Why the Jedi Council Deemed it IMPOSSIBLE for Palpatine to be a Sith - Star Wars Explained

[@stretopovermind9680]

The explanation is simple, of course: Jedi: "We are looking for the Sith Lord." Sidious (waving hand): "This is not the Sith Lord you are looking for." Jedi: "This is not the Sith Lord we are looking for."

[@Slepepe]

they might actually be weak minded!

[@lamaahruloma4270]

Basically

[@vincentmarcellino7183]

Honestly that's not far off. He masked his presence in The Force and took advantage of their weakened ability to feel The Force.

[@mikealexander1935]

It's even easier than that. Sloppy writing.

[@kenb2671]

Sidious: “I can go about my business.” Jedi: “You can go about your business.” Sidious: “Move along.” Jedi: “Move along, move along.”

[@PlagueOfGripes]

"We're looking for someone who is manipulating the war on both sides for control of the galaxy, which can only be done by controlling the galaxy. Thus, it cannot be the one person who controls the galaxy already. Because, uhhh... oh, shi - "

[@TJDious]

Given the history of the Sith, the idea that a Sith could become chancellor and wait another ten years to claim ultimate power just didn't seem remotely possible.

[@natancucick6828]

If Windu would actually say that, it would end with "...Oh, motherfu-"

[@Nukinator]

big RIP

[@WillFredward7167]

😂

[@spidermanmyers]

Sad that this Jedi was caught in fiendly fire, if only we knew what his final thoughts were...

[@gregoryanderson3280]

Love this. It reminded me of the memes mocking Sidious as "just a politician." But isn't that exactly what caught the Jedi Council off guard? Throughout their long history, the Jedi had always faced war-mongering Sith who attacked first. But now, they were faced with a Sith they hadn't see before.

[@arx3516]

Exactly, we think of Darth Sidious as the template for a Sith Lord, but for the jedi order a typical Sith Lord would be someone like Marka Ragnos, a proud warlord eager to meet the jedi in open combat. The most carfty Sith Lord they faced before was Revan, who, despite being a strategical genius, attacked them openly in open warfare. It was already a huge success for the Jedi to have figured out that there was a Sith Lord scheming in the shadows.

[@gregoryanderson3280]

@@arx3516 That's a great point about Revan.

[@056Brahmabull]

It's summed up pretty well on the ROTS novelization when yoda duels Palpatine. Yoda very quickly realized he stood no chance, because the sith as a whole evolved and adapted, and the jedi had not. The jedi were so arrogant that all of it just wasn't possible, and Palpatine played upon that arrogance so perfectly. As powerful as sidious was, the jedi ultimately screwed themselves far more than Sidious did.

[@gregoryanderson3280]

@@056Brahmabull That's also a great point.

[@tedwojtasik8781]

Plus just look at Palpatine, even all F'ed up he does not look dangerous, much less like a Sith Lord. I dig Palpatine because of that, guy looks like some harmless geezer who helps the neighborhood kids set up the lemonade stand. When I think of a Sith I think of some evil looking cats like Darth Bane, Nihilus, or Traya. Sidious looks like a elderly bookkeeper who stood too close to a nuclear explosion.

[@klaykid117]

I think it was honestly just pure Jedi arrogance that stopped him from being discovered as a sith. First, the arrogance in their knowledge of the sith and not even entertaining the possibility that the sith would have evolved while they stayed stagnant to the Jedi order. A sith is someone with yellow eyes whose foaming at the mouth ready for combat like Darth maul. And here's palpatine, a friendly old patient man who already has the highest position of power in the galaxy and every time there's been an assassination attempt. He's always been a scared blubbering mess. "No way this guy could be a sith they don't have the patience for this"

[@dhdusidjdjso]

Palpatine wasnt a scared blubbering mess lmao

[@sandermez3856]

@@dhdusidjdjso the jedi council wasnt there to see his behaviour only got secondhand accounts and it seemed like he was a scared old man. And besides, what kind of sith lord gets kidnapped in the first place?

[@DavidL1986]

tbf once he was un-masked palpatine was also yellow eyed and foaming at the mouth

[@jamesrussell2936]

I'm just a casual SW dude, but I think the reason they didn't see him is mostly because the Jedi weren't listening to the force enough, and were instead thinking too much about politics and things like that.

[@aohdan5713]

Yeah from the jedi pov. The sith when they were last seen were more akin to beasts, slaves to their emotions and with no real plan or strategy past all out war. It was a huge blindside that we struggle to understand because we cannot fully put ourselves in their shoes. Imagine the only enemy you have, who has been dead for 2000+ years, and you only know from books, and boom it turns out they had an elaborate plot which is far beyond their capabilities as you know them, and they just wipe out your whole shit in like a few days.

[@r.m.5548]

Just like China

[@DrakeOola]

Even though dooku straight up told them 🙄

[@aohdan5713]

@@DrakeOola you would trust anything that dude says?

[@dhdusidjdjso]

@@DrakeOola Obi wan thought he was just trying to instill doubt in him to turn him to the dark side. Why would you trust Dooku who is imprisoned you and starting a war, when there is a much more logical reason (even if that reason happens to be false).

[@swervoobands]

@@aohdan5713 don't have to trust it but there should have been some kind of insurance if the jedi every fell they where blind and arrogant ironically

[@leerogish7223]

If qui gon was still alive he would have taken dooku’s warning VERY seriously and if any jedi would have figured it out it would have been him. Unlike the arrogant council he focused heavily on the moment and what was In front of him NOT just the future.

