10 Things You Didn't Know About Count Dooku
Attack of the Clones has not faired well with some Star Wars fans since its release back in 2002, with many considering it to be one of the weakest movies in the entire franchise. Whilst I completely understand the points some people raise, no one can deny that the inclusion of the great Sir Christopher Lee as the films villain was easily the best part about it. Lee stepped in as the new apprentice of the villainous Darth Sidious, Count Dooku.
We learned that Dooku was once a Jedi, held in high esteem, who once sat on the Jedi Council. He was apprentice to Master Yoda himself and master to Qui-Gon Jinn. After growing frustrated with the Jedi Order, he left to take up his mantle as Count of Serenno. He was then recruited by Sidious and became the leader of the Confederacy of Independent Star Systems (CIS), a group of planets who no longer wished to serve as part of the Republic.
An extremely formidable foe, he was regarded as one of the best duelists in the galaxy and turned out to be the most honest villain in history when he basically told Obi-Wan the entire plot, which of course was believed to be a lie. The popularity of the character would continue to grow with his inclusion in The Clone Wars film and TV series. His final chronological appearance would actually prove to be a pivotal point in the entire saga as, well you all remember what happened, I'm sure.
Despite all his appearances in expanded media, there are still many facts even the biggest Star Wars fans don't know about him, so today we are looking at 10 things you didn't know about the Count.
10. Last Of The Lost Twenty
After over 40 years of existence, the Star Wars universe has grown exponentially, with thousands upon thousands of new characters and stories being created using various forms of media. This has led to characters, groups, and even planets getting whole new backstories, one of which is the Jedi Order itself. There have been many a good and pure Jedi falling to the Dark Side of Force throughout its existence, but not many have heard of the ones referred to as The Lost Twenty.
This was a group of Masters who resigned from the Order by their own choice due to ideological differences instead of being seduced by power and darkness. They outright believed the Jedi to be wrong. They are known as such because the Order regard them as people who bring shame and failure upon them. Within the Jedi Archives, the hall contained bronze busts of each of the Twenty, serving as a reminder for all those in the Order to look to improve themselves. The bust of Dooku is discussed in a deleted scene for Attack of the Clones, in which Jocasta Nu talked about the great deeds he has done throughout his time in the Order. With the Jedi essentially extinct following Order 66, Dooku was the last of them.
9. His Lightsaber Hilt And Fighting Form Increased His Deadliness
As previously mentioned, Dooku was regarded as one of the greatest swordsman who ever lived. Those who went up against him would be in for a real tough time of it and very unlikely to escape unharmed (or un-armed in Anakin's case). He was a user of Form II, Makashi, also known as the Contention Form. This style was specifically designed for fighter against other saber users and accentuated a users elegance, fluidity, and balance, something which matched the characteristics of Dooku perfectly.
It focused on technique, rather than power, allowing its user focus to deflect force attacks as well as simultaneously engaging in swordplay. Dooku was an absolute master of the form so he created the signature curved hilt to allow him to further perfect the lunges, slashes and parries the Form emphasized.
The form was actually created and used during the time of the Old Republic, so by the time we met Dooku, hardly anyone used it. This meant even fewer Jedi or lightsaber wielders had ever faced an adversary using the form, so this, coupled with the fact he studied it his whole life, is what made Dooku one of the most dangerous lightsaber users in the galaxy.
8. He Had A Brother And A Sister
Like many characters from the film franchise, Dooku has been the subject of other forms of media; such as books and comics. Through these other media, we have learned a lot more about him than we do from his time on screen. It turns out Dooku had both and older brother and a sister. His brother Ramil was the Count of Serenno before him, but following his death at Dooku's hands, Dooku would then take up the title. His sister Jenza was unknown to him until a chance meeting at a festival. However, after she tried to convince him to stay away from the Dark Side, Dooku had his apprentice, Asajj Ventress, kill her. Even his own family weren't safe from him.
7. Trained Some Interesting Characters
It's well known by fans of the films that Dooku trained Qui-Gon Jinn and taught General Grievous how to fight with a lightsaber. However, those who have only seen the films will not know of the other famous characters he also trained after becoming Darth Tyrannus. Asajj Ventress is probably the best known trainee. However, throughout the TV series The Clone Wars, Dooku also took on Savage Opress (brother to Darth Maul) and even trained former Jedi Quinlan Vos, following his fall to the Dark Side.
