Would Qui-Gon Have Joined the Separatists?

What Do You Think?

By Culture SlatePublished 3 years ago • 3 min read

Qui-Gon Jinn had unique political opinions for a Jedi. He did not always agree with the order, and his decisions and choices cost him a seat on the Jedi Council, in spite of his knowledge of the Force and reputation. Given Qui-Gon’s differences with the Jedi leadership and his history as a padawan of Count Dooku, would Qui-Gon have joined the Count as Dooku suggested to Obi-Wan on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones?

While the discussion does not begin here, the intrigue is cemented in Obi-Wan’s discussion with Count Dooku while imprisoned on Geonosis. In that conversation, Count Dooku suggesed that Qui-Gon would have joined his Separatist movement, if he were still alive. Obi-Wan rejected the assertion, in large part due to his imprisonment and Count Dooku’s joining of a dark insurrection against the Republic. But Count Dooku’s assertion suggests an interesting argument. Qui-Gon was not always in line with the Jedi Council on its decisions. Qui-Gon trusted his own instincts, believing he had to act in accordance with the will of the Force. As detailed by Anakin, his prior decisions had kept him off the Council, and his decision to train Anakin, later adhered to by Obi-Wan, was against the Jedi Council’s recommendation as well.

But even though Qui-Gon was a wild card for a Jedi, that does not guarantee that he would have broken with the Jedi Order and allied himself with Count Dooku. His former master was in a unique position to break from the Jedi Order. He was disillusioned with the Jedi Order and especially the Senate’s corruption, was already originally born to the ruler of the planet Serenno, and had a desire to enter politics.

Qui-Gon was a maverick, but still believed strongly in the Jedi way. In spite of his rebellious nature, he strongly believed in the light side of the Force. This was shown true in his ability to become a Force ghost after his death, and his ability to commune with Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon was not at all for joining the Sith as Count Dooku did. He still asked the Jedi Council to train Anakin. He did not avoid them; he just ignored their recommendation (which proved true) that the boy was dangerous. Instead, it’s rather less likely that Count Dooku would have joined the Sith had Qui-Gon survived and had his old padawan to talk to about his differences with the Jedi Council.

The fundamental issue of Qui-Gon’s choice is that he chose the light side, and thus would have rejected the fallen Count Dooku outright. Count Dooku had previously touched the dark side when Qui-Gon was his padawan. Qui-Gon had been captured by a brutal bounty hunter intent on torturing and killing Qui-Gon. Upon Count Dooku’s intervention, he tortured the bounty hunter and used Force lightning. While Qui-Gon did not witness the interaction, he could hear and smell the interaction, and their relationship changed.

Additionally, if Qui-Gon had fallen, he would have had even less chance of retaining and training Anakin, which was one of his primary goals due to his interpretation of the prophecy of the Chosen One. The Jedi, too, would have pulled his padawan away from him if he dropped out of the Jedi Order. In addition to his light side focus, training Anakin would have seemed like too big a focus for Qui-Gon to ignore to turn to the dark side and Count Dooku. And the Jedi would likewise probably not have been very receptive.

Later on, in Revenge of the Sith, Anakin and Padme had a conversation about whether or not they were on the right side of the war. While Qui-Gon was rebellious in nature, it’s unlikely that he would have had the foresight to see that far ahead of the other Jedi or had a strong enough belief to disagree with the Jedi Order on such a dominant issue.

In the end, Count Dooku was falling to the dark side, and Qui-Gon’s death was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Count Dooku’s decision had a much deeper personal backing and reason that Qui-Gon did not have. While Qui-Gon was a maverick and his opinions likely cost him a spot on the Jedi Council, that does not suggest that he would have left the Jedi Order to join the Separatists. Even with his close ties to Count Dooku, Qui-Gon was strongly on the light side of the Force. And perhaps if he had survived, Anakin would have had a different fate as well.

Written By Dave Sacca

Source(s): Screen Rant, Wookieepedia

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