8 Star Wars Questions That Always Confused You

8. What Were Count Dooku's REAL Motivations?

Christopher Lee's Count Dooku was criminally underused in the Star Wars prequels, and was poorly served by the material provided.

By the time the character pops his clogs in Revenge of the Sith, executed by Darth Sidious' would-be replacement apprentice, fans were left with only a vague idea of what exactly Dooku was as a character. What compelled him to leave the Jedi Order and fight against the Republic? Was he loyal to Palpatine? Was he sincere to Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones? None of those answers are forthcoming in either Episodes II or III, and it's a shame because the premise behind Dooku - him being Yoda's apprentice and then Qui-Gon's master before leaving the order - is truly fascinating.

But although Dooku was wasted in the prequels, the character has found a second life in expanded material. The Clone Wars animated series goes some way in explaining the character's loyalty to Darth Sidious, but also his own ambitions for power. Books like Master and Apprentice and Dooku: Jedi Lost, meanwhile, have worked to bridge the connection between Dooku and his former Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn.

These stories have revealed a great deal about the former Jedi; how he lost faith in the Republic and the Order, and how he was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He primarily joined Sidious to end corruption in the Rebublic, but while he started out with noble intentions, believing that a wise Force-user could tame the dark side, the Count soon succumbed to its influence and became but another pawn in Palpatine's quest for power.

Wider material makes clear that Dooku was prepared to try and challenge his master, recruiting no less than three apprentices in Asajj Ventress, Savage Oppress, and even (briefly) Quinlan Vos throughout the Clone Wars, but he was never afforded the opportunity. It reframes the character in more tragic terms, and reiterates the narrative potential that was lost in the mayhem of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.