History YMMV / DarthPlagueis

* CryForTheDevil: Darth Plagueis is just as totalitarian, manipulative and ruthless as most Sith are, and his experiments make him even more twisted than many of them - but in stark contrast to most, he actually ''has'' redeeming qualities. He really believes that the galaxy will benefit from the Sith rule instead of being merely power-hungry, abhorres Bane's rule of betrayal so much as to try to dispose of it entirely, is loyal to those he considers true allies, and on top of it, he actually trusted them back. When he is killed by Sidious, the reader can almost feel that, regardless of how evil Plagueis' own designs were, the galaxy has just gone down a much darker path.

** In ''Revenge Of The Sith'', Palpatine says that "[Plagueis] had such a knowledge of the Dark Side, he could even save the ones he cared about... from dying". Now wait a second, just whom could a [[ReligionOfEvil Sith Lord]] ever actually care about? [[spoiler: Oh, his ''test subjects''...]]
** Though, considering he was willing to destroy a Sith tradition just to share the universe with what he saw as a son, maybe the guy just loved easily.

* {{Narm}}: "Gravid". Seems good if you're going for the connotations of "grave", but less impressive if you know "gravid" is the equivalent word to "pregnant" for egg-bearing animals (and in some languages it just means pregnant). [[UnfortunateNames Darth Laying Hen]]?

* CryForTheDevil: Darth Plagueis is just as totalitarian, manipulative and ruthless as most Sith are, and his experiments make him even more twisted than many of them - but in stark contrast to most, he actually ''has'' redeeming qualities. He really believes that the galaxy will benefit from the Sith rule instead of being merely power-hungry, abhorres Bane's rule of betrayal so much as to try to dispose of it entirely, is loyal to those he considers true allies, and on top of it, he actually trusted them back. When he is killed by Sidious, the reader can almost feel that, regardless of how evil Plagueis' own designs were, the galaxy has just started a much darker path.
* HilariousInHindsight: The fact that Palpatine refuses to go by his first name is much more amusing in light of the bemused reactions many fans had to learning that his Canon first name is [[TomTheDarkLord Sheev]].

** Another bit is why Plagueis is compelled not to mention the name of Kamino in front of archive master Jocasta Nu - that's because, as it turns out, she's the librarian that dismisses Obi-Wan's claims about the archives in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' - if she knew about Kamino, she would've been aware of Dooku's sabotage, and likely undone the Grand Plan then and there.

** Another bit is why Plagueis is compelled not to mention the name of Kamino in front of Jocasta Nu - that's because, as it turns out, she's the librarian that dismisses Obi-Wan's claims about the archives in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' - if she knew about Kamino, she would've been aware of Dooku's sabotage, and likely undone the Grand Plan then and there.

* [[RewatchBonus Reread Bonus]]: Seriously, if you read this book once, it's awesome. If you read it again, you'll come to realize just how manipulative Sidious is.

** Another bit of FridgeBrilliance that isn't obvious on first (or second, third or fourth reading, at least for this troper) is why Plagueis is compelled not to mention the name of Kamino in front of Jocasta Nu - that's because, as it turns out, she's the librarian that dismisses Obi-Wan's claims about the archives in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' - if she knew about Kamino, she would've been aware of Dooku's sabotage, and likely undone the Grand Plan then and there.

* {{Narm}}: A probably entirely accidental example in "Gravid". Seems good if you're going for the connotations of "grave", but less impressive if you know "gravid" is the equivalent word to "pregnant" for egg-bearing animals (and in some languages it just means pregnant). [[UnfortunateNames Darth Laying Hen]]?

* BetterThanCanon: In a limited, specific sense. The book's work in [[ArcWelding threading all the Prequel-era Sith machinations]] into a grand, consistent conspiracy, creating a [[EmperorScientist fascinatingly]] [[AffablyEvil different]] Sith in Plagueis, revealing new aspects of the Force mythology and having at least one unexpected [[WhamLine Big Reveal]] -- [[spoiler: that Plagueis was still alive during Episode I]] -- meant that plenty of fans wish it had been "rescued" from the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' continuity, especially since it doesn't majorly contradict any of the new canon[[labelnote:*]]and there appears to be no more interest in doing Prequel-era stories[[/labelnote]], and Luceno's [[Literature/StarWarsTarkin next novel]] was clearly intended as a follow-up to this one anyway. It would also have put the incessant [[WMG/TheLastJedi "Snoke is Plagueis!"]] theorising to bed.
* [[CantUnhearIt Can't Unhear It]]: For many who've listened to the audio-drama, Daniel Davis '''IS''' Darth Plagueis.

