The Acolyte: Is That Plo Koon In Episode 4? (2024)

The Acolyte raises the stakes in its latest episode, as a confrontation between the Jedi and Sith becomes inevitable for the first time in centuries. The new Star Wars Disney+ series depicts a very different galaxy than audiences are used to, 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace and the rest of the Prequel Trilogy. In the waning years of the High Republic, the Jedi Order has grown accustomed to the peace and prosperity of their era, unaware that a dark presence has been building under their noses for years. When Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) discovers that a mysterious Sith Lord is training a new apprentice, Mae Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg), he seeks the help of the other Jedi to stop the rising evil before it can usher in another war.

In Episode 4 of The Acolyte, Master Sol communes with his Jedi compatriots, including Vernestra Rwoh and Ki-Adi-Mundi to determine how the Order will deal with the newly discovered Sith Lord. They ultimately decide that Sol will lead a strike force to the planet Khofar, where Mae is hunting the Wookie Jedi Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo) as part of her initiation. He takes several recognizable characters, including his Padawan Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett). Also among his ranks is a familiar-looking Kel Dor Jedi who resembles Master Plo Koon from the Prequel Trilogy. However, the character is never named onscreen, nor do the credits specifically reveal his identity. Moreover, the Jedi wields a green lightsaber in contrast to Plo Koon's typically blue. Could this be Plo Koon, or is this simply an unnamed Kel Dor Jedi?

The Interesting History Behind Plo Koon's Lightsaber

Plo Koon Almost Had Several Different Lightsabers Before His Typical Blue One

The masked Kel Dor Jedi in The Acolyte certainly resembled Plo Koon. Still, viewers would be justified in concluding that this was simply another member of his species given the different lightsaber color. However, Plo Koon more than most Jedi has been shown to wield lightsabers of various colors depending on the context. In the PlayStation game Jedi Power Battles, for example, the Jedi Master is shown wielding a yellow lightsaber. In other early appearances, Plo Koon uses an orange lightsaber. Concept art for Revenge of the Sith even had Plo Koon use a fascinating new kind of lightsaber gauntlet, which featured two blue blades strapped to his arm (some figurines of the character included this design in addition to the Jedi's typical blue lightsaber). Needless to say, it isn't impossible that Plo Koon cycled through several different lightsabers and lightsaber colors during his years in the Jedi Order. It may be that, before his appearance in The Phantom Menace, Master Plo wielded the green lightsaber that the Kel Dor uses in The Acolyte.

Plo Koon wouldn't be the only Jedi to switch lightsaber color over the years, either. Most famously, Luke Skywalker switched from blue to green in between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Likewise, Ahsoka Tano went from her iconic green and yellow blades to white after the fall of the Jedi and Order 66. In the sequels, Rey gives up Luke and Anakin Skywalker's blue lightsaber for a yellow one of her design. While the practice isn't overtly common, Jedi were more than welcome to change the color of their lightsaber blades. This may even signify a change in the individual Jedi's relationship with the Kyber crystal powering their lightsaber as they grow in their use of the Force.

Was Plo Koon Alive During The Events Of The Acolyte?

Kel Dor Live Much Longer Than The Average Humanoid

The Acolyte takes place in the High Republic Era of Star Wars in 132 BBY, exactly 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. This means that most characters from the Skywalker Saga are not yet born by the time the series takes place. However, Plo Koon was, in fact, alive, a century before his original debut in the prequel trilogy.

Plo Koon is believed to have been born around 404 BBY, making him already about 272 years old by the time of Master Sol's mission to Khofar. Not only is Plo Koon old enough to have been around in The Acolyte, but he would already be well into his illustrious career as a Jedi Knight. This would make him about 372 years old during the events of The Phantom Menace and 375 years old at the time of his death in 19 BBY.

Why Plo Koon's Appearance In The Acolyte Is Important

Plo Koon Connects The Acolyte To The Skywalker Saga

Plo Koon's potential appearance in The Acolyte is more important than fans may realize. If the Kel Dor Jedi seen in Episode 4 is truly the Jedi Master from the prequel era, then the Disney+ series is deliberately connecting itself to the Skywalker Saga. In fact, other characters have already begun to slowly make their way into the show, including Ki-Adi-Mundi, another member of the High Council from the prequels. The Acolyte was originally sold as a show mostly detached from the events of the mainline films, set in a different era with all-new characters. However, if the series is willing to feature minor characters from the Skywalker Saga, there could be more connections between the two eras than Lucasfilm initially let on. The series could even feature appearances from iconic characters like Master Yoda or even the long-awaited live-action debut of Darth Plagueis.

This could also hint at Star Wars fleshing out characters like Plo Koon in greater detail. Background characters from the prequels have become fan favorites over the years, with fans coming to love Jedi like Plo Koon, Yarael Poof, Coleman Trebor, and Shaak Ti despite their limited screen time in the franchise. The Acolyte's inclusion of such characters hints that Lucasfilm hasn't entirely forgotten about these iconic background characters, who could still return, either in future episodes of The Acolyte or a different series altogether.

While The Acolyte never confirms the identity of its Kel Dor Jedi, it seems very likely that it was indeed Plo Koon. The appearance of this iconic prequel-era Jedi could mean big things for the Star Wars franchise moving forward, or simply be a fun cameo to keep fans talking.

The Acolyte

Action

Adventure

Mystery

A Star Wars series that takes viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

Release Date

June 4, 2024

Cast

Lee Jung-jae , Jodie Turner-Smith , Amandla Stenberg , Rebecca Henderson

Main Genre

Science Fiction

Seasons

1

Franchise

Star Wars

Creator

Leslye Headland

Number of Episodes

8