A Thousand Stars: Episode IV, Part 13

[matril]

I was occupied with Thanksgiving all day yesterday, so here's a post a day later! Let's look at the first scene aboard the Death Star.

We've seen the brute strength of the Empire, represented by stormtroopers and the imposing presence of Darth Vader. Now we get a look at the administrative side of things. Don't be fooled by the apparent mundanity. This is where men in crisp uniforms sit around a table and coldly discuss how to keep an entire galaxy in thrall. Later on in the saga we'll meet the Emperor and his over-the-top, cackling exultation in evil, but these men are villains too, make no mistake of it. The sort of evil that takes the form of committees and bureaucracy, following orders and ticking off checklists while human lives are at stake.

Next time, grief in powerful understatement...

Comments

[matril]

I agree that people focus on the choking bit just for the "cool" factor, while I find it more interesting that Vader's zealotry is not shared by the rest of the Imperial leadership -- and he backs down at Tarkin's command, showing he's not really in charge. Plus, the guy he strangled doesn't exactly look ready to convert to Vader's religion. It's kind of hollow posturing.