Why Vader Stopped Luke From Killing the Emperor (Not Why You Think) - Star Wars Explained

[@guyverjay1289]

Palpatines reaction shows he was never in any danger of being killed at that moment

[@bobsterclause342]

yeah, and Vader was a force user for a long time he knows that if he didn't stop it, the emperor would simply be pissed and proud

[@joshhdebolt]

Lucas made perfect sense. Sidious had every single thing planned out. He knew the saber was coming before luke even made the decision.

[@lormaeris]

Totally agree with you, I'm sure that Vader's parry was also part of his plan and that he could stop Luke even if Vader faltered.

[@Shenmue06]

Vader probably knew that Sidious had the ability to block the blade using the force. I think vader knew that Luke wasn't ready to fight Palpatine. Luke and anakin had far more potential than Palpatine but it takes years of dedication to master the force.

[@thedigitalbash1506]

8:08 "The Emperor has something up his sleeves literally and figuratively" 😂 I liked that part. 😅

[@alejandronunez5110]

"You won't be stealing my kill son " -Darth Vader

[@tyleroaks753]

Pretty much .. lol

[@raiderax8532]

Palpatine the type of guy to ask if you want to see a magic trick and pull a lightsaber from behind your ear

[@TotalTech2.]

Have you ever wondered how Vader was able to kill the Emperor so easily? Lucas said that Vader was able to kill Palpatine so easily because Palpatine had become an epitome of darkness. He was so consumed by the dark side that all he could feel was anger, hate, fear, etc., and he had mastered these emotions. Lucas said if Vader had attempted to kill Palpatine out of anger, greed or lust for power, Palpatine would have known it instantly. However Vader's actions weren't motivated by any of those; it was motivated by love for his son, and love was an emotion Palpatine had no understanding of. Therefore, because he acted out of love, he was able to take Palpatine by surprise and kill him before he knew what was going on. Amazing writing!

[@darthherald2564]

Im pretty sure Sidious was never in danger, Luke was too inexperienced to pose a threat.

[@Shenmue06]

Palpatine could have easily blocked his blade with the force. Luke probably didn't even know what force lightning was at this point.

[@Frantic857]

Jesus before jedi any time! I'll take eternal salvation over fantasy, eternal security over esoteric beliefs, and eternal life over eternal damnation from pagan, gnostic beliefs. + Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by him. + People watch fantasy while the world crumbles beneath their feet, the scales of deception are at play in the world and people are watching TV / Movies / Netflicks / Disney / Etcetera. + The word of God tells us exactly what is going on and what is going to happen but people would rather live and believe a lie. + (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 > [3]-But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4]-In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.) + (1 John 2:15-17 > [15]-Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16]-For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17]-And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.) + Jesus is the Only way, I pray that those who read this actually look into the scriptures through the King James Bible, in Jesus' name. Amen!

[@robertagu5533]

I can see this comedic parody.. Father an son get to talking an Vader loses track of his surroundings... *accidentally* swings his crimson saber back an takes out Sideous... not paying attention. Confused looks on both them.. OR maybe a similar ending, but some dust in the air makes Luke sneeze an his saber reflexively glides up an into Palpatine... "Well damn.... guess that's that then..." *credits roll*

[@krispalermo8133]

Watching the space battle, .. Vader as a fleet commander thinks, " The greatest space battle in twenty years and I'm listening to this old guy run his mouth." Luke as a fighter pilot thinks, " The greatest space battle of my Time, and this old guy makes me miss doing hand stands for Yoda, what is with this guy ?" Vader and Luke thinking at the same time, " He talks more than Leia does. ! WoW really likes the sound of his own voice! " Vader turns and just starts power driving punch after punch into Palpatine's mouth, Luke stands in shock and terror. Slowly watching the display of brutality, Luke slides down the window covering his face pleading, " Please daddy don't beat the old man anymore, you're scaring me !"

[@robertagu5533]

@@krispalermo8133 family issues... an finally making Palps pay for all the Rombot Chicken parodies...

[@krispalermo8133]

@@robertagu5533 Robot Chicken is just legendary. Former Emperor Hand, who was Luke Skywalker's wife and mother of Ben Skywalker. Mara Jade stated Palpatine left a lot of people with .. daddy issues.

