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Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Choices (2022) [E3]
Jedi Knights investigate the mysterious death of one of their own.




CONTINUITY
This episode is the second of three connected stories about Dooku, along with 'Justice' (E2) and 'The Sith Lord' (E4).
It takes place approximately 13 years before Episode I, give or take a few years. Two worlds are seen in this episode:

Mace Windu was born in 7905 (72 BBY), according to supplementary material. Anakin was 22 when he became the youngest
Jedi ever appointed to the High Council, so this episode must take place after 7928 (49 BBY). Considering the many wise
and experienced Jedi fit for the Council, it is unlikely that even a prodigy like Mace joined the Council until at least age 25,
probably older. The approximate date of 7932 (45 BBY) is chosen because Mace will be the elected leader of the Council
when next seen in 7945 (32 BBY) in Episode I. This would require him to have served many years on the Council.

- Dooku is traveling without Qui-Gon, which doesn't mean for certain that Qui-Gon is no longer his apprentice, as Jedi are often sent on missions
without their Padawans, however, it has been about 13 years since 'Justice' (E2), and thus Qui-Gon has certainly already passed the trials
and become a Jedi Knight. At this point, Qui-Gon is about 35, and almost certainly has already been promoted to Jedi Master.

- Master Katri was a Mirialan Jedi who was killed in about 7932 (45 BBY) or whatever nearby date this episode is set in. She had been a member of
the Jedi High Council until her death, suggesting she was an accomplished Jedi and considered among the wisest of the Jedi at the time. She is
described at her funeral as having been patient with younglings as well as 'Jedi who questioned themselves relentlessly.' Master Mundi also
says that "she was of the Force. It flowed with certainty through her", which suggests that she was a pious and committed Jedi.

- Jedi operating off of Coruscant cannot involve themselves in local political skirmishes, unless specifically requested by the Jedi High Council or
the Senate. This is primarily due to the federal nature of the Republic which affords a certain degree of sovereignty to member planets,
and thus any action taken by a Jedi, who is legally authorized by the Senate, will be interpreted as political policy. This rule is also in place
because the Jedi High Council are eternally cautious and obsessed with control, and wish to constantly micromanage their subordinate
Jedi such that the entire organization acts as an extension of their will. This essentially makes the High Council the sole arbiters of the will
of the Force, something which does not sit well with the more independent-minded Jedi and those who place piety above politics.


- The receptionist welcomes the Jedi to "Raxus Secundus", awkwardly making a big deal about the name, despite the fact that everyone in the galaxy
simply calls this planet Raxus. This was done because the creators wanted to make canon what was formerly only part of legends and
supplementary material, as this planet is formally known as Raxus Secundus to differentiate it from Raxus Prime, which is found in
the same starsystem. Raxus Prime was an important and heavily industrialized city world during the Old Sith Wars, which was largely ruined
and became a junk planet only still used for industrial activity. As a result, Raxus Secundus, now usually called only Raxus, became the system's
most prominent planet. Raxus Prime has never actually been seen in canon, however this canonizing of 'Secundus' proves the existence of
that world. The designations of 'Prime' and 'Secundus' were created to preserve non-canon material after Raxus was first shown in canon.

- Senator Larik was the Senator for Raxis for some period until his death in about 7932 (45 BBY) or whatever nearby date this episode is set in.
It is not certain who replaces him, however it is possibly Avi Singh. He was the Senator for Raxus during the Clone Wars, which is set
almost two decades later, however when seen in The Bad Batch he was specifically cited for his "many years of service".

- It is rare for a Jedi to succumb to a surprise attack, due to the predictive power of the Force. Dooku suggests that the ability to sense that it is coming
is reduced if "that attack is from someone one would trust", since a Jedi would naturally be less on guard and sensitive to such a move. This is
of course the means by which Dooku and Sidious will eventually surprise attack the Jedi, using their trusted clone escorts in this manner.

- The Jedi are attacked by battle droids of some unknown model and origin. Based on their appearance and design elements, they are most likely
a product of Baktoid Industries, or less likely but still possibly Arakyd Industries or Serv-O-Droid, Inc. It is also possible they are made by some
previously unidentified droid manufacturer. Battle droids are legal sold in the Republic for corporate security and bodyguard purposes.

