With the announcement of a new Star Wars movie set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, speculation is growing about the new adversaries that Rey’s emerging Jedi Order might encounter. While it was once believed that the Sith had been vanquished, potentially opening the door for the saga to explore new kinds of villains, a recent theory suggests that the Sith’s so-called extinction may not be as complete as once thought. This raises the possibility that the dark side’s most notorious practitioners could once again rise to threaten the galaxy.
Darth Bane Established The Sith Rule Of Two A Thousand Years Ago
The Rule Of Two Has Shaped The Structure Of The Sith For Generations
To understand the significance of the Sith Rule of Two, it’s important to delve into its origins and purpose. This doctrine was established by Darth Bane, a formidable Sith Lord from the era of the Old Republic. During the Jedi-Sith War, Bane witnessed the self-destructive nature of the Sith, whose insatiable greed led to internal betrayals that severely weakened their order. This internal strife allowed the Jedi to gain the upper hand, ultimately defeating the Sith in a decisive battle. However, unbeknownst to the Jedi, Darth Bane survived.
Recognizing that the Sith’s downfall was due to their lust for power, Bane devised the Rule of Two: only two Sith Lords could exist at any given time—a master to embody the dark side and an apprentice to covet that power, eventually seeking to usurp their master. This rule was designed to prevent the chaos of multiple Sith vying for dominance and initiated Bane’s Grand Plan, which involved the Sith operating in secrecy, waiting for the right moment to overthrow the Jedi. Although most Sith Lords in Star Wars canon adhered to this rule, the drive for power often led apprentices to overthrow their masters and take on students of their own, perpetuating the cycle of betrayal.
The Acolyte’s Sith Don’t Fit Into Palpatine’s Line
Qimir & Osha Add An Interesting Wrinkle To The Sith Rule Of Two
Although iconic Sith Lords like Palpatine, Vader, Dooku, and Maul adhered to the Sith Rule of Two, with all its inherent treachery, some recent characters in the Star Wars universe have introduced intriguing deviations from this tradition. Notably, in The Acolyte, the characters Stranger/Qimir and Osha challenge the conventional Sith hierarchy. By the conclusion of The Acolyte, Qimir had taken on the role of Osha’s Sith master, with both dedicating themselves to the dark side’s teachings approximately 100 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
While the cancellation of The Acolyte leaves many questions unanswered, particularly regarding Qimir’s potential connection to Darth Plagueis, the show suggested that Qimir might not have been aware of Plagueis’ existence. This adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Plagueis seemed to view Qimir as a Sith pretender rather than a true disciple, potentially setting up Osha as an unwitting pawn in a larger, unseen struggle within the Sith ranks.
Did Darth Bane Set Up Multiple Factions Of Sith?
Bane’s Entire Rule Of Two Can Be Recontextualized
The emergence of other Sith characters like Qimir and Osha has sparked an intriguing theory: what if Darth Bane, when establishing the Rule of Two, also laid the groundwork for multiple factions of Sith to exist simultaneously? Bane, known for his cunning, understood that the Sith, driven by their lust for power, could never function as a unified group like the Jedi without succumbing to internal conflict. Therefore, while he created the Rule of Two to maintain order within the Sith, it’s possible he also disseminated this rule across several secretive lines of Sith apprentices and masters.
To ensure the Sith’s survival and strength without the chaos of a unified group, Bane may have spread the Rule of Two throughout the galaxy, establishing multiple independent Sith factions. By enforcing secrecy and limiting their numbers, Bane reduced the chances of these factions crossing paths. If they did encounter one another, they would likely view each other as rivals or impostors, dealing with the threat quietly while continuing to uphold the Sith tradition.
Could Another Sith Faction Still Exist After Rise Of Skywalker?
This Theory Could Lead To More Sith Villains In Star Wars
Given this theory, it’s possible that a hidden faction of the Sith survived beyond the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Although Palpatine and his lineage were seemingly eradicated, a different Sith group could emerge, posing a significant threat in the narrative of Rey’s new Jedi Order movie. This would offer an exciting opportunity for Star Wars to reintroduce the Sith, but with a fresh perspective, exploring their dark influence in a way that the franchise has yet to fully delve into.
The Acolyte has already demonstrated how diverse and complex Sith characters can be, with Qimir standing out as one of the series’ most intriguing figures.
The appearance of a new Sith faction wouldn’t just rekindle the iconic Jedi vs. Sith conflict; it would also allow the introduction of entirely new villains. Unlike the Sith Lords of the Skywalker Saga, who were shaped by Palpatine and Bane’s teachings, these Sith could possess their own distinct hierarchy, abilities, and ambitions, diverging from Bane’s Grand Plan that Palpatine tried to bring to fruition.
Rey’s movie could potentially explore more of Darth Bane’s legacy through flashbacks or by delving into these alternative Sith factions. This approach would create a powerful connection between the farthest reaches of the Star Wars timeline, linking the new era to the ancient history of the Sith and the Old Republic, thereby enriching the lore and offering new narrative possibilities.
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