[@TheJasonDonald]

I personally think it’s a mix of the two answers we were given about this scene. That yes Darth Vader wanted to turn Luke to the Dark Side. But knew killing the Emperor right there and then wouldn’t be a wise choice. Though it also could that Vader realized that no matter what he would do or if Luke tries to strike the Emperor down. The Emperor as we seen has always two steps ahead. So it could be a mix of Vader wants to turn his son to the dark side however realizes that even with their combined strength would be no match against the Emperor.

[@karlylove9791]

What do you mean no match against the emperor? They defeated him. I’d say they were a match for him the second Vader threw him down an exhaust shaft.

[@TheJasonDonald]

@@karlylove9791 that’s the not point I was making. What I was making was both the novel and Lucas himself stated that Vader was uncertain if he and his son would be no match for the Emperor. It’s not I assume it’s that I’m basically theorizing what the novel of the events of Episode 6 and the creator himself stated was going through Darth Vaders mind.

[@DreadMaximus]

I’m glad Lucas said that Palpatine could rag doll Vader and Luke at the same time at this point.

[@guapocat203]

And as kids, we knew it. That was the brilliance of OG Star Wars. No explanation was needed. The moment the old dude started mocking Luke and laughing in his face we all knew he was on another level.

[@DreadMaximus]

@@guapocat203 that’s the beauty of it, we didn’t. We’re thinking , who is this guy and why is Vader bowing to him? We didn’t have comics and all the insane amount of material today. You just went off the movie and novelizations. Speaking of the novel. In it, Luke is completely unaware of how strong the Emperor is. He actually thinks he just an old man and that he can break his neck at any point if he chooses lol. Ofcourse this was written as someone unaware and you’re going on this journey with him until the Emperor lays it down.

[@scottmccrea1873]

That's not the case. And in fact, Palps was only defeated when Vader and Luke worked together. That was the only way to defeat him. Neither could do it individually.

[@DreadMaximus]

@@scottmccrea1873 he’s meaning in a straight up fight . Not that backstabbery BS Vader pulled lol.

[@scottmccrea1873]

@@DreadMaximus a W is a W. Lol

[@Anakunus]

I like the novelization's take more. I'm sure Palpatine had some back-up plan in case Vader wouldn't defend him, but I don't see how he would have had _time_ to execute it, given that Luke's lightsaber was mere inches away from his face. Also, I find it suspicious that Vader didn't know that his master would urge Luke to kill him, considering the fate of his previous apprentice. Yet for some reason, I didn't remember anything about the novel version's explanation, even though I have read it (albeit not in English). So thank you for releasing this video, The Stupendous Wave. This whole issue makes sense now.

[@piotrkijak1774]

I feel like Palpatine was such powerful user of the force that he could've sensed almost everything within Battle of Endor. All except what happens when Luke refuses to kill Vader and then Anakin.

[@AnkurWow]

Palpatine probably would’ve “frozen” Luke before the saber hit, and perhaps Vader didn’t want Palpatine to fight Luke, but wanted to prove to the Emperor that he (Vader) is more powerful and loyal than Luke.

[@seanrrr]

Couldn't have had better timing. Was just wondering about this yesterday!

[@MistaKliq]

He's my kill NOT YOURS... I'm the chosen one as Obi Wan Kenobi said.

[@bobsterclause342]

