There is a rumor that has begun to pick-up a rather lot of steam, as of late, regarding a villain in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The rumor holds that Darth Plagueis, Emperor Plaptine/Darth Sidious’ Sith Master, is either alive and well, or a Force ghost, controlling Kylo Ren and the First Order from his evil castle on a remote planet.
The rumor also goes on to say that Luke Skywalker is guarding Darth Plagueis’ tomb which is located on a remote jungle-type planet, or watching his evil Sith castle on same remote jungle-planet, in order to keep one of the most powerful Sith in the universe from re-creating the Sith Empire. As rumors go, this one may be out there, but until December, when The Force Awakens hits theaters, we won’t know.
So, just who is Darth Plagueis, and how does he figure into the Star Wars universe? Remember back with, if you will, to Star Wars: Episode VI Revenge of the Sith, when Emperor Palpatine tells Anakin Skywalker about the tragedy of Darth Plagueis.
"“Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create…life. He had such a knowledge of the Dark Side, he could even keep the ones he cared about…from dying.”"
Anakin was trying to save Padme, whom he had incorrectly seen dying from childbirth in a Force dream. As we know, Padme died from heartbreak, learning what Anakin had ultimately become…Darth Vader. Anakin asks Palpatine if Plagueis was successful.
"“He became so powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power…which, eventually of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Ironic. He could save others from death…but not himself.”"
Little did Anakin know at the time, but Emperor Palpatine was speaking from first hand experience, as he was Plagueis’ Sith apprentice, named Darth Sidious.
Darth Plagueis (A Muun), rose to power, as all Sith did during the time of the Sith law set down by Darth Bane, The Rule of Two, by killing his master, Darth Tenebrous.
“Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it.“
While his Master lay slowly dying, Plaugueis observed the midi-chlorians slowly dying and leaving his body. This would be the starting point for a life-long obsession with immortality, that resulted in the birth of Anakin Skywalker.
To shorten this long history of one of the most powerful and influential Sith Lords in Sith history, Plagueis found his apprentice Palpatine on Naboo, and noticed that the you and inspiring senator from a royal house, displayed strong connections to the Force. During the years of Sidious’ training, Plagueis was attacked and almost killed, having the lower half of his face cut off, resulting in him having to wear a re-breather device.
Darth Plagueis figure
Once trained in the ways of the Dark Side, Palpatine made a bid for the Galactic Senate and eventual Grand Chancellor. However, in his alter ego of Darth Sidious, he secretly planned to kill his Master. Sidious had begun to train a new apprentice named Darth Maul, which would in turn make Sidious a Sith Lord…but one thing stood in his way; the Rule of Two and Darth Plagueis.
When the time came, Sidious plied his Master with heavy drink, and once Plaguies passed out from the drink, he began to unleash a terrible barrage of Sith lightning upon him. Sidious enjoyed his Master’s agony, and watched with glee as he slowly tortured his master to death.
Once Darth Plagueis died, Sidious experienced a huge disturbance in the Force. He interpreted the shift as a sign that the Force had anointed him the sole remaining Master of the Dark Side. However, he also experienced sadness and loss in the Force.
Sidious feared that the cause of his unrest, was a sign that his former Master’s experiments had succeeded after all, that Plagueis’ spirit had somehow survived his earthly body’s death. He was afraid that Plagueis would return to exact vengeance upon his treacherous apprentice.
But that is not the way of the Sith, nor was it the way of Darth Plagueis. If nothing, Plaguies was a calm and controlling Sith Lord. He was never rash, nor did he make any moves, without first evaluating every angle, possibility, and outcome.
So, now that you know the saga of Darth Plagueis, how do you think he could possibly fit into Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Recently, concept art for TFA has surfaced, of a Muun with a red lightsaber, in a battle with a female that appears to be Rey.
Now, this is just concept art, but it does seem like a Plagueis-type Sith Lord is clearly shown. Going back to Kylo Ren, and who could possibly be pulling his strings. In the first Force Awakens trailer, a voice is heard (later confirmed to be Andy Serkis), saying:
"“There’s been an awakening…have you felt it? The Dark Side…and the Light”"
Serkis is famous for his motion capture acting (Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit as Gollum and Planet of the Apes as Caesar), and as we know that Darth Plagueis is an alien species called the Muun, he would be the perfect fit for this role. Also, what better line for a Sith Lord obsessed with immortality and rebirth in the Force, than the one above?
Will Darth Plagueis be the actual big-bad villain, pulling Kylo Ren’s strings from the shadowy confines of his supposed tomb or castle? Is Luke trying to stop him? These are all just rumors and should be taken as such, but now that you are familiar with the character of Plagueis, perhaps now you will be thinking about it, that much more.
Next: Star Wars: The Force Awakens - A Closer Look at Kylo Ren