Yoda is an iconic leader and mentor in Star Wars, but even a Jedi Master as wise and respected as Yoda can make mistakes. Introduced as a mentor for Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda was created to be a wise but unlikely teacher. George Lucas explored Yoda’s backstory a little in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which allowed viewers to get a sense of the already-aged Jedi Grandmaster’s wisdom and influence.
Yoda was officially the Jedi Grandmaster, the oldest member of the Jedi Council who was honored for his wisdom and experience. Yoda’s knowledge and power put him in the position to make many important decisions. Unfortunately, these weren’t always right.
10 Yoda’s Jedi Order Left No Room For Change
In Yoda’s own words, his fierce commitment to the “Old Ways” left the Jedi vulnerable when it came to the changing times. Matt Stover’s novelization of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, written after consultation with George Lucas, featured additional lines in which he admits as much. “These Jedi, I trained to become the Jedi who had trained me, long centuries ago—but those ancient Jedi, of a different time they were. Changed, has the galaxy. Changed, the Order did not—because let it change, I did not.” Yoda resisted Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn who would have challenged the Jedi to change, speaking volumes about the path Yoda was creating for the Jedi.
9 Yoda Sent Obi-Wan To Kill Anakin, Even Knowing Their History
Although Yoda was well aware of Obi-Wan’s close friendship with Anakin, he still chose to send his fellow Jedi Master to Mustafar to kill him – in spite of Obi-Wan insisting he would not do so. Yoda ignored Obi-Wan’s emotional connection and pushed him regardless. This was a huge risk on Yoda’s part, considering he had to trust Obi-Wan’s resolve to follow through on his mission. Obi-Wan proved unable to kill Anakin, instead leaving him badly injured. Things turned out for the best, according to the will of the Force, but only because Yoda miscalculated.
8 Yoda Chose Exile Over Helping The Rebellion
Yoda’s decision to go into exile and meditate rather than outright oppose the Empire wasn’t necessarily a bad one. Still, the early rebels could have benefited from the intelligence Yoda had collected over his nearly 900 years as a Jedi, even if Yoda stayed under the radar. The rebels were at a huge disadvantage until Luke’s Force sensitivity helped destroy the Death Star, and it stands to reason Yoda could have lent them a helping hand.
7 Yoda Initially Refused To Train Anakin, Then Changed His Mind
When Qui-Gon Jinn initially brought Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Yoda insisted he was too old and had too much fear in him. Yoda made that decision in spite of Anakin’s potential, with the Jedi Grandmaster refusing to make exceptions. Oddly, Yoda then chose to honor Qui-Gon’s dying wish for Obi-Wan Kenobi to train Anakin instead – even though Anakin still possessed the same fears. It’s possible he knew Obi-Wan would leave the Jedi to train Anakin, and elected to prevent that happening.
6 Yoda’s Empire Strikes Back Warning Ignored The Will Of The Force
In The Empire Strikes Back, the Force gave Luke Skywalker a vision warning him of the danger his friends were facing. Yoda was right to argue Luke was not ready to face Darth Vader, but he ignored the fact the will of the Force granted him a vision. This fits with a recurring bad habit on Yoda’s part; his insistence the future is always in motion meant he tended to disregard warnings from the Force itself.
5 Anakin’s Visions Were Ignored And Belittled
This same tendency can be seen in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin sought Yoda’s counsel after being plagued with prophetic visions of Padmé’s death. Yoda’s only advice was to encourage Anakin to let go of everything he feared to lose – a rather rote response that primed Anakin to believe the Jedi could not help him. Yoda clearly didn’t understand Anakin’s emotions, or the potential threat the Chosen One could become.
4 Yoda Never Realized The Implications Of Obi-Wan’s “Missing Planet”
In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan came to Yoda for guidance after discovering a planet had been deleted from the Jedi Archives. Yoda is ludicrously casual in his response, even though the discussion implies only a fellow Jedi would have been able to delete such an important piece of information. Had Yoda acted with more seriousness, the Jedi might have been a little better prepared before the Battle of Geonosis.
3 Yoda Didn’t Give Anakin The Emotional Support He Needed
Anakin was always going to be an unusual case for the Jedi. Not only was he tremendously power, he was also almost a decade older than most Younglings when they are brought to the Jedi Temple. Still, Anakin was expected to behave like all other Jedi despite his very different childhood. Yoda refused to modify his instructions or attitude despite knowing Anakin’s personality. Had Anakin been given the chance to critically examine his emotions with the direction of a trusted teacher like Yoda, he might not have fallen into Palpatine’s grasp so easily.
2 Yoda Ignored The Force’s Warnings About Order 66
Yoda may have been sensitive to the Force, but he tended to overlook its warnings. This can be seen in “Sharing the Same Face,” an adaptation of The Clone Wars season 1, episode 1 “Ambush,” in a telling scene in which Yoda received a vision of Order 66. Incredibly, Yoda elected to ignore even this – despite the fact the vision even pinpointed the clone troopers. Had Yoda responded to the Force’s warnings, Order 66 would have been exposed long before Palpatine was ready to give the command.
1 Yoda Failed To Realize Palpatine Was A Sith Lord
Yoda’s biggest mistake in the Star Wars saga was, of course, the fact he completely missed the signs of Palpatine’s treachery. Although this was probably in part because of Palpatine’s own power in the Force, disguising himself, there were still so many signs – notably the fact Palpatine displayed Sith relics in his office. Little wonder Darth Sidious became increasingly bold, even using the dark side of the Force on the grounds of the Jedi Temple in E.K. Johnston’s Queen’s Shadow.