* CompleteMonster: Some thought this book would humanize Palpatine by showing his origins; instead, it turns out he's been an amoral [[TheSociopath sociopath]] from the beginning. His [[StartOfDarkness backstory as a villain]] shows how much of a ManipulativeBastard he truly is, as we see him [[PlayingBothSides working with the Trade Federation]] to [[WoundedGazelleGambit plot the blockade]] that takes place in [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]. It is revealed that he killed his own parents and siblings, and is incapable of feeling regret when committing heinous actions and various misdemeanors—such as when he ends up crashing his landspeeder and killing two people without any remorse on his part. When Darth Tenebrous foresaw Palpatine's future murder of Plagueis upon his death and possession of Plagueis after the latter betrayed him, he was noticeably horrified at not only Plagueis's murder at the hands of his apprentice Palpatine, but at how evil Palpatine is, even for the Sith.

* MagnificentBastard: Darth Sidious, whose magnificence here lays the framework for his schemes throughout the saga.

* MoralEventHorizon: Palpatine crosses this fairly early on [[spoiler: by killing all his family]] and takes up permanent residence beyond its border.

* BetterThanSource: In a limited, specific sense. The book's work in [[ArcWelding threading all the Prequel-era Sith machinations]] into a grand, consistent conspiracy, creating a [[EmperorScientist fascinatingly]] [[AffablyEvil different]] Sith in Plagueis, revealing new aspects of the Force mythology and having at least one unexpected [[WhamLine Big Reveal]] - [[spoiler: that Plagueis was still alive during Episode I]] - meant that plenty of fans wish it had been "rescued" from the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' continuity, especially since it doesn't majorly contradict any of the new canon[[labelnote:*]]and there appears to be no more interest in doing Prequel-era stories[[/labelnote]], and Luceno's [[Literature/StarWarsTarkin next novel]] was clearly intended as a follow-up to this one anyway. It would also have put the incessant [[WMG/TheLastJedi "Snoke is Plagueis!"]] theorising to bed.

* BetterThanCanon: In a limited, specific sense. The book's work in [[ArcWelding threading all the Prequel-era Sith machinations]] into a grand, consistent conspiracy, creating a [[EmperorScientist fascinatingly]] [[AffablyEvil different]] Sith in Plagueis, revealing new aspects of the Force mythology and having at least one unexpected [[WhamLine Big Reveal]] - [[spoiler: that Plagueis was still alive during Episode I]] - meant that plenty of fans wish it had been "rescued" from the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' continuity, especially since it doesn't majorly contradict any of the new canon[[labelnote:*]]and there appears to be no more interest in doing Prequel-era stories[[/labelnote]], and Luceno's [[Literature/StarWarsTarkin next novel]] was clearly intended as a follow-up to this one anyway. It would also have put the incessant [[WMG/TheLastJedi "Snoke is Plagueis!"]] theorising to bed.

* HilariousInHindsight: The fact that Palpatine refuses to go by his first name is much more amusing in light of the bemused reactions many fans had to learning that his Canon first name is [[EmbarassingFirstName Sheev]].

* CantUnhearIt: For many who've listened to the audio-drama, Daniel Davis '''IS''' Darth Plagueis.
-->WebVideo/Jensaarai1: "This ''is'' what Darth Plagueis sounds like. This ''is'' Darth Plagueis ''speaking''."