[@AustynSN]

If Qui Gon had been around, Dooku probably wouldn't have fallen to the dark side, so he wouldn't have been able to make the warning.

[@leerogish7223]

@@AustynSN no remeber dooku had already erased kamino from the archives before qui gon’s death? Dooku knew damn good and well about qui gons disappointment in the state of the order and certainly would try to win him over telling him about sideous controlling the senate.

[@Prince_the_One]

@@leerogish7223 Uhhhh the council didn't believe Dooku because Dooku had turned to the Dark Side at that point. Sith lie all the time, so they immediately just dismissed his words as manipulation, Dooku LITERALLY in the same speech asked Obiwan to join him, so OBVIOUSLY they would think he was just saying anything so Obiwan would join his side.

[@decepticonxhunter4850]

Palpatine was right there under Qui-Gon's nose the whole time in the Coruscant scenes in TPM, and you want to argue that he would've figured it out before the council. Put down the kool aid.

[@leerogish7223]

@@Prince_the_One that and the council misinterpreted his warning as he was controlling the senate behind the scenes not that he was the actual chancellor. Qui gon focused more on the immediate and the moment so he may have solved the riddle

[@ZoeMalDoran]

earlier Clone Wars novels (quite possibly Shatterpoint) had Yoda and Windu discussing Palpatine, and one of them said "A shame he cannot touch the Force. He would have made an admirable Jedi" . Combined with the belief he wasn't Force Sensitive, the idea of "The only reason Palpatine isn't a suspect is because he already rules the galaxy" makes a certain kind of sense. They just lacked the key pieces of information that we the audience had (and though the cop and clone troopers who carried on following the trail while Mace was fighting Grievous' forces did indeed walk in on Palpatine, they were all murdered before they could call it in)

[@xsonnynx]

While it made sense, it just shows you how close minded the Jedi Council was and it costed them dearly. Close minded as in their thought of "can't touch the Force." This reminds me of the tragedy of Darth Plaguis who was Palpatine's master....

[@underworlds2794]

Bro if qui jon was still alive palps would get his ass clapped

[@qb6570]

😅this proves what Sidious thought of the jedi...complacent and arrogant.

[@maxwang956]

"The only reason Palpatine isn't a suspect is because he already rules the galaxy" makes a certain kind of sense. Yes, because that's what the Sith are known for, being... satisfied with how much power they have.

[@ZoeMalDoran]

@@maxwang956 It makes something resembling sense to those who don't think Palpatine has the Force, and don't know that the whole point of the Clone Wars was to wipe out the Jedi and have the galaxy rejoice at that fact. As we do know those things, we can act as if the Jedi are idiots for not knowing

[@AustynSN]

Your mention of the fact that Mas Amedda and Palpatine's other advisor looked like traditional sith lords makes me think that if the Jedi had gotten too close too early, he probably would have thrown one or both of them under the bus.

[@DrakeOola]

That wouldn't buy much time anyway tho, the jedi would figure out real quick they took out the wrong suspect when palpatine still appears like he's been manipulated into following some sith grand plan... Not to mention when they go to apprehend the "sith lord" and he doesn't fight back at all, just gets whisked off to jedi jail without any resistance that's gonna raise a few eyebrows for the council members...

[@Knight860]

I think it was also Hubris on the Jedi's part, they didn't want to believe they could of missed spotting something so big as the Chancellor of the Galactic Republic being the Dark Lord of the Sith, their ancient enemy.

[@rocketraccoon1976]

Would have been funny if the Council suspected Jar Jar of being the Sith Lord. He was around Palpatine a lot. 😁

[@woodyhorton8537]

I still think jar jar was meant to be a surprise sith but everyone hated him so george dropped him

[@gavomorg762]

@Woody Horton 100% mate o think Jar Jar would of been our DARTH PLAIGUS !!!Nm No doubt about in my eyes

[@woodyhorton8537]

@@gavomorg762 yup george even still used him to give palpatine control. In the first movie there are too many cases of weird shit around jar jar. I wish george woould have went thru with it that would have been badass reveal

[@xsonnynx]

Darth Jar Jar would've been epic and sadly never done.

[@seanhewitt603]

Kenobi... he survived the order 66. Hmmm.

[@PrometheanRising]

It should be noted that in RotS that when Anakin tells Windu that Palp is a Sith that Windu seems more incredulous that there would be a Sith than that it would be Palp.

[@kingpool6870]

@@LordOut_001 you are poo

[@cloudmaster182]

Nahh. They knew it was Sith the entire time. They knew there were 2 and that Dooku was one of them

[@PrometheanRising]

@@cloudmaster182 the point is that one of the sets of writing breaks the other.

[@_eggers]

Dialogue & directing actors weren’t exactly George’s strong points

[@theoldhermit2601]

Not true; sure, Mace says "a sith lord?!" with surprise in his voice, but anakin immediately says "yes, the one we've been looking for", meaning that they did in fact know there was a sith lord out there, they were just so surprised it was Palpatine.

[@forcecalibration924]

Can we just appreciate the consistency of this man💯. Hands down best Star Wars channel.

[@jordancourse5102]

The council failed themselves. They should’ve listened to Dooku.

[@Prince_the_One]

They didn't listen to Dooku because he had gone evil and Sith lie all the time just like Sidious lied to Anakin, how could they trust his word?

[@decepticonxhunter4850]

Oh, you mean listen to the guy who was acting as an agent of the Sith while he was among them? Talk about using half-baked logic.

[@jmwilliamsart]

@@Prince_the_One They meant that they should’ve listened to his warning before Dooku left the Order and joined Sidious.

