Star Wars: 15 Show-Stealing Side Characters Who Shaped The Galaxy

Behind any great hero, there needs to be an equally horrific villain. Darth Sidious is that villain. Sidious would have a hand in the creation of the Clone Army of the Republic while simultaneously pulling the strings of the Separatist Army; subsequently playing both sides against one another.

It would be revealed that Darth Sidious was actually Chancellor Palpatine (shocker), the head of the Republic and hidden Sith Lord the Jedi have been hunting. Palpatine would eventually declare himself Emperor and succeed in nearly wiping out the entire Jedi Order; fulfilling the centuries only Sith master plan for control of the galaxy.

Shaping The Franchise:

Sidious or Palpatine, whichever you prefer, is the epitome of a classic adversary. His seemingly unlimited power and clairvoyance is a reflection of the countless Sith lords before him. While Palpatine was more of a minor character in the original trilogy, lurking in the shadows, his character was a major part of the prequel trilogy.

With the prequel trilogy focusing on the fall of Anakin Skywalker, it's also a tale about the rise of Palpatine and the Sith agenda. Revenge of the Sith focuses strongly on Palpatine's reveal, while finally showing the final steps Anakin Skywalker takes in becoming Darth Vader. During the events of the original trilogy, fans knew Palpatine was Vader's master.

Seeing how everything unfolds in the prequel trilogy adds a different perspective to the entire narrative and how much of a role Palpatine played.