By Alright, so you’re a Star Wars fan, right? But if you’re like me, sometimes you only think of the big names—Yoda, Obi-Wan, maybe Mace Windu. But what about Plo Koon? That dude. Yeah, that masked Jedi with the weird voice and those goggles.
He’s like the quiet kid in class who always knew the answers but never shouted them out. Let me tell you why Plo Koon deserves way more love—and why I keep forgetting about him, too.
Who the heck is Plo Koon anyway?
So, Plo Koon is from a planet called Dorin. He’s a Kel Dor—look, I didn’t know what that meant either, but basically, they need those goggles and a mask to breathe outside their planet.
Picture this: a Jedi master who looks like he stepped out of a sci-fi scuba diving trip. Cool, right?
- Species: Kel Dor
- Homeworld: Dorin
- Lightsaber color? Mostly blue, but some fans swear by orange (I’m still stuck on blue).
- Member of the Jedi Council—yeah, big deal.
I always thought his mask was kinda spooky. Then again, I once wore ski goggles to a party and got zero compliments, so maybe I’m just biased.
How Plo Koon became the Jedi we should remember
He was found young, like all Jedi, and trained by this Wookiee Jedi master named Tyvokka. Yeah, a Wookiee teaching a Kel Dor Jedi—Star Wars gets weird sometimes. But this guy, Tyvokka, apparently was a big influence on Plo Koon.
Early on, Plo Koon wasn’t just about flashy lightsaber moves. Nope, he was more into peace and talking things out—which is ironic because the Clone Wars kinda messed that all up.
- Master of defensive combat (which I imagine is Jedi-speak for “don’t hurt, just bop”).
- Loved negotiation more than violence (me too, except when someone eats my leftovers).
- Stuck to the Jedi Code like glue.
The Jedi Council’s quiet powerhouse
Fast forward: Plo Koon made it to the Jedi High Council. And here’s the thing: he wasn’t just a figurehead. He actually argued against rushing into battles, which didn’t always win him popularity.
He was like that one coworker who says, “Hey, maybe don’t set the office on fire just yet?” You know the type.
He had some pretty sage advice, like:
- Push for diplomacy instead of just lightsaber battles.
- Thought Jedi training needed less warrior-focus.
- Was basically Yoda’s chill, wise buddy.
If you’ve watched The Clone Wars (and if you haven’t, what are you doing?), you might catch his quiet moments where he’s all calm and collected while the galaxy’s losing it.
Why do most Star Wars fans forget Plo Koon?
No joke, I’m guilty too. Whenever someone asks about Jedi, Plo Koon doesn’t pop into my head first. Why? Because:
- His screen time is super limited.
- He kinda gets overshadowed by flashier Jedi like Anakin or Mace.
- And then—bam—Order 66 happened, and he was gone before you could say “Force lightning.”
He died in a pretty quick, brutal way too, which is a bummer because I wanted to see more of him.
Plo Koon’s secret weapon: Electric Judgment
Here’s something that blew my mind: Plo Koon could use Force lightning. But not the Sith kind that burns people to a crisp. His version was called Electric Judgment—basically, Jedi lightning that zapped but didn’t kill. Jedi ethics 101.
I learned this the hard way because I once tried to impress friends by comparing this to my “electric shock” guitar skills. Spoiler: I’m no guitarist.
Anyway, he also had some mad healing abilities. Dude could patch up battle wounds with the Force like a mystical EMT.
Plo Koon in the Clone Wars trenches
If you’re a fan of the Clone Wars animated series, you’ve seen Plo Koon leading clones into battle and generally being a good dude. Unlike some Jedi who seemed to treat clones like tools, Plo Koon genuinely cared for his troops.
Here’s a quick list of his missions:
- Led battles at Cato Neimoidia (look it up, sounds fancy).
- Defended Felucia, a jungle planet full of weird plants (not recommended for picnics).
- Was the guy who found and recommended Ahsoka Tano to be Anakin’s apprentice. No big deal.
Plo Koon and Ahsoka Tano: Jedi bromance?
You gotta love how Plo Koon believed in Ahsoka Tano before most did. She calls him “Master Plo,” which sounds like a nickname a wise grandpa Jedi would get at a Star Wars family reunion.
He basically adopted her from afar and supported her even when things got messy.
If I had a Jedi mentor like Plo Koon, maybe I’d have stopped killing my succulents.
The sad end: Order 66
Fast forward to the darkest moment: Order 66. You know, when the clones turned on the Jedi.
Plo Koon was flying his starfighter over Cato Neimoidia when his own clones shot him down. Brutal. One moment he’s flying high; the next, he’s just space dust.
Kinda feels like when you trust your GPS and it sends you down a dead-end road. Only worse.
What if Plo Koon survived?
Okay, I’ve definitely thought about this. Imagine if Plo Koon had dodged Order 66. Could he have been the Jedi to rebuild the Order? Or maybe he’d join the rebels and give Vader a run for his money?
Or maybe he’d be chilling somewhere with a nice space cocktail, telling stories about those clone troopers who betrayed him.
Plo Koon’s Legends stories (aka fanfic heaven)
The expanded universe (now called Legends) has some wild stories about Plo Koon. Like, he once spared a Sith because he thought redemption was possible.
That’s like forgiving the guy who stole your parking spot because he looked sad. I can’t do that, but Plo Koon could.
And apparently, he saved entire planets from ecological disasters using the Force. Imagine that—Jedi environmentalist extraordinaire.
Why you should care about Plo Koon now
Look, if you watch The Clone Wars, you see Plo Koon as the Jedi who actually gets the clones and cares about peace. He’s not just a warrior; he’s the kinda Jedi we should all aspire to be—calm, fair, and wicked smart.
My neighbor Tina swears her garden blooms better after watching those episodes. Coincidence? I think not.
Wild fan theories about Plo Koon’s fate
Fans have this hope that maybe Plo Koon faked his death, went undercover, and is out there somewhere sipping blue milk.
I mean, anything’s possible. I once lost my keys and swore they vanished into another dimension.
Got merch? Plo Koon’s collectibles
If you wanna show some love, Plo Koon action figures and LEGO sets exist but are kinda rare. Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave used to have this cracked watering can that lasted through my “overwatering everything” phase—maybe Plo Koon’s merch is just as hardy?
Final thought (or ramble)
Anyway, here’s the kicker: Plo Koon may not be the loudest Jedi in the galaxy, but he’s got heart, wisdom, and skills that make him unforgettable—if you give him a chance.
I’ll leave you with this: next time you binge Star Wars, pay attention to that masked figure in the background. There’s a story there.
Bonus: A weird gardening analogy
As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print Galactic Gardening & Jedi Jargon (1998), “Like a neglected bonsai, the Jedi Order needed Plo Koon’s steady hand to thrive.” I may have spilled coffee on this page, so some words are smudged, but you get the idea.