If one is to use the Space Nazi allegory for the Galactic Empire then Pellaeon would be one of the old school Prussian generals; someone who may not ascribe completely to the ideology, possesses qualities that can be considered admirable like a sense of honor and may even voice objections in certain cases, but someone who still felt duty-bound to stick with the regime regardless.

I personally think that Pellaon's stance did gradually soften with regards to certain aspects like abolishing slavery and improving the overall standard of living for Imperial citizens, but it always came from a place of pragmatism rather than idealism.  He would always remain an authoritarian and possibly human supremacist at heart, but he also knew that the Empire had to make certain concessions in order to survive.

If Wedge was a lion, who had to lead a flock of sheep, Pellaeon was a lion, who had to lead a pack of hyenas.

Alright, "The Empire can't survive unless you like this video and subscribe for more'." It got me to click the button. Good work.

Leia: What he really wants are concessions ahead of time, and then to be at the peace table when it's all over.
Han: And here I was thinking Pellaeon was a good guy.
Leia: I'm not saying he's not, at least not by Imperial standards. But he's also a head of state, and has to do what's best for them. He didn't agree to end the war because it was the 'right thing to do', he agreed because he said it was 'in the Empire's best interests'.

He reminds me a lot of Otto Von Bismarck. Pushing reforms not out of conviction but rather necessity and pragmatism. For example, Bismarck introduced health insurance in Prussian Germany not because he thought that the people deserved it but to silence the liberal opposition. This pragmatism looks a lot like what Palleon seems to embody.

The New Republic Operation Paperclip-ed Pellaeon.

Basically, Pellaeon is pragmatic, and so doesn't have time for cringe things like racism - but doesn't have time to fight it either

“Vader would never allow this”

What's wild to me is that Legends writers decided that Pellaeon was 100% correct to believe that the Republic would collapse over inter-species tensions and the Empire would one day rule the galaxy again. That's exactly what happens in the Legacy comics, where the final government we get is a triumvirate made up mostly of Imperial institutions and headed politically by an Empress (with Skywalker blood, at that).

Corey's the only Star Wars lore YouTuber I watch because he actually has some critical thinking and reading comprehension skills.

One part of the Hand of Thrawn, where Pellaeon's outlining the peace plan with Leia, one of her Nohgri bodyguards (the guys whose planet was poisoned and was used by the Empire to be kept in a state of perpetual servitude) balking at his claim of the Empire becoming more tolerant toward aliens than under Palpatine. When he asks Pellaeon if he can honestly say the aliens in the Empire agree with his claims, Pellaeon reluctantly admits no.

He always gave me "Bismarck" vibes.

With a mustache like his? Ofc they were redeemed!

I think that many of the reforms that the Imperial Remnant underwent under Gilad Pellaeon were driven much more by a sense of desperate pragmatism rather than any deep seeded need for reform. The Imperial Remnant renounced slavery because it is a fundamentally inefficient way to organize labor. The military and government became more open towards non-humans because it no longer had the luxury of picking and choosing who got to stay when every able body was needed. Generally improving the quality of life of its citizens becomes necessary to prevent popular uprisings when the military is overstretched and cannot afford to be back at home putting down insurrections.

It's less progress towards a more liberal, democratic state and more concessions to create a stable state that can survive the next five, ten, twenty, or a hundred years.

I have a similar problem with most of the Fel family. Especially since unlike with Pellaeon, it's not just sourcebooks or fans, even the books themselves seem to forget Jag Fel used to work for the Empire of the Hand and, as he says in Dark Journey, was actively raised by his dad to respect "the ideals of Grand Admiral Thrawn".

I think there's simply the fact that, for European ethinicites at least, he looks like a good old strong and protective dad or grandad -- don't neglect the big white mustache factor. Not in the same stereotype as that of the smooth-cheeked, twisted and cunning executive (Tarkin, Thrawn). There should be a name for this effect, hmm let me see 🤔... The "Your grandad's mustache bias" ? Anyway great video, very thorough on a much needed topic

To throw my hat into this ring, many people say Pellaeon is a pragmatist, that he wouldn't oppose the reforms put in by others but was never much focused on fixing the empire himself.

I disagree, I see Pellaeon as the classical down with the ship captain, Pellaeon served the republic and promised to fight for them. The empire formed out of the corruption of the republic, his promise hadn't changed. As the war continued Pellaeon can clearly see which way the wind is turning, even as far back as the thrawn trilogy pellaeon talks about his issues with some of the choices the emperor made.

He was fighting a war until its conclusion, it just so happens it concluded because he was the last person alive to call it quits. As a peacetime leader he is out of place, flat footed, his presence does little in the grand scheme of imperial politics other than increase the navy's clout and power. However his presence on the nation as a figurehead of stability and maintaining the course would allow others to do the political thinking with an easy scapegoat who's name would never be tarnished. I doubt Pellaeon ever pushed for anything that didnt have tangible, practical millitary benefits. I also doubt he would ever go out of his way to oppose anything, unless it would hamstring his ability to maintain the empire.

Gilad's political career in many ways may reflect his millitary one. Pellaeon was never a bad officer, he would never blunder his resources unnecessarily. His big strength was knowing exactly what he could do with what he had, this was also his biggest weakness. Pellaeon wasn't Thrawn, or Ackbar, he couldn't conjure victory from the jaws of defeat, he wasn't a tactical genius. What he was, was a strategist. He knew how to get from point A, to point B, in the most effective way possible, and which point to be point A and where point B will be. In the same sense as a politician he recognises to keep his position, the only thing that matters is that his institution, the navy, is empowered and loyal to him. He does not care for the minutia of the day to day politics, thats the job of politicians. Unless it helps him, like aliens in the army, he doesn't care.

Well at least Pellaeon was an improvement in comparison to Palpatine... then again, it doesn't take much to be an improvement in comparison to Palpatine (yet from a strategic perspective, Daala somehow couldn't even do that).

All of this is why Pellaeon is one of my favorite Star Wars characters. He is neither a holier than thou Mary Sue saint nor a darker than dark villain.

If Thrawn is meant to be Rommel in space, Pellaeon is Karl Donitz.