The significance of Anakin's decision to kill Count Dooku

First of all, I'm curious. Does Anakin (and the other Jedi) report to the Chancellor?
I mean, he would have been justified from a legality standpoint (at least I would think) for disobeying what amounted to an illegal order to kill an unarmed (no pun intended), defenseless person.

At the time, I remember thinking it was a significant decision that Anakin made, and the wrong one. Why exactly did he do it? Was he just following orders?
Now, when I think of it more, I can't help but wonder what Palps would have done if Anakin wouldn't have killed Dooku.
I think that to Sidious, with the knowledge that he possessed of his plans, Dooku would be way too dangerous to keep alive. I think Sidious would have found some way to dispatch of Dooku as quickly as possible.


Sidious said something to the effect of "He was too dangerous to be kept alive."

From Sidious' standpoint, that couldn't have been more true.

 

Good point. What would have Sidious done if Anakin had refused to kill Dooku like a Jedi should.


First off, Dooku would have been finished with Sidious. After being betrayed like that I don't see Dooku sticking around for the next time. Interestingly enough, I could see Dooku trying to spill the beans right there and then


But who knows

 

Vengence is the root of Anakin's decision to kill Dooku, as it was for his decision to massacre the Tuskens. Dooku 'unhanded' Anakin in combat and mocked his abilities. As Dooku battles Anakin in ROTS he taunts him for not letting go of his anger, of being afraid of achieving his full potential. When Anakin finally does let go, Dooku seems shocked at how powerful the boy really is. Anakin learns that his hate and rage give him power, and he enjoys it way more than he should. Killing Dooku was the result of Anakin letting his hate and rage and lust for power of that moment consume him.

After Dooku, Anakin was a gonner. His execution of Dooku fully prepared Anakin for his now destined fall to the dark side. Sids knows this. All is proceeding according to his plans . . . . .

 

If Dooku stayed alive, he'd have no doubt have made a plea bargain in which he rats on Palps and gets a lighter sentence. As for Anakin killing him, that just stems from immaturity (which Palps obviously plays on). He should have known a live catpive would be more productive in ending the war.

 

If he hadn't killed Dooku, Dooku would have realized the treachery of Sidious and exposed him right then and there.

Anakin might have very well done for Dooku what Luke ended up doing for him. Redemption.

 

Interesting point, though Dooku knew something was up in Clones and still wanted the Jedi destroyed....poor, confused old man.

 

It was truly a dangerous moment for Palpatine.

Palpatine wanted both Kenobi and Dooku dead. He needed them dead.

With Lord Tyrannus gone, Lord Sidious has a clear approach for his new, intended, apprentice.

And with Kenobi gone, not only is Anakin more isolated (with another loved one dead) but also is there a clear opening on the Jedi Council with an obvious choice as to who might fill it (ie, the guy who just saved the Chancellor and defeated Dooku in the process).

Had Anakin not relented to Palpatine's insistance to kill Dooku, the Chancellor quite possibly could have been forced to accelerate his temptation of Anakin to much less of an affect (as Anakin did not yet even know of the pregnancy - and it was the visions of Padme's death in the pregnancy that truly haunted Anakin the most).

Tenuous timing to say the least. But that was Palpatine in a nutshell...candle burning on both ends.

What a great and pivotal moment in the story...

 

It's not that Anakin cannot kill Dooku. It's just that he shouldn't have done it that way. Palpatine would've backed up that Anakin had been left with no choice but to kill Dooku, since he would not surrender willingly. But if Obi-wan had witnessed this, it would've been all for naught. That is why he wanted Dooku to kill Obi-wan, so that there would be no witnesses as well as getting Anakin enraged. But Obi-wan survived due to Dooku's inability to get the job done right and Anakin's insistance on bringing him along.

The significance is that decision would be that Dooku was eliminated and leaving Anakin in his grasp. There is a second significance in that it will come back to haunt Anakin and Mace Windu. Anakin feels guilty for killing Dooku like he did, because it is not the Jedi way. So when he sees Mace change his mind about killing Palpatine, who presents himself as an unarmed and defenseless man, it prompts Anakin to view Mace as a hypocrite.

ANAKIN: "I shouldn't have. It's not the Jedi way."

Compared to...

MACE WlNDU: "I am going to end this once and for all."

ANAKIN: "You can't. He must stand trial."

MACE WlNDU: "He has too much control of the Senate and the Courts. He is too dangerous to be kept alive."

PALPATINE: "I'm too weak. Don't kill me. Please."

ANAKIN: "It is not the Jedi way . . .He must live . . ."

PALPATINE: "Please don't, please don't . . ."

ANAKIN: "I need him . . ."

PALPATINE: "Please don't . . ."

ANAKIN: "NO!!"


Now, what would happen if he hadn't killed him? Well, Palpatine would have to either go throught the clemency plan and hope that Grievous could kill him. Or he would continue to prompt an emotional outburst from Anakin.

