Mace Windu is one of the most unique Jedi Masters in the entire Star Wars universe. So much of that uniqueness is not only brought to light by some of the small details that set him apart from other Jedi, but also by the talent and hard work of the acting legend that portrayed him on the big screen, Samuel L. Jackson. On top of Jackson's killer take on the Master Jedi, we've also seen Windu's complex character expanded upon through comics, animation, and novels. Through these media outlets, we've seen Mace achieve some pretty impressive feats.
He was a fair and just leader within the Jedi Order, but he was also a man of strong convictions. He didn't approve of any outside interference in the day-to-day of the Order, especially from the Senate. Mace also had very little tolerance for rebellious Jedi (like Qui-Gon Jinn), who had trouble sticking to the Jedi Code. While he didn't mind getting involved in the liberation of a planet (mainly during the Clone Wars), he never became involved in the politics that each planet subscribed to. George Lucas definitely made the right choice when he cast this Jedi Master.
Check out 15 Things You Didn't Know About Mace Windu.
Mace can see shatterpoints in the force
One of the coolest things about Mace Windu that sets him apart from all other Jedi is his ability to see "shatterpoints" in the force. As described by Windu: "When I look at you through the force, I see where you break." Shatterpoints allow people to briefly sense a momentary weakness and influence it to their will.
A great example of Mace using his power comes from the Revenge of The Sith novel, when Mace is dueling Palpatine and Anakin arrives. He's holding off Palpatine's lightning, and while he does that, he suddenly sees the "absolute shatterpoint of the Sith" and Palpatine's absolute trust in Anakin. He could feel the Chancellor wasn't worried or afraid at all when Anakin arrived on the scene.
Unfortunately for Mace, the situation ends the same way as it does in the movie.
He caused General Grievous' cough
Remember that annoying cough General Grievous had during Revenge Of The Sith? That was thanks to Mace Windu.
In the Cartoon Network animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, we see General Grievous abducting the Chancellor (showing the event that led into Episode III) and taking him onto his shuttle to leave Coruscant. As they board the ship, he turns around to see Mace Windu advancing towards him, and right as he is prepared to fight him with his four lightsabers, Mace seemingly force crushes his chest in. This huge blow to his chest makes Grievous drop to his knees, and it's the first time we hear the cough that we remember him for. It's easily one of the finest displays of Mace's true power.
The success of his master/padawan relationship
Mace Windu racked up an impressive list of achievements during his time as a Jedi for the Galactic Republic. While most of them included battles won and worlds saved, one of his greatest achievements was through his padawan learner, Depa Billaba. Jedi teachers didn't always get to see their apprentices come to be full fledged Jedi Knights. Some didn't pass the Jedi trials, others turned to the dark side, and still others were killed prematurely. One of the most notable successes of the master-apprentice partnerships belongs to Mace and his apprentice. Windu originally saved the young girl from a group of pirates on her homeworld of Chalacta, and she then came under his tutelage. Over the years, she progressed from Padawan to Jedi Knight, eventually becoming a full-on Jedi Master who even sat on the High Council next to her former master.
It makes sense that the apprentice of this powerful Jedi followed in the same path to success!
How Mace acquired his Violet lightsaber crystal
Before the introduction of the new canon from Lucasfilm and Disney, lightsaber crystals weren't able to adjust their color to the user and were set from their creation.
While there are some other colors seen in Star Wars media other than the standard green and blue (most notably light blue and yellow from The Clone Wars series), we have only seen one Jedi with a violet bladed lightsaber: Mace Windu. His original story states that he acquired this unique crystal at the age of 14, when at his request, he traveled to the planet Hurikane. The indigenous people that were settled there attacked him at first. After shattering one of their tribesman, Mace actually used the force to reconstruct him, and after seeing that, the tribe presented him with his violet crystal.
If we ever see a Mace Windu origin story, this should definitely be included!
