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Summary
- Emperor Palpatine’s plans were nearly undone by various Star Wars characters or relative insignificance.
- This includes characters like ARC Trooper Fives who discovered Palpatine’s clone conspiracy during the Clone Wars, nearly exposing Order 66.
- Figures like Jedi Master Yaddle, Captain Tarpals, or Hondo Ohnaka could have forced Palpatine to drastically change his plans and schemes throughout the Star Wars timeline.
Although Emperor Palpatine had plans within plans in the Star Wars canon, some relatively insignificant characters nearly ruined all of his work to bring about and maintain his Galactic Empire. Whether it was just before the dawn of the prequels or during the Galactic Civil War itself, there are multiple instances in which Palpatine’s schemes were nearly undone. At the very least, some of the Emperor’s manipulations would have had to drastically change thanks to some very unexpected individuals.
The layers of intricacy involved in Palpatine’s plans to put the Sith back in power are quite impressive (and yet convoluted in places). Hiding in plain sight as a senator and later Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine’s influence was vast as he gradually corrupted the Republic, compromised the Jedi Order, orchestrated an entire war to bring about the rise of his new Empire, and seduced the Chosen One to the dark side as his new apprentice. However, here are 15 relatively insignificant Star Wars characters who nearly undid all that Palpatine worked for in the galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars Movies In Order: How To Watch Release Order, Chronologically & With The TV Shows
What’s the best way to watch Star Wars? Here’s everything you need to know to watch in release or timeline order, and how to include the TV shows.
15 Lorn Pavan
(Legends)
Lorn Pavan was an information broker who got his hands on a holocron revealing an impending blockade orchestrated by the resurgent Sith. Naturally, Darth Sidious sends Darth Maul to eliminate Pavan who could undo all of his imminent plans. Pavan evades Maul long enough to get the holocron in the hands of Senator Palpatine who promises to get it to the Jedi, though Pavan is subsequently killed by Maul and the information destroyed by Palpatine (Darth Sidious). Although Pavan is part of the non-canon Legends, it’s a notable example where Palpatine’s plans were almost exposed before they’d even begun.
14 Jedi Master Yaddle
Tales of the Jedi
During the events of The Phantom Menace, Jedi Master Yaddle discovers the treachery of the former Jedi Dooku and his work with Darth Sidious/Palpatine. Facing them both in Palpatine’s secret lair within Coruscant’s industrial district, Yaddle could have revealed the truth about Dooku far earlier and alerted the Jedi Order to the Sith operating so closely to the Jedi Temple itself, had she only managed to escape. Instead, Yaddle was overpowered and killed by Dooku, cementing his corruption to the dark side and allowing Palpatine to continue operating in the shadows for years.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.
- Release Date
- May 19, 1999
- Distributor(s)
- 20th Century
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ahmed Best , Ian McDiarmid , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Pernilla August , Frank Oz , Ray Park , Samuel L. Jackson
- Runtime
- 133 minutes
- Budget
- $115 Million
13 Zam Wessell
Attack of the Clones
Hired by Jango Fett who was hired by Count Dooku to kill Padmé, one could argue that the Clawdite shape-shifter Zam Wessell would have dramatically shifted Palpatine’s plans had she been successful in her mission to kill the Naboo senator. Palpatine wanted Padmé dead due to her opposition to the Military Creation Act, and the support Dooku would gain from the Trade Federation following her demise. However, Attack of the Clones’ overly convoluted plot makes it hard to believe Palpatine’s line that “everything is going as planned”, especially if Padmé had died as intended.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala’s life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.
- Release Date
- May 16, 2002
- Distributor(s)
- 20th Century
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Hayden Christensen , Natalie Portman , Ian McDiarmid , Samuel L. Jackson , Christopher Lee , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Frank Oz , Temuera Morrison , Ahmed Best , Daniel Logan
- Runtime
- 142 Minutes
- Budget
- $115 Million
Padmé could have become a martyr in the eyes of those who also opposed the act. Likewise, one could argue that Anakin wouldn’t have been so easily seduced to the dark side by Palpatine without having fallen in love and marrying Padmé by the movie’s end. Furthermore, Zam’s failure and murder by Jango is what leads Obi-Wan to the secret Clone Army, so her success would have more than likely created a domino effect of changes to Palpatine’s schemes.
