Summary
- The Rule of Two, introduced in Star Wars, was originally meant to be a natural process rather than a strict doctrine established by Darth Bane.
- Darth Bane created the Rule of Two to ensure the Sith remained the dominant power in the dark side, with one master and one apprentice.
- George Lucas's understanding of the Rule of Two is that it's an organic process, where rivals eliminate each other to determine the strongest Sith Lord and apprentice.
Having been introduced at the beginning of Star Wars' Skywalker saga, it seems as though the Sith Rule of Two has been misunderstood. In the 24 years since The Phantom Menace, the Rule of Two has essentially been viewed a concrete doctrine established by the early Sith Lord Darth Bane. However, that doesn't seem to have been the original intention as envisioned by George Lucas.
As seen in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn was murdered by Darth Maul, a new Sith Lord who himself was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi. At Qui-Gon's funeral, Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu discuss the dark warrior who was undoubtedly a Sith. It's here that Yoda introduces the concept that would later be known as the Rule of Two: "Always two there are, no more, no less...a master and an apprentice." However, it seems Lucas meant for the Rule of Two to be a more natural process rather than a decree that had to be followed by the Dark Lords of the Sith.
Star Wars Has Turned The Rule Of Two Into A Sith Doctrine
It was soon established in Legends' expanded universe and later confirmed in the canon Clone Wars series that the Rule of Two was established by Darth Bane. After decades of infighting and Sith Lords murdering each other, Darth Bane manipulated events so that he would become the last Sith standing. Finding himself a new apprentice, Darth Bane established the Rule of Two, having understood that the only way for the Sith to remain the dominant power in the dark side was for there to only be one master and one apprentice.
Darth Bane's Rule of Two makes sense given the volatile nature of the dark side and the corruptive desire for power it motivates. It also explains why there were so many Jedi compared to only two Sith Lords during the prequel trilogy. However, the Rule of Two has been used in the years since to criticize future moments in the Star Wars timeline, particularly centered around Emperor Palpatine.
Although Darth Vader was Palpatine's sole apprentice during the original trilogy, Palpatine has recruited the Force-wielding Inquisitors. Likewise, it would later be revealed that he had the Sith Eternal cult and Knights of Ren at the same time well before the events of the sequel trilogy when they both first appeared on screen. Likewise, Count Dooku was Palpatine's apprentice during the Clone Wars while having dark side agents of his own such as Asajj Ventress and Savage Oppress. While none of these servants were given the title of apprentice, it's been argued that they violate/bend the rules of the Rule of Two.
George Lucas Had A Very Different Take On The Rule Of Two
As confirmed in Paul Duncan's The Star Wars Archives: Episode I-III 1999-2005, George Lucas confirmed his original Rule of Two take, one that was far more organic. In Lucas' mind, the Rule of Two was the only means by which the Sith could have a stable order. As such, 2 Sith Lords would always be the default foundation. No matter how many Sith rose in power, the order would naturally revert to one Sith master and one apprentice, and they'd naturally be the strongest. Killing and eliminating rivals was how the two Sith Lords were chosen and decided.
Lucas also made note that the Rule of Two was the natural casualty for the Sith for longevity to be achieved. That said, the nature of the dark side meant that every apprentice wishes to kill and replace their master, while every master is attempting to recruit another apprentice as a means of replacing their current one to maintain their own power. It's a far more natural order and understanding, rather than the doctrine and assumption that there can only be two Sith Lords and agents of the dark side no matter what.
Likewise, the Star Wars canon has established that Palpatine only cared for the Rule of Two so long as it served his plans for greater power. For example, it's been teased that Palpatine had already seduced and corrupted Dooku as his apprentice well before his original apprentice Maul was killed in The Phantom Menace. The Sith master is always looking for replacements while the apprentice is always looking for their master's weaknesses.
Lucas' Understanding Of The Rule Of Two Makes Much More Sense
George Lucas' understanding of the Rule of Two is that it's an organic process the dark side naturally achieves to maintain order. As confirmed by the canonical Star Wars: 100 Objects book:
"There is plenty of evidence that students and masters alike flouted the ritualistic 'Rule of Two,' whether out of vengeance, ambition, or fear."
While the Rule of Two might have been used as a means of justifying a Sith Lord's murderous intent against another Sith, being less of an actual rule or more of a default that will always be returned to makes much more sense. It also allows Lucasfilm to debut more villains beyond the predominant Sith master and apprentice, even if they do eventually fade away like Dooku's assassins and the Imperial Inquisitors eventually do in the Star Wars timeline.