Star Wars introduced a subtle but key part of Palpatine’s Clone Wars plan 22 years ago. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones marked the beginning of the end for the Jedi. By getting embroiled in the conflict between the Republic and the Separatists, the Jedi all but abandoned their core beliefs. As Ahsoka Tano once said during the Clone Wars’ final moments, Jedi were meant to be peacekeepers, but the war turned them into soldiers instead. Though it’s clear that Emperor Palpatine and Count Dooku had been planning their treachery for years, one particular part of Palpatine’s Clone Wars plan was instrumental in the Jedi’s downfall.
Why did the Jedi enter the conflict in the first place? Many Jedi believed it was their duty as protectors of the galaxy, and yet, one of the Jedi’s core moral principles is their unwillingness to kill unless there is no other choice. So why enter into a war, one which would undoubtedly mean endless destruction and violence, unless the Jedi felt that they could still uphold their moral code whilst fighting? The only way to ensure the Jedi entered the conflict was to give them an enemy they believed they could fight with impunity, and Palpatine took advantage of the Jedi’s beliefs in the most callous way possible.
The Droid Army Was Faceless… & Jedi Forgot Killing Droids Matters
The Separatist’s droid army was useful for a variety of reasons – they were easy to program and easily replaceable. The droids undoubtedly formed an overwhelming army, but most importantly, they formed a faceless army. The Separatist’s droid army lulled the Jedi into a false sense of security. Why shouldn’t they protect the innocent civilians of countless planets from a droid invasion, especially droids who are programmed to kill? The Jedi didn’t need to take innocent lives to join the war effort, they were simply destroying Separatist property – but in embracing that belief and getting involved in the war, the Jedi headed down a slippery slope.
What’s the difference between a battle droid and one of the Jedi Order’s astromech droids? Why is one more worthy of respect than another? Their programming is different, yes, but programming can be changed, and as various Star Wars droids have proven again and again, droids, much like clones, exhibit individual thought, personality, and loyalty. Should the Jedi have been so cavalier about mowing down an army of droids? At what point does destruction become killing?
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Killing The Droids Desensitized Jedi To Violence – & To The Dark Side
The droid army allowed the Jedi to convince themselves they weren’t truly “killing” anyone, which planted the first seeds of darkness and doubt within the Jedi Order. They became desensitized to the violence, and the clones were dragged into the conflict too, without thinking about the effect the war would have on them. The Jedi may not have directly been killing living, breathing, sentient beings, but by engaging in war with the droids, they allowed the cycle of violence to continue anyway. Violence breeds more violence, and the deeper the Jedi became embroiled in the war, the more violent they became.
This is proven by their willingness to assassinate Count Dooku, as told in the novel Star Wars: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden. In the novel, the Jedi Council concludes that the only way to stop the war is to kill Count Dooku once and for all. While one could point to Obi-Wan’s victory over Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, there is a big difference between killing someone in self-defense and actively plotting to assassinate someone, no matter who they may be. The Jedi fell right into Palpatine’s trap, and the Star Wars galaxy suffered the consequences.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
- Created by
- George Lucas
- First Film
- Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
- Mark Hamill , James Earl Jones , David Prowse , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Ewan McGregor , Rosario Dawson , Lars Mikkelsen , Rupert Friend , Moses Ingram , Frank Oz , Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
- The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions
- Character(s)
- Luke Skywalker , Darth Vader , Princess Leia Organa , Han Solo , Rey Skywalker , Kylo Ren , Emperor Palpatine , Obi-Wan Kenobi , Ahsoka Tano , Grand Admiral Thrawn , Grand Inquisitor , Reva (The Third Sister) , The Fifth Brother , The Seventh Sister , The Eighth Brother , Yoda , Din Djarin , Grogu
- Video Game(s)
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic , Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords , Star Wars Battlefront (2015) , Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 , Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order , Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