- Mace Windu is chosen by the Council to fill Katri's vacant seat on the Council. Mace is 27 years old, give or take a few years at most. He would
have to have already been made a Jedi Master, as ordinarily a Jedi Knight would first have to attain this rank for some time before earning
a place on the Council. This suggests he passed the last of the Jedi trials around age 20 or 21, which is very young, and then spent at least
a few years as a Jedi Knight before being made a Master. The speed at which he passed each of those steps shows that Mace was a prodigy
who displayed wisdom beyond his years, and was rapidly promoted to Master. For comparison, Obi-Wan was 25 when he was promoted
to Jedi Knight, and became a Master at some point during the next decade. He was chosen for the Jedi Council at age 35, having been
a Master for at least a few years. Obi-Wan's rise in the Order is relatively rapid, and he passed over perhaps hundreds of other Masters
many of which were older and more experienced when he joined the Council. For Mace to have been promoted so quickly and put on
Council at 27, or at latest 30, indicates that he was considered to be an exceedingly exemplary student of the Force, and as the events in
this episode explore, also a team player whose way of thinking aligns very closely with the High Council's cautious and political approach.


Is Dooku turning to the dark side on his own? The first two episodes of his story arc are obviously foreshadowing his
eventual fall, and showing that character elements that lead to his fall were present all along. As explored in detail
in the main article about Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, and the clone army, this series was also correcting serious continuity
problems which had developed in non-canon and supplementary material in the two decades since the prequels
were released. This series restored and elaborated upon the order of events as originally intended by Lucas' material,
but left enough ambiguity that most ideas from legends and non-canon material that disney-Lucasfilm considers
canon aren't ruled out. One of the older ideas from non-canon material was the idea that Dooku began exploring
the dark side on his own, before he was ever introduced to Sidious. This series certainly shows that like Anakin, Dooku
had a tendencies which pushed the bounds of Jedi restraint all along, however Dooku's reactions at this point are
very much in keeping with someone who believes himself a noble Jedi. This appears to be the case even after he has
made himself an ally of Sidious, over a decade later, so it is not likely that Dooku is very far down a dark path at this
point, since it is a very slippery slope. At the same time, Dooku's conversation with Semage in the prison cell may
indicate he has studied Sith philosophy. The scene also features Dooku standing near stone obelisks in one part of
the Jedi Temple which are one of only a few design elements common to Jedi and Sith art and archetecture, and
are very similar to those which will line the entrance to Dooku's castle on Serenno when he rules as a Sith Lord.
This could be meant to indicate that he has already begun his fall, or could simply be effective foreshadowing.
Main Article: Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, and the Clone Army


ANALYSIS
The corruption problem in the Republic has continued and even increased in the decade since Dooku stood up to Senator Dagonet's corrupt
oppression of his own people, as there is no serious interest in reform amongst the Republic's establishment and leadership. Senator Larik is
involved in a very common form of corruption: the perfectly legal misuse of his office to enrich himself by "luring off-world companies to come
in and industrialize the land." Public officials are supposed to work for the benefit of the people and the greater good, but Larik and countless
other leaders like him can claim that enriching private companies and making himself privately rich is good economic policy. This leads to
the private appropriation of natural resources which belong to everyone, the destruction of the natural world to access those resources, and
the wealth generated by this plundering largely flowing off world or into the pockets of the minority of people on the planet who were
already wealthy. Larik clearly displays that he is effective at playing the good-natured politician, and since he primarily operates "from his
comfortable residence on faraway Coruscant", must have sufficient support from the major interests on Raxus not to fear his position being
undermined by his activities. The patriotic "rebels" who were attempting to force Larik to work within the system to affect change seem to
have learned more about this than is commonly known, suggesting Larik has been sensibly cautious and discrete about his corrupt practices.

