what we’ve realized in regards to the authentic Darkish lord.The ability of the Stranger’s helmetMore than only a cool helmet.LucasfilmWhile Qimir confirms to Osha that his helmet is manufactured from a substance known as Cortosis — which he quips is “helpful towards lightsabers” — the bigger goal of the helmet is a bit more complicated. It serves as a sensory deprivation gadget, which he equates with helmets utilized by Jedi younglings. (This references a scene in Assault of the Clones the place we see a number of younglings coaching with their eyes lined.) However it appears that evidently, for the Stranger, the helmet goes deeper. As a result of it blocks out his senses, it permits the wearer to get even nearer to the Power, and thus, the Darkish facet. When Osha accuses the Stranger of being targeted on the Darkish facet, he dismisses this as semantics. However he does emphasize that the helmet permits him to entry the Power higher, noting: “It’s simply you and the Power.” On the very finish of the episode, Osha tries it on. When she does, director Hanelle Culpepper offers us a point-of-view shot that feels very particularly evocative of the second in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin Skywalker grew to become encased in Vader’s helmet. It’s on this second the place the bigger level of the episode retroactively casts Vader’s journey in a brand new mild. A Darth Vader story — redefined Vader wanted his helmet to get nearer to the Darkish Facet.Sundown Boulevard/Corbis Historic/Getty ImagesThroughout the basic Star Wars trilogy, there was a common sense that, whereas Darth Vader’s masks impressed terror, it was a hindrance to his precise day-to-day life. After Obi-Wan wounded him on Mustafar, Vader was unable to breathe with out his helmet and go well with, which is why he spent his downtime in a meditation chamber on his Tremendous Star Destroyer in The Empire Strikes Again and in Bacta tank in Rogue One. Luke says Vader can’t survive with out his masks in Return of the Jedi, whereas Snoke taunts Kylo Ren about carrying an analogous helmet in The Final Jedi. (Kylo didn’t want the helmet the best way Vader did.)Previous to The Acolyte, helmets worn by Darkish facet customers tended to really feel like edge-lord affectations (Kylo Ren) or literal life-saving gadgets permitting somebody to breathe (Darth Vader). However now, the Stranger and Osha have made us rethink all of that. When Osha goes to placed on the helmet, the imagery seems like Anakin placing on the helmet. Anakin’s journey to Vader has usually been perceived as tragic. He was out of choices at that time, proper? However Osha’s journey is totally different. She places on the masks and begins feeling her personal heavy respiratory willingly. Now, Anakin didn’t wish to be hooked as much as a respiratory machine for the remainder of his life, however we are able to now think about a model of Darth Vader who nonetheless wore a helmet even when he hadn’t been wounded by Obi-Wan. Right here’s why: The Stranger makes it clear that the sensory deprivation points of the helmet permit him to entry the Power extra successfully. The helmet enhances his Darkish Facet mojo as a result of he’s tapping straight into the Power with out being slowed down by sentiment. That is a part of what makes him cruel. So in the event you’re attempting to develop into the final word Sith Grasp, it appears that evidently a helmet like this isn’t simply helpful towards lightsabers however a literal instrument to deliver you nearer to your energy. And that sounds very Vader.When Osha places on the helmet on the finish of this episode, we’re eager about her journey, however Vader’s journey, too. Embracing the Darkish facet isn’t only a collection of accidents. And these evil helmets aren’t only for present. The Acolyte streams on Disney+.Be taught One thing New Each Day