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Star Words: Episode III, Part 37
Jan. 3rd, 2019 09:55 amLong before Episode III, I knew there would be an emotionally-fraught showdown between Obi-Wan and Anakin/Vader. Somehow I didn't anticipate a second epic duel between two Masters, even after Yoda's confrontation with Dooku in Episode II. But it makes perfect sense. The two remaining members of the Jedi Council must face off against the two Sith Lords. And cutting back and forth between the two fights works so well.
The one on Mustafar is heartbreaking, with the wild volcanic setting providing the perfect reflection of volatile emotions and long-suppressed resentments, surfacing with explosive devastation. Meanwhile, on Coruscant we have a fight that is less personal but riveting in a different way. Sidious has long been anticipating the chance to openly challenge the great Jedi Master, and he's going to savor this moment for all that it's worth. On the other side, though Yoda has always seemed a bit mistrusting of the Chancellor, he has only just discovered the full enormity of his deception and evil. The Sith Lord was hiding under his nose (above his nose?) all this time. Time for a reckoning.
There's a lot of posturing and bravado, both of them confident that their cause will prevail. But what I find most interesting about the prelude to their duel is one particular line from Sidious.
"Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us."
This says a lot about Palpatine's ethos. He is of course a selfish being, as all Sith are, but ultimately he is more than just self-serving. If he really believes, even hopes, that Vader will surpass him, then what he truly seeks is not eternal rule for himself, but rather the establishment of Sith rule. It's possible that his powers grant him a longer life than average. He's already gray-haired at the start of the prequels and yet he's still going strong several decades later. But from this statement we can assume that he doesn't plan on living forever. He'll rule until his apprentice becomes the Master, presumably by defeating Palpatine. As long as the Sith line is perpetuated, Sidious is satisfied.
It's a curious relationship he has with Vader. He's gone through several apprentices, maybe more than we know if we assume that Maul wasn't the first. But Vader sticks around the longest even after his serious injuries. Palpatine rescues him, saves what is left of his life, seems even to have some fondness for him. Of course any soft emotion he might possess is laced through with the inherent hardness of the Dark Side. He lies to Vader about the exact nature of Padmé's death. He manipulates him. He uses him. But then, many a craftsman can become fond of a particularly trusty tool. And Palpatine fully expects Vader to use him in return. To surpass all of them. If not for the injuries that hampered Vader's progress, maybe that's exactly what would have happened.
Instead, Vader/Anakin will overcome his master in a far different manner.
Next time, dialogue and staging merge into a unified whole...
The one on Mustafar is heartbreaking, with the wild volcanic setting providing the perfect reflection of volatile emotions and long-suppressed resentments, surfacing with explosive devastation. Meanwhile, on Coruscant we have a fight that is less personal but riveting in a different way. Sidious has long been anticipating the chance to openly challenge the great Jedi Master, and he's going to savor this moment for all that it's worth. On the other side, though Yoda has always seemed a bit mistrusting of the Chancellor, he has only just discovered the full enormity of his deception and evil. The Sith Lord was hiding under his nose (above his nose?) all this time. Time for a reckoning.
There's a lot of posturing and bravado, both of them confident that their cause will prevail. But what I find most interesting about the prelude to their duel is one particular line from Sidious.
"Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us."
This says a lot about Palpatine's ethos. He is of course a selfish being, as all Sith are, but ultimately he is more than just self-serving. If he really believes, even hopes, that Vader will surpass him, then what he truly seeks is not eternal rule for himself, but rather the establishment of Sith rule. It's possible that his powers grant him a longer life than average. He's already gray-haired at the start of the prequels and yet he's still going strong several decades later. But from this statement we can assume that he doesn't plan on living forever. He'll rule until his apprentice becomes the Master, presumably by defeating Palpatine. As long as the Sith line is perpetuated, Sidious is satisfied.
It's a curious relationship he has with Vader. He's gone through several apprentices, maybe more than we know if we assume that Maul wasn't the first. But Vader sticks around the longest even after his serious injuries. Palpatine rescues him, saves what is left of his life, seems even to have some fondness for him. Of course any soft emotion he might possess is laced through with the inherent hardness of the Dark Side. He lies to Vader about the exact nature of Padmé's death. He manipulates him. He uses him. But then, many a craftsman can become fond of a particularly trusty tool. And Palpatine fully expects Vader to use him in return. To surpass all of them. If not for the injuries that hampered Vader's progress, maybe that's exactly what would have happened.
Instead, Vader/Anakin will overcome his master in a far different manner.
Next time, dialogue and staging merge into a unified whole...