12 Jar Jar
The Phantom Menace
Remarkably, Palpatine’s increases in power over the Galactic Republic all hinged upon the manipulation of Representative Jar Jar Binks who was standing in for Padmé during her senatorial absence in Attack of the Clones. Although Palpatine had corrupted much of the Senate in his favor at that point, Palpatine still needed the emergency powers granted to him thanks to Jar Jar’s motion so he could move forward with the Grand Army of the Republic, beginning the Clone Wars as Palpatine planned. Had Binks given more thought to what Padmé would have done, it would have been much harder.
11 Fives
Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars, ARC Trooper Fives discovers Palpatine’s massive clone conspiracy involving inhibitor chips that were implanted in every clone’s head. As a result, Fives nearly exposed the truth about the clones and how they were all just waiting to be used against the Jedi with the future Order 66. However, Palpatine himself accuses Fives as an assassin who was subsequently shot by Commander Fox and a contingent of Coruscant shocktroopers before the information could be revealed. Had Fives been successful, it follows that the Jedi would have investigated the matter and Palpatine’s plans would have been uncovered.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place between Episodes 2 and 3 of the Star Wars film saga. The fan-favorite series expands the story of the prequel trilogy through characters including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and more fan-favorite jedi.
- Cast
- Matt Lanter , james arnold taylor , Ashley Eckstein , Dee Bradley Baker , Matthew Wood , Tom Kane , Catherine Taber , Terrence Carson , Corey Burton , Nika Futterman , Katee Sackhoff , Sam Witwer
- Release Date
- October 3, 2008
- Seasons
- 7
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
- Directors
- Dave Filoni
- Showrunner
- Dave Filoni
10 Zillo Beast
Clone Wars
Because Palpatine wanted to experiment on the massive Zillo Beast and its blaster-resistant armor during the Clone Wars, the kaiju-sized creature nearly undid Palpatine’s plans by killing the Supreme Chancellor himself. Having enough sentience to form a grudge, the Zillo Beast carved a path through Coruscant as it sought to end Palpatine. However, the creature was ultimately killed and its body was taken to Mount Tantiss in secret to be experimented on by Palpatine’s Advanced Science Division whose work would continue into the age of the Empire.
9 Hondo
Clone Wars
At one point during the Clone Wars, the pirate leader Hondo Ohnaka had Count Dooku, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in his custody and was holding all three for ransom. Had Dooku and/or Anakin been killed by the pirates, Palpatine would have had to change several of his plans and schemes for the future. However, an escape was eventually made (though not without its consequences for Hondo thanks to a vengeful Dooku).
8 Slick
Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars, Dooku’s apprentice Asajj Ventress managed to convince a clone trooper named Slick to turn against the Jedi and his fellow clones. Had Slick not been captured so quickly, he could have done a lot of unforeseen damage Palpatine likely wouldn’t have intended, along with the fact that Slick was perhaps proof that the inhibitor chips weren’t as effective as believed, seeing as how they were made to keep clones obedient and unable to resist executive directives like Order 66. However, Slick’s actions were ultimately covered up.
7 Mother Talzin
Clone Wars
Mother Talzin was the leader of Dathomir’s Nightsisters and a chief rival to both Dooku and Palpatine. Not only did she give aid to Asajj Ventress after she was betrayed by Dooku, but Talzin also helped in the creation of Savage Oppress to assassinate Dooku and subsequently helped Savage locate his long lost brother Darth Maul, resorting his mind and giving him prosthetic legs so he could begin a mission of revenge against Dooku and ultimately Palpatine. Although the Nightsisters were ultimately defeated, there was much that Talzin did that made her a key threat to Palpatine’s plans.
6 Savage Oppress
Clone Wars
Thanks to the efforts of Savage, Maul was restored and together they became a major threat in the Outer Rim. Building up their power throughout the criminal underworld, Savage helped his brother take over Mandalore, an act that made them key rivals to Palpatine’s own power. Although he was killed by Palpatine himself, Savage Oppress was the inciting character who motivated Maul’s return and the origins of Crimson Dawn, Maul’s criminal syndicate which nearly brought Palpatine down during the Galactic Civil War.
