The latest Star Wars TV show, The Acolyte, is now available for streaming on Disney Plus, with its third episode being released today. According to the official Star Wars Twitter account, the second episode titled ‘Revenge/Justice’ includes a fascinating connection to Marvel’s Star Wars comics.
In ‘Revenge/Justice,’ the assassin Mae tries to assassinate Jedi Master Torbin, only to discover him meditating silently (and floating several feet off the ground). It is revealed that he was practicing the Barash Vow – a pledge of penitence taken by Jedi Order members to disconnect from the rest of the Order and focus solely on communing with the Force.
The term was introduced in Marvel’s Darth Vader comic, specifically in issue #2 from 2017 by writer Charles Soule, artist Giuseppe Camuncoli, inker Cam Smith, and colorist David Curiel. In this issue, Darth Vader seeks out Jedi who have taken the Barash Vow, believing them to be easy targets. However, when he encounters Jedi Master Kirak Infilā€™a, he realizes that he underestimated his opponent.
While the term was first used in the real world in the Darth Vader comic, in the Star Wars universe it originates hundreds of years earlier during the High Republic era – coincidentally the same time period as The Acolyte show. It is named after Barash Silvain, a Jedi Master who decided to temporarily cease her actions as a Jedi after a disastrous mission on the planet Gansevor resulted in significant bloodshed. Over time, many Jedi have taken the Barash Vow.
There is no set duration for how long a repentant Jedi will follow the vow. In The Acolyte, Torbin has been meditating in this state for over ten years. Given his lengthy time and final words, “Forgive me. We thought we were doing the right thing,” it is evident that Mae likely has valid reasons for her anger.
For more information on The Acolyte, explore these explainers, guides, and cast interviews: