The greatest failures among SW characters

Originally posted by SunRazer
Sidious contradicts that in a source released a month later, Book of Sith, where he claims that whilst he'd entertain apprentices, he'd never cultivate a successor.

If we're going off Legends, sources imply that Tyranus was immediately a Darth upon defecting. It's noted that he stole the Dark Holocron from the Temple in preparation for his transformation into Darth Tyranus. Dooku going back to the Temple after he left the Order makes little sense and I believe it's stated by sources that he left the Temple forever or something. It seems as though Dooku wiped Kamino from the Jedi records, stole the Dark Holocron, and killed Sifo-Dyas, all in preparation for becoming a Sith Lord, and all of this being around the time that Maul met his demise on Naboo. So it would seem that Sidious had pre-arranged some of this with Dooku already.

EDIT: The AotC Visual Dictionary implies that Dooku became Darth Tyranus as he pledged loyalty to Sidious. There's nothing that implies that he had to go through specific trials as in Maul's case, and sources (including the one you posted above) make note of Dooku being pre-trained, which was part of why Sidious took him in - there wouldn't be a need to cultivate him in the same way as Maul.

Not necessarily. Maul wasn't who Palpatine needed from AotC-RotS. Agreed on Anakin, though.

Originally posted by Beniboybling
I never said anything about a successor, only that Palpatine planned to use Maul, not Dooku, as his Sith apprentice.

Ah. But Canon disputes that, or at least muddies that.

But by Legends sources all that happened after Maul's death. Darth Plagueis makes it blatantly clear that Dooku has only just left the Order by the end of TPM (partially motivated by Qui-Gon's death) and though he already seeking to join with the Sith, Palpatine has yet to make contact.

That's the case in Legends, but then, TCW retcons how much of that?

In Legends yes, but we can't assume that is the case with Canon, considering the dating has been changed.

Doesn't the Pyke stuff apply to Legends as well, being part of TCW?

I grant you there remains no reason for Dooku to jump through hoops skill wise in Canon either, but there remains the matter of his loyalty and ability to act as a Sith outside of Force powers and combat abilities. Killing Sifo-Dyas may well have been a test in itself.

Canon also has similar quotes to Legends about Palpatine taking Dooku in because of the latter's prior training and mastery. And yes, Dooku obviously would've faced tests relating to his commitment to the dark side, but not the trials that Maul faced, nonetheless.

And the simple existence of Maul may have made Palpatine hesitant to induct him fully into the fold. Ultimately Dooku was is a very capable dude actively seeking to become a Sith, it would be entirely remiss for Sidious to ignore this opportunity and not exploit Dooku, even if he never intended for him to take Maul's place.

True.

Sure but that's partly the point, Dooku was useful for a time, but Maul would arguably have continued to be useful in the long term, and has a lot more potential as a Force user.

Well, there's the quote saying that Dooku would've rivalled Yoda in time had he not left the Order, and another quote saying that Dooku's potential was enigmatic to even Yoda. But granted, Maul's potential seems greater, yes.

Let's not forget Sheev turned up Mother Talzin for him.

Well, in fairness, Talzin was pretty shit anywhere not called Dathomir, lol. And it's also a matter of her being dogmatic in her Nightsister beliefs, whereas Maul could be much more easily indoctrinated into the Sith Order and would bend the knee far more easily.

@JKBart

Interesting assessment. Thought provoking.