5 Captain Tarpals
The Phantom Menace
During the Clone Wars, The Gungan Captain Tarpals gave his life and successfully defeated General Grievous which led to his capture. Removing the leader of the Droid Army from play would have motivated major changes in Palpatine’s plans, confirming himself that Grievous still had a crucial role in his schemes. As such, the Republic was forced to trade Grievous back to the Separatists in exchange for Anakin Skywalker who’d been defeated and captured by Count Dooku.
4 Asajj Ventress
Clone Wars
Without question, Palpatine feared Asajj Ventress’ growing power during the Clone Wars which is why he ordered Dooku to eliminate her. Had Dooku and Ventress joined together, it’s possible they could have defeated Sidious. Regardless, Dooku’s rejection of Ventress led to multiple assassination attempts from Ventress who sought revenge. Had any of them been successful, Palpatine would have lost his Sith apprentice far earlier than intended which would have likely created a ripple effect of changes in his plans.
Asajj Ventress
Hailing from the Nightsisters of Dathomir, Asajj Ventress became Count Dooku’s apprentice during the Clone Wars. Betrayed by her master, she sought revenge – even forming a surprising alliance with Jedi Master Quinlan Vos at one point. Asajj has reinvented herself as a bounty hunter, and survived into the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign.
- Cast
- Nika Futterman , grey delisle
- First Appearance
- Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003)
- Alias
- The Bald Banshee
- Alliance
- Sith, Bounty Hunters
- Race
- Dathomiri
3 Sabe, The Queen’s Shadow
The Phantom Menace
Sabé was the primary decoy body double for Padmé Amidala when she was still Queen of Naboo, and she would continue to serve Padmé when she became a senator. At one point when Padmé is secretly on a mission, Sabé takes her place at an event at the Jedi Temple guardians. Palpatine realizes that Sabé isn’t Padmé and even uses the Force to intimidate her. Although Sabé dismisses it as Palpatine must have assumed she would, revealing her suspicion could have exposed Palpatine as Sidious at the beginning of the Clone Wars.
Likewise, Sabé formed the group known as the Amidalans following Padmé’s death, and they worked to get vengeance upon Darth Vader for her murder as well as Anakin Skywalker whom they believed Vader killed as well. However, Sabé eventually learns the truth about Vader and even attempts to redeem him back to the light, seeking to honor Padmé’s dying wish Sabé saw on a holo-recoding which confirmed Amidala’s belief that there was still good in her husband. Although she doesn’t succeed, Palpatine losing his apprentice thanks to Sabé before Return of the Jedi would have had massive ramifications as well.
2 Lady Qi’ra
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Inheriting Crimson Dawn from Maul following his demise, Solo’s Lady Qi’ra began a massive campaign between Episodes V-VI, uniting various factions who wanted to see the Sith removed from power. Ultimately, Qi’ra successfully trapped both Palpatine and Vader in an ancient Sith device known as a Fermata Cage. This device would have kept them frozen and indefinitely suspended in a moment of time were it not for the Knights of Ren who betrayed Qi’ra and freed the Sith Lords, explaining how the Knights entered Palpatine’s service long before the sequel trilogy.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a spin-off of the Star Wars franchise that focuses on the early years of Han Solo, with Alden Ehrenreich replacing Harrison Ford as the iconic smuggler. The movie explores how Han met Chewbacca, acquired the Millennium Falcon, and became the roguish smuggler fans know and love. Donald Glover brings back Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson plays Tobias Beckett, Emilia Clarke portrays Qi’ra, and Paul Bettany embodies the crime lord Dryden Vos.
- Release Date
- May 10, 2018
- Runtime
- 135minutes
- Budget
- $275–300 million
1 Sly Moore
Attack of the Clones
Emerging from the Imperial bureaucracy, Sly Moore had been a part of Palpatine’s inner circle since the prequels, herself having a limited degree of Force sensitivity. However, Moore eventually grew disillusioned by Palpatine’s rule and formed the Schism Imperial, a cabal made up of fellow disenfranchised Imperials and even Darth Vader himself. While their efforts are currently being revealed in Marvel’s ongoing and canonical Darth Vader series, it’s obvious that they won’t succeed in defeating Palpatine considering Return of the Jedi. However, it’s been teased that they may still do some damage to Palpatine’s secret Sith world of Exegol in the Star Wars canon.
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