I think people seriously misunderstand what force users are They aren't martial artists, they are biological symbiotic cyborgs with a galactic energy field Why is grievous still basically a martial artist through being a cyborg and this not explain what force users are? Well, let's take a thought experiment in the form of a game, or make an experiment a martial artist would have to play and a force user also plays. There is a third element, and it's a target, weather a guy in a vehicle, or someone shooting a rocket, perhaps even with programmable commands, like goo 100 meters, turn 30 degrees go up, etc. A really good martial artist with centuries of experience playing this game with players would still have to guess what the guy would do. Let's say there is a non force danger sensing ability where martial artists could still learn to see without their eyes open and sense danger, or some sort of alert. well, in this case the martial artist gets a sense that the guy firing is about to do something. he doesn't know what the martial artist may have the ability to sense some sort of intent, like deceit, or trickery, but so what. I choose trickery, i have hundreds of meters, thousands of units of speed and degrees of turning and up to four patterns good luck guessing now, instead of learning eye hand coordination and training eye hand coordination and skill over and over again, a force user trains to let the force guide him while importing in whatever training and skill he has into a guidance input system. the force tells the user what to do, with any skills and will on behalf of the user being trained to make better, not the skills and abilities combined with a self guided output to ones actions. see the difference? at the end if the day one part is you deciding to use all your skills, while the other is learning how to work with an external mind and maybe being able to improve some of it's inputs or choices straight through you and out your arms every single living thing is like part of the mind of the galactic field, so each node, is linked with this mind, meaning the mind knows to an extent what someone intends, meaning this field calculates intent and choices and tells the user where to put the blade, so through three jukes, the blade is where it needs to be despite three jukes this means that while a martial artist has to react in the moment, whatever plan from the user is already being calculated by the galactic mind, as well as possible choices intended upon. it's like having half your mind be against you and having control of half your body, you make a plan, but the right hand can catch what you planed just as if you planed a fake out drop and catch sequences. This means that the only thing the force user needs is speed, meaning that the if you are shooting rail guns faster than the force user can move, the user can start moving the blade for the fourth juke and have the blade, or lazer shot, in the way by the time the fourth shenanigan kata lands it's super fast moving target. this is why force users are so potent. it's also why people think it's preternatural or precognitive, because they are reacting to things before things come out of the gun, because they are hackers and have access to your inputs and plans before the boom thing comes out of the blast boi. in a sense, they are getting inputs of what to do that are fully formed before they enter their mind, so they are having access to thoughts before their own and information before they see things with their own senses, but they are organic cyborgs with a galaxy with thinking muscles apparently it is also why having a mere force sensitive on the battlefield can mean random stupid choices leading to one in a million line of things for battles to accidentally be one by ridiculous chance. it would be easy for the average dude to think, well, so many things happen that good luck is inevitable, when in reality, the force isn't going to be bothering most of the time. this also means that miffing the force means that a series of random and unfortunate events would happen to eventually destroy the death star. even if luke failed, it would be a matter of time before random critters and objects coeless into people stumbling into blowing it up because the force is a life symbiotic, and you can't just blow up planets. it really doesn't like that. it can't really be messing with life too much and has to let the cells do it's thing, but it can intervene when it wants probably, and to some extent.

[@ReiseLukas]

I just thought about it but this scene and the scene Anakin killed Dooku rhyme (as George Lucas would say). Both times Palpatine was seated, observing and goading a jedi to kill their enemy. Anakin killed Dooku, but he stopped Luke from making the same mistake. I think Vader intervening in Luke's attack was a part of Anakin's inner struggle throughout this time in the throne room. He knew Palpatine used this tactic to turn himself to the Dark Side but deep down he didn't want Luke to turn to the Dark Side

[@scottb3034]

I prefer that answer or one where Vader is resigned to his place as 2nd in command and loyal to Palpatine above everything else STILL to that point (only forsaking that resignation and loyalty to save his son who had spared him) because he was unwilling to consider an alternative where he loses his standing and cowers before the Rebel Alliance for mercy.

[@bobsterclause342]

