You’re reading part 3 of our Darth Plagueis adaptation series.
Now that we have the format and the cast laid down it is now time for an to discuss the events in the book that will take place in each episode. This consists of ten ~40m episodes selectively covering a roughly 40-year period. However, since this is an adaptation some changes ought to be made for the sake of simplicity and dramatic brevity.
Changes
One minor change revolves around Naboo’s reformist king Bon Tapalo and his ambassador/successor Veruna – I decided to merge them into one character for the sake of consistent character drama without excessive exposition. Similar changes are made throughout in the form of dialogue and minor character arcs.
Even with a TV miniseries there is only so much you can cover in a book this dense and keep the flow going. One crucial change for this adaptation is the point in time where it starts. The book starts with Plagueis killing his own Sith master Darth Tenebrous and would spend the next several chapters routing out other force sensitives Tenebrous trained to ensure there is no challenge to him. The events of these early chapters are mainly a slow burn that don’t need to be explored. So this adaptation of the 1st 8 chapters will mostly be cut, though a few select moments will be told through flashbacks. I want to keep some elements of Plagueis’ Sith portion of his story somewhat of a mystery as this is a kind of character that doesn’t need an in-depth backstory.
This leads to one more change concerning this adaptation and that’s the main focus. Despite this based on the titular character, this miniseries mainly revolves around a young Palpatine and his rise to power. Plagueis will still have a substantial role being Palpatine’s mentor after all and no doubt the character that steals every scene he’s in because of his shakespearean-esque presence. But still it is tradition that Star Wars focuses on a human main character.
Episode 01 – “Enlistment”
Our series starts on the planet Naboo about 40 years before the events of The Phantom Menace.
At this time Naboo was not aligned with the Galactic Republic focusing on a conservative isolationist policy under King Rogar (made up name because he’s not mentioned in the book). However Naboo is an elected monarchy with certain factions looking to elect another royal named Veruna who would open their planet and join with the greater galactic community. This was further encouraged by a new reserve of plasma discovered beneath Naboo’s capital Theed. Sheev Palpatine was among those who supported this movement, though he kept this secret from his father Cosinga who favored Naboo’s isolation.
Sheev Palpatine, who is an accomplished student at the Legislative Youth Program (an organization of student politicians), but lives a sheltered lifestyle thanks to his father. At one point Palpatine was involved in a speed racer crash that killed several people, but his wealthy father’s connections prevented him from receiving any consequences. It would be interesting to have this as some sort of a cold open, perhaps a loose reflection of young Anakin Skywalker. Almost like Anakin raised under different circumstances. In fact this would make a great cold open.
In this 70min long pilot, the 1st 35 minutes are dedicated to showing Palpatine’s life. It is here that we expand a little more on his family with his uncaring stern father, submissive mother. The only family member whom he has any love for was with his sister Juna. Juna is the only person who calls Palpatine by his first name Sheev, a name he despises.
It would be in the 2nd half of the episode that Plagueis would be introduced. Palpatine looks over his datapad feeling low after a bitter argument with his father when he is approached by a tall, lanky-looking Muun. Palpatine recognizes him as Hego Damask, the chairman of the Muun lobbying firm Demask Holdings.
Damask tells Palpatine that he was sent to Naboo by the Intergalactic Banking Clan (IBC) for negotiations to mediate the proposed plasma mine beneath Naboo’s capital Theed (the same plasma facility Qui-Gon, Obi wan, and Darth Maul fought in Episode 1). The problem is the current Naboo government opposes outside parties to excavate Naboo’s resources. However with elections for Naboo’s next monarch, powerful Corporations like the Trade Federation are looking to back a monarch who will support open commerce with the Galaxy.
Upon hearing that Palpatine is a secret supporter of Veruna, Hego sought out the young student. Discovering that they both have a keen interest in geopolitical affairs. The two develop a long conversation taking a tour through Theed. We see it’s monuments, shrines, and even pass by Gungan merchants at the market bazaar. Upon their conversation Palpatine reveals that he desired his family to take on a more active role in Naboo’s politics, both to increase their own wealth and power, and to help their home world make the transition into the modern galaxy. He was soon disappointed to learn that he was alone in this ambition, and that his father not only lacked the ability to improve his family’s standing, but also arrogantly believed he had all the power there was to be gained. Hego Damask, realizing the boy’s inside knowledge of Naboo’s royals, recruits him for corporate and political espionage.
