The Clone Wars series, in my opinion, is one of the best things to come out of Star Wars. It’s packed with incredible moments, but there’s one scene that always stands out—and not in a good way. It’s the kind of moment that leaves you wondering, “What’s really going on here?”
Just then, Ventress enters Dooku’s cabin, declaring that he had no right to treat Savage so poorly. After reasserting her control over Opress, the two turn on Dooku and attack him together.
What really caught my attention, though, is how Dooku constantly hits Savage with Force lightning throughout the fight.
At first, I couldn’t figure it out—why would Dooku keep doing that? After looking into it, I’ve found the reasons behind Dooku’s relentless use of Force lightning in this scene.
The Secret Reason Behind Dooku’s Actions
Savage Opress’s path to becoming Count Dooku’s apprentice began with the Nightsisters of Dathomir.
Asajj Ventress, seeking revenge against Dooku for his betrayal, returned to Dathomir to set her plan into motion. With the help of Mother Talzin, she selected Savage Opress from the Nightbrothers—a tribe of powerful Zabrak warriors.
Already an imposing figure, Savage underwent the Nightsisters’ alchemical rituals, which amplified his physical strength and aggression while stripping away much of his independence. Once transformed into a relentless force of nature, Savage was presented to Dooku as the ideal apprentice.
Dooku, impressed by Savage’s raw power and potential, accepted him eagerly, declaring, “I foresee we will do great things together. I shall teach you the ways of the dark side. Soon, your powers will rival that of the great Sith Lord Darth Maul. We will be even more powerful than Lord Sidious. We shall rule the galaxy together, my apprentice.”
The idea of Dooku wanting to train Savage is not only evident in The Clone Wars series but also confirmed in the Star Wars databank, which states:
“Count Dooku was pleased with Savage’s power. Dooku began training him with a double-ended lightsaber, similar to the style used by Darth Maul.”
From lightsaber combat to harnessing the power of the Sith, Savage’s training was grueling.
As noted on StarWars.fandom, “Dooku proves to be a harsh taskmaster as he strives to stir Opress’ rage and hatred in order to unlock the power of the dark side within him, torturing and agitating his disciple with demeaning criticism and Force lightning.”
Perhaps Dooku Couldn’t Handle Both Opponents at Once
If we set aside what other Star Wars sources might suggest, it’s possible to assume that Count Dooku struggles when facing two opponents simultaneously.
Looking back at his fights against Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, there’s a noticeable pattern: Dooku always finds a way to isolate one opponent to deal with the other more effectively.
In Attack of the Clones, Anakin recklessly charges at Dooku, only to be easily pushed aside. With Anakin temporarily out of the way, Dooku quickly and decisively handles Obi-Wan.
Fast forward to Revenge of the Sith, when Dooku faces Obi-Wan and Anakin aboard the Separatist flagship. At first, the duel proves to be a challenge for Dooku, as the two Jedi coordinate their attacks with precision.
To shift the balance, Dooku employs a tactical move, summoning Super Battle Droids to divide the Jedi’s focus. While the droids provide a brief distraction, Obi-Wan swiftly dismantles them with ease.
Realizing the threat Obi-Wan poses, Dooku quickly shifts his attention to the Jedi Master.
Using the Force, Dooku delivers a powerful push, sending Obi-Wan crashing into a nearby platform and rendering him unconscious.
With Obi-Wan out of the fight, Dooku turns his full attention to Anakin, setting the stage for their intense and personal confrontation.
Consider the duel between Dooku, Savage Opress, and Asajj Ventress in The Clone Wars. Dooku is visibly pressed by having to face two opponents at once. His response to Savage’s overwhelming brute force is to hit him with Force lightning repeatedly.
Over time, the relentless barrage of lightning weakens Savage, causing him to falter and allowing Dooku to maintain some control in the battle. Dooku also likely knew that Savage didn’t have the skill or knowledge to counter Force lightning.
Unlike seasoned Sith or Jedi, Savage was unprepared for such an attack, and Dooku took full advantage of this, using the lightning to keep Savage at bay and exploit his inexperience.