The Acolyte: What lies ahead for Master Sol?

It hasn't been a good week for the "Sol Patrol," but can things turn around for Master Sol in the season finale of The Acolyte?

The past has a way of catching up with all of us, and in episode 7, "Choice," Master Sol's past decisions may have caught him. Not only was his behavior during the events on Brendok shocking, irrational, and out of character, but it also made him nearly indefensible. For one, Sol is responsible for the death of Mother Aniseya, whom he killed because he couldn't correctly judge her intentions, causing him to strike a blow as she attempted to use her magic. Her last words were that she would've let Osha go, making Sol's rash actions look even worse.

Following Aniseya's death, Sol tried to save Osha and Mae from a fire that had spread throughout the fortress. As he attempted to save them from falling, his hold on Mae faltered, and she fell to her presumed death. Had it not been for whatever or whoever saved her at the last minute, she wouldn't be alive today.

I'm still trying to understand whether Sol let Mae drop because he wasn't physically strong enough to keep both the girls from falling or because he wasn't emotionally strong enough. Did Mae fall because Sol had his heart set on taking Osha as his padawan? Did his emotional attachment to Osha lead to Mae's apparent fall? This isn't clear yet. We still have an episode to go, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the series may elaborate on Sol's psyche as he tried to save the girls.

Sol has become a fan favorite, so episode 7 wasn't easy to accept. Is there any hope for him? Will he find peace after telling Mae about his role in what happened to her family? A lot depends on how Mae reacts to Sol's confession. If she forgives him, that might help him move forward, but Sol may never forgive himself if she doesn't.

In this situation, the ideal ending for Sol would be to ask for Osha and Mae's forgiveness, confess everything to the High Council, be punished, and warn the Jedi of the consequences of their arrogance. If anyone understands the consequences of massacring a group of people because you disapprove of how they use the Force, it's Sol. Of course, we still don't know Sol's exact thoughts on Qimir and how that will play into the finale. If Sol believes Qimir is a Sith, then it's likely that he'll die before he can reveal this to anyone, allowing the Jedi to keep those blindfolds regarding their impending doom on a little longer.

Although I'm disappointed in Master Sol, Lee Jung-jae continues to give a brilliant performance in every episode and perfectly embodies a well-intentioned but conflicted man. I'm looking forward to seeing how Sol's journey ends.

The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+.