Star Wars followers are presently debating whether or not or not Duel of the Fates has lastly been dethroned as the best lightsaber duel within the historical past of the saga. Nevertheless, is the suggestion honest, or is it not even a distant risk?
After all, the duel that has introduced up the query is the lightsaber showdown from episode 5 of The Acolyte, which is receiving rave reactions from followers of the house saga, and is at present the discuss of Star Wars-related social media.
The duel technically began on the finish of episode 4, when the Sith now identified as The Stranger begins to tackle a number of Jedi without delay.
Episode 5 kicks off with Osha recognizing the duel from a distance, because of the glow of the lightsabers. This second is what the dishonest among the many Star Wars fandom favor to indicate you, as they attempt to chuckle on the suggestion of this duel being in comparison with Duel of the Fates, largely as a result of they’ve an unhealthy and misguided hatred for the present. After all, the sincere amongst us know that this second lasts just some seconds, and shortly focuses on what turns into a lightsaber sequence for the ages, lasting 20 minutes if we embody the moments when the motion is quickly halted for a scene elsewhere, or for a slightly revealing dialog between combatants.
All of it begins when Osha sees one Jedi already killed and three extra struggling the identical destiny slightly shortly, which results in The Stranger going through Yord Fandar and later Jedi padawan Jecki adopted by Jedi grasp Sol.
I don’t know what to name this battle however, for functions of this text a minimum of, I’ll consult with it because the Duel with The Stranger.
There are lots of components to the battle, and it’s troublesome to explain it additional with out providing spoilers, however the surroundings within the forest, the dialogue, the appearing — particularly from Manny Jacinto — is all excellent. It’s a well-crafted episode of motion, and I’m normally not a fan of an nearly all-action episode of any type, however in some way it truly works right here. It actually helps when thought-to-be predominant characters perish within the battle. It was slightly surpassing to see so many meet their finish.
Together with the choreography, one other level of reward is that the duel options one thing new to a Star Wars present or movie. The Stranger is ready to quickly disable the facility of lightsabers, inflicting his opponents to be with no weapon for a number of seconds, handicapping them tremendously in a battle the place they’re already overmatched.
He does this as a result of he wears a steel known as cortosis, which his helmet can be made out of. Cortosis, as talked about briefly earlier than in Star Wars lore, can brief circuit a lightsaber upon contact. The Stranger is dangerously geared up with the steel and it’ll possible play a job late run the sequence because the surviving Jedi strive to determine tips on how to defeat him.
There isn’t a doubt that the Duel with The Stranger is excellent however is it actually higher than the Duel of the Fates?
Typically thought-about the best of all lightsaber duels — with the one-on-one Anakin vs Obi-Wan duel it’s predominant challenger — Duel of the Fates featured a two-on-one battle between Darth Maul and Jedi Grasp Qui-Gon Jinn teaming with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber and martial arts expertise steal the present in Star Wars – Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.
Not solely has there been nothing prefer it since however, earlier than that, the perfect lightsaber duel was Darth Vader vs Luke Skywalker. It was mild years — pun meant — forward of something seen earlier than in Star Wars and was the brand new starting for the saga because the earlier film was 16 years earlier.
The music by John Williams was additionally distinctive, elevating the duel in a manner that has not but been duplicated, and should by no means be. Nevertheless, the duel itself is troublesome to match, even simply from a choreography standpoint.
Duel of the Fates virtually saves Phantom Menace, and definitely gave followers a brand new hope for the way forward for the saga.
So, is Duel with The Stranger higher than Duel of the Fates?
No.
Nevertheless, it’s all subjective. Some will say Duel with The Stranger is healthier — the truth is, many have already got — and a few will say it’s not even near matching the Fates. I say it’s up there because the second greatest, although Revenge of the Sith followers would possibly say nay to both, contemplating the duel on Mustafar.
This Acolyte showdown — Duel with The Stranger — is applause-worthy, and can possible be thought-about by many to be the perfect lightsaber duel of any Star Wars present and perhaps even the second best lightsaber duel of all time, together with Star Wars movies, however its impression and significance to the saga just isn’t fairly at Duel of the Fates degree. Additionally, Duel of the Fates is extra targeted between the three combatants, whereas Duel with The Stranger is considerably chaotic in its focus, seeing The Stranger altering opponents usually. Duel of the Fates additionally has one thing that Duel with The Stranger doesn’t, and it’s slightly necessary. Fates concludes with the loss of life of the primary protagonist and, on the time, the thought-to-be loss of life of the primary antagonist. Duel with The Stranger doesn’t have both.
Nonetheless, to be mentioned within the class of Duel of the Fates is an honor and a very good achievement, particularly for a present versus a function movie.
Maybe the wildest factor about all of that is that there are nonetheless three episodes remaining in The Acolyte sequence and they’re three episodes that I dare not miss.