* BetterThanCanon: In a limited, specific sense. The book's work in [[ArcWelding threading all the Prequel-era Sith machinations]] into a grand, consistent conspiracy, creating a [[EmperorScientist fascinatingly]] [[AffablyEvil different]] Sith in Plagueis, revealing new aspects of the Force mythology and having at least one unexpected [[WhamLine Big Reveal]] - [[spoiler: that Plagueis was still alive during Episode I]] - meant that plenty of fans wish it had been "rescued" from the ''StarWarsLegends'' continuity, especially since it doesn't majorly contradict any of the new canon[[labelnote:*]]and there appears to be no more interest in doing Prequel-era stories[[/labelnote]], and Luceno's [[Literature/StarWarsTarkin next novel]] was clearly intended as a follow-up to this one anyway. It would also have put the incessant [[WMG/TheLastJedi "Snoke is Plagueis!"]] theorising to bed.

* CompleteMonster: Some thought this book would humanize Palpatine by showing his origins; instead, it turns out he's been an amoral [[TheSociopath sociopath]] from the beginning. His [[StartOfDarkness backstory as a villain]] shows the [[MagnificentBastard true magnificence]] of his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulations]], as we see him [[PlayingBothSides working with the Trade Federation]] to [[WoundedGazelleGambit plot the blockade]] that takes place in [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]. It is revealed that he [[SelfMadeOrphan killed his own parents and siblings]], and is incapable of feeling regret when committing heinous actions and various misdemeanors—such as when he ends up crashing his landspeeder and killing two people without any remorse on his part. When Darth Tenebrous foresaw Palpatine's future murder of Plagueis upon his death and possession of Plagueis after the latter betrayed him, he was noticeably horrified at not only Plagueis's murder at the hands of his [[BastardUnderstudy apprentice]] Palpatine, but at how evil Palpatine is, [[EvenEvilHasStandards even for the Sith]].

* BetterThanCanon: In a limited, specific sense. The book's work in [[ArcWelding threading all the Prequel-era Sith machinations]] into a grand, consistent conspiracy, creating a [[EmperorScientist fascinatingly]] [[AffablyEvil different]] Sith in Plagueis, revealing new aspects of the Force mythology and having at least one unexpected [[WhamLine Big Reveal]] - [[spoiler: that Plagueis was still alive during Episode I]] - meant that plenty of fans wish it had been "rescued" from the ''StarWarsLegends'' continuity, especially since it doesn't majorly contradict any of the new canon[[labelnote:*]]and there appears to be no more interest in doing Prequel-era stories[[/labelnote]], and Luceno's [[Literature/StarWarsTarkin next novel]] was clearly intended as a follow-up to this one anyway.

* CompleteMonster: Some thought this book would humanize [[Characters/StarWarsEmperorPalpatine Palpatine]] by showing his origins; instead, it turns out he's been an amoral [[TheSociopath sociopath]] from the beginning. His [[StartOfDarkness backstory as a villain]] shows the [[MagnificentBastard true magnificence]] of his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulations]], as we see him [[PlayingBothSides working with the Trade Federation]] to [[WoundedGazelleGambit plot the blockade]] that takes place in [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]. It is revealed that he [[SelfMadeOrphan killed his own parents and siblings]], and is incapable of feeling regret when committing heinous actions and various misdemeanors—such as when he ends up crashing his landspeeder and killing two people without any remorse on his part. When Darth Tenebrous foresaw Palpatine's future murder of Plagueis upon his death and possession of Plagueis after the latter betrayed him, he was noticeably horrified at not only Plagueis's murder at the hands of his [[BastardUnderstudy apprentice]] Palpatine, but at how evil Palpatine is, [[EvenEvilHasStandards even for the Sith]].

** Though, considering he was willing to destroy a Sith tradition just share the universe with what he saw as a son, maybe the guy just loved easily.
** Another bit of FridgeBrilliance that isn't obvious on first (Or second, third or fourth reading, at least for this troper) is why Plagueis is compelled not to mention the name of Kamino in front of Jocasta Nu - that's because, as it turns out, she's the librarian that dismisses Obi-Wan's claims about the archives in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' - if she knew about Kamino, she would've been aware of Dooku's sabotage, and likely undone the Grand Plan then and there.