He developed his own form of lightsaber combat
There are only a handful of lightsaber combat forms in the Star Wars Universe, and to be the creator of one definitely means you know your stuff.
Not only is Mace Windu a superior combat specialist, but he developed the last of the seven known lightsaber combat forms, called Vaapad. It is said to be more than just a lightsaber form, but also a state of mind. The duelist would channel his inner darkness as well as use his own opponent's fury to gain the advantage. It teetered on the edge of using the dark side, and if it's not used properly, it could lead one down that path. As Windu once said to Obi Wan Kenobi, "I created Vaapad to answer my own weakness. It channels my own darkness into a weapon of light."
We can definitely see this form in effect during his duel with the Chancellor!
Yoda gave him his name
Mace Windu has known no other life than that of the Jedi Order. Fifty or so years before the Clone Wars, Mace Windu was born on the planet Horuun Kal to an indigenous tribe, the Ghosh Windu. His parents had died not long after his birth, and when he was six months old, he was discovered by Jedi archaeologists, having been given up by the tribe before he was properly named. Windu was then immediately taken to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Not only was Yoda essentially Mace's parental guardian (like most Jedi younglings as Yoda taught all of them), but he originally was the one that gave him his name.
Who knew that this young child would end up surpassing the legendary Jedi Master in rank by becoming the Grand Master of the Jedi Order? Oh right, we should probably talk about that.
Mace was grand master of the Jedi order
Most people assume that Jedi Master Yoda always held the title of Grand Master. Surprisingly, however, Mace Windu held that title up until the start of the Clone Wars. While Yoda was the one to raise and train Windu, he wasn't concerned with the titles and rankings of the Jedi. Mace was one of the youngest Jedi in history to attain the rank of Master at age 28, where he earned a seat on the High Council.
After the Battle of Geonosis, Mace relinquished his title of Grand Master and gave it back to Yoda. He did so because he wanted to take a more active role in the Clone Wars and didn't feel like he could do both.
True power is the power to let power go.
Survives being stabbed through the gut by his apprentice
You know you're tough if you can survive being stabbed by a lightsaber.
In the novel Shatterpoint, we see Mace Windu returning to his home planet of Haruun Kal. He had previously received word that his former apprentice, Depa Billaba, had fallen to the dark side during a mission to the jungle planet. Mace traveled to the planet himself and found her "playing dead" in order to bait him in. When he fell for it, she tried to catch him off guard, and the two dueled.
We truly see how tough Mace Windu is during this duel when she put her lightsaber handle up to his gut and ignited it, sending the blade through his torso and out his back. Like a boss, he instinctively grabbed her hand and kept her from removing the lightsaber, keeping him alive.
If only Qui-Gon Jinn had done the same thing!
Windu led the campaign to win the twilek homeworld of ryloth
Late in season 1 of The Clones Wars, in the episode "Liberty on Ryloth", we see one of Mace Windu's most epic displays of battle prowess. The Separatists forces were holding the capitol city Lessu hostage as the Republic forces geared up to take it back, with Mace leading the army. We see him pull off some pretty impressive feats, from levitating clone troopers across a giant ravine to force pushing a large metal gate onto a tank, destroying it.
His leadership and bravery during the siege became legendary - so much so that we hear Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels talk about the day the Jedi helped retake Ryloth. If you're a fan of Mace Windu, you need to watch this episode!
Boba Fett attempted to assassinate Windu
In late season 2 of The Clone Wars, we see young bounty hunter Boba Fett attempting to assassinate Jedi Master Mace Windu. After laying a trap for Windu, Boba blends in among the other young clone cadets. Right as Mace is about to enter his quarters and fall into the trap, he receives word of being needed by Anakin, and has his clone trooper place his belongings in his room. The trooper then sets off the bomb that was meant for Windu, killing him instead.
This leads into an interesting story arc where Mace attempts to help Boba feel remorse for his actions and ends up being imprisoned. This also helps us answer the question of what exactly Boba Fett was up to after the events on Geonosis in Attack of The Clones. Obviously, it's a must watch for any die hard Star Wars fan!