The episode ends with Plagueis looking back thinking in his mind “what a cautious taming he would need, but what an ally he would make, what an ally.”
Episode 02 – “Seduced”
We open with meetings with Hugo and Larsh Hill with regards to the information Palpatine provided analyzing the data on Naboo’s political parties Palpatine provided. Later Plagueis on the planet Malestare discussing a diplomatic business deal with one of his Patrons, Senator Pax Teem observing a pod race. Hugo Damask pays little attention to his patrons words dwelling on the recent the potential he’s s
Hugo Damask returns to Naboo to seek further information from Palpatine regarding Naboo’s plasma. Upon arrival he was stopped and escorted by the guards of Palpatine’s father Cosinga. A stern traditionalist gives a lecture about Naboo’s history and makes it very clear that his bankers are not welcome in his planets affairs (definitely some racist undertones with this guy – “You… BANKERS!”) warns Sidious to cease making contact with his son and that he transferred Palpatine to the planet Chandrala.
Traveling to Chandrala, knowing Cosinga’s spies would follow, Hego would find Palpatine warning him of his father’s intentions. Here we get an emotional scene by Palpatine expressing his true desire was “I don’t want to live as ordinary beings live, I want to be a force of change, I want …. To RULE.” in a sad uneasy tone. “If not power then nothing”. Far from being put off from Sidious’ ambition, the old Muun encourages Palpatine’s goal with his own advice.
Plagues discusses his backstory about his childhood on Mygeeto, because he was born to a mother outside of his clan Hugo was an outsider to most of his family. Eventually all his family died of a genetically passed illness that Hugo was immune from. One key part mentioned was how he paid a phony genealogist that prescribed phony treatment to accelerate their demise. In the end Hugo Damask was the last man standing, inheriting their assets one by one until he became sole possessor of his father’s conglomerate Damask Holdings. This was a crucial moment because this wisdom he teaches to Palpatine, to cling to power one step at a time while maintaining a public facade of a grieving family member.
Upon parting ways Palpatine was confronted by guards loyal to his father who forcefully moved him to his family’s starship. On the ship after a huge argument upon Cosinga revealing he’s going to be transferred once again Palpatine goes into a rage and unleashes his force powers where “where all in this now” the force rage Palpatine inflicts into killing his family and all the crew. Palpatine emerged from the blast horrified not for killing his father, but his only sister Juna. After a remorseful scene of Palpatine grieving the loss of his sister he contacts Hugo Damask and tells him everything. Damask promises that everything would be taken care of, ending their conversation with, “congratulations on emancipating yourself”.
A week after contacting Plagueis arrives on Palpatine’s cold dark ship that’s been in deep space. We see a cold shivering Palpatine look on with bewilderment that it took so long for Hugo to reach him. In typical business savvy he deflects arguments by saying “I had business to attend to”.
It was this scene that Hego Demask unveils his true identity as a Sith Lord Darth Plagueis, a society that Palpatine heard of in passing in his studies. Upon realizing that Demask has the same powers and can show him a true path Palpatine knelt, pledging his loyalty to the Order of the Sith lords. Plagueis would bestow the title “Sidious” onto him before both characters look into a large glass window, staring into the galexy as the camera fades out.
This was my favorite scene in the entire book.
– Peter Hortensius, Head Writer @ Crude-Mirror.com
Episode 03 – “Apprentice to Power”
Set several weeks after the previous episode delves straight into Sidious’ trials.
This episode starts out with a cold open from the book with young Palpatine (still played by Timothee Chalamet) during his first days of training. For days the young vulnerable Sidious had been climbing a mountain in a blizzard on Plagueis’ home world of Mygeeto.
