Star Wars’ latest venture into the world of animation, Tales of the Jedi, has confirmed what happened to Yaddle, a character only seen in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Upon the release of the first film in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, many were surprised to see another of Yoda’s species, something increasingly rare in Star Wars canon, in Yaddle. Yaddle was a member of the Jedi Council, yet mysteriously vanished after The Phantom Menace, with no mention of her whereabouts other than her retirement from the Council.
Tales of the Jedi finally answer this long-standing mystery and explains Yaddle’s fate, something that has only previously happened in Legends. Tales of the Jedi episode 4 showcases Count Dooku’s final steps in turning to the dark side of the Force, something that unfortunately results in Yaddle’s death. Set only days after the events of Qui-Gon Jinn’s defeat by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, Tales of the Jedi episode 4 reveals that it was Dooku himself who murdered Yaddle, at the behest of the dark lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious.
What Happened To Yaddle In Star Wars Canon & Legends?
As mentioned, only Legends has previously answered Yaddle’s fate before the canon confirmation in Tales of the Jedi. The Legends tale that answered this was a book named Jedi Quest: The Shadow Trap. This novel featured Yaddle on a mission alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, in which she sacrifices herself to disable a bioweapon, saving the lives of millions. However, given Disney assigned this tale as Legends and therefore not canon to actual Star Wars lore, Yaddle’s death did not happen, and her fate remained a mystery.
Tales of the Jedi episode 4 though, finally reveals the fate of Yaddle at the hands of Dooku. After establishing Dooku’s growing disillusionment with the Jedi Order in Tales of the Jedi episodes 2 and 3, episode 4 showcases his final turn to the dark side, answering another Attack of the Clones mystery along the way. Dooku, after erasing records of Sifo-Dyas and Kamino from the Jedi archives, travels to meet Sidious and confronts him about the death of Dooku’s former Padawan Qui-Gon Jinn. Yaddle, whose own retirement from the Council stemmed from the same issues Dooku has with the Jedi Order, follows him and tries to turn him back to the light. After a brief duel, Dooku murders Yaddle at the behest of Sidious, stating that it is too late for him and solidifying his final turn to the Sith.
What Dooku Killing Yaddle Means For His Story
In terms of Dooku’s story, in particular, his murder of Yaddle is akin to Anakin’s murder of Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. This is the moment in which Dooku reaches the point of no return, fully embracing Sidious as his master and the Sith ways. Also, Dooku’s murder of Yaddle was in secret, explaining why she simply disappears after The Phantom Menace with no repercussions. This also foreshadows Dooku’s eventual duel with Yoda on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones, proving that he has fought two different members of Yoda’s species who are said to be naturally strong with the Force and proving Dooku’s power. All of this is showcased in only one short episode of Tales of the Jedi, to masterful effect in both execution and its impact on the wider story of the Star Wars franchise.
