One of the benefits of a sprawling universe like Star Wars is the many unique villains that challenge the heroes. From Darth Vader to Cad Bane, there’s no shortage of exciting villains with unique backstories that turn them into what they are. One example is General Grievous, who first appeared in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Known as the Droid army leader, this mechanical monstrosity towered over the likes of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. That being said, while threatening, he had one particular ailment that proved there’s more to him than meets the eye.
During his first appearance, Grievous was shown to have a persistent cough that was out of his control. During the film, it came up when he was first introduced, as well as when he was escaping the Separatist ship. However, it wouldn’t be until his final confrontation with Obi-Wan that audiences would see he was partially organic. When Obi-Wan ripped open his chest paneling, a beating heart could be seen, confirming that Grievous’ most vital components were still organic. And that’s important.
Who Is General Grievous and Where Does His Star Wars Cough Come From?
The cough itself was recorded by George Lucas, who, after having a coughing fit for the day, chose to use this as a hint towards the character’s backstory. Grievous was a being from the planet Kalee, who volunteered to make his body primarily mechanical after an accident. He gained enhanced strength and reflexes in his new body and trained in lightsaber combat under Count Dooku. As a result of his training, he managed to murder multiple Jedi, keeping their lightsaber hilts as souvenirs.
In the now de-canonized Star Wars: Clone Wars mini-series, a Grievous went to Coruscant to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine. However, before escaping, he was caught by Jedi Master Mace Windu. Though he couldn’t apprehend the kidnapper, Mace used the Force to crush Grievous’ chest cavity. This injury resulted in the asthmatic cough that would remain with him until his death.
How Did General Grievous’ Cough Change – and Why Is It Tragic?
Following the release of the book Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, a canon cause for Grievous’ breathing issue was explained. According to Geroge Lucas, the cough wasn’t from Mace Windu or an illness. Instead, the cough was due to cybernetic imperfections of the era during his transformation. Even though the answer is simple, the explanation explores an even deeper meaning to the larger Star Wars universe. At his core, Grievous’ form is no different from Darth Vader’s. The journey to his cybernetic form was fostered by Palpatine similar to Anakin, and when the time came for the operation, Grievous accepted. Ironically, Anakin’s lung damage meant that his suit needed particular focus on his respiratory systems. As a result, his breathing apparatus is leagues better than Grievous’.
The connection to Grievous and Vader’s cybernetics shows how Palpatine learned from his mistakes and improved the technology years before Anakin would need them. A side-effect of Lucas’ choice to make it an imperfection also shows how everything is connected in the Star Wars universe, which helps the universe feel even more alive. Now when fans hear Grievous’ coughs, it will serve as a precursor to the bone-chilling breathing that accompanies Darth Vader.
About The Author