The recently released The Acolyte Episode 3 featured several Easter eggs and references to the greater Star Wars canon while revealing the backstory of Osha and Mae (Amandla Stenberg). It showed how the young twin sisters grew up with Mother Aniseya’s (Jodie Turner-Smith) coven of switches and how they were supposed to continue her legacy. However, as Osha had a change of heart with the arrival of the Jedi on planet Brendok, a pivotal scene where she was ready to leave features an Easter egg that shows a major connection to High Republic villains.
Eagle-eyed fans quickly notice the stuffed animal dolls in Osha’s room as she packs her bag and is ready to leave in The Acolyte Episode 3. Sure, the dolls look like simple toys that the kid has, but loyal Star Wars fans can’t help but liken them to the alien horse creatures from the Star Wars: The High Republic lore due to their similar designs.
These creatures were even featured in Star Wars: The High Republic – Eye of the Storm, which told the backstory of The High Republic’s main villain, Marchion Ro. Known as the Eye of the Nihil, he led the galactic marauder group, which prompted the Nihil fleet to procure a race of Force-eating animals called Levelers or the Nameless. This fantastical world featured lifeforms that included a pair of horse-like creatures that equally looked like the dolls in Osha’s room.
The Possible Connection of Mother Aniseya’s Coven to the High Republic Villains
In the Star Wars: The High Republic comic books, Marchion Ro’s great-grandmother, Marda Ro, and the latter’s cousin, Yana Ro, were part of the Force cult called Path of the Open Hand. Remembered as “The Faithful” by the Ro family, this group was an extremist missionary order and a cult led by The Mother, Elecia Zeverion, who claimed to be a prophet.
This order believed that no one should use the Force, especially the Jedi Order, believing using it was a form of abuse and could lead to death and disaster throughout the galaxy. After a battle known as the Night of Sorrow, Marda Ro formed the militant splinter group Path of the Closed Fist and used the Levelers against the Jedi. Marada eventually left Path of the Closed Fist and made the Nihil a full-fledged criminal empire of pirates and raiders.
So, the fact that Osha has the same stuffed animals from the Levelers’ world seems to imply that Mother Aniseya’s coven has a connective tie with Path of the Open Hand. If true, they may be a subsidiary or successor of the ancient Force cult. It’s also possible that they’re former members of the cult, and their coven was created after splitting from the Nihil.
The origin of Mother Aniseya's coven remains a mystery, but this major connection hints at where they have come from. Though it remains to be seen if they're the villains, more about this group may be explored in future episodes of The Acolyte.
The Acolyte Episodes 1 to 3 are available on Disney+. New episodes are set to be released every Tuesday.