The fact that these characters are regarded as some of the strongest fighters and formidable foes in their own right speaks volumes to Dooku's skills as a teacher.
6. He Once Became A Vampire In Canon
Yes, you read the correctly, the dastardly Count once became a vampire. Back in 2018, the first issue of Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle, a miniseries written by Cavan Scott, was released. During its run, the second issue had Count Dooku came across a species of bat-like creatures able to turn people into something similar. Although it seems a bit silly in the world of Star Wars, it's actually a really nice nod to the legendary Christopher Lee, who was famous for portraying another Count, Dracula. As it stands at the moment, the series is still considered canon.
5. Lee Did Most Of His Own Sword Fighting
So this fact relates to the actor playing the role, rather than character. But who cares? It's Christopher Lee and technically related. Despite being in his early 80's at the time of filming Episode II and Episode III, Lee was an accomplished sword fighter in real life so almost all the close up scenes involving the characters swordplay are him. When it came to longer shots, a double was used, and Lee's head was placed on during pre-production. Lee later said he was surprised by how much of his own swordplay was left in the film. Bonus fact: Lee actually held a World Record for most on swordfights in movies. As if he wasn't perfect for the role enough.
4. His Work Lived On In The Original Trilogy
During Dooku's time on Geonosis, Dooku oversaw the manufacturing of droids, battleships, and other weaponry for the Separatists, but he would also provide resources for the Geonosians to design one of the most dangerous weapons ever created. A short scene took place in Attack of the Clones, where we see a small orange hologram of the space station, which Dooku took and said he would take to his master, Sidious. Despite the Jedi managing to put a stop to a lot of the production on Geonosis, they failed to stop Dooku giving the plans to Sidious.
3. He Deleted Records Of Kamino From The Jedi Archives
During the events of Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan Kenobi was tracking the bounty hunter Jango Fett. He sought help from an old friend in identifying a toxic dart used by Fett, who pointed him in the direction of the cloners on the planet Kamino. When searching for it in the Jedi Archives, Kenobi found nothing, which led him to consult the Chief Librarian Jocasta Nu. She arrogantly stated that if it wasn't in the archives, it didn't exist. However, after consulting Master Yoda in the presence of younglings, one of them suggests someone deleted it from the archives. It was stated only a Jedi could do this, casting further suspicion in its members. But it was later confirmed during the events of The Clone Wars that it was Dooku who had done so.
2. Suffered An Embarrassing Defeat
Although eventually bested by Anakin Skywalker at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, Dooku was able to hold his own against some of the strongest characters in the universe, including Master Yoda. But during season one of The Clone Wars, Dooku suffered a defeat someone of his stature just shouldn't. In season one of The Clone Wars, Dooku crash landed on the planet Vanquor after being chased by Anakin and Obi-Wan. Following this, he was captured by the pirate Hondo Ohnaka and his gang. The Count managed to strike a deal with the pirate to arrange escape, but he was double-crossed and held for ransom. Perhaps if Hondo had just ended his life when he had the chance, a whole lot of bad could have been avoided.
1. He Is Ultimately Responsible For The Creation Of The Clone Army
In Attack of the Clones, the clone army is said to have been created on the orders of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. He died ten years before the events of the film, and nobody on the Jedi Council knew anything about it. The full story finally came in The Clone Wars. After Sifo-Dyas ordered the clone army based on a suggestion from Dooku, Tyranus had Sifo-Dyas assassinated, and would go on to be in contact with the Kaminoans. Tyranus is also the one who recruited Jango Fett on one of the moons of Bogden to be the template for the clone army. He also ensured that each clone had the inhibitor chip installed, which would make them comply with Order 66. This all turned out to be part of Palpatine's overall plan, but Dooku is the one who made it all happen.
Dooku was a fine addition to the world of Star Wars and will always be considered a very memorable villain. The late Sir Christopher Lee always looks like he's just having fun anytime he's onscreen, so it's completely understandable that his character would continue to pop up in other media.
How many of the above did you know? Do you know any others? Be sure to let us know.
Until next time!