[@Gabu_]

​@@decepticonxhunter4850 Dooku warned the order of their failings long before turning to the dark side.

[@pathat8869]

The main reason was because palpatine was able to use the force to conceal his sith identity from the jedi. He used force cloak(which makes him undetectable). Even when there were jedi masters near palpatine,they could not sense or detect his force identity because palpatine was using force cloak.

[@Andreduffy]

I think the Jedi never believed Palpatine could be the Sith Lord just because mostly all other Sith's in history wanted to rule and show that they ruled, or scheming in the background just to later take over the Jedi couldn't believe Palpatine was the Sith Lord because he was right there with almost absolute power and yet Palpatine played it off like he was chosen by the Senate and if the Senate would vote him out he would go willingly (allthough he pretty much owned the whole Senate he knew that would never happen) Palpatine's force cloak, acting and being very political in his moves made him untouchable. besides should the Jedi think Palpatine was the Sith Lord they would be needing proof otherwise the Republic would go against them.

[@jiahgl]

reminds me of the scene where yoda and obi are talking and they mention the silhouette of kamino. everything was pointing to the planet being there except the planet itself wasnt in the archives

[@avenged7peep958]

Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing, how embarrassing, mmmhh

[@aster4jaden]

Because he's the Senate and he loved the Republic and Democracy.

[@wraithwakasamyst4524]

That's what they all say

[@freedomdude5420]

That what make it more poetic and irony.

[@yokai333]

A calm voice is easier to bend your will than brute force. A serpent is only as honest as its forked tongue

[@qap7]

The Audiobook Labyrinth of Evil covers this topic perfectly (edit: investigation of palpatine being sidious), cutting directly into the start of EP3 at the end of its story, it's absolutely worth a listen. edit 2: it also perfectly ties in with what the novel is stated to say at 04:05

[@CD-Gaming]

I remember that in the novelisation, Anakin was even hoping it was Ameda! If I remember rightly, he never trusted him, seemed a tad shifty for young Skywalker! I've not read it in a while, keep meaning to go back to it at some point, too busy finishing off the Discworlds at the minute!

[@Sunstar808]

Didn’t realize that Dooku also told the Jedi Council, and not just Obi Wan, that Palpatine was the Sith Lord. Guess Dooku was ready to turn on Sidious and sell him out had a group of Jedi believed Dooku.

[@Prince_the_One]

Dooku had good intentions, but turning to the dark side had corrupted him, so if his plan worked and Sidious had been destroyed then Dooku would take his place and be just as evil.

[@Sunstar808]

@@Prince_the_One Good point

[@manifesteddestiny.]

He never wore his yellow contacts at work

[@AmeerolisaRa-cw3qg]

😂😂😂

[@raytttc9636]

What a clever way of explaining how he hid in plane sight. The war rages and "Palpatine can't be the Sith Lord, because if he was the war would start to slow down, rather than ramp up."

[@avenged7peep958]

And the Clone Wars made the Dark Side stronger because of all that violence

[@zephyr8072]

Mace: "I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor." Anakin: "Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord." Mace: "A SITH LORD?" *shocked Pikachu face*

[@u.v.s.5583]

"How can he be a Sith lord and not be on the Council?"

[@Petulant_Kragg]

The fact that he was surrounded by the darkside of the force and that didn't immediately give them thought that he was a sith shows how dumb they really were

[@Jedilord882]

Just because a being is surrounded by the dark side doesn’t insinuate they are a Sith Lord lol A prominent lethal bounty hunter with zero remorse would also be surrounded by the dark side.

[@Stussmeister]

I was of course naive when I was younger, but before I had seen RoTS, I conjectured that Sidious and Palpatine were two separate individuals, and that the former was the one to corrupt the latter and turn him to the Dark Side. When I found out they were indeed one and the same, it really threw me for a loop.

[@ariesstorm9577]

Reading your comment reminded me of a fan fiction scene I wrote years ago, not long before attack of the clones came out. The scene took place in Palpatine’s office where the Jedi confronted Darth Sidious and were able to kill him, but Sidious went on to possess Palpatine, the only non-Jedi present in the room. I think I was partly inspired by Dark Empire where Sidious/Palpatine tells Luke that his death onboard the second Death Star hadn’t been the first time he had died. I honestly can’t remember if I wrote anything beyond Palpatine becoming possessed but I believe it went unnoticed by the Jedi.

[@Stussmeister]

@@ariesstorm9577 That sounds really neat, and considering the Sith would attempt to transfer their consciousness into another being so as to prolong their lives, it isn't too farfetched as far as Star Wars goes.

[@DrakeOola]

@@ariesstorm9577 Kit fisto is darth sidious confirmed...

[@xOAllieCatOx]

They are just say that I have truly come to love and enjoy your holocron and your amazing insight not only into Star wars but the lure itself this channel is so knowledgeable and so enjoyable to listen to. I always look forward to seeing what you talk about next thank you so much for providing amazing content

[@Tyrael1701]

Sideous, "Your arrogance blinds you."

[@XanafiedcatGaming]

It would be awesome to see a tv series about Palpatine and his rise to power. From his early life with his family to discovering the dark side of the force and eventually becoming Emperor.

[@shawnsorbom8907]

There is actually a book about emperor palpatine's early years that was based off of a throwaway line about palpatine's Master being powerful enough in the dark side to restore life. It was called Darth Pelagius.

[@DrakeOola]

@@shawnsorbom8907 That's not a tale the jedi would tell you.

[@JamesHiatt-ex5bc]

That would just be "Hitler: The Rise of Evil" Part 2.

