Summary

• The Acolyte introduced unique concepts, like Mae and Osha sharing one consciousness, but also drew from familiar Star Wars elements.
• The Acolyte referred to a steering wheel, breaking with Star Wars tradition.
• The Mandalorian season 3 included the only other canon reference to steering wheels.

The Acolyte episode 6 subtly brought back one canon-breaking, real-world concept that appeared in The Mandalorian, suggesting this item is here to stay in Star Wars. The Acolyte was set 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, making it the earliest live-action addition to Star Wars movies and TV shows in the Star Wars timeline. Because of that, the show was primed to introduce many new (albeit, actually ancient) concepts to the franchise.

The Acolyte was innovative in many ways, such as with the introduction of Mae and Osha, sisters who were created by splitting one consciousness into two bodies, but the show also pulled from some Star Wars staples. While that meant major connections to some of Star Wars’ best movies, including a Master Yoda cameo in the show’s finale, there was one surprising concept that has appeared in Star Wars before—but only in The Mandalorian. In fact, this particular item has a history of being removed from Star Wars on purpose, making it all the more interesting.

The Acolyte Saw Sol Tell Mae To “Take The Wheel”

The Acolyte episode 6 came on the heels of multiple shocking events, including the reveal that the masked villain was really Mae’s accomplice, Qimir, and the death of numerous Jedi, beloved characters Yord Fandar and Jecki Lon among them. The end of The Acolyte episode 5 also revealed that Mae had secretly taken the place of her sister, Osha, and was pretending to be her in an effort to get close enough to Master Sol to kill him. Perhaps because he was so distraught at the number of Jedi lost in the battle against Qimir, Sol didn’t notice the switch.

While reporting the deaths to the Jedi, Sol’s transceiver cut out. As he went to fix it, Sol stood up and told Mae, “Take the wheel.” What is interesting about this moment is the reference to a steering wheel. While it may seem inconsequential, this does deviate from Star Wars canon to an extent, although it isn’t the first Star Wars show to do so. In A New Hope, George Lucas intentionally removed a steering wheel from Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder, presumably because it diminished some of the fantasy in the movie. Until The Mandalorian, Star Wars canon didn’t change this.

George Lucas intentionally removed a steering wheel from Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder.

Are Steering Wheels Becoming A Normal Part Of Star Wars Now?

The Mandalorian season 3 saw the canon introduction of steering wheels to Star Wars with Gorian Shard, the Pirate King. In season 3, episode 5, Gorian can be seen flying his ship with what is quite clearly a steering wheel. Arguably, this canon change makes sense in this context; Gorian is a pirate, and the wheel is intentionally reminiscent of the wheel of a pirate ship. Nevertheless, this did mean a change to the existence of steering wheels in Star Wars canon.

Now, with this throwaway line about a wheel in The Acolyte, it remains unclear whether this will be a permanent change in Star Wars. Although a small detail, it does suggest that Star Wars might be becoming less and less concerned with separating the real world from the galaxy far, far away, which could have interesting implications for the franchise. For now, though, The Acolyte is confirmed to be the second canon Star Wars reference to steering wheels existing in-universe.

All episodes of The Acolyte are now streaming on Disney+.

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  The Acolyte

  The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes – all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

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  The Mandalorian

  The Mandalorian is set after the Empire’s fall and before the First Order’s emergence in the ever-growing Star Wars universe. The series follows the travails of a lone gunfighter named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Acting as the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian has become incredibly popular on Disney+, partly due to Mando’s relationship with Grogu, which the internet dubbed “Baby Yoda” upon his introduction in season 1.