Raxus will be chosen over two decades later as the capital of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a.k.a. the Separatist Alliance,
primarily because the planet is a traditionally independent world which is an ancient center of Rim-based civilization. This world has never
approved of domination by the distant Core, and has the same dislike of having its resources exploited by the greedy and needy Core worlds
as most well-established Rim worlds. The power of the Republic's political machine and the means to incredible riches which it offers have
corrupted even the leaders of some of the most independent-minded planets, who are supposed to offer a balancing voice in the Senate to
prevent such abuse from getting out of hand. The Jedi are seen by patriots of these worlds as "Senate puppets" and "lapdogs of the Senate",
since they dutifully protect this system and carry out the bidding of the increasingly corrupt Republic leadership. Patriotic opposition to this
corruption will gradually see the futility of trying to work within this 'democratic' system over the next two decades, leading to political
ideologies which favor greater independence from the Republic. This political trend happens organically, however it is also artificially pushed
along behind the scenes by Sidious, and then is centralized by the Sith under the banner of Dooku and the Separatist Movement. Dooku is
ultimately brought into alliance with the Sith because he needs allies in his fight against Republic corruption and centralized control, which
he is already at this point realizing will ultimately be necessary if any meaningful change is to come about. He calls fighting against corruption
the only way to have victory, and warns Semage to "make sure your people don't lose heart and evolve", meaning don't learn to live with
the corrupt system rather than fighting to hold on to what is left. Dooku clearly sees that the Jedi have resigned themselves to a passive role
which not only prevents them from doing anything about the situation, but also makes them accomplices to this corruption. Dooku is
obviously already considering taking action outside of the Council, and sees "Rebels" like these as future allies in his cause.

Dooku, like his student Qui-Gon, represents a quintessential idealist Jedi, who is devoted to doing what is right, and to the Jedi's purpose as
instruments of the Force. Mace represents the quintessential pragmatic Jedi, who is devoted to following the rules of the Jedi religion, and
to the Order's collective purpose as the guardians of the Republic. Both are pious and selfless Jedi who are trying their best to do what they
believe is right, however both are confident to the point of arrogance that their approach is best. Dooku feels that he as a Jedi Master is
fully justified and even duty bound to conduct his investigation independently, and that he has no need to be concerned about explaining
himself later, since he is acting above board and in good conscience. Mace always wants to contact the Jedi Council for instructions, since
he is a team player who feels his only duty is to act as they see fit. He is primarily concerned with whether or not his tactics and actions
will be viewed favorably by the Council. Dooku asks Mace if he thinks "the Jedi will truly keep peace if they continue to take everything
the Senate says as law?" Mace suggests that the Jedi must not be guided by politics, nor by the ego of self-righteous Jedi like Dooku who
think it is their business to decide what is right or wrong. As this is the prevailing attitude in the Order, the Jedi are instead guided by their
High Council, which constantly places politics over their ideals, and egotistically believes this is serving the will of the Force. Mace is held
in high regard by the Council in part because he shares their way of thinking and devotion to protocol, which is part of why he was chosen
to join the Council at such a young age ahead of hundreds of other qualified Jedi Masters. It is possible Mace was playing the mission by
the book knowing that this mission was a sort of test by the Council to choose one of the two to replace Katri on the Council, however
this is not certain. Regardless, Mace does try to justify the Council's decision by pointing out that he did as he was told while Dooku
"decided to interfere in a way that led to a senator's death." This situation typifies the problems with the Council's priorities, as Dooku
not only completes his assigned mission but also uncovers the truth about the murder of a Jedi Master and a deeply worrisome corruption
problem within the congress which the Order serves, and yet is in so much trouble with the Council for going about things indiscreetly
that Mace offers to advocate on his behalf to appease the Council. This is extremely typical of the Council's priorities in the years to come,
and is something that other righteous Jedi like Qui-Gon, Anakin, and Ahsoka will also find as unacceptable as Dooku now does. Both Mace
and Dooku are trying to serve the light side of the Force as they believe is right, and yet their polarized and differing philosophies will find
these two as opposing leaders of massive militaries ravaging the galaxy two decades later, hardly serving the light side of the Force.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
Did Windu REALLY Backstab Dooku For the Jedi Council Spot?