I think people seriously misunderstand what force users are They aren't martial artists, they are biological symbiotic cyborgs with a galactic energy field Why is grievous still basically a martial artist through being a cyborg and this not explain what force users are? Well, let's take a thought experiment in the form of a game, or make an experiment a martial artist would have to play and a force user also plays. There is a third element, and it's a target, weather a guy in a vehicle, or someone shooting a rocket, perhaps even with programmable commands, like goo 100 meters, turn 30 degrees go up, etc. A really good martial artist with centuries of experience playing this game with players would still have to guess what the guy would do. Let's say there is a non force danger sensing ability where martial artists could still learn to see without their eyes open and sense danger, or some sort of alert. well, in this case the martial artist gets a sense that the guy firing is about to do something. he doesn't know what the martial artist may have the ability to sense some sort of intent, like deceit, or trickery, but so what. I choose trickery, i have hundreds of meters, thousands of units of speed and degrees of turning and up to four patterns good luck guessing now, instead of learning eye hand coordination and training eye hand coordination and skill over and over again, a force user trains to let the force guide him while importing in whatever training and skill he has into a guidance input system. the force tells the user what to do, with any skills and will on behalf of the user being trained to make better, not the skills and abilities combined with a self guided output to ones actions. see the difference? at the end if the day one part is you deciding to use all your skills, while the other is learning how to work with an external mind and maybe being able to improve some of it's inputs or choices straight through you and out your arms every single living thing is like part of the mind of the galactic field, so each node, is linked with this mind, meaning the mind knows to an extent what someone intends, meaning this field calculates intent and choices and tells the user where to put the blade, so through three jukes, the blade is where it needs to be despite three jukes this means that while a martial artist has to react in the moment, whatever plan from the user is already being calculated by the galactic mind, as well as possible choices intended upon. it's like having half your mind be against you and having control of half your body, you make a plan, but the right hand can catch what you planed just as if you planed a fake out drop and catch sequences. This means that the only thing the force user needs is speed, meaning that the if you are shooting rail guns faster than the force user can move, the user can start moving the blade for the fourth juke and have the blade, or lazer shot, in the way by the time the fourth shenanigan kata lands it's super fast moving target. this is why force users are so potent. it's also why people think it's preternatural or precognitive, because they are reacting to things before things come out of the gun, because they are hackers and have access to your inputs and plans before the boom thing comes out of the blast boi. in a sense, they are getting inputs of what to do that are fully formed before they enter their mind, so they are having access to thoughts before their own and information before they see things with their own senses, but they are organic cyborgs with a galaxy with thinking muscles apparently it is also why having a mere force sensitive on the battlefield can mean random stupid choices leading to one in a million line of things for battles to accidentally be one by ridiculous chance. it would be easy for the average dude to think, well, so many things happen that good luck is inevitable, when in reality, the force isn't going to be bothering most of the time. this also means that miffing the force means that a series of random and unfortunate events would happen to eventually destroy the death star. even if luke failed, it would be a matter of time before random critters and objects coeless into people stumbling into blowing it up because the force is a life symbiotic, and you can't just blow up planets. it really doesn't like that. it can't really be messing with life too much and has to let the cells do it's thing, but it can intervene when it wants probably, and to some extent

[@chadflanaganCFC]

It's a mix of those answers I think, and new canon opens up a second possible reason, with Vader discovering Exogol and knowing now Palpatine had clones of himself in place for the use of essence transfer, he wanted a means to permanently put the emperor down something he's been unable to figure out thus far, as if a dark side corrupted Luke killed Sidious and joined Vader in this scenario the emperor is still on the board, and Vader is still extremely weak to force lightning, the Sith by nature betray one another so a Sith aligned Luke would probably be a touch more receptive to killing Vader when the resurrected emperor returned.

[@mattthompson8671]

With a quick flick of his left wrist, Vader could’ve cut the head off the Emperor right then and there. And then think, well that was easy.

[@grawman67]

@@alsimmonshellspawn6021 In the original canon, Palpy was so arrogant in this moment that Vader throwing him legitimately surprised him.

[@grawman67]

@@alsimmonshellspawn6021 I'll have to reread it then! My bad!

[@scottb3034]

@@alsimmonshellspawn6021 Several things wrong here... A) the novels aren't canon to the Lucas continuity when they contradict or aren't also explained in the films (for instance, the Lars being related to Kenobi)...which this was not really.... B) We know Palpatine is extremely arrogant and proved to be wrong about his prognostication capabilities. Palpatine's death and the death of the Empire is all about his arrogance and inability to see what's in front of his damn eyes. Palpatine can think and pretend to know everything Vader is thinking and might do but that isn't the case. We saw Palpatine didn't foresee Luke and company land on the Endor Moon, we saw he couldn't predict Luke would remain good and he didn't see Vader turning on him right then. Palpatine most likely would not have foreseen that action coming but that doesn't mean he'd be unable to stop or counter it. It's a colossal joke to keep up the charade that the Emperor is omniscient when he clearly never was. He's the biggest liar and charlatan in the galaxy. That's how he gained and stayed in power.

[@scottb3034]

@@grawman67No, you are absolutely right. The idea that Palpatine has godly omniscience needs to be put to an end. No character in the saga has been so fatally wrong so many times, he just had luck on his side every time but the last time.

[@Elite_Ronin]

Love the videos so I force crushed it awhile back!! Keep the holocrons coming so that we can learn more about the different eras and different ways of the force.

[@fedr39]

The Return of the Jedi is actually Anakin returning back to the light and becoming a Jedi again. Not Luke.

[@grimm_comics]

The new canon reason is soo stupid.. At least from the Emperor's perspective.

[@grawman67]

I largely think that about the new canon as a whole

[@randallpetroelje3913]

Yup agreed 👍

[@777-pdf]

New Canon is stupid in general my guy. F**k Disney

[@theforcedragon3781]

@@alsimmonshellspawn6021bro you a bot?

[@theforcedragon3781]

That wasn’t even Canon it shows in the Darth Vader comic how he found out About Palpatine and his cloning and he realized that Palpatine is planing the bigger picture and he kinda accepts that He will probably always be a pawn for Palpatine. That’s how he went from “Join me and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son” To “you don’t know the power of the darkside I must obey my master” which lines up with what George Lucas says about the sense

[@mangleman25]

The beauty of fiction is that viewer interpretation is the name of the game. The literary theory "Death of the author" dictates that once a story is out of a creator's hands and in the hands of the audience, authorial intent is a nice thing to note down but shouldn't restrain whatever personal interpretations you as a reader might make/have that strengthen the material for you. I know it's not the official reason he did it but I like to imagine that at least subconsciously, Anakin was still in Vader's head and played a role in his blocking the strike against the Emperor. Don't think it's too out of the realm of possibility given Vader is still teetering on his return to the light side in RotJ, it isn't like it was a sudden turn, it was gradually lead up to. And even earlier in the movie he goes as far as to say "It is too late for me, son" in an uncharacteristically self-aware way. I like the idea that it was that in combination with the proposed intentions given by the novel and Lucas himself being Vader's rationale for blocking the attack on a surface level, to still cling to the dark side as strong as he can as Anakin shows he's fighting his way to the surface once more. It makes the turn back to the light that much more beautiful in my opinion.

[@maiaspen307]

Yet another top-notch video!

[@ethansoderstrom8287]

This was Lucas’s original story and vision, so I prefer what Lucas had to say about his story.

[@grawman67]

Agreed. The sequels simply aren't cohesive with the original six/seven films

[@matthewmann8969]

I wonder what would happen if The Emperor after Anakins/Vaders cuts and flame leftovers even if alive sensed The Skywalker children through the forces birth and location and pinpointed a way to get them to join him to later use against suited Anakin/Vader that would be the ultimate slap in the face to Ani/Vadery using the people he loves most more then Shmi, Qui Gon, Padme, Obi Wan, And Ahsoka put together against him yeah.

[@aaron_d_henderson1984]

I don't think this is what happened during this scene... Luke ignited his lightsaber, but if you see his actual movements it doesn't come near the Emperor... it could be argued that he was pointing his lightsaber in the Emperor's direction, but from his place in the throne room to where the Emperor was sitting Luke would have had to reached a lot further and make a lot larger movement than we saw in this scene (not sure if it was an acting error, or a misinterpretation from the viewers). the reason it looks like it was even near the Emperor, is because of the camera angle. if the camera would have been above them, the distance between Luke and the Emperor would have been more obvious.

[@whoblitzell]

Lucas canon actually fits here. Sidious always had everything planned. He didn't need a lightsaber to parry Luke, because he's fucking Darth Sidious dude. The guy that can move planets out of their orbit with the force. Stopping Luke and Vader would have been child's play for him. Vader caught him off guard at a critical moment and that's why he lost

[@jevonweemsii2647]

I think that Palpatine knew that Darth Vader had ulterior motives based on the current comic series. I think that he knew that Vader wanted to turn Luke to the dark side and not the emperor. The emperor knew this. He knew what would transpire and wanted Luke to kill Vader the whole time. I think that this makes sense based on the current Disney comics.

[@matthewlaflamme9019]

He saw the opportunity to finally become a master, and got cold feet.

[@brentlashley2138]

It was just a reflex. Vader was used to being a guard dog.

[@DarkAdonisVyers]

The sane answer. Unfortunately, stupid people love to overdramatize things. I mean, nowadays, kyber crystals are mood rings, rather than just naturally mined vs. artificially made.

[@landonletterman831]

The amount of times I've posted this as a "why didn't he let him, if that's what he wanted," makes me happy to see this as a video. Some small part of me wanted to believe that Anakin/Vader wanted to bring Luke into the fold but, once he knew Luke was his son, didn't want to force him down the same road of pain and loss that Anakin himself went through, from the moment he cut off Luke's hand (exactly like he lost his own, but done to his own son). Letting him cut down Palpatine wouldn't have been very much different than Anakin beheading Dooku.

