Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones was not as critically well-received as some of the franchise's other films for a multitude of reasons. However, it is also one of the most important films in the entire timeline of the franchise. It puts many plotlines into motion, most importantly, the Clone Wars and Anakin's descent to the Dark Side.

The climax of the film is typically the part that any fan wants to see. But the final fight between Yoda and Count Dooku has always raised eyebrows, mainly because viewers can't understand why Yoda let the Dark Lord escape. The answer is actually more obvious than one would think and speaks to the values that a character like Yoda carries.

RELATED: Star Wars: What Death Sticks Are & Why They're So Dangerous

Ranking The 15 OP Star Wars Characters, From Worst To First

Dooku and Yoda have had a long history. Master Yoda trained him, but Dooku also trained Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan's master. The lineage of master and apprentice runs deep, and it was Dooku's fall to the Dark Side that hit Yoda very hard. When the two meet at the end of the film, the battle doesn't have as much spectacle as some of the others. However, that doesn't mean that the fight is unimportant. While Dooku was always doomed to fail, his fighting skills were top notch.

Dooku is one of the best duelists with a lightsaber and is a master at using an opponent's momentum against them. On the other hand, Yoda is very powerful in the force and can command a battle in his favor. By the time the fight is over, Count Dooku knows he has to make a quick getaway and puts Anakin and Obi-Wan in danger. Yoda saves them but is forced to let Dooku escape. While he is incredibly strong in the Force, Yoda used the last of his power to keep his two Jedi from dying.

RELATED: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace's Biggest Plot Twists - And Why They Mattered

Dooku vs. Yoda fight in Attack of the Clones

The decision to let the Sith Lord escape would ultimately lead to many more deaths throughout the Clone Wars. Yoda had to shoulder that decision for years. However, he ultimately understood the importance of life, and the power he could have used to defeat Dooku would have been much better used to preserve two lives. Over the years, Dooku would commit countless atrocities and also suffer incredibly embarrassing defeats. But if Yoda had compromised his ideals for a win, that could have sent the Jedi on the path to defeat much sooner.

As the head of the order, Yoda is constantly placed in positions where he has to choose between what is easy and what is right. These decisions shaped him as a leader and established an ideal for all Jedi to strive towards. Dooku's escape led to a difficult war, but Yoda made the best decision that he could. The Battle of Geonosis was host to many Jedi deaths, and if even two could be saved on that day, it could be considered a small victory.

Attack of the Clones was not the best movie in the franchise. But the decision that the characters made in it have reverberated in the galaxy for years to come. Fans got to see Yoda fight and make a decision that was in line with his character by saving Anakin and Obi-Wan. Many more losses were suffered before the end of the Clone Wars, but there is no question that Yoda would always choose life over more death.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: A Time-Traveling Spider-Woman Once Fought A Group Of Chewbaccas