The lion's share of characters who originated in the Star Wars Prequels overstayed their welcome. Very few fans were clamoring for more of Watto, Dexter Jettster, or Nute Gunray. Revenge of the Sith introduced at least one design that captured the imagination. General Grievous, the cybernetically enhanced warlord who appeared suddenly and died just as fast, wasn't always the metal monster that appeared on-screen.
Revenge of the Sith is probably the best of the prequels. All three entries have many of the same problems. Phantom Menace has a lot of weak moments, but its mass demonization was broadly unfair. Attack of the Clones is arguably much worse than its predecessor. Revenge of the Sith feels like the first film that lands somewhere in the realm of acceptability. Imagining all three films without the Star Wars name attached, Episode I would likely be a cult classic, while Episode III would have a few genuine defenders.
Who was Grievous before the Clone Wars?
General Grievous was born Qymaen jai Sheelal on a planet called Kalee in the remote reaches of Wild Space. His people, the Kaleesh, were engaged in a losing battle when Sheelal was born. A technologically superior force called the Yam'rii invaded various worlds in their system before setting their sights on Kalee. Sheelal's culture was dominated by warlords who protected the population with raw strength and skill. Sheelal's father taught him to use a slugthrower at a young age. By eight, he was an accomplished sniper. By his teenage years, he was a ruthless warlord. Sheelal earned the name Grievous for his cruelty and skill. He gathered a small militia of masterful warriors, then each of his hand-picked soldiers selected their own army. Grievous left home with a nightmarish military force to continue his conquests. After years of success and profit, he felt prepared to end the scourge that plagued his home planet.
Grievous led the Kaleesh in an all-out war with the Yam'rii. In many ways, Grievous was the chosen one for his people. Under his leadership, the Kaleesh fought off an army carrying plasma-based weaponry with swords, shields, and firearms. Grievous forced the Yam'rii off Kalee. Unfortunately, the invaders had an ace up their sleeves. The Yam'rii called for help from the Galactic Republic. The central government of the universe frequently struggled to understand the politics of the Outer Rim. Their ignorance allowed the Yam'rii to frame the Kaleesh as violent aggressors. The Republic's misunderstanding was so great that they sent Jedi to put the Kaleesh in line. The Jedi defeated Grievous's might with their knowledge of the Force. Grievous held a grudge against the Jedi for the rest of his life.
How did Grievous become a cyborg?
Grievous escaped Kalee with his body intact. The Jedi had killed his home, but they left him with his skin. The Sith had other plans. Palpatine and Dooku needed a warrior who could lead their army of droids. Grievous's brutality and strategic genius made him invaluable to the Dark Side. After his planet fell to ruin, Grievous took a job as an enforcer for a network of banks. The Sith could have approached Grievous and offered him a deal, but they insist on working with people who at least partially hate them. Grievous was seen as an unstable asset. Dooku was also working with some advanced technology he wanted to test on someone. To solve both problems, Dooku had Grievous's ship sabotaged. The resulting crash destroyed most of Grievous's body, forcing him to agree to Dooku's offer of life-saving surgery.
After the biotechs finished putting Grievous back together, all that remained of his organic form was his brain, eyes, spine, heart, liver, and a percentage of his lungs. His central nervous system and remaining vital organs were inserted into a robotic body. Large parts of his brain were altered, making him faster, smarter, more violent, and more obedient. Dooku ordered his brain scrubbed of most of his memories. The cybernetic body was designed to mirror Grievous's organic form. His faceplate resembled the bone mask he wore in combat. Grievous never learned that Dooku was responsible for his destruction. His hatred toward the Jedi propelled him forward to success in the Empire's military.
The story of Grievous is one of terrible violence at every stage. He was born into a warrior culture facing extinction at the hands of a better-armed foe. He learned the ways of his people and became their mightiest defender. He became the chosen one of the Kaleesh, only to lose everything anyway. It demonstrates the failures of the Galactic Republic and the cruelty of its enemies. Grievous was failed by the system and abused by those trying to overthrow it. Grievous is a tragic figure, though it can be hard to see that past the four arms and steel faceplate.