Yaddle, a character first seen in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, has a fate that has been revealed by Star Wars' most recent foray into animation, Tales of the Jedi. When the first movie in George Lucas' prequel trilogy came out, many people were shocked to find Yaddle as another of Yoda's species—something that is becoming progressively rarer in Star Wars canon. Yaddle served on the Jedi Council, but she inexplicably disappeared after The Phantom Menace, leaving just a note stating that she had retired from the Council as the only information concerning her location.
This long-standing mystery is eventually resolved, as Tales of the Jedi reveals Yaddle's end, which has only previously occurred in Legends. In Tales of the Jedi episode 4, Count Dooku takes his final steps toward embracing the evil side of the Force, which tragically results in Yaddle's demise. Tales of the Jedi episode 4 indicates that Dooku himself assassinated Yaddle at the order of the dark lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, few days after the events of Qui-Gon Jinn's defeat by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace.
As was already mentioned, only Legends provided a solution to Yaddle's fate prior to Tales of the Jedi's canonical confirmation. This was addressed in the Legends story Jedi Quest: The Shadow Trap. In this book, Yaddle goes on a mission with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker where she sacrifices herself to neutralise a bioweapon and so saves the lives of countless others. However, Yaddle's death did not occur, and her fate remained a mystery because Disney classified this story as a Legends and thus not canon to true Star Wars chronology.
However, the fate of Yaddle at the hands of Dooku is finally revealed in Tales of the Jedi episode 4. In Tales of the Jedi episodes 2 and 3, Dooku's developing disillusionment with the Jedi Order was introduced. Episode 4 shows Dooku's final turn to the dark side and provides an explanation for another Attack of the Clones enigma. After removing Sifo-Dyas and Kamino's records from the Jedi archives, Dooku leaves to confront Sidious about the passing of his former Padawan Qui-Gon Jinn. Yaddle pursues him and makes an effort to persuade him to return to the light. Her own resignation from the Council was caused by the same problems Dooku had with the Jedi Order. Dooku kills Yaddle at Sidious' command during a brief combat, declaring that it is too late for Yaddle, and solidifying his complete conversion to the Sith.
What Yaddle's Death Means For Dooku's Story
Dooku's killing of Yaddle is comparable to Anakin's killing of Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith in terms of the character's plot. This is the turning point for Dooku, when he fully accepts Sidious as his master and the Sith ways. Yaddle was also killed by Dooku in secrecy, which explains why she just vanishes after The Phantom Menace without any consequences. This also foreshadows Dooku's future confrontation with Yoda on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones, demonstrating that he has already faced off against two distinct Yoda's species individuals who are said to possess innate Force-wielding strength and demonstrating Dooku's might. A brilliant execution and influence on the larger Star Wars franchise tale are achieved by showcasing all of this in only one little episode of Tales of the Jedi.
