Why did Torbin kill himself after one line of dialogue from Mae when he was a Jedi Master in The Acolyte?

25 July 2024
One of the most perplexing and contentious moments in the Disney Star Wars series "The Acolyte" is the abrupt suicide of Torbin following a brief conversation with Mae.

This scene has sparked considerable debate among fans, with many pointing to it as a major narrative flaw. 

To understand why Torbin’s death feels so disjointed and rushed, it’s crucial to delve into his character's journey, the events leading up to his suicide.

We can only speculate that Torbin's character is laden with guilt.

During the Brendok incident, a tragic event that claimed the lives of many witches, Torbin had been possessed by the dark forces of the witch coven. 

It kinda freaked him out. 

Later, he decided to rescue the twins in a rather improtu manner, forcing the hand of all the Jedi to assist him.

Why did Torbin killed himself after one line of dialogue from Mae when he was a Jedi Master in The Acolyte?


Ultimately, all the witches died and Mae was considered dead. 

Very arguably, his involvement and fault in the witches' deaths is minimal; he neither instigated the fire nor directly caused any fatalities.

Ten years pass. 

Torbin is in a form of self-exile, apparently now a Jedi Master. 

Go figure. 

When a rampant Mae confronts him, he appears to willingly take her offered poison, killing himself.

What?

Why must he do this? Why does he feel so apparently guilty for the events of Brendok? Side question, why did Kelnacca also feel the need to exile himself

He too did nothing wrong. 

Torbin's internal struggle and subsequent suicide are compressed into a few brief scenes, denying the audience a fuller exploration of his psyche and the evolution of his guilt.

Mae’s role in Torbin’s final moments is obviously pivotal. 

Her mere presence and single line of whispered dialogue are enough to push him over the edge to the point he immediately accepts the offered poison.

It's like he was some kind of Juliet to Mae's Romeo?

Given Torbin’s belief that Mae had died, seeing her alive should have sparked a more complex emotional response, potentially offering a path to redemption or further internal conflict, rather than an immediate capitulation to his apparent internal despair​.

It's hard to really say why Torbin killed himself, especially when he has been given the rank of Jedi Master. 

Perhaps the real reason is garbage screen writing. 

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My name is Jimmy Jangles, the founder of The Astromech. I have always been fascinated by the world of science fiction, especially the Star Wars universe, and I created this website to share my love for it with fellow fans.

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