Through force echo Plagueis gives a long speech about how it was this mountain that Plagueis was first aware of his powers as a child. There is a critical moment in his speech that Plagueis gives that truly defines the difference between the Sith and the Jedi beyond the basic idea of good and evil.
“Their attempts to convince themselves that they were seduced by the dark side, or that the Dark side compelled their actions are nothing more than pitiful rationalizations. That is why the Sith embrace the dark from the start, focusing on the acquisition of power. We make no excuses, The actions of a Sith begin with the self and flow outward. We stalk the force like Hunters rather than surrender like prey to its enigmatic whims.”
– Darth Plagueis
Palpatine finally reaches the top of the mountain at Plagueis feet. Palpitene saying “I understand, Master”. Plagueis responds by tearing a hole out of his envirosuit.
“I’ve once said those same words to my master when in fact I understood nothing I only wanted to put an end to the pain, I am your torturer Sidous – so tell me again how you killed them.”
– Darth Plagueis
We’ve seen what Jedi practice is like, but Sith training is not something we’ve seen on screen before. This training is the parallel opposite of Luke’s and master Yoda. Plagueis is uncompromising and ruthless, subjugating his young apprentice with numerous almost impossible tasks under the worst conditions. These are trials meant to inflict pain and anger that fuels his powers.
The episode cuts 11 years later on the remote, rugged planet of Hypori. Sidious (now played by Tom Hiddleston) under his master’s guidance continues his training. In an open clearing Plagueis displays his abilities with Sith lightning igniting the surrounding brush.
“Force lightning requires strength only a Sith can command, because we accept consequence and reject compassion”.
– Darth Plagueis
The burning of the land has garnered the attention of the planet’s local tribes known as the Kursids. Because the Sith have visited this world every decade the Kursid develop a cult around them, not as beings to be worshiped but to be hunted. After a prolonged action sequence Plagueis dispatched the last survivor, extracting its heart and taking a bite out before passing it on to Palpatine.
Episode 04 – “The Shape of His Shadow”
Set in a cold open, Palpatine – eager to learn more about the dark side from other sources – lands on a trade settlement on the nearby planet Dathomir. There he is approached by a force sensitive witch known as a night sister, the women sensing a hidden power within Palpatine requests that he take in a Zabrak baby the night sister claimed was her son who she named Maul. Recognizing the potential of this infant in the grand plan Sidious agrees to take in the newborn on the condition that she never shows her face or make contact again – to which she accepts.
We flash forward a few months later where we see Palpatine, now Naboo’s ambassador formulating a diplomatic deal with Senator Pax Teem of Malestare concerning the continued business of Naboo. Here we can see Palpatine in his element as the pollution and diplomat in some ways emulating the commanding public persona of his master.
Upon their reunion on Naboo, Plagueis and Sidious discuss and plan the future overthrow of the Jedi while observing a Droid pit-fight in a private room. Plagueis stated that even in the old days, when the Sith led whole armies, they still couldn’t overthrow the Jedi. Now that they are in positions in political office and business it is now imperative to discuss the “Grand Plan”.
It was Plagueis who suggests that the goal for Palpatine is to be elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic with Palpatine appointing Hego Damask as his Vice Chancellor. When Sidious protests this proposal believing that it should be the other way around, Plagueis explains that only Sheev Palpatine has the political savvy and image to bridge the Republic’s factions together, with the other added bonus in that Palpatine is a human – who many in the Senate believe is more acceptable to the biases that surround the core worlds.
Citing discontent between the outer rim and the core worlds, the two come to a realization that the only way to come to power is to spark a galaxy wide war to gain civil support for a galactic strongman.
Palpatine offers his own addition to the plan. Understanding that the public would have to turn against them for any such plan to have everlasting consequences. he proposes that eventually the Jedi would have to be framed as warmongers and not the guardians of peace as they’ve so named themselves as. Exposing the Jedi’s hypocrisy is the most crucial part of all in the Sith’s grand scheme.