The Jedi do not report to the Chancellor at the start of ROTS. But once Palpatine has made a move to put the Council directly under his authority, the Jedi have two options. Disobey or go along. They choose the latter for the time being.

 

The significance is that decision would be that Dooku was eliminated and leaving Anakin in his grasp. There is a second significance in that it will come back to haunt Anakin and Mace Windu. Anakin feels guilty for killing Dooku like he did, because it is not the Jedi way. So when he sees Mace change his mind about killing Palpatine, who presents himself as an unarmed and defenseless man, it prompts Anakin to view Mace as a hypocrite.


Yes, yes, very good point.

 

That is why he wanted Dooku to kill Obi-wan, so that there would be no witnesses as well as getting Anakin enraged. But Obi-wan survived due to Dooku's inability to get the job done right and Anakin's insistance on bringing him along.

That may well have caused Palps to become even angrier with Dooku, kind of justifying the double cross.

 

Mace was a hypocrite.

 

Actually, he wasn't. Palpatine was far from helpless and Mace knew it. He also knew it was the only way to go. The problem was that Anakin was there to witness this.

 

After the lightning attack Mace realized that there is no such thing as an unarmed Dark Lord of the Sith

 

Yes. It is interesting to note that Palpatine had a look of disgust on his face after Dooku manhandled Obi-wan like he did. Rather than just slicing him up or running him through with his saber. All he did was throw him against a wall and then bring down a balcony, which only landed on his legs. And even then, just pinned them in place.

 

Hmmm, what if Anakin was the on who got knocked out, and Obi-Wan ended up taking down Dooku? Would Obi-Wan have killed him as well? Was he really too dangerous to be kept alive?

 

I think that once Dooku's hands had been removed Obi-Wan may have relented and elected to take him prisoner instead of kill him as he could at the least no longer use Force Lightning because that requires that a Sith has organic hands. I also think there may have been a spark of recognition that there's no such thing as loyalty to a Sith Lord which could have helped redeem him.

 

To me it shows:

A: Anakin can't forgive anyone.


B: It shows that he can follow orders given by Sidious. Because he faild a few times to follow orders from Jedi's.

 

To clear it up I mean that would have redeemed Dooku

 

I guess I thought that too at first, but then I considered that he might have killed Dooku anyway, but for a different reason than Anakin might have. I mean, if he had what it took to destroy Darth Vader, I don't see why it wouldn't apply for Dooku.

 

That's true but once Vader was disarmed Obi-Wan left his fate to the Will of the Force when he could have just thrown his saber thrown his saber down to end Vader's life or used the Force to push him into the lava.

 

Why bother killing Anakin at that point when Obi-wan is watching him burst into flames. From that moment, Obi-wan believed that the fire will kill Anakin.

 

Obi-wan wouldn't give into to his anger and hate. Regardless of whether he will win or not, he has learned that it leads to the dark side. Even if he won against Dooku, he would adhere to the Jedi Code and arrest Dooku. He wouldn't listen to Palpatine. Nor would Palpatine push his luck with trying to get Obi-wan to act like a Sith. He knows that he cannot corrupt Obi-wan. That is why he puts the focus on Anakin.

 

The Jedi did not report to Palps untill after this event. This got me to thinking.

I wonder if Palpatine had a plan B.........one where he would have to find a new apprentice.


The orders to Dooku were clear. Take out Kenobi first. With Kenobi dead/unconcious, one less threat.

Next, enrage Skywalker. Palps knew that Anakin would beat Dooku. He had to trust that he would kill him. Had he refused and Dooku had started talking....

Palpatine only has to fight Anakin Skywalker and a Dooku with no hands. He kills all three, escapes, and says the Jedi freed him and killed Dooku, but lost their lives in the process. He may have had to let GG in on the whole facade, but he would still come back to the Republic as chancellor Palpatine the brave.

Carnage

 

To me it is interesting to think about whether it was possible at all for Dooku to leave the Invisible Hand alive. Did it really all hinge on Anakin's decision to kill him? Once Dooku lost his hands, I think his fate was sealed no matter what Anakin decided.


If Anakin had tried to take him prisoner I believe Sidious would have killed Skywalker and Dooku on the spot. Dooku alive in any form after being brutally betayed by Sidious is intolerable to the Dark Lord's plans. Skywalker is who he wants as an apprentice, but he isn't worth throwing years of planning down the drain because Anakin doesn't have what it takes to be a Sith Lord

 

Back to this one....I'm not saying Obi-wan would give in to anger or hate, I'm just saying that the most effective way of dealing with Sith Lords is to kill them. Now it's probably still a morally sketchy thing to do, but you ARE trapped in enemy territory, and you do have the opportunity to end the war in one slash of your lightsaber. I think Obi-Wan might have taken it if he felt he had to.