“Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” surprises with new insights into Emperor Palpatine. Has the Sith Lord broken one of the Dark Side’s most important rules?
- The animation series “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” has been on Disney+ since October 26th .
- Palpatine also makes a memorable appearance there, which raises questions.
- Wasn’t the once-mighty Emperor so particular about one of the most important rules of the Sith?
“Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” , an animated anthology series, tells several short stories centered on the Jedi in the time of the prequel trilogy. Emperor Palpatine also makes a memorable appearance there in connection with the important Sith doctrine of the “Rule of Two”.
What is the Rule of Two?
In the official Star Wars canon, the Rule of Two is a Sith tenet established by Darth Bane. The rule states that there should only be two Sith Lords at any time: a master who possesses the power, and an apprentice who lusts after the power and competes with his master.
If the master is finally killed by the student, the student is now the master. From then on he must look for a new apprentice to pass on the knowledge of the Sith.
This rule was intended to ensure a balance of power among the Sith and their rule at all times. You saw that clearly in the relationship between Count Dooku and Palpatine or Darth Vader and Palpatine.
Palpatine the Sith Traitor?
In the 4th episode of “Tales of the Jedi” we see Count Dooku entering the Jedi archives on Palpatine’s orders and even killing Jedi Master Yaddle. Since the episode takes place during “Star Wars: A Phantom Menace,” Palpatine’s Sith apprentice Darth Maul is also present.
Thus, Palpatine has 2 apprentices subordinate to him at the same time. His agent, fallen Jedi, Count Dooku, and the Dathomirian, dual lightsaber-wielding Darth Maul. A break with the rule of two? Because Darth Maul doesn’t die until the end of the first prequel trilogy film.
A Sith does not equal a Sith Lord
One loophole that Palpatine takes advantage of is that the Rule of Two applies only to Sith Lords. Until the death of Darth Maul, Count Dooku is just a Jedi on the pond and a Sith in training. After Maul’s death, he officially takes on the role of Palpatine’s direct and only student.
Neither Palpatine nor the Siths of yesteryear have a problem with having multiple Sith charges that are too weak to become Sith Lords themselves. Thus, later during the rule of the Empire, he and Darth’s father have numerous Siths of their own. The Inquisitors from Obi Wan Kenobi are the best example of this.
For Palpatine and the Rule of Two, however, these “lesser” Siths posed no threat. Whether Palpatine killed his own master, Darth Plagueis, before or after he took Maul as his apprentice is divided among fans.
Palpatine doesn’t play by the rules
It’s safe to say that Palpatine never really cared about the dogmatic Sith rules. Increasing his power by any means possible is all he cares about.
His comeback in “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker” represents a clear break with Sith traditions. He never took a new apprentice after that, instead ruling with the help of the clone Snoke and a Sith cult. Suffice it to say that Palpatine was an extraordinary and perhaps the most devious of all Sith Lords, playing by the rules only when they served him well.
Already established series such as “The Mandalorian” and “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” as well as “Andor” will be continued with new seasons, so that there will certainly be no “Star Wars” shortages in 2023 and 2024.