[@bryanfrazier4648]

There is a passage in Darth Plagueis (I believe) that infers that only once one has mastered the force, can their training in the Dark side really begin.

[@soothsayer2406]

Vader wanted to sit on the thrown for a while.

[@kashiro2492]

He got put into the same situation as dooku and then gave the surprised Pikachu face when his arm got cut off

[@LordWyatt]

*”If you will not turn to the Dark Side…then perhaps she will-“* The moment Luke lost his battle against anger

[@booboolips6053]

I saw the first Star Wars movie in the theater back in the 70’s when I was 12 years old🤩

[@glasses685]

Lucas' explanation makes more sense. I don't think for a second Luke was actually capable of killing the Emperor whether Vader interfered or not.

[@LordDarkDan]

I always figured another reason why Vader stopped him was because if Luke did strike the Emperor down in anger at that stage (Ignoring the idea that Palpatine would stop him himself if Vader didn't intervene a second) The kill might arguably give Luke such a 'high' to a point that what's stopping him from immediately just turning against Vader with this new found draw to the Dark Side. I doubt even if Luke did kill them both in anger he'd simply take over the Empire in such a what if scenario, he's bound to go back to his friends anyway, But he'd be a different person on the inside. But from Vader's perspective, he knew just as well Luke was strong at this point and given how Luke did overpower Vader in the real battle. A Dark Side induced Luke would probably overpower Vader even faster. Given how long Vader's been under Palpatine at this point, he knows he'd need to ensure a method to keep Luke under control from getting ideas immediately much like how he did as Anakin when he was going through that 'high' himself.

[@NatePrawdzik]

His instincts as a father over-rode everything else. He didn't want Luke to become a killer, because he knew what that did to his own soul. There wasn't enough time to think, it was reflex.

[@empoweredshemphoward]

Vader saw the trap he fell for when he killed dooku from the dooku side and saw the opening he was waiting for.

[@imreknausz9955]

You should do a fan fiction on what if mace windu blocked anakins attack and 1v2ed anakin and Palpatine

[@thunderstudent]

I like the novelization explanation a bit better, Vader not knowing he was on the chopping block after everything the Emperor has put him through doesn't make sense. He's far smarter than that, but I do believe that Vader would also think that they weren't strong enough to destroy Emperor Palpatine just yet.

[@ThousandMask]

I just realize Anakin was gone and back the 2 moments he watched Palpatine torturing with force lighting a jedi , 1 was the old jedis that lost their ways, the other was a new version of it that believed in him and allowed attachment

[@vencislavdimitrov9304]

All the explanations are true - the Emperor was truly ready even for the case that Vader let Luke strike him. And further more, there were real possibility, that Luke can still refuse to join Vader even after Sidious dead.

[@TheRealCaptainJamesTKirk]

In the novel, both Luke and Vader separately had the power needed to kill the Emperor, and he knew it. All 3 were gambling. There were no aces up the sleeve, this was it. Palpatine dying by Luke's hand would destroy the Jedi for good, and he didn't believe Anakin would reemerge. Vader knew he could take the Emperor, but wanted Luke as insurance to help, plus needed the Emperor to help turn/teach Luke. Luke truly believed his father would turn away from his dark past and redeem himself by joining him. Luke's gamble was actually quite Jedi like in it's wisdom, and it worked. He swung at the Emperor because he lost his temper, the Emperor was not going to beat Luke when Luke was armed.

[@АлексейМомот-щ7о]

Stupendous Wave, do you have Dune channel?

[@thetruemonarch9354]

Even as a kid I assumed the reason he blocked it is because had he not, Palpatine would have anyway, and then he'd be pissy with Vader for not blocking it like a good lil puppet. One way or another that blade ain't connecting. May as well go the route that doesn't tick your boss off.

[@MistahJay7]

Make a video on how Vader was able to grab Palpatine so easily and throw him down the shaft lol I always felt like he should've been able to counter Vader grabbing him like that

[@Henkelystudios]

I Think Lucus version is correct. From what we know about Palpatine he doesent want to die and he believes he is realization of the rule of two. He wants to rule the galaxy forever and actively seeks immortality. One could say he had a worthy clone body waiting and did not anticipate the death star to blow up with his clone body on it, and that is fair, however he intends to live forever and wants Luke to become what Vader couldent.

