Although the character took a back seat to last week’s Jedi massacre on Khofar,everyone’s favorite Jedi tracker, Bazil, is back onThe Acolyteand more adorable than ever! Sniffing out clues and tinkering with Pip aboard Sol’s ship as the Jedi Master recovers from the loss of his team, Bazil manages to both bring Osha’s (Amandla Stenberg) PIP droid back online and expose her twin, who stowed away on the vessel after taking Osha’s place at the end of last week’s episode. In the process, Bazil delivers plenty of cute moments in the latest installment ofLeslye Headland’sprequel series, serving as a reminder thatthe most enjoyable part of theStar WarsUniverse isthe galaxy’s lovable alien sidekicks.
A member of the Tynnan species played by veteranStar Wars actorHassan Taj,Bazil is first introduced inThe AcolyteEpisode 5 as a resourceto help track Jedi Master Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo) before Mae can kill him on Khofar. The tracker successfully leads Master Sol’s (Lee Jung-jae) strike team to the Wookie Jedi’s domicile, but he disappears as soon asThe Acolyte’sStranger arrives, only re-emerging towards the episode’s end to catchManny Jacinto’sSith stealing Osha. This discovery allows Bazil to take on a more prominent role in this week’s episode, with the mischievous little Tynnan’s anticscalling back to some of the silliest creatures in the Star Wars franchise.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
Star Wars Has Been Home to the Galaxy’s Cutest Creatures for Decades
While Star Wars often focuses on dramatic clashes between light and dark side users of the force, one of the franchise’s most endearing qualitiesis the frequent inclusion of new alien species to flesh out its family-friendly universe.Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hopegave viewers the chance to appreciate the amusing sight of Jawas waddling across the deserts of Tatooine, whileStar Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jediintroduced an entire generation to the bloodthirsty teddy bears of the forest moon of Endor, Ewoks. In recent years,Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedibrought theindescribably precious Porgs into canon, whose wide-eyed squeals and tiny wings instantly made Rey’s time on Ahch-To feel likeHappy Feet,proving thatStar Wars' strangest species bring the galaxy its most wholesome joy.
The Acolytecontinues the franchise’s oddball legacy by allowing Bazil to bring his own whimsical touch to the series. In a show whose Jedi killings and ruthless Sith makeThe Acolyteone of Star Wars' darkest entries,Bazil combines the lovable attributes of the galaxy’s most cuddly charactersto provide some much-needed comic relief. He waddles and works with technology like a Jawa, while his brief attack on Mae during this week’s episode feels like a slapstick homage to the awkward blows of the Ewoks duringReturn of the Jedi’sfinal act. Bazil’s skills as a tracker also connect to the primal senses of creatures from Star Wars' animated side, likeStar Wars Rebels’Loth-cats, though Bazil is thankfully given a more central part to playin the latest chapter ofThe Acolyte’s story.
‘The Acolyte’ Honors Star Wars’ History of Fun Alien Sidekicks
With their extremely huggable appearances and fierce determination, Star Wars' collection of swoonworthy creatures is enjoyable enough on their own, but Star Wars feels the most like Star Warswhen the franchise pairs up its strangest aliens with the galaxy’s greatest heroes. Bazil’s partnership with the Jedi calls back to similar alliances between silly aliens and intrepid heroes throughout the galaxy’s history, with examples like Jar Jar Binks' (Ahmed Best) support of Qui-Gon Jinn’s (Liam Neeson) mission on Naboo solidifying this bond in the prequel era. In recent Star Wars history, the relationship betweenThe Mandalorian’sDin Djarin(Pedro Pascal) and Baby Yoda further demonstratesthe iconic potential of connecting adorable Star Wars species to conflicted human characters.
These loveable side characters may not always occupy crucial positions in their respective Star Wars stories, buttheir presence provides much-needed relief for characters who often take themselves too seriously.BeforeThe Acolyteintroduced a Wookiee Jedi, the franchise’s most iconic alien sidekick, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), brought a grounded level of shaggy loyalty to the franchise’s resident adventurer, Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Likewise, Porgs allowThe Last Jedito be lighthearted while the film’s story documents the downfall of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), while Jar Jar acts as a whimsical distraction to the intense politics ofStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, combining the serious themes of Star Wars with the more playful tone of the galaxy.
What ‘The Acolyte’s Big Switch Means for the Rest of the Show
This twist could lead to some major ramifications.
‘The Acolyte’s Bazil Is a Reminder of What Makes Star Wars So Magical
The constant intrigue and violence at the center of the Star Wars universe can sometimes make the galaxy feel like an especially dangerous place, but at its core, Star Wars has always been a source of fictional magic. The sci-fi phenomenon captures the wonder of exploring a new and exciting universe where all kinds of undiscovered powers are possible, while the galaxy’s adorable creatures remindStar Wars’ heroesof that same galaxy’s capacity for wholesome mischief. As simple beings whose sweet innocence and endearing features get them up to all sorts of amusing trouble, these cute creatures showcase the fun to be found in the galaxy, withThe Acolyte’s Bazil representingthe upbeat joy that exists at the heart of Star Wars.
Despite thedark tone of Headland’s series,The Acolytedoesn’t bring in an intimidating tracker to turn the series into even more of a horror show.Bazil’s inclusion doubles down on the playful antics that balance Star Wars’ darkest elements, providing an entertaining distraction to Sol’s distress and Osha’s seduction similar to howAhsoka’sNoti bring some levity to Sabine and Ezra’slong-awaited reunion in one of Star Wars' other most recent shows. In a galaxy where characters walk so many intricate paths of conflicted passions, deceptions, and betrayals, the presence of so many entertaining species emphasizes the persistent warmth to be found in a constantly warring galaxy.
While Bazil’s part inThe Acolytehas so far been small, the Tynnan doesn’t need excessive screentime to leave his mark. The series' inclusion of Bazil calls back to the Star Wars universe’s reliance on adorable creatures throughout its epic history, celebrating a legacy of entertaining cooperation between the galaxy’s cutest species and their Jedi counterparts, and the tracker’s amusing antics inThe Acolyte’slatest episodeunderscores the lovable, absurd fun that forms the backbone of the Star Wars franchise. Only time will tell whether Bazil is able to make audiences smile more in the future, but for now,Master Sol’s furry friend has done more than enough to honor the galaxythat this world learned to love.
The Acolyteis currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes air every Tuesday night.