[@roronoalaw7772]

@@DrakeOolaFor it is an ancient tale that happened about 10 years ago.

[@fa11endawn16]

​@@DrakeOolaIt's a Sith Legend...

[@savonbatt]

They were told several times, especially with the pyke episode in the clone wars when they found out that dooku was tyranus

[@cloudmaster182]

The conversation from the book between Windu and Kenobi also holds a good gem In the Jedi investigation obviously they figured out that Sidious and Palpatine were related. "The only reason we don't believe it to be Palpatine is because he already has all the power"

[@u.v.s.5583]

UNLIMITED power!

[@jameslauder3984]

Revenge of the Sith is the finest Star Wars novel I have ever personally read.

[@Loxias1989]

Is it still available ? Who's the author ? I remember missing the opportunity to buy it in a bookstore as a kid cause my mom didn't want to buy it lol

[@Angry_Peanut_52]

Too bad Disney fucking decanonized the novel. Bastards

[@Cerberus1441]

@@Loxias1989 Matthew Stover. No idea why it wouldn't still be available somewhere. Enjoy!

[@avenged7peep958]

Followed closely by Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

[@jameslauder3984]

@@avenged7peep958 that was a great novel as well. Luceno and Stover are my favorite Star Wars writers.

[@sneakybawls]

This reminds me of Mystery Men when they were arguing over the identity of Captain Amazing.... LOL Anakin: "Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith lord." Mace: "Anakin... the Sith lord wears a cloak! Palpatine... DOESN'T wear a cloak!"

[@Skywiser01]

You could expand on this more with the Labyrinth of Evil novel with the investigation of Sidious from Newt Gunray after the taking of Cato Neimoidia.

[@stephengilbreath840]

I never made the connection between Palpatine's kidnapping and the Jedi investigation of him. Interesting.

[@RadioJosiah]

The novel "Labyrinth of Evil" makes the connection explicit. The investigation was moving too close. Palpatine needed an immediate distraction, a big one. Something that would call all hands on deck, and allow him that last bit of breathing room to set for his endgame.

[@MrVoid-tr4bz]

People say the Jedi's link to the force was weakened enough so they couldn't sense it was Palpatine. But even with his mastery in masking himself I want to know exactly how they could miss it? They were still incredibly dedicated to the force and the Jedi arts. I'd almost like to see a live action What If moment where they caught Palpatine before it was too late

[@Balder-gb4eq]

The jedi had become too big and prideful, self satisfied with their virtue and the sith were small and so very very patient in their plans

[@kamenrangerzeo8251]

I find it funny how Jedi Master Gnost-Dural and Sith Lord Lady Traya had both predicted the down fall of the republic. Gnost-Dural had mentioned about Sith infiltrators that can get into the republics inner workings and even the Jedi Order itself. Followed by Lady Traya who had one final vision about the fall of the republic many years later, but what is fascinating about sidious plan is that the jedi were played not just by him but by their own hubris and arrogance for not seeing the signs before it was too late. Powerful Jedi Masters like Qui-Gon Jinn and Dooku had their own views on how Sidious was playing both sides in Galactic game of chest.

[@johnwebb4499]

To me, Senator Palpatine was already suspicious the way he was Queen Amidala's most trusted advisor. Then he convinced her to vote to replace Valorum due to a lack of confidence. But, then, he nominated HIMSELF to replace Valorum. That right there was a Red Flag to keep a close eye on the new power hungry Chancellor. If I was a Knight, I would have stopped the Chancellor from getting emergency powers. A different branch of government should have been appointed to handle the responsibility.

[@Gaarafan007]

Except he didn't nominate himself. Someone else did, though he likely manipulated them somehow into doing so. Bail Antilles and Ainlee Teem were also nominated, though Palpatine won by a landslide.

[@petelee2477]

​@@Gaarafan007 I think is was jar jar

[@paulpalermo2109]

First he said theres a question of procedure but im confident we can overcome it. Then he immediately changed his tune

[@antarath517]

@@petelee2477 This was in TPM before Jar-Jar had a political role

[@Slizzysliz53]

@@petelee2477 Jar Jar called for emergency powers for Chancellor Palpatine after being manipulated

[@benmoss786]

If I may, I think the audio from the referenced clips at the beginning are a bit quiet by comparison to the dialogue from your explanation. Beyond that, a very interesting video.

[@wraith313]

"the prophesy means one will come to bring balance to the force. There's a Jedi council controlling the galaxy and hundreds of Jedi and only one or two sith" really makes you wonder what exactly they thought the prophesy was saying to begin with.

[@dhdusidjdjso]

The light side is the balanced part of the force

[@efrainlopez8292]

@@dhdusidjdjsoyin and Yang my friend

[@American_Orthodox]

Clone Wars established a balance of the Light and Dark too much of one ends up being corrupted

[@johndough6225]

​@@American_Orthodox"A misconception - it doesn't actually do that. What it does is show that the dark side must be kept under firm control, or else balance is lost. Remember that the Daughter was allowed to do what she wanted, pretty much, while the Son was constantly kept in check. Once he finally was given freedom, it immediately caused all sorts of havoc and destruction."

[@NUCLEARDASH]

It was never two siths, but yet we could see what ONE of them was capable of. Theyre unbalanced by itself

[@lucianosgonzalez3561]

TSW is right that Palp's true identity being one of the red guard would have been an INCREDIBLE twist. God, man, what an idea. Instead of Palp being a politician he is a politician's bodyguard, whispering ideas in his mind, and twisting those he "protects" to his service.