Plagueis would give the first important step for the Sith’s rise to high office, the assassination of Palpatine’s long-time mentor Vidar Kim clearing the way for him to be appointed Senator for Naboo. Sidious’ response was to propose a toast to Plagueis, dubbing his master “Plagueis the Wise”. Despite this praise Plagueis does sense conflict in his apprentice as Vidar Kim was in many ways Palpatine’s other mentor, the only person whom Palpatine had any genuine friendship with.
Episode 05 – “Artful Dodging”
The episode starts with Sidious alone in his apartment remembering his parting words with his master.
“Remember why the Sith are more powerful than the Jedi, Sidious: Because we are not afraid to feel. We embrace the spectrum of emotions, from the heights of joy to the depths of hatred and despair. Fearless, we welcome whatever paths the dark side sets us on, and whatever destiny it lays out for us?”
– Darth Plagueis
Palpatine proceeds to arrange the death of Vidar Kim hiring an assassination cult known as the Maladians to do the Job. Despite their previous friendship Kim has lost touch with reality after the death of his family in a speeder accident in the previous episode. He has been grief-stricken so much so that he has made attempts to contact his son Ronhar Kim in the Jedi order hoping that his son would return to carry his fathers legacy, despite Palpatine’s warnings that the Jedi code forbids this.
Vidar was able to make contact with Ronhar and agreed to meet at Coruscant’s upper level. Eventually taking a tour through Coruscant on a speeder. The speeder crashes into another that was piloted by a Maladian assassin who successfully killed Vidar, but instead of dashing off when the deed was done as instructed, the assassin continued to go after Ronhar looking to add (another) Jedi to their kill list.
This action set piece will be shown onscreen and not mentioned in passing like in the book – and make for a killer trailer shot.
This deviation of the hit complicates the Sith Lord’s plan because this gained the kind of attention which neither Sith sought to have prematurely. Because the assassin persisted in trying to kill the Jedi It was assumed the hit was on the Jedi not the senator. This has prompted the attention of the Jedi Council.
In addition, for clearing the way for Palpatine’s Senatorial appointment, Kim’s assassination was also meant to be a message some of Hego Demask’s other patrons including the highly influential senator from Malestare, Pax Teem. Kim’s death appears to be more like collateral damage than a targeted hit.
In a meeting room we see Plagueis discuss a meeting with Jedi masters Syfo Dyas, Dooku, and a young Qui-Gon Jinn. The meeting was about their shared concerns about the increasing tension between the core worlds and factions within the mid and outer rim worlds over concerns with trade and representation in galactic affairs.
At the same time Sidious begins to befriend Vidar Kim’s son, part of it to get information about the Jedi order and to start connections that could benefit the senator politically. This was also a test for Sidious to properly conceal his force powers in front of other force users, since Jedi have been known to sense its presence in other beings.
With Palpatine now appointed senator things look like it is going to be smooth for their plan going forward until he is approached by the same assassin vendor (Sate Pestage) whom he hired, He becomes surrounded by other henchmen holding Palpatine at gunpoint. The young senator, being cheeky, surrenders.
Episode 06 – “The Canted Circle”
Palpatine is taken to a room where he is greeted by a hologram of Pax Teem. Because of a bad deal the Maladian assassins made with Palpatine they were hired by Pax to stall any further progress with the Senators anti-corruption stance. To further damage Palpatine’s aspirations Pax hired the assassin cult to target his public ally Hego Damask. After the hologram Sidious uses the force on the unsuspecting guards and dashed away.
Meanwhile, Plagueis is attending a ceremony at the Order of the Canted Circle, a Freemason-like society made up of some of the republic’s most influential beings. The event was for his longtime business companion Larsh Hill (father of future IBC chairman San Hill). In the middle of the Ritual, Hugo feels a disturbance in the force. He can sense danger is near, but chooses not to react in fear of revealing his powers too early. Out of the shadows the Maladian assassins sent by Pax Teem launch a volley of decapitator discs.
The assassins decapitated much of the IBC leaders including Hugo’s friend Larsh. Despite being severely wounded and unarmed Plaguis was able to fight off these shadow assassins (a very grisly scene in the book). One power used by Plagueis was similar to The Force Unleashed game where he does a force repulse that completely atomized some of the assassins. Palpatine enters the room with Hugo’s private security, the Sun Guard who ward off the remaining assassins.
