The Acolyte
Summary
The Acolyte , the nextStar WarsDisney+ television show , will feature the first ever live - legal action lightsaber whip - but what is this weapon , and how does it work ? Although most viewers are familiar with only the standard blade , in reality there are many differenttypes of lightsabers- and some are visually far more impressive than the normal weapon system used by Jedi and Sith . Who can leave the first dawdler forStar war : Episode I - The Phantom Menace , which featured Darth Maul igniting his double - bladed lightsaber for the first time ?
The Acolytewill push the boundary even further , though , feature the entry of the first ever live - action lightsaber whip . This is already prove divisive on societal medium , with some thrilled and others criticize the idea . Here ’s all you call for to know about the lightsaber whip , include both how it work and its 39 - year history inStar Warslore .
How A Lightsaber Whip Works
Most viewers put on a lightsaber is but a laser sword - a term George Lucas tried to avoid - but they ’re actually quite sophisticated . To sympathize a lightsaber whip , it ’s first necessary to understandhow a lightsaber worksin the first place , because a lightsaber lash is fundamentally a qualifying of the received design . The so - called " blade " of a lightsaber is actually a stream of superheated plasma , its blade chassis controlled by a magnetized subject field author . This is explicate inStar warfare : Lightsabers - A Guide To Weapons Of The Force :
" Once the energy is focused , it leave the handle from a positively charged energy lens of the eye inside the sword emitter . The light beam is trapped inside an energy battlefield created by a kyber crystal , which turn away the beam of light back towards a negatively shoot down in high spirits - energy flux aperture in the emitter .
The lightsaber whip is simply a development of this estimate - a longer , weaker and more tractile charismatic field , meaning the blood plasma current can be manipulated like a party whip . The Acolyte ’s lightsaber party whip is handle byJedi Master Vernestra Rwoh(played by Rebecca Henderson ) , and she ’s installed a switch on her lightsaber that allows her to transform her traditional leaf blade into a whip whenever she wish . This afford her a unambiguously ductile weapon , although the DOE stream is more diffuse - meaning it ’s a little weaker than a standard lightsaber brand .
A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic , Vernestra " Vern " Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to reach the social rank of Knight . She serve at a clip of crisis for the Republic , battle on the front lines against the Nihil , the Nameless , and the Drengir , and proving herself wise beyond her years . Vern will appear in live - action in The Acolyte , set over a hundred twelvemonth after she became a Master , at the after part last of the High Republic Era .
The Legends Origin Of Lightwhips & Lightsaber Whips
A slightly different incarnation of the lightsaber whip can be seen in Legends , dating all the elbow room back to 1985 . This was the yearStar Warsintroduced Lumiya , the Dark Lady of the Sith who would finally become a desirable successor for Palpatine himself . She was know for wielding the lightwhip , a weapon system that allowed her to best Luke Skywalker himself in fight . To counter the lightwhip , Luke developed a Modern fighting proficiency contain his standard leaf blade and a shorter shoto weapon- the same design later used in canyon by Ahsoka Tano .
The lightwhip was n’t alone associated with Lumiya , with many other dark side lineament using it over the long time . It vanish into abstruseness when Disney branded the quondam Expanded Universe " legend " ( or non - canon ) , but retort in Justina Ireland’sA Test of Couragein 2020 . That record introduced Vernestra Rwoh , who was revealed to have been direct in produce the lightsaber whiplash by the prompt of the Force .
The Dark Side History Of Lightsaber Whips In Star Wars Canon
In Legends , the lightwhip was traditionally associated with the Sith . There have been unassailable hints this is true in canon as well ; inA trial of Courage , Vernestra acknowledged its poor report . More recent novels set during theHigh Republic Erahave seen Vernestra suffer with the Jedi Council of that time , showing them the lightsaber lash she developed , and they have reluctantly accepted that she did so according to the will of the Force .
The lightsaber whip is a dangerous weapon system , extremely unmanageable to counter . It is also one that requires a cracking deal of skill to master , and there is some evidenceVernestra has create a new combat formallowing her to use it effectively . According to Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton’sDefy the Storm :
" Vernestra had pass her time on Ibbe perfecting the purpose of her lightwhip . She ’d always been enchant of a more justificative vogue of flow and dynamics , but she ’d learned to channel her violent desire to protect those she cared about into a more belligerent form . As she spin the whip around her body , deftly controlling the flexible blood plasma blade with the Force , Vernestra actualise that she was better than she ’d ever been . "
Custom image by Thomas Bacon
There are striking parallels between Vernestra Rwoh and Mace Windu , both of whom maintain purple lightsabers ; Mace ’s own unique lightsaber form ( Vaapad ) was created to channel his inner dark , and the same is likely lawful of Vernestra ’s . GivenThe Acolyteis fructify a one C before the prequels , Vernestra ’s form may even germinate into Mace ’s . It will be tickle to see Vernestra ’s human body in live - natural process .
The Jedi and the Sith use seven dissimilar build of lightsaber combat in Star Wars - here ’s all you postulate to know about them , and who apply which .
Vernestra Rwoh’s Lightsaber Whip Makes Star Wars History
The lightwhip and lightsaber whip have been part ofStar Warslore since 1985 , but they ’ve never before been witness in alive - activity - likely because the technology did not exist to make them look good . Disney has continue to work on lightsaber technology since acquiring Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012 , though , and these designs are continually improving . It is clearly now potential to make a lightsaber party whip a reality .
At first glance , Vernestra ’s lightsaber lash look absolutely stunning . It get as a standard vane before morphing into something never seen before on live - action , a coruscating stream of energy that sweeps around her - to no doubt deadly effect . It ’s indecipherable how conspicuously the lightsaber whiplash will be featured inThe Acolyte , but viewers wo n’t have long to waitress and see .
The Acolyte premieres on June 4 on Disney+ .
A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic, Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to achieve the rank of Knight. She served at a time of crisis for the Republic, battling on the front lines against the Nihil, the Nameless, and the Drengir, and proving herself wise beyond her years. Vern will appear in live-action in The Acolyte, set over a hundred years after she became a Master, at the tail end of the High Republic Era.
