Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi delves into the canon continuity’s Count Dooku and his gradual fall to the dark side, but it may also explain his involvement in the infamous Order 66’s programming. Order 66 is the macabre masterstroke of Palpatine’s plot to destroy the Jedi Order and replace the Republic with his autocratic Empire, compelling the otherwise altruistic Clone Troopers to assassinate their Jedi leaders (who they nearly always befriended) via brainwashing. The plotting of Order 66 and the brainwashing protocols of the Clones’ control chips may have been devised by Dooku, however.
In the third episode of Tales of the Jedi, “Choices,” Dooku and Mace Windu are investigating the death of Jedi Master Katri on Raxus Secundus. Dooku correctly hypothesizes that Katri was killed by a group of Raxan security guards, noting that Jedi are not easily ambushed unless their assailants are people they trust. This perfectly aligns with the effectiveness of Order 66, which would understandably suggest that Dooku at least had a degree of influence on Order 66’s programming, though how aware he was of Palpatine’s whole plan is another matter.
How Much Did Dooku Know Of Palpatine’s Plans?
Count Dooku was an essential component of Palpatine’s plot throughout the Star Wars prequel trilogy era. Using his influence, charisma, and vast resources, Dooku founded the Separatist Alliance and made them the perfect enemy of the Republic. In secret, Dooku ordered the Clone Army of the Republic, hiring the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett to become their doner and ensuring that every clone is implanted with a dormant mind control chip. Palpatine did not inform Dooku of all of his master plan, however, as he wished to have Anakin Skywalker replace Dooku as his Sith apprentice, much to Dooku’s surprise at the end of the Battle of Coruscant.
Dooku Foresaw Order 66, But He Didn’t Predict His Own Death
Dooku may have intentionally ensured that the Clone Troopers were fundamentally good men, as he needed them to genuinely gain the trust of the Jedi Knights in order to make them the perfect assassins. The Order 66 programming is fairly simple, as it compels the Clones to murder all Jedi and pledge loyalty to Palpatine’s authoritarian regime, but the order only truly works when Jedi trust them. Throughout the Clone Wars, Jedi and Clone Troopers bravely fought shoulder-to-shoulder for democracy, so when Order 66 was issued, the Jedi would not see their betrayal coming, as such actions are fundamentally out of character for the Clones.
Dooku, for all his wisdom, could not predict his own betrayal, however. Sith Lords will inevitably betray one another, as Dooku was no doubt aware, but he became so convinced of his own power and genius that he never suspected that Anakin Skywalker could become his superior, let alone that Palpatine sought to replace him with Skywalker. While Dooku highlights that Jedi can be killed by misplaced trust in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, his eventual demise proves that the weakness of the Sith is their overconfidence.
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