[@koammudo43]

This is what makes starwars such a sad tragic story they were always so close to finding out or getting a clue 😭 the villains are always wining in starwars

[@jmwilliamsart]

At least until episode 6 “Return of the Jedi” than the villains lose. The Jedi also fell not just because of Palpatine, but because they had become too dogmatic, arrogant, and too out of touch with the people of the galaxy. And the Republic was too corrupt that few people believed in it anymore.

[@Eric_1991]

Palpatine: I am not the Sith you’re looking for. Jedi: You’re not the Sith we’re looking for

[@gumdeo]

Palpatine: I can go about my business. Jedi: You can go about your business.

[@jacobsheehan5775]

​@gumdeo Palpatine: move along Jedi: move along

[@devontehuntley6274]

I guess it was the same reason Vader couldn't detect Leia was his daughter despite being next to her many times during the original movie. They just didn't have all the force aspects to know everything about someone, but some things. One would think if they can see Anakin's future was cloudy and dangerous and then why not see the same for the chancellor. But maybe because Anakin's midiclorian level was off the charts it drew more attention to know his future than with the chancellor, like maybe because Luke was more into to the force than Leia, their father was able to sense a connection with Luke better.

[@aceclover758]

Well that was a retcon Originally, Vader and Luke were never related

[@devontehuntley6274]

@@aceclover758 Tell me something I don't know Ace Face.

[@Justicar333]

Their arrogance I believe, they couldn't begin to fathom a mere Sith Lord could stand right amidst them and fool them all. In their minds such an individual would always hide himself away in fear of discovery. A dangerous animal but an ambush predator at worst. The Jedi gravely underestimated just how confident and masterful at deception their adversary truly was.

[@Free_Krazy]

Ah yes, the good old battle tactic of taunting, it's surprising just how effective it can be, but your walking a very fine line between emotionally compromising your opponent and just making them even more angry at you lol

[@My_trashtalking_account]

He was able to conceal the dark side from his appearance by using an ability called force skin.

[@jesse_cole]

Mace never suspected Jar Jar.

[@calich33sehead]

It was the hubris of the Jedi Council that caused them to rule out Palpatine as the Sith Lord, and it only makes sense for Anakin to be the first to figure it out. Of course, as you said it was far too late for the Council to effectively deal with him by that time.

[@SingleTax]

Palpatine practically revealed himself to Anakin, so there wasn't much for him to figure out.

[@calich33sehead]

@@SingleTax I guess that’s true. But he wouldn’t reveal his secret identity to any other Jedi.

[@jeanwesleynew]

It's just bad script writing being patched up in the novels at a later date. "He's already in complete control, so it can't be him.." That logic insults the mind.

[@Galvatron_Studios]

I feel like during the 10 year gap between episodes 1 and 2 the Jedi should’ve easily connected a few dots about Palpatine and how he was able to stay as Chancellor long after his term expired like right around the 6th or 7th year they should’ve been suspicious about Palpatine but another weird thing is that the Jedi never seemed to notice that their senses were always clouded around him and never questioned why it only happened when they were close to his proximity

[@johnlennon5143]

they were entirely blind in the temple because the temple was built on an old sith shrine that palpatine activated to cloud their judgement , it’s why they mention being blind to the future and not wanting to tell the senate, it wasn’t just around him

[@Galvatron_Studios]

@@johnlennon5143 but there have been times when a few Jedi have been able to sense the future on Coruscant like Barriss Offee. Before she turned to the dark side she saw the future and that's what turned her to the dark side.

[@volbound1700]

Being in the Senate a long time is not a red flag. A lot of the other systems were similar, just re-electing same person. It was being Chancellor so long (which didn't happen until Episode II timeframe) that was a big deal. Issue is he kept getting re-elected and used Democratic process to his advantage.

[@Galvatron_Studios]

@@volbound1700 it kind of is a red flag. If the King or Queen of Nablo suddenly got a third term while all of the rulers before them strictly only had two I guarantee some eyebrows would instantly be raised. So for the Chancellor to have a total of 13 years in office rather than the usual 4 (or 8 if they’re that good) is suspicious.

[@volbound1700]

@Galvatronstudios yes but 3rd, 4th terms, etc. We're common for Senators. The Trade Federation, for example, had the same Senator in both seasons. Leia's family, the Organas, continued to stay on as Senator. The oddity was how long Palpatine served as Chancellor and it really wasn't brought up as a red flag by anyone until Episode 3 by Obi-Wan and Anakin. Anakin cited the war as precedence.

[@Shipwreck8l8]

Here is another reason, the sith were asumed extinct for nearly a millenni, so it may be difficult to sense a sith compared to somone like a dark force user. Yoda says knowing the difference between the light and the dark side you feel clam at peace, passive, which I am sure the Jedi felt when being around Palpatine.

[@vagranthippopotamus2738]

I grew up watching both the original and prequel movies. What I didn't know was that force cloak was a thing, so watching the main cast hanging around the man who would become the emperor was astounding to me 😆

[@CallmeKenneth-tb1zb]

I think it's extremely simple. One hardly needs to be invested with the force to be manipulative, and one does not become a supremely successful politician without being skilled in the art of manipulation.

[@alainroger-r8b]

Count Dooku said why: The dak side of the force clouded their visions''...voilà.

[@mfd8346]

A dormant Sith bamboozles his way to own the council.

