Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 mentioned Count Dooku in the season premiere — a well-known character who first appeared in the Star Wars prequels. While long-term and hardcore Star Wars fans have already heard about the former apprentice of Darth Sidious, it’s been a while since the character made his first appearance. Many fans who grew up watching the new trilogy might not even know who Dooku is, as he’s not even mentioned in the latest Star Wars movies. Here’s a quick refresher for the iconic Sith Lord portrayed by the late yet unforgettable Christopher Lee.
Who Is Count Dooku?
As briefly explained in the Bad Batch Season 2 premiere, Count Dooku is a former Jedi master who turned to the Dark Side. Dooku was a human born on Serenno, the planet where the action in “Spoils of War” went down. He was first introduced in the Star Wars Universe in Episode II – Attack of the Clones, but his backstory has been further developed in the years since that film’s release. Dooku emerged out of obscurity as a Force-sensitive and began training under none other than Yoda himself. After becoming a Jedi, he mentored the rebellious Qui-Gon Jinn — Obi-Wan Kenobi’s master. Over time, he lost his faith in the Jedi Order and started questioning the purpose of its existence as well as that of the Galactic Republic itself. Ultimately, he succumbed to the Dark Side and took up a new identity as Darth Tyranus.
When fans first saw him in Attack of the Clones, Dooku had already left the Jedi Order to take Maul’s place as Darth Sidious’ apprentice. After failing to assassinate Padmé Amidala through Jango Fett, Dooku unsuccessfully attempts to convince Kenobi to join him. When Anakin Skywalker and Amidala come to Kenobi’s rescue, Dooku battles on the young Padawan and ends up cutting off his arm. Only Yoda’s arrival saves Skywalker, forcing Dooku to flee. Skywalker’s resentment of Dooku grew stronger over time and, as seen in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, led Skywalker to embrace the Dark Side. In the final showdown between the two, Skywalker gave in to his anger and decapitated Dooku, firmly planting him on the path towards becoming Darth Sidious’ third apprentice.
Dooku returned in 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the movie that helped launch the popular animated series of the same name. The Clone Wars featured several Dooku appearances as the show explored his complicated relationship with Darth Sidious. Lee voiced Dooku in the animated film before Corey Burton took over the character for the series. Recently, Count Dooku appeared as one of the protagonists of 2022’s Tales of the Jedi, showing more of his fall to the Dark Side and how much Qui-Gon Jinn’s death influenced his decision to leave the Jedi Order.
In The Bad Batch Season 2’s premiere, Hunter, Wrecker, and the Clone Force 99 members are on a quest to retrieve Count Dooku’s war chest on Serenno. The animated series takes place after the execution of Order 66, which happened after Dooku’s death. With the Count gone, the Imperials can freely sack his planet and home, taking cargo loads of Dooku’s treasures for themselves.
