Huh - they actually tied that together better than I thought they would.
Some thoughts:
If they are the same then both could technically be the Acolyte singular. That same principle could be applied to killing a Jedi without a weapon. The task would have been considered complete regardless of which one did it. I found it satisfying to watch Osha give in as she could not process all that grief and rage - Sol may have said he was doing the right thing but carrying guilt, which those four Jedi clearly did, says otherwise. He got what was coming to him, in my opinion. They all did.
What up, Darth P?! At this point, he would have still been Tenebrous's apprentice, no? Seemingly looking for his own as Qimir is looking for an acolyte. We know Sideous had several apprentices, trying them all on (i.e. manipulating them) to fit different situations until Anakin was ready to go. Would stand to reason that others would shop around as well, seeing which apprentice fit their means best. The vibe I got here (aside from the rule of two thing) is that the Sith are lonely and while they seek someone to teach/train, it also reads as a need for companionship/connection/attachment...something they will eventually destroy.
Figured they would pin this on Sol but did not expect Vernestra to lean into that shit so heavily or methodically. Spinning that story to the Senators was cold-blooded but apparently necessary to maintain their positions of reverence and power. That senator called them out though, the dangers of hero worship, a real 'who's watching the watchmen' moment. That 'certain point of view' statement has far-reaching implications for them as they believe they are doing what they must in the name of order and justice...not realizing they are equally morally compromised and hypocritical since they are now very obviously attached to their power and legacy. Tsk, tsk.
The Qimir conundrum. A former pupil, that much was stated but, anyone else find the interaction between Vernestra and dead Sol a bit...intimate? Could Qimir be not only a pupil but a son? She is significantly older than she looks and Qimir did imply he was as well. I dunno, I got vibes there.
Osha giving up Mae and accepting Qimir's offer to be trained landed for me. Through him, she sees a way to channel those emotions and the turn feels earned because she had been operating on incomplete information her whole life. Mae knew the truth and was, in some ways, used to turn Osha, leading her to this conclusion.
Lastly, Yoda. If this is meant to imply that Vernestra goes to him with this and he helps conceal it then he would be just as complicit in the Jedi's fate all those years later. The fallen pupil turned to evil is a pretty big thread although perhaps "fallen" may not necessarily equate to becoming a Sith in their eyes, considering they were believed nonexistent. Either she lies to Yoda as well or this adds a much more nefarious layer to the Jedi's motives throughout the High Republic leading into their fall and return of the Sith.
While the season felt choppy and uncertain at times, the last episode finally hit the right notes (acting, pacing, etc.) which could serve as both a contained story or setup for further adventures.
