The narrative of the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise was a "Sith Legend," a story Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, secretly Darth Sidious, related to Anakin Skywalker. The story recounted how Darth Plagueis, Sidious' Sith Master, possessed immense power and wisdom, enabling him to manipulate the Force through midi-chlorians to generate life—a feat Plagueis achieved—and even prevent death, demonstrated by resurrecting his master's secret apprentice, Darth Venamis, after killing him.
The story further detailed Plagueis's greatest fear: the loss of his power. This fear became reality when he attempted to dismantle Darth Bane's Rule of Two and attain immortality for himself and Sidious through midi-chlorian experimentation. Despite trusting Palpatine, believing their "bond" would prevent betrayal, the Dark Side of the Force compelled the then-senator of Naboo to usurp Plagueis as the ruling Sith Lord, a deed he accomplished by torturing and ultimately murdering the Muun.
Palpatine framed the story as a tragedy due to the irony that Plagueis, capable of saving others from death, could not save himself. Skywalker, upon hearing the tale, argued it was only a tragedy for Plagueis, while the apprentice achieved a favorable outcome. Palpatine later disclosed his identity as the apprentice and confirmed the reality of Plagueis' abilities. This revelation served as a catalyst in Skywalker's descent towards the dark side of the Force.
"Sith legend" of "Darth Plagueis the Wise's Tragedy" was a tale crafted by Darth Sidious, the Sith apprentice to the Muun Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Plagueis. The tragic narrative centered on a "so powerful" Sith Lord who ultimately lost all his power, despite his ability to save others from the clutches of death, but failing to save himself.
The tragedy commences with the introduction of Darth Plagueis, a Dark Lord of the Sith of unparalleled power and wisdom. The narrative progresses by detailing his extraordinary abilities, including the power to manipulate the Force through midi-chlorians to create life, and to shield loved ones from death. It also highlights the dark side of the Force as a conduit to abilities deemed unnatural by many. The story concludes by revealing that Plagueis, having attained immense power, harbored only one fear: the loss of his power, a fear that ultimately materialized. The tale culminates with the Dark Lord's assassination by his apprentice while he slept, an ironic twist given his ability to save others from death, yet failing to protect himself.
Initially, the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis was planned to be recounted by Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker within his suite, rather than at the Galaxies Opera House. During the primary filming phase of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, which commenced on June 30, 2003, director George Lucas implemented an on-set modification, shifting the setting of Plagueis' "legend" from the suite to the opera house. At Celebration Orlando 2017, Ian McDiarmid disclosed that the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis scene represented his most malevolent portrayal in all the Star Wars scenes he had filmed.