He dueled the leader of the dathomir nightsisters, mother talzin
In season six of The Clone Wars, Mace Windu and Jar Jar Binks embark upon a mission together. In this episode, we see them uncover a plot by the Dathomir Nightsisters, led by their leader Mother Talzin, to sacrifice the Queen of Bardotta during an upcoming planetary alignment. It is revealed that she plans on using the spirit of the Queen combined with her own dark magic to become more powerful than the Jedi or Sith. Shortly thereafter, Mace Windu arrives on the scene and goes toe to toe with Talzin. She conjures some sort of magical sword and she proceeds to duel him with it.
It's a pretty cool sequence that ends with Mother Talzin dissipating into a green dust and floating away, having failed to complete the ritual (thanks to Jar Jar Binks of all people).
Windu knew about the clone army AND decided to keep it a secret
One of the biggest revelations that we learn from the animated series The Clone Wars comes from the tenth episode of season six, "The Lost One". Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi report to the High Council of their discovery that it was actually Count Dooku, not Sifo-Dyas, who ordered the creation of the Clone Army. This revelation comes as a disturbing shock to the council, as their enemy created an army for them.
They immediately decide that this fact needs to be covered up, and must not be known outside the council. They deem that not only would this create chaos, but also deep mistrust in the Jedi Order. They agree that because the clones have proven their valiancy to them time and time again, they will double the efforts to finish the war before their enemy can achieve their scheme.
Samuel L. Jackson's special requests
It's not uncommon for actors, especially those of the A-List variety, to have special requests regarding the characters they play.
Samuel L. Jackson had only two requests when it came to his character, Mace Windu. The first request was pretty subtle. Samuel requested that "BMF" be engraved onto his lightsaber handle. (If you're unfamiliar watch any of Quentin Tarantino's movies with SLJ - especially Pulp Fiction). The production team was happy to indulge him in this regard.
His second request went straight to the boss, George Lucas, who was reluctant at first. After seeing the pre-screening of the Battle of Geonosis, Samuel asked to have his lightsaber color be purple, so that he could easily spot himself among the large number of Jedi and stand out from the crowd.
Eventually, Lucas agreed and made the change, giving Mace Windu his famous violet bladed lightsaber.
The Empire thought that he became the leader of a criminal gang
Unfortunately for Mace Windu, he became the face of the "betrayal" that the Jedi supposedly committed at the end of Revenge of The Sith. When he and a few other Jedi Masters attempted to arrest the Chancellor (a.k.a. Darth Sidious), his actions were eventually twisted into a so-called assassination attempt on the Chancellor's life. (In fairness, the words "he's too dangerous to be left alive" were indeed spoken.)
This was the catalyst for Palpatine to make the Jedi look like traitors to the Republic, as well as transition the Republic into his Empire. The Empire then began to spread propaganda to help smear the name of the Jedi, especially Windu, specifically claiming that he was the leader of a criminal gang who attempted a coup d'état in the Republic.
This manipulation is what helped the Empire snuff out and capture the remaining Jedi spread out across the galaxy.
The future of Mace Windu
One of the coolest surprises at the Star Wars Celebration event in Orlando this year was a video message from the man who played Mace Windu, Samuel L. Jackson.
While the clip started as a tribute to Star Wars fans as well as an apology for his absence, he wrapped things up with a message to Lucasfilm. Jackson stated that throughout the history of Star Wars, it has been fairly common for Jedi to survive long falls, and, clarifying things a bit further: that he wants to see Mace Windu rise again.
In his opinion, with the recent insurgent of Star Wars films including spinoffs and origin movies, this would be the best and possibly last opportunity for Samuel L. Jackson to reprise his role as the much loved Jedi Master. We couldn't agree more.
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Do you know of any other fun facts surrounding Mace Windu? Do you want to see him star in a spinoff? Let us know in the comments.