Justice for Kelnacca, the real hero of The Acolyte
(Ed. remark: This post discusses events up to and including episode 4 of The acolyte.)
Men only want to hear one thing, and it’s disgusting: Wookie Jedi. According to my research, women and non-binary people do that too. In fact, “Wookie Jedi” is one of the most exciting Star Wars-related phrases you can utter, a character idea so dope it doesn’t seem legal. Well, in the High Republic era of Star Wars, yes is: Burryaga, a young Wookie Jedi, is prominently featured in the many High Republic novels you can read, and The acolyte finally gave him an on-screen counterpart. That’s right, I’m talking about Kelnacca, the Wookie with a bad topknot that the show has dirty job. This cannot stand.
To summarize: the narrative backbone of The acolyte until now, Mae (Amandla Stenberg) and her mission to kill the Jedi witnessed the death of the coven that raised her and her lost twin brother Osha (also Stenberg). One of those Jedi was Kelnacca, next on Mae’s hit list The acolytethe fourth episode. However, instead of a sick Kelnacca/Mae fight that showcases the sheer prowess of a Force-sensitive Wookie, we get an anticlimax. There is no confrontation with Kelnacca, because Mae’s masked master rudely beats her to him. He is dead.
Hey Lucasfilm: How are you going to do Kelnacca like that? Wookies have been playing second fiddle to their relatively hairless costars for decades. Does Kelnacca even share a scene with another Wookiee that isn’t about a non-Wookie? I do not think so. You failed the Wookiee Bechdel test, The acolyte.
Way back in 2016, when Netflix Stranger things debuted, fans freaked out over the death of minor character Barb, played by Shannon Purser. “Justice for Barb,” fans said online. I didn’t really get it then and I don’t get it now, but I guess it’s nice to be a part of something, to know that a lot of other people seem to care about fringe TV characters that you have an affection for have.
Such is the case with Kelnacca. I can’t be the only one here who wants my badass Wookie boy to have his day in the sun, destroying… whoever the bad guys are at this point in Star Wars history. Tax evaders?
Anyway, justice for Kelnacca! If The acolyte won’t give us a flashback episode starring him, I will rather crotch. Don’t make me write another blog. I do it.