Good Morning Youtinians.  The Acolyte is already halfway through, and theories and speculations are growing with the show's evolving mystery. The Younited Discord is active, with lots of discussion and theorizing regarding spoilers, so be sure to join in the conversation as the season winds down.

— JG Carse, Emmi Conner, and Doc B

Star Wars Publishing July Releases

There are a ton of July Star Wars releases that we’ll definitely be reading, but here are the top three that we absolutely can’t wait to get our hands on:

• Inquisitors #1 by Rodney Barnes and Ramon Rosanas: We are getting a brand new 4-issue mini-series all about the Emperor's Inquisitors starting next month! Rodney Barnes is bringing readers the story of Tensu Run, a powerful Jedi who survived Palpatine’s Order 66 and is trying to rebuild the Jedi Order under the nose of the Empire. While we wait for the first issue to drop on July 3rd, we’ll be rereading the Inquisitor arcs in Charles Soule’s Darth Vader (2017) to get ready!

• The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire by Dr. Chris Kempshall: This new Empire-focused reference book will hit shelves in the U.S. on July 9th, and any fans who can’t get enough of the galaxy's politics far, far away will want to get their hands on this one. Dr. Kempshall covers the inner workings of the most evil mind in Star Wars and the political moves he made alongside Darth Vader, General Tarkin, and more. Keep an eye out for a review from Youtini!

• Ahsoka #1 by Rodney Barnes and Georges Jeanty: One day after The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, your local comic shop will have the first issue of the 8-issue Ahsoka season one adaptation mini series ready for you to pick up! If you enjoyed the first season of the show, this comic adaptation promises to be a good one, and we’re excited to get it started on July 10th.

We're all fine here now — how are you? These are just a few of the Star Wars reads we can’t wait to check out next month. Take a look at the Youtini Release Schedule to stay up to date on all things Star Wars publishing! And let’s talk about what you’re reading in the Youtini Discord!

The Acolyte Episode 4: “Day” Recap

What a day it was with the fourth episode of The Acolyte. With our knowledge of last week’s flashback and the double-episode premiere, we were thrust straight and center into the search for Master Kelnacca, the Wookiee Jedi, on the planet Khofar, and who would have guessed what we would unearth….

Ahead spoilers will be!

The Search: We are on the jungle planet of Khofar as Kelnacca returns, stops, senses something, and then retreats indoors. Interestingly, we get an insight into his trials and tribulations as we see circular, dotted images on the walls, very similar to that on Mother and Mae Aniseya’s foreheads, and as we see them, the haunting vocal theme plays from last week’s episode. We then flip to Coruscant, where Masters Sol and Rwoh address the gathered Jedi (is that Ki-Adi-Mundi?) concerned about the recent developments and who could have trained Mae. Sol convinces Osha to accompany him on the mission to find the Wookiee and, ultimately, her sister.

Qimir and Mae arrive on Khofar, and then the eight-strong Jedi team arrives, accompanied by a tracker, and the race is on! We watch as Sol, believing Mae can be saved, senses something more in this jungle than we can see, and Qimir quizzes Mae about her Master’s expectations of her ‘final lesson.’ She ditches Qimir, stating that her loyalty is now to Osha. She stumbles upon our awesome little tracker, Bazil, and then finds her third Jedi target already dead with a lightsaber wound to the chest. The Jedi arrive then… YES! The Sith flies in behind Osha, ignites that iconic red blade, flicks Osha aside with the Force, blasts all eight Jedi backward, then… credits!!

Why we were excited: Episode Four answered some questions from the first three episodes and tantalizing left us with even more unanswered threads for future episodes. Let’s shine a spotlight on the biggest moments.

1. And Then There Was One: With the shock death of Master Kelnacca (not at the hands of Mae), Master Sol is now the sole surviving Jedi from Mae and Osha’s past on Brendok. He convinces Osha to accompany him, saying that he saw Mae’s eyes soften when he told her Osha was alive. Add to this a thrilling moment in the jungle of Khofar when Master Sol explains to Osha that she is not going to face Mae, “you are going to face your past.” He then teases us with, “Once we get Mae safely to the ship, I’ll explain everything. I promise”. More there is to know about Brendok.