Knowing who the culprits are, Palpatine tracks down Senator Pax Teem. Using both his force powers and his lightsaber he cuts a path through before using the force to engulf the building with fire with Pax becoming consumed. Entire building becomes reduced to rubble leaving no evidence of what transpired.
Episode 07 – “Quantum Being”
Now is when we dive into Plageueis’ own backstory to our audience.
A month after killing Plagueis summons Sidious to his secret lab on the Planet Aborah This is the first time Palpatine has entered his master’s Sith lair where he keeps much of his personal secrets.
Hego’s droid 11-4D tours him through the premises revealing cages housing several creatures. In a line that confused Sidious 114d claims that many of these creatures were “his masters pregnancies” The droid would lead to a test tank to which a damaged being lays in stasis. “that is Venamis,” Plagueis says as he enters the scene. The assassination attempt has left Plaguies lower face disfigured causing him to where a breather mask.
Through flashback Plaguis reveals that Venamis was a 2nd secret apprentice of his own master, Darth Tenebrous. Venamis was sent to kill Plagus upon the murder of their master. After a long duel Plagueis defeats Venamis to which he willingly commits himself to Plaguis’s cause, volunteering to become his guinea pig.
In the book, Venamis was described as a Bith, the same alien as the cantina band in A New Hope. In this I decided to change it to a human or human-like alien to bring more expression out.
When Sidious asks about what the droid meant by “pregnancies” in his lab. Plagueis explains that the creatures in the room were not conceived naturally. Instead Plagueis would influence the midichlorians in the animals’ cells in a way where cells could be replicated, creating life. Yes, midichlorians will still be a thing in this.
The episode ends with Plagueis and Sidious using the force to reach out to the galaxy to “create life”. What both characters didn’t know was this ritual reaching out with the force was the essence that conceived Anakin Shywalker. So technically this would make Darth Plagueis Anakin’s “father”.
Episode 08 – “Mastery”
Now just two years before the events of episode one, the seeds of the first film have been put in motion. Palpatine (now played by Ian McDiarmid again) continues his public persona as Senator of Naboo while at the same time courting Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation.
Plagueis has become more reclusive persisting with his experiments doing most of his businesses on holograms (it’s almost like he’s practicing social distancing). He still where’s his breather but takes it off upon meditation and food, revealing a disfigured Jaw that had to be reconstructed surgically.
It Is important to note that this episode must delve into the overall context between the Trade Federation and Naboo.
The main cause of this whole conflict was given in the opening intro about the “Taxation of trade routes to the outlying systems”. Very little context was given in the film, but the simplified reason is that the Senate passed new tariffs on outer rim goods. Basically, in this version the taxation is imposed on the Trade Federation by the Senate that was meant to help civil development on the outer rim. Naboo was a major route from the core worlds to the outer rim.
The Trade Federation who provides resources from the outer rim to the mid rim core worlds opposed such tariffs because it would impede further profits. Naboo was a major mid-rim world because of its rich supply of plasma. Since Naboo opened ties with the republic much of their plasma export was done supervised by the Trade Federation. However, tensions have slowly soured when Senator Palpatine was the one who proposed such legislation. Because of its position along the main routes Naboo was a main target to cut it off from the republic.
Episode 09 – “Loose Ends”
Because of rising tensions with the trade federation Naboo begins to arm itself. Despite the republic’s constitution forbidding a standing army they provide provisions for star systems to equip theirs. Palpatine shows King Veruna Naboo’s new Nubian class starfighters. Senator Palpatine reveals that he plans to vote for the increased taxation of the free trade zones. Veruna opposes this new legislation and threatens to recall Palpatine.