[@shadeofshattered3]

Palpatine moved to freely about as if no one can touch him despite being a chancellor even padme had security and doubles and jedi guard

[@sterlingmuse5808]

My favorite thing about this is that it is also a sign of the exact weakness the Jedi had fallen into. They are so concerned with a Sith lord and yet are far less bothered by a corrupt politician who is in complete control of the Senate. They have entirely lost their purpose and are mostly concerned with their own issues instead of the issues of everyone else. Granted, it's more like they believe that their issues affect everyone to a higher degree, but still.

[@youthoughtaboutit6946]

Question is though: would there have been a legal way to unseat such a politician had he not been a Sith Lord theoretically speaking, or might have that been seen as a (semi?) theocratic (semi) independent organization interfering (and by extension arguably corrupting) the secular galactic government?

[@sterlingmuse5808]

@@youthoughtaboutit6946 They probably would have had to submit evidence directly to the entire Senate or something

[@ryanstewart2289]

"Palpatine can't be Sith because he can't touch the Force." And not one person on the council thought to ask "has anyone confirmed that?"

[@Wickytb]

That's like the CIA shooting Biden to make sure he isn't a reptile.

[@lucifers.morningstar3805]

Absolutely not because we, the Jedi Council, are never wrong about anything, even when it's proven that we are completely wrong about something, for we are never wrong we are the Jedi Council.

[@ryanstewart2289]

@@lucifers.morningstar3805 No wonder the Jedi fell so fast.

[@lucifers.morningstar3805]

@Ryan Stewart as Palpatine said the Jedi's arrogance is their greatest weakness and would be the end of them

[@Mecceldorf]

Of course it goes without saying that episode 3 is all about Palpatine’s endgame, but from the very start of the plot we can come to understand how he’s finally playing the winning hand. As mentioned, by having himself kidnapped in an oddly concise inside job it became clear to the Jedi that Palpatine was involved in the sith plot, and the circle of possible candidates quickly narrowed. He wouldn’t have exposed himself so blatantly if he didn’t have the rest of the board set for the winning move, which required sacrificing the two main figures in the separatist movement, opportunistically grooming his new apprentice in the process, ending the clone war, and decisively preying upon the remaining side amidst the confusion. He really cut it close at the end, and if Anakin had trusted the Jedi over the sith lord it would have been game over.

[@mauricerose3082]

"For over a thousand Generations, the Jedi Knights were the Guardians of Peace and Justice in the old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire." OBI-WAN KENOBI, TO LUKE SKYWALKER "A Jedi Peacekeeper was one of the oldest, and most common roles that a member of the Jedi Order could specialize in. Jedi Peacekeeper was a role within the Jedi Guardian Branch of the Order. The ideal held by these individuals was first compiled by the Guardian Jedi ace Crix Sunburris in the text, The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force. The group of Peacekeepers stationed on Coruscant were based out of the Jedi Temple, and many worked for the Temple Security Force. Charged with protecting the Temple's occupants and treasures, they also watched over the Temple Precinct, and the civilians which called it their home. Notable Peacekeepers included Jedi Gate Master Jurokk, and Jedi Master Tera Sinube."

[@ZoeMalDoran]

"He's not the Sith Master, he's a very naughty boy!"

[@comacoz2438]

I always thought this was strange, not even Yoda was able to sense the dark side in him. Seems kinda crazy considee the amount of Jedi masters around

[@nevarstormdragon]

Jedi Temple was built on a dark side point of power if I remember right. Also a lot of the statue's and art that Palpatine had in his offices and surrounding his home were dark side artifacts as well which probably help mask his power plus he probably new how to hide his force power. When the rule of two was created it recreated the sith into something different than just a war mongering culture. They became a lot deadlier working in the shadow's.

[@RadioJosiah]

According to the Darth Plagueis novel, which may no longer be canon but is excellently thought out, Palpatine worked for decades toward that specific goal: Being able to sit across a table from any Jedi, even Master Yoda himself, and never be detected. His plan depended upon having that capability. He didn't try it until he was ready.

[@youthoughtaboutit6946]

@@nevarstormdragon why did the Jedi build it there anyway? Seems like purposely gimping yourself for something very important. At the same time, you’d think they’d have someone with the ability to check for that very thing when building their must sacred spaces, so it’s hard to imagine that they simply didn’t know either.

[@nevarstormdragon]

@@youthoughtaboutit6946 it was built there intentionally. They were trying to purify or study it been awhile since I've deep dived into Star Wars lore.

[@joeymusacchio9816]

Labyrinth of Evil, and Darth Sidious’ conversion with Dooku concerning when Anakin and Obi-Wan captured the Trade Federation Viceroy’s mechnochair on Cato Neimoidia, good one.

[@FordLancer]

Years ago me and some friends used to do tabletop rpg Star Wars games, our longest scenario was us as a branch of the rebels. Some former bounty hunters, clones and others were former imperial operatives and one Mandalorian. Our main antagonist was the guardsman. He was only known by that title, a former Jedi knight who left the order a few years before the clone wars and became a republic guard. His reason for leaving the order was because the Jedi’s lack of duty to the galaxy. He was for bringing order to chaos and bring peace however possible.

[@FordLancer]

He joined palpatines imperial guard, he was second to Vader as an enforcer who would dispatch any Jedi or particular rebel factions that caused too much trouble to the empire.

[@can-i-go-now]

I think also it's important to know the Sith had been working in the shadows and secrets for so long it would have been too obvious to hide right in the front of them. which was why it was such a brilliant move.

[@BuzzyJamson]

Its crazy to think about that dooku was kinda a anti hero the whole time

[@Prince_the_One]

Dooku was not an anti hero, he had good intentions but after turning to the Dark SIde he instigated terror and war to achieve his goals, hurting countless innocents, which automatically crosses the line of "anti hero" into just "villian" territory.