2. The Plan: Master Rwoh’s words to Master Sol in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant open the door to the painful future of the Jedi, whispering, “I fear Mae is only a small part of her Master’s larger plan” and POW!! There it is. Bringing back memories of the finale of The Phantom Menace, we are left pondering, is Mae’s Master, in fact, THE Master, or simply an apprentice? Is Qimir just a sidekick? Did Mother Aniseya survive?

3. The Twins: Very easily lost in the shock of Kelnacca’s death and the Sith’s reveal is the fact that Mae traps Qimir and states the lessons the Master expects of her are “impossible” and that Osha being alive changes everything. She tells us that her loyalty is now to her sister and not to the lessons the Master expects her to teach herself. She boldly announces, “What I’m going to do is surrender myself to Kelnacca, and then turn myself into the Jedi ''. This is what Sol hoped for, but what does this mean for Mae?

We’re all fine here now — how are you? Continue to follow the Dispatch for all the Acolyte news, and jump onto our podcast Bounty Hunt, for the best breakdown of each episode and the craziest theories. 

Young Jedi Adventures Will Continue

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures premiered last year on May the Fourth. While the series caters to a very young audience, viewers of all ages have come to love the animated series. The series follows Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, Nubs, and Nash Durango as they go on adventures and learn valuable lessons set during the High Republic Era. Lucasfilm recently announced that the series will continue with a Season 2 renewal.

Looking Back: The series, announced during Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2022, is the first show or movie to depict the High Republic Era. The series stands on its own while including fun references and cameos from The High Republic publishing initiative. So far, we’ve paid a visit to Starlight Beacon and seen Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm and his padawan Bell Zettifar with charhound Ember by his side. There’s sure to be more in the upcoming season.

Looking Ahead: Season 2 is set to premiere on Wednesday, August 14, with the second half to come in 2025. In season 2, “the younglings will continue their training and embark on even bigger missions across the galaxy. Helping to lead the younglings on these missions is Master Zia's new Padawan, Wes Vinik, and his astromech R0-M1.” For those wanting new content sooner, Fun With Nubs is a mini-series of shorts available on the Star Wars Kids YouTube Channel.

We're all fine here now — how are you? Our website has a High Republic HQ with guides and information regarding the publishing initiative, making it easier for you to join in on the fun. With a new season on the way, some of us at Youtini are very excited! Let us know in our Discord if you’ll be tuning in to the new season!

🛰️ In the Youtiniverse

• The Youtini Show has returned! Join the guys as they dive into the first half of The Acolyte and share their wildest theories. Be sure to leave some of your speculation in the video's comments section.

• The video game Elden Ring has released additional paid DLC. Eric explains why now is the perfect time for all gamers to play Elden Ring, whether for the first time or returning to The Lands Between.

• A new guide from Anthony, cohost of the Youtini Baseball Show, explores each of Major League Baseball's 30 teams. Anthony summarizes each team's history, notable players, and more!

🚀 Ready for Dispatch

• WNBA All-Star voting is in full swing. The results of early fan voting so far show the Indiana Fever with two of the top three vote-getters, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. The fan favorite is A’ja Wilson from the Las Vegas Aces, with 217,773 votes.

• A Game 7 was forced in the Stanley Cup Finals as the Edmonton Oilers came back after being down three games in the series. However, the Florida Panthers came out on top with a thrilling victory, 2-1 to secure their first championship.

• The Women’s cycling Tour de Suise finished with Demi Vollering coming out on top. The Dutchwoman clinched her first ever title with a thrilling Stage 4 win in Switzerland.

• A Freaky Friday sequel is coming to theaters next year, with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis returning. The story takes place years after the original, with Lohan’s character having a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter, where “lightning might strike twice.”

• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones spinoff, has begun filming. The story adapts a series of novellas titled “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” which tell the story of a knight named Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg.

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