[@Epiccomicgamer]

It's the same thing sidious did to dooku. He was ready to sacrifice Vader once he knew he could have Luke by his side

[@bizmasterTheSlav]

I prefer the second one. Palps knew Luke would strike, he was fully ready to protect himself if needed. He understood everything. Everything except love. Only thing he was unable to predict was Vader's love for his son. He did not think Vader would sacrifice himself to save his son, that's what doomed Sidious.

[@idigamstudios7463]

I like the explanation from Lucas because it's also thematic. The Emperor had a plan for everything *except* that his hold over Vader could be broken in a non-Sith way.

[@kevinhansen8211]

Sidious definitely had things in hand. He knew Vader, had him convinced that his master couldn't die, yet. The one man that had always accepted Vader for his sins. The one man that made sure that Anakin wasn't alone with those sins. Sidious knew Vader wasn't ready to take the crown and may never have been ready. Vader wasn't willing to be the only Sith, not yet. The lies he told himself about Luke needing more training were likely planted by the emperor. The same lies Sidious had told Dooku, to be satisfied with the two of them training Anakin, how much stronger he would be with both their guidance. Same type of fight, with Sidious being in total control.

[@johncraftenworth7847]

force lightning is long distance, can't deal with an in close suicider of high level power/endurance. Vader had a lot of scenarios in mind how they could kill Palpatine together, and we can see he is a master strategist and Obi Wan's disciple, his strategic judgment is correct proven in the movie events here. The only thing he didn't predict was his own selfless mindset when it happened.

[@Kami_Jojo]

I always felt that by RotJ, Vader had accepted his place as Palpatine's apprentice. His son had forsaken him on Bespin and Sidious had already seen a future where Luke replaced him. Sidious was in complete control and Vader defending him was a flex of his complete authority. I also felt Vader was protecting Luke more than protecting Sidious. Sidious could have defended himself in any number of ways, all of them likely to be more cruel than Vader stepping in. Palpatine was never in any danger regardless

[@moyssy89]

I think Vader was conflicted at this point, and subconciously that little light left in him didn't want his son to make the same mistake as he did. Just like at the very end, when Luke was being fried by the Emperor and pleaded for his father, which ignited that light left of Anakin in the shell of Vader to save his son and fulfill the prophecy.

[@corie_1032]

Sidious is always 2 steps ahead. Hes very very smart and has tons of knowledge. He does have a higher midichlorian count than yoda after all.

[@Amadeus8484]

Luke Kills Palpatine: "What have I done?!" Darth Vader: "You are fulfilling your destiny."

[@tompearce5418]

Vader knew he could never hold the Empire together without Palpatine. He didn't have the political skills.

[@DavidSmith-vz9uu]

You know I never caught that Luke Skywalker was attempting to strike palpatine down, I just thought he was going for Vader since obi wan said (you must face dark Vader again) although it makes perfect sense what you are saying, Luke's lightsaber was right in front of palpatine s face, (I used to think that was just old filming technology), because palpatine was egging Luke on and he told Luke to (strike him down and his journey towards the dark side will be complete)

[@deantefields7736]

I think two things can be true. All three men were vying for some sort of position in that room. Sidious is entirely too powerful, lived too long, to have been felled by someone of Luke’s experience. Vader probably foresaw this scenario, and knows that even both of them together currently couldn’t beat him. It would probably go like Savage and Maul’s fight against Sidious. Vader could go on confidently knowing Luke is an underling and the could take out Palpatine in time. But Palpatine wanted Luke and he probably saw Vader’s end had arrived. Much like Dooku and Anakin’s last battle.

[@cristianh.5133]

There’s 2 ways this could’ve played out from Vader’s perspective. Either Luke kills Palpatine and turns to the dark side and kills Vader too, or Luke kills Palpatine and doesn’t turn. For a man fuelled by pride like Vader and Anakin were, it had to be himself the one who kills Palpatine to be able to legitimately take his place as the new Sith Lord. Historically, the apprentice kills the master and takes his place, so for someone to make the kill on his behalf would’ve diminished the feat and would’ve rendered the ascension illegitimate and meant that Vader would have to end up fighting Luke and possibly lose.

