Warning: Spoilers follow for Episode 7 of The Acolyte.
The latest episode of The Acolyte seemingly featured a reference to the Great Hyperspace Disaster, spotted by fans of the High Republic novels.
Episode 7 of The Acolyte opens with a flashback sixteen years earlier on Brendok, where the Jedi are looking for a vergence in the Force. In one scene, Master Indara explains to her Padawan Torbin: "A hundred years ago, this planet was catalogued as lifeless because of a hyperspace disaster, yet this planet Brendok is thriving."
Viewers took to X/Twitter and Reddit to call out the apparent nod to the Great Hyperspace Disaster, which Charles Soule covers in his High Republic-era novel Light of the Jedi. "Is this the first direct connection to the High Republic books besides Vernestra?" one person wrote, to which another added: "Also the Barash Vow."
BRENDOK WAS EFFECTED BY THE GREAT HYPERSPACE DISASTER THATS A HIGH REPUBLIC REFERENCE 🫵 #TheAcolyte
— savi 💫 #yordhorde (@andorisms) July 10, 2024
Episode 7, the penultimate episode of #TheAcolyte definitely delivered. Really was great to see what exactly happened on Brendok, but I have so many more questions.
Also, LOVE the hyperspace disaster reference from the High Republic books!!
— Neel Shah (@neelshah) July 10, 2024
GREAT HYPERSPACE DISASTER MENTION!!!!!????? #TheAcolyte
— klaudia (@kaludiasays) July 10, 2024
holy shit the acolyte actually referenced the great hyperspace disaster i'm SO happy
reading light of the jedi should be a legal requirement btw
— Natalie/Emily (no longer pride) (@NataliiSpeaks) July 10, 2024
Hey everyone who watched The acolyte tonight the "hyperspace disaster" they mentioned is the plot of Light of the Jedi, the first HR book. GO GET THEE TO A LIBRARY!
— Noor | High Republic posting (@nimblenoor) July 10, 2024
I only read part of the first High Republic Book, so I got the reference in tonight’s #THEACOLYTE but wow would The Great Hyperspace Disaster be something phenomenally, horrifically, & devastatingly beautiful to see happen in Live Action. Holdo Maneuver X 1000 pic.twitter.com/rzjiICJT4Y
— Just Me (@michau_william) July 10, 2024
#TheAcolyte spoilers
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The great hyperspace disaster!! pic.twitter.com/tujYLC3jcp— Debaser (@DebaserXIII) July 10, 2024
#TheAcolyte #TheAcolyteSpoiler
Interesting that Indara calls it "a hyperspace disaster" rather than "the great hyperspace disaster not even 100 years ago with a subsequent crisis and a chunk of the galaxy cut off and a lot of dead Jedi".
Is the Republic covering up history? pic.twitter.com/dmjJKRHeCP
— Jan 🧱🌠🧠Jeffo Lorillia's No. 1 Fan (@_Deathtrooper__) July 10, 2024
What Is the Great Hyperspace Disaster?
The Great Hyperspace Disaster occurred when a cargo ship called the Legacy Run was struck by a Nihil Stormship in its hyperspace path. The ship tore apart and its debris propelled out of hyperspace onto multiple worlds, causing widespread chaos. It seems Brendok was one of the planets impacted by the catastrophe.
The Acolyte has pulled from various Star Wars books, including bringing a planet from the Darth Plagueis novel to live-action, taking the concept of Cortosis from Star Wars Legends, introducing an alien species from Han Solo's Revenge book, and seeing Vernestra Rwoh make the jump from page to screen and using her lightwhip.
With only one episode of The Acolyte remaining, there is a lot of ground still to cover and mysteries to be solved (but there could be even more to explore in a potential Season 2). IGN's review of Episode 7 noted that it provided "a lot of information," but some revelations are offset by "very frustrating and often silly specifics."
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.
