In addition to Darth Vader, the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series (arriving May 27 on Disney+) will have a new villain, Inquisitor Reva, Third Sister, played by Moses Ingram. If the photos are any indication, Reva will be a formidable villain, but only time will tell if she'll join the ranks of iconic Star Wars baddies like Darth Vaders, Darth Maul, and Kylo Ren. That elite villain status isn't always easy to achieve, and nobody can attest to that more than Darth Tyrannus, better known as, Count Dooku.
Portrayed by Christopher Lee in the movies and Corey Burton in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Dooku is one of the more interesting villains but sadly, he is overshadowed by other fan favorites. This is a shame because everything from his history with the Jedi to his immense power deserves recognition.
A Fallen Jedi
Like Anakin Skywalker after him, Count Dooku of Serenno was indeed a Master of the Jedi Order. Typically, Sith apprentices are recruited at a young age, so those like Palpatine can use their youthful spirit and corrupt it.
On the other hand, Dooku was an older man when he turned his back against the Jedi. He was always defiant when it came to how the Jedi operated and all it took was the loss of someone he cared about for Palpatine to take advantage.
An Iconic Lightsaber
Resembling older fencing swords of Earth's history, Dooku's curved lightsaber became one of the most recognized lightsabers in Star Wars history. Other characters who have wielded curved hilts, include Dooku's apprentice Asajj Ventress.
However, none have quite reached the same level of iconism as Dooku's, hence why it even became one of the best Legacy lightsabers at Galaxy's Edge. Much like Dooku himself, the curved hilt gives a sense of elegance and grace compared to other Sith lightsabers that are designed to be bigger and scarier.
Dooku Isn't Entirely Wrong
There is no denying that what Dooku does during the Clone Wars is wrong. However, his reasons for betraying the Republic as well as the Jedi Order were not that hard to understand.
Count Dooku saw that the Jedi had fallen from grace, that they were no longer protectors of peace. The Jedi cared too much about intervening in politics and letting their hubris get to them. In a way, he was correct and the tragic deaths of Order 66 show that... but at the same time, the Sith were no better.
One Of The Greatest Duelists
With one of the most unique lightsabers, Count Dooku was considered one of the greatest lightsaber duelists in the galaxy during the Clone Wars. This is why he was able to dispatch both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker so easily in Attack of the Clones.
During the Clone Wars, Dooku would rarely lose in a lightsaber battle thanks to his fighting form, which focused mainly on parrying and using the opponent's momentum against them. Plus, he would always fight his opponents with a sense of class, wielding his lightsaber gracefully.
He Trained Three Different Apprentices
The rule of the Sith is that there must only be two: one master and one apprentice. As Darth Tyrannus, Count Dooku defied this rule multiple times across the Clone Wars. Dooku was the one who trained General Grevious in the Jedi art of lightsaber combat, which made him a consistent threat.
On top of that, Dooku had his own Sith apprentice in the form of Asajj Ventress, whom Dooku would eventually betray. This led to Dooku training Darth Maul's brother, Savage Opress, who was secretly the apprentice of Ventress. In a way, Dooku was on his way to being as much of a Sith Lord as Palpatine was.
The Master Of Qui-Gon Jinn
It was easy to understand why Palpatine corrupted Dooku even more so easily, as Dooku was the Jedi mentor of Qui-Gon Jinn. Dooku was already unlike other Jedi, and he viewed Qui-Gon as more than a student — he cared for him like he would a son.
It's ironic that Dooku would end up serving the man who trained his apprentice's killer. This somewhat explains why Dooku has a tendency to torment Obi-Wan, perhaps blaming him for not saving Qui-Gon. However, the comics also show that Dooku feels guilt over Qui-Gon's death.
The Classiest Sith In The Galaxy
Whether it's Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, or Darth Maul, most Sith put their rage and brutality on full display for everyone to see and fear. Count Dooku was different in this regard, relying on his wits, charm, and calm nature to manipulate others.
His lightsaber and Force abilities came as a last resort and even then, Dooku didn't rely on intimidation. He gave off the vibe that of all of the Sith, he is the one who could sit down and listen to reason. However, Dooku was still villainous; he was swift and was unforgiving the entire time, letting his effectiveness strike fear in the hearts of his enemies and even his apprentices.
As Powerful As Master Yoda
Being the grandmaster of the Jedi Order, Yoda is a strong Force-sensitive being. So far, only one person has managed to overpower him with the Force, and that was Palpatine. Meanwhile, Dooku and Yoda were at a stalemate in Attack of the Clones when it came to a battle of the Force.
So, it became a battle of lightsabers and the two continued to be nearly equal with each other. Unfortunately, it's uncertain who was better since Dooku escaped before the fight could properly finish.
A Silvertongue To The End
One of the best things about Count Dooku is his taunting of enemies in combat. Dooku was aware that he was certainly skilled, but also powerful. Plus, his wealth as a count made him a bit pompous. While fighting, he had a tendency to espouse burns in such a charismatic way that it was hard to hate him.
This could also have been a fighting tactic, toying with his enemy so that their frustration made them slip up, allowing him to take advantage. As a result, Count Dooku had some exquisite quotes in the Star Wars franchise.
It's The One And Only Christopher Lee
No matter how well a movie character is written, it's the actor who defines them. Lee embued the actor with his natural charm and made Dooku even more enjoyable to watch.
That's not to say Burton did a poor job as the voice of Dooku in other forms of media, but it's hard to compare him to the man who portrayed Saruman, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and so many other iconic characters.