The Acolyte Episode 5 Features Kylo Ren Easter Egg, Leading to New Star Wars Fan Theory

Warning: Spoilers follow for Episode 5 of The Acolyte.

The Acolyte dropped a subtle Kylo Ren Easter egg in its latest episode, sparking a new Star Wars fan theory about the show’s most mysterious character.

Episode 5 of The Acolyte, curiously titled “Night,” finally unmasked the mysterious Master, lovingly known in some circles as “Darth Teeth,” and – spoiler alert – fans were right about the identity of the masked menace, as Qimir went up against Master Sol and the rest of the Jedi, resulting in some brutal killings and tragic losses.

In one eyebrow-raising moment towards the end of the episode, Qimir approaches a wounded Osha, left behind on Khofar after a sneaky sibling-switcheroo that saw Mae go off with Sol. Kylo Ren’s theme music from the Star Wars sequel trilogy plays over the scene, prompting fans to question the significance of the musical nod.

Viewers shared their theories on X/Twitter immediately after the episode. One of the most popular suggestions is that Qimir is the first Ren, as in the Knights of Ren – an enclave of masked warriors oriented toward the darker and more primal aspects of the Force, who were active long before Ben Solo’s Dark Side seduction.

“This is undoubtedly a Knights of Ren origin story,” one person confidently stated. “Qimir says, ‘The Jedi like you would call me Sith,’ but he doesn’t say he is.”

Kylo Ren’s theme…are they setting up Qimir to be the first Knight of Ren?? pic.twitter.com/gTwhHMSNIK

— Palpamemes (@PalpamemesYT) June 26, 2024 The first Ren. Probably the one saw in comics was just one who inherited the title. pic.twitter.com/rdBcbhyH2K

— Mysterious_Eve🇮🇹 (@Lorenzo74209291) June 26, 2024 He feel more a Knight of Ren. His fighting style. His talk of freedom. Not to mention personality remind of the leader of the knight of Ren Inherited the title from. He evil but he does not feel like sith. pic.twitter.com/95XDMFjM9s

— SPYDERUNLIMTED (@spyderun666) June 26, 2024 Just look at him ronin style single bracer on left at helmet yeah he’s defo the first pic.twitter.com/GO16BLWMtP

— 🎮🕹Rich Hall🕹🎮 🌌 ⚔️ (@Rich_T_Hall) June 26, 2024 The episode is called “Night” after all

— Toebean (@theBEEGyoshi) June 26, 2024 This is undoubtedly a Knights Of Ren origin story. Qimir says “The Jedi like you would call me Sith” but he doesn’t say he is.

Also the fact Kylo Ren’s theme music plays in this episode makes it painfully obvious this is the case.

Love it ✨ pic.twitter.com/yyX9fyRaTj

— Darth Thunder ⚡ (@XDarthThunderX) June 26, 2024 burnt arms…a single gauntlet…mask….kylo ren theme….YALLL LOCK IN #acolyte pic.twitter.com/VkbLkjtCqw

— rhino (@rhinoteeth) June 26, 2024 — Big Screen Berkan (@BigScreenBerkan) June 26, 2024 I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one who picked up on Kylo’s theme playing at the end of #TheAcolyte episode 5 and the striking similarities between Qimir and “Ren” in the Kylo Ren comics. #StarWars isn’t back, it never went anywhere. pic.twitter.com/XsVZWTRA2B

— The Wolf of Loth St. (@darthdume) June 26, 2024 Qimir as the original Knight of Ren makes so much sense to me what with the style of his mask resembling Kylo Ren’s and the use of his music theme from the sequels. I love it tbh #theacolyte pic.twitter.com/GmSqJO1uo8

— ✴︎ niki ✴︎ (@therebelcaptain) June 26, 2024 Just hear me out. They played few notes of Kylo Ren’s theme in #TheAcolyte episode 5. Now LOOK at “Ren” from the Kylo Ren comics. Any connections? Idk. But Ren wasn’t a Sith either. #StarWars is getting good. 😎 pic.twitter.com/hshyrHOpRE

— The Wolf of Loth St. (@darthdume) June 26, 2024 Reddit users were also in agreement and further backed up the theory, as one person quizzed: “Kylo Ren theme played multiple times during the episode so I’m thinking that Qimir isn’t a sith but maybe the OG Ren?” Another pointed out: “He said the Jedi might call him a Sith but he made it sound like he’s unaffiliated.”

Others are curious as to whether Qimir is operating alone or whether someone is looming over him, with some viewers still believing that The Acolyte will be the series that finally introduces Emperor Palpatine’s powerful master, Darth Plagueis, or even the Sith Master of Darth Plagueis, Darth Tenebrous.

A Star Wars theory: They’re gonna do the thing where Qimir is the villain of the show & then in one final episode he’s gonna get squashed like a bug by a real Sith Lord, whoever it is in this part of the timeline. Plagueis? Tenebrous? End of show. Qimir is a wannabe. #TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/24d7pFaQc3

— Stephen Kent (@StephenKentX) June 26, 2024 The Acolyte sparked Darth Plagueis theories long before it premiered. However, they intensified after Episode 3 as fans wondered whether Plagueis may have had a direct hand in the creation of Osha and Mae or if the twin’s existence acted as a potential catalyst for him to experiment with midi-chlorian manipulation.

With three episodes of The Acolyte remaining, there are lots of jigsaw pieces still to slot into place, but the story threads are starting to come together. IGN called Episode 5 an “exciting and brutal episode” in which “The Master is unleashedand unmasked, leading to thrilling and shocking results that truly upend the series.”

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.