** Another bit of FridgeBrilliance that isn't obvious on first (Or second, third or fourth reading, at least for this troper) is why Plagueis is compelled not to mention the name of Kamino in front of Jocasta Nu- that's because, as it turns out, she's the librarian that dismisses Obi-Wan's claims about the archives in AttackOfTheClones- if she knew about Kamino, she would've been aware of Dooku's sabotage, and likely undone the Grand Plan then and there.

* CompleteMonster: Some thought this book would humanize [[Characters/StarWarsEmperorPalpatine Palpatine]] by showing his origins; instead, it turns out he's been an amoral sociopath from the beginning. His [[StartOfDarkness backstory as a villain]] shows the [[MagnificentBastard true magnificence]] of his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulations]], as we see him [[PlayingBothSides working with the Trade Federation]] to [[WoundedGazelleGambit plot the blockade]] that takes place in [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]. It is revealed that he [[SelfMadeOrphan killed his own parents and siblings]], and is incapable of feeling regret when committing heinous actions and various misdemeanors—such as when he ends up crashing his landspeeder and killing two people without any remorse on his part. When Darth Tenebrous foresaw Palpatine's future murder of Plagueis upon his death and possession of Plagueis after the latter betrayed him, he was noticeably horrified at not only Plagueis's murder at the hands of his [[BastardUnderstudy apprentice]] Palpatine, but at how evil Palpatine is, [[EvenEvilHasStandards even for the Sith]].

* CompleteMonster: Some thought this book would humanize Palpatine by showing his origins; instead, it turns out he's been an amoral sociopath from the beginning. His [[StartOfDarkness backstory as a villain]] shows the [[MagnificentBastard true magnificence]] of his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulations]], as we see him [[PlayingBothSides working with the Trade Federation]] to [[WoundedGazelleGambit plot the blockade]] that takes place in [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]. It is revealed that he [[SelfMadeOrphan killed his own parents and siblings]], and is incapable of feeling regret when committing heinous actions and various misdemeanors—such as when he ends up crashing his landspeeder and killing two people without any remorse on his part. When Darth Tenebrous foresaw Palpatine's future murder of Plagueis upon his death and possession of Plagueis after the latter betrayed him, he was noticeably horrified at not only Plagueis's murder at the hands of his [[BastardUnderstudy apprentice]] Palpatine, but at how evil Palpatine is, [[EvenEvilHasStandards even for the Sith]].

* {{Narm}}: A probably entirely accidental example in "Gravid". Seems good if you're going for the connotations of "grave", but less impressive if you know "gravid" is the equivalent word to "pregnant" for egg-bearing animals. [[UnfortunateNames Darth Laying Hen]]?

* CompleteMonster: Some thought this book would humanize Palpatine by showing his origins; instead, it turns out he's been an amoral sociopath from the beginning. The book shows the [[MagnificentBastard true magnificence]] of his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulations]]. It is revealed he [[SelfMadeOrphan killed his own parents and siblings]], and is incapable of feeling regret when committing heinous actions and various misdemeanors—such as when he ended up crashing his landspeeder and killing two people without any remorse on his part, and, in fact, was extremely glad that he got away with breaking the law and [[LackOfEmpathy insensitively decided to reveal that instant that he wants to become a racer]]. In addition, when Darth Tenebrous, a Sith Lord, foresaw Palpatine's murder of Plagueis upon his death and possession of Plagueis after the latter betrayed him, he was noticeably horrified at not only Plagueis's murder at the hands of Palpatine, but at how evil Palpatine is, implying that Palpatine was so evil, that [[EvenEvilHasStandards even the Sith]], who are infamous for committing various crimes with TheDarkSide, [[EvenEvilHasStandards were repulsed by him]]. He engineered the invasion and blockade of his own home planet ([[WoundedGazelleGambit using the sympathy generated]] to become Supreme Chancellor and eventually Emperor)

* FridgeBrilliance / FridgeHorror: In Episode III Palpatine says that "[Plagueis] had such a knowledge of the Dark Side, he could even save the ones he cared about... from dying". Now wait a second, just whom could a [[ReligionOfEvil Sith Lord]] ever actually care about? [[spoiler: Oh, his ''test subjects''...]]

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: Much like the Prequel Trilogy, people have tried to read into this book to find political beliefs they agree with. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment And that's all we'll say on the matter.]]