I think we can all agree that Mace Windu was one of the strongest Jedi Masters ever. But even he had moments that haunted him—choices he wished he could redo.
There’s one decision in particular that he really struggled with, and it’s all connected to the Battle of Geonosis.
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Mace Windu Faces a Critical Moment in the Battle of Geonosis
You probably remember this scene: Mace Windu standing with his purple lightsaber at Jango Fett’s neck, locking eyes with Count Dooku. Things were intense, the galaxy’s future hanging by a thread.
Mace had a clear shot at ending Dooku right there and possibly preventing the Clone Wars altogether. But he didn’t take it. Why? Well, Dooku was once his friend and fellow Jedi, and out of respect, he hesitated and ultimately spared him.
Mace Windu Spoke About His Regret
Mace Windu’s personal journal reveals a different perspective from what we see in the movies.
In the novel “Shatterpoint,” written by Matthew Stover, we actually get to see Mace Windu’s private thoughts on this moment—and it hit me pretty hard.
He wished he had followed his instincts and ended Dooku’s life at that moment.
In his journal, Mace writes, “In my dreams, the purple arc of my blade sizzles the gray hairs of Dooku’s beard, and in the critical seconds it takes Jango Fett to aim and fire, I twitch that blade and take Dooku with me into death and save the galaxy from civil war. I could have done it. I could have done it.”
Mace also reflects on how clearly he could sense the connections Dooku had built—the alliances with the Separatists, the plot that had been brewing right under everyone’s noses. He felt deeply that if he had acted at that moment, he could have undone those carefully laid plans. He saw it all as a kind of personal responsibility, a burden only he understood clearly.
What If Mace Windu Had Killed Dooku?
Mace Windu’s hesitation had far-reaching consequences.
If he had killed Dooku during the Battle of Geonosis, the galaxy might have been spared the horrors of the Clone Wars.
Dooku played a significant role in leading the Separatists against the Republic, which led to countless battles, destruction, and loss of life.
By sparing Dooku, Mace inadvertently allowed the war to escalate, causing immense suffering throughout the galaxy.
His respect for Dooku as a former Jedi clouded his judgment, leading to a decision that he would come to deeply regret.