Soon after Palpatine consults with his longtime student friend Ruwee Naberrie. There he proposes supporting their Daughter the 12-year old Governess of Theed, Padme Nabare, as Naboo’s next queen. Addressing Ruwee’s concerns about Padme’s age Palpatine addresses that Naboo has elected queens even younger and that Padme under his tutelage has the potential to become a successful monarch. (Naboo’s government age requirements are weird)
King Veruna has also started to break ties with Hego Demask, believing that Demask Holdings has had too much influence in Naboo’s Trade policies, sends his new Starfighter force to bomb Hugo Demask’s private retreat – which also happens to house his secret lab. Plagueis bids goodbye to a stasis Venamis before making his escape through a secret tunnel out before the building collapses. The blast also unintentionally destroys all evidence of all of Hego’s ties to the Sith.
Veruna believes he succeeded, however when the HoloNet reveals that his little assasination attempt was conducted through dealings with the Hutts to make this sneak attack possible, fearing a scandal Veruna abdicates and clears the way for Padme Nebare to be elected as Queen Amidala.
Plagueis infiltrates the now former-King Varuna’s residence. After revealing his true identity and that of his master, Plagius kills Veruna by splitting his midichlorians from his cells making it look like he died of an illness. Despite his isolation, Plagius is now more powerful than every sith that came before… except for his longtime apprentice.
Episode 10 – “Ascendence”
This final episode goes parallel to the events of The Phantom Menace. Palpatine is running as supreme chancellor and at the same time Plagueis is bankrolling his campaign and giving the ideas about the clone army to Jedi master Sifo Dyas.
Despite his seclusion, Plagueis has always kept tabs on Sidious’ actions – especially his training of the acolyte assassin Maul – wary he could potentially be overthrown. However, Plagueis has become increasingly obsessed with a young boy that the Jedi have picked on Tatooine. Plagueis (now returning to public life without his breather) clandestinely finances Palpatine’s election and persuades senators to look the other way.
SIDE NOTE: It’s pretty obvious that the Galactic Republic is far from a direct democracy – that it’s the Senators and Representatives themselves that nominate and vote for their chancellor, similar to the Vatican’s College of Cardinals or the Roman Republic. Like Palpatine, many of these senators were appointed from their planet’s aristocratic families so only an Elite body of a few thousand may choose their leader.
– Peter Hortensius, Chief Political Shark @ Crude-Mirror.com
The climax of this episode and indeed this whole miniseries ends with Darth’s Plagueis and Sidious in his apartment celebrating the apparent realization of their plan 1000 years in the making, the Sith have finally assumed the highest authority in the galaxy. (Kill Bill p2 scene inspiration) Reflecting on their past conversation of how their plan first took shape, Hego presumed that the plan was still to have himself appointed by Palpatine as Vice-Chancellor.
Sidious, however, had other plans. After dulling Plagueis’ wits and senses with his special brand of Sullustian wine, Sidious shocks his master’s chest with a blast of force lightning. Despite his external wounds having healed, his heart and respiratory system have not fully recovered since his encounter with the assassins. Plagueis becomes paralyzed unable to move as Sidious gives his speech to his dying master.
“Rest easy in your grave my old master, in the end the Sith will have their revenge and I will rule the galaxy”
– Darth Sidious, Supreme Chancellor
Sidious ignites his lightsaber blade through the Muun’s chest giving a deviously perverse smile. Now with his election to Supreme Chancellor secured, it was now time for Sidious to assume his place as the true lord of the Sith ending with his iconic laugh.
In an epilogue We cut to a few years later with Chancellor Palpatine in his office. The Chancellor finishes his meeting with Dooku who recently left the order following the death of his former apprentice qui gon. Dooku now believes that despite the Republic’s new leadership he doesn’t believe the system can be fixed. There are talks among mid and outer Rim worlds about secession that Dooku wants to solve a problem that the Jedi cannot. Palpatine says goodbye “I do hope he can find new ways for us to resume our “partnership” in the years to come. After Dooku walks out we see a now 11-year-old Anakin entering his office. They have a conversation with Palpatine telling Anakin that he can talk to him about anything he has trouble with he can consult him.
“As I have said before, on Naboo, we will watch your career, with great interest.”
–PalpatineSidious, biding his time.
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