[@BuzzyJamson]

@@Prince_the_One well in my defense i said kinda 😂

[@BuzzyJamson]

@@Prince_the_One but if thats the case wouldnt that make characters like punisher and venom villans even though they are stated as anti heros

[@gengarclefairy3475]

Dooku telling Obi Wan about sidious wasn’t a moment of good shining through, it was Dooku gloating how they’ve already won and it wasn’t a matter of if, but when

[@HumanoidDerpling]

@@BuzzyJamson An anti hero is a villainous protagonist, this guy didn't use the word well.

[@williamstandish2926]

It was the Jedi's arrogance. They thought they were right.

[@H-D-D]

The jedi counsel thought to be impossible to be him because they thought it more impossible that they would not be able to sense it was him from being around him so much. They were overpoered by the shroud that sidious created. They assumed the second they were in the presence of the actual sith lord that they would he able to sense it immediately, that is why they ruled him out completely

[@EAcapuccino]

07:19 - Ironically, this was true Sidious WAS THE puppet master of Chancellor Palpetine Well and truly within Palpetines inner circle 😏

[@jeromepoe946]

Love the video. Can’t help but have a gut feeling though that there are a lot of details either not mentioned or that were never said or shown. It’s one of those there’s a hole somewhere just no idea where, it’s like looking for gold in a desert is the best way I can describe the feeling.

[@Mediocre_Spidey]

Their arrogance blinded them

[@she-venom9842]

Mace Windo was only Jedi wondering how he got freed so easilly and he was right all this time

[@wraithwakasamyst4524]

Mace was on point about 90% of his suspensions

[@kneelb4zod360]

I don't think Mace Windu trusted anybody. Lol

[@jovanminsel7793]

Feel like the Jedi just assumed that Palpatine wasn't Sidious just cause he had power already and while they assumed he wasn't, the details of Palpatines life screamed there had to be something off but the Jedi were too arrogant (common flaw amongst Jedi as said in episode 2 by Yoda). They assumed and were dead wrong. During Attack of the Clones you could see Palpatine obfiscated his powers with questions even to Yoda, it was all part of his deception and since there hadn't been a force sensitive Supreme Chancellor they assumed he had no force sensitivity.

[@SomeAustrianGuy_]

"The dark side of the force surrounds the Chancellor, but no way it could actually be the Chancellor himself, I mean, there's just no way a politician could ever be a master manipulator who also has dark secrets left and right. Nope, no way. Never."

[@theoc511]

But add the fact that they knew that dooku was serving sidious and that sidious was controlling the CIS. The chancellor had been kidnapped by dooku and grievous which is where EP 3 starts....who would have themselves kidnapped 😂. They easily ruled him out 🤣

[@brokenbridge6316]

If only the Jedi hadn't dragged their investigation so long. Who knows they might've found out about Sidious much sooner.

[@Sunstar808]

@Broken Bridge Yes i agree

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@Sunstar808---thanks

[@Sunstar808]

@@brokenbridge6316 You’re welcome friend

[@ThibautVDP]

"master Yoda, we have the exact coordinates of sidious!" "under the chancellor's chair, he must be!"

[@u.v.s.5583]

Can YOU imagine a Sith lord out himself as a lover of democracy and the Republic? Don't be ridiculous!

[@americanpaisareturns9051]

The Jedi are the biggest fools in Star Wars.

[@jfb173jb]

It does make sense when you note the redundancy of Palpatine ruling the galaxy. He already had control and power that most political types would and have killed for.

[@ATalesTruth-]

Problem is by there own logic sith crave absolute power ruling the galaxy wouldn’t be satisfying enough for the sith and this never crossed their mind

[@nintendogamingchannel1007]

The Stupendous Wave Star War’s Jedi Council reminds me of Mass Effect’s Citadel Council both fail to realize until too late.

[@darthollpheist1156]

I know why. With 100% certainty.... but he had to be for the OGs to exist.

[@jmwilliamsart]

The Jedi’s hubris blinded them to the possibility that the Republic could fall, that they weren’t invincible. They had become too dogmatic, arrogant, and too out of touch with the people of the galaxy. Qui Gon was the last true Jedi until Luke because he let the living force guide him, and not the wishes of corrupt senators the way the other Jedi did. The Sith had evolved, and the Jedi had only trained to fight the last battle.

[@u.v.s.5583]

- I have discovered a terrible truth. I think Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith lord. - A Sith lord? - Yes, a Sith lord. - How do you know? - A feeling. - Good. If the order is to survive, we must act quickly. Let me get the best Jedi fighters killed, then you, Anakin, may join the Sith and destroy them from the inside!

[@vasantos-re4hb]

Keep your friends close, your enemies ever closer...

[@GalliadII]

Consider what Kreia says in KotoR 2: The Jedi rely so much on the force, they become dependent on it. Take it away from them and any other individual becomes stronger than them. They could not sense his darkness, so it was impossible for him to be the sith. To consider they could not sense him, did not even cross their mind.

[@piedpiper1185]

"And others have mastered the more subtle work of politics, persuasion. Do not doubt that the galaxy can be conquered with words. A Republic overthrown and an Empire made." -Kreia, KOTOR2

[@romulusbonaparte320]

if i was palpatine i’d act like i was scared of someone so whenever i did something wrong or made a mistake the jedi would think i was being manipulated somehow and i’d have an apprentice who would act like the true lord of the sith so i could get away with more

[@JackTheShadowMuncher]

They did think for quite sometime that Dooku was the Sith master.

