RotJ- possibilities

[The_Night]

there was a discussion on the rpf about the throne room scene in jedi. this is just something i thought of and i figured i'd post here.

i watched this scene last night on blu-ray. the thought occured to me, did Vader block Luke's strike to save the emperor's life? Or did he do it to save Luke from the dark side?

the line before is palpatine telling Luke to "take your Jedi weapon. strike me down with your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete." so in a sense by blocking Luke's strike Vader prevents Luke from turning to the dark side.

Also, suppose Luke had killed the emperor, then by the rule of 2 who is the new master? Since according to the rule of 2 the only way to become the new Sith Master is for the apprentice to kill the master. So wouldn't killing the emperor have made Luke the new master and Vader his apprentice?


thoughts?

[GreyJedi]

maybe subconsciously Vader did it...but then he spends the rest of the scene trying to turn Luke by taunting him. What lends credibility to this theory IMO is how the rest of the fight turns out. Its as though Vader really isn't giving it all, because deep down he doesn't want to. Remember this is the man who killed scores of Jedi single handedly. There was no way novice barely Jedi Luke was going to best him in a true fight.

The fight is the throne room was one of wills. That's part of why I love this duel scene more than any other in the saga, because it has so much more going on in it other that "you wear black, so I don't like you smash smash"

Palps was absolutelty in no danger from Luke. One blast of push or Force lightning would have sent him reeling. All he was doing was taunting Luke into giving into his hate, fear and anger.

[WEDGE ANTILLES]

luke is only there because he believes in destiny.  in ESB, vader confirmed it was luke's destiny to destroy the emperor: "he has forseen it".  this is why luke let go of the gantry:  he knew he wouldn't die. how could he? he had a "destiny".

palpatine's taunt is the equivalent/parallel to obwan's line in ANH: if you strike me down I shall become more powerful that you can possibly imagine.  (read: if you strike me down, I WIN) --  these were the ground-rules of the ANH duel,  stated explicitly, as the duel begins. 

(palpatine is merely stating the ground rules; the duel begins in the next scene "if you strike me down I will become more powerful that you can possibly imagine")
 
 


luke believes it's his destiny to stop the emperor.  he heard it from vader in ESB.  the emperor has just told him, the only way that can happen, is if/when luke turns to the dark side.  now luke is starting to beLIEve it. (why? because he believes in destiny -- the reason he came, is the reason he shouldn't have come -- and the duel commences).

[The Highwayman]

I am reminded of Jolee Bindo's explanation of destiny. Where it causes individuals to so stupid things in order to be heroes. I certainly side with Wedge. He most definitely wouldn't have battled the emperor had no one told him it was his destiny.