[@RadioJosiah]

It would have been folly to feign tipping his hand that far, because then the Jedi would think they had a solid enough lead to start pressing. They would interpret Palpatine as knowing the secret, and wanting to talk. Their perception was that he was being manipulated in a manner he was oblivious to-- meaning they would get nothing but alienation if they tried pressing him.

[@romulusbonaparte320]

@@RadioJosiah reasonable

[@Killthesefears]

It’s crazy because I think we jump on the Jedi as being ignorant but the Sith specifically Sidious did so much to keep his identity a secret. Like it said, so often, he was basically a master of puppets orchestrating everything and not only that, but there was a Sith holocron at the base of the Jedi temple, and if you think about that, that explains a lot of the interference from the Darkside that will cause the Jedi to not be able to see clearly. We could see it clearly, but they could not and they couldn’t because of Sidious’ ploys.

[@skorpion3993]

God imagine if Mas Amedda actually was Darth Sidious, that would’ve been even more terrifying than Palpatine. Chagrians were massively strong and Mas Amedda was like 6’5, if he had Palpatine’s skill and force abilities ain’t no way any Jedi is standing up to him.

[@mikepatton8691]

Size matters not 😉

[@skorpion3993]

@@mikepatton8691 It doesn’t but at the same time he would be devastating if he had the power Palpatine has put into his body, fighting him in lightsaber combat would’ve been brutal. You see how good Savage Oppress was despite probably only having 1/5 of Palpatines skill with a lightsaber, and hence why I believe Pong Krell was probably in the top 5 most powerful Jedi in the clone wars era.

[@JackTheShadowMuncher]

@@skorpion3993 ummm physical strength means nothing when you’re on the level of Sidious. Mas Amedda having the same force powers as Sidious wouldn’t make him any stronger

[@mikepatton8691]

@@skorpion3993 Clone troopers made Pong Krell their biatch, so that's not going to look good on his resume.

[@skorpion3993]

@@JackTheShadowMuncher You’re missing the point. He wouldn’t be any more powerful in the force no, but in lightsaber combat he would be a nightmare, he would have Sidious’s skill but unlike Sidious he would be a muscular 6’5 beast instead of a small human. That and he would look incredibly intimidating.

[@artificialred1995]

Excellent video, really enjoyed watching this one!

[@danielborkowski2247]

I mean Dooku said the Republic is now under the control of a sith lord. Palpatine just recently became chancellor and kept gain more power from the senate. With all the wisdom of the jedi counsel they couldn't deduce that he was the sith lord.

[@jameshetherington1]

To be fair to the council he lied about literally everything else and this was right before he outed himself as a Sith and started a war with the Jedi and republic It's not exactly solid proof the guy whose been chancellor 10 years is his master

[@danielborkowski2247]

@@jameshetherington1 but enough to start an investigation

[@jameshetherington1]

@@danielborkowski2247 they were investigating we only see the end of it in the films - that's the whole reason Anakin was assigned to spy on him Palpatine had amassed a lot of bureaucratic protection using proxies to prevent the Jedi from investigating however they want

[@decepticonxhunter4850]

Dooku's exact words were that hundreds of senators were under the influence of the Sith. Dooku in no way directly implicated that the chancellor was a Sith. You simply think the Jedi should've jumped to that conclusion with no evidence. Given the Sith's habit of lying and creating discord, the Jedi had no reason to believe him, and you know it.

[@PrussianZwei]

"Your arrogance blinds you" - Sidious

[@real.ocelot]

"Somehow Palpatine has returned". Disney Pics.

[@cardsfan1590]

I always thought it was that gangsta hood he had on his cloak,that damn thing always stayed on his head

[@homiesenatep]

This is good wisdom in real life, you can entrust that you have all the “intuition” and “insight” about who is evil or not. But then when someone evil pops in your very eyes, you might not see them at all

[@Mutepoet379]

Kreia from KOTOR 2 was so adept at masking her presence with the force that there were people on the small ship she was traveling on that had no idea she existed lol

[@mauricerose3082]

"Sifo-Dyas was a male Human Jedi Master who served the Jedi Order during the last decades of the Galactic Republic. When the Sith were revealed to have returned during the Invasion of Naboo in 32 BBY, Master Sifo-Dyas secretly commissioned the creation of a clone army, placing an order with the Kaminoan government before he was murdered by his friend, Count Dooku." "He also carried around two lightsabers, one of which became the first Jedi lightsaber of General Grievous." "The Trade Federation was controlled in secret by two Sith Lords in their plot to destroy the Jedi Order, and rule the galaxy: Darth Plagueis, also known as Hego Damask of Damask Holdings and the InterGalactic Banking Clan; and his apprentice Darth Sidious, under the guise of popular Senator Palpatine of Naboo. After infiltrating the Galactic Republic, they would ensure the fall of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, and that Palpatine was elected in his place, with Hego Damask as Co-chancellor."

[@ATalesTruth-]

As a wise man once said “Assumption is the mother of all failures” And another great line is “Arrogance leads to the highest form of stupidity”

[@akunbora]

In this type of video, I often see at least a comment quote, “Only a Sith deals in absolutes.” But now when it somehow fit with the title, I found none . Disappointed. 😒

[@dragnet53]

I want to know who the blue horned guy that is always near Palpatine? 2:55

[@sirreepicheeprules7443]

It stands to reason that if you cannot best your enemy in battle, to instead infiltrate their ranks and work your way up, bring some of your friends in along the way and slowly take control of the enemy from within. You may have heard the saying 'if you can't beat em, join em...' and then destroy them from within.