[@LordBrittish]

More like stopping Luke from getting electrocuted by the emperor.

[@DjBaapreB]

Anakin had to be broken entirely and Vader had to suffer so much so that at the critical moment he good blindsight the emperor and endure the force lightning.

[@dh4438]

What makes Sideous a great villain is he’s always 4 or 5 steps ahead and always looks at the big picture! And how exactly was Vader going to force Sideous to train Luke while also making him run the galaxy? Sideous is no one’s puppet. Remember what Mace said to Anakin, ‘Sideous was too dangerous to be kept alive!’ Anakin would know this from experience!

[@Gamerafighter76]

It’s some combination of answers, for sure.

[@TheRealCapnJack]

I like Lucas’s version as always, since it was his story to begin with. It’s nice to think about Vader being “righteous” but that’s just fanciful thinking.

[@Opmarketgarden1944]

For me Vader was ordered to defend Palpatine when Luke attacked him as this was something he had foreseen. However, Vader knew that if he didn't block the blow Palpatine would have easily defended himself and afterwards punished Vader possibly even killing him. That moment was as much a test for Vader as it was for Luke

[@humbertoapolinar8075]

Vader wanted revenge against sidious. Sidious lied about saving Luke's mama and everything else so deep down he knew sidious's death had to come from his hand alone.

[@robterrell7301]

It was always Anakin’s destiny to take down the Dark Side. He accomplished his mission.

[@shawnmiller7809]

I always believed that Luke took his saber and engaged Vader, not attempting to strike the emperor …. Perhaps a way to take out his frustration/anger

[@scottmccrea1873]

Palpatine was willing to take huge risks but he also hedged his bets*. No way he'd let himself just be butchered while sitting on his throne. Just as in the fight with Windu - Sidious was in control the entire time. He slaughtered 3 Jedi Masters in seconds and then toyed with Windu until Anakin arrived. Then forced the supreme moment of crisis. _What Palpatine failed to anticipate was that Vader would turn on him. His arrogance doomed him. He thought Vader was under complete control. He wasn't._ He was doing the same thing here: trying to force Luke into a moment of ultimate crisis. Only this time, it didn't work. As Yoda said 20 years before, "Trust in your new apprentice - misplaced may be." And, indeed, it was. *Thus he only made his attempt on Plagueis once Plagueis was drunk.

[@Trainlover1995]

I'm pretty sure the TROS novelization answered the question: Vader knew that if Luke went throught with it, the Emperor's essence would possess Luke, thus making him unstoppable. He was saving Luke from a fate worse than death.

[@grawman67]

In the original canon, it was to stop Luke from making the same mistake he did with Dooku.

[@danb3785]

I have always thought this - even before The Rise of the Sith. This is why the Sith have the Rule of Two. The apprentice kills the master and the master takes control of the apprentice. Though, I’m pretty sure the circumstances need to right, i.e. directly killed in hatred. I’m pretty sure that Palpatine knew this and killed his master in a second hand way that prevented this. Also, I think Vader realised that if he picked Emperor Palpatine up and threw him down the ventilation shift, the Emperor would be killed by shaft rather than by him.

[@grawman67]

@@danb3785 TROS changed the Rule of Two significantly. Before that, it was always about genuinely whoever was most powerful and nothing about essence transfer

[@jonathanmarkoff4469]

@@grawman67 Yes, everything about TROS was nonsensical.

[@Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger]

​@@jonathanmarkoff4469The concept of essence transfer sounds like someone pulled it out of their butt to avoid having to write new, compelling characters. Why create a new sith lord when you can just use parasitic reincarnation - keeps the brand alive.

[@Gor85]

It's possible first. Palpatine had control. When Palpatine goaded Luke into killing his father Vader realized what happened. Sidious used the same with Anakin when Anakin beheaded Dooku.He remembered perfectly.All these years.Anakin started his redemption. Also Vader didn't have no one except Palpatine.They only had each other. May the Force be with you too😊

[@Billiamkimber]

Really going to question Lucas

[@Elite_Ronin]

I believe both versions are equally the same because Vader looks at it both the same with a different view

[@CraigSummers-ci7nt]

I think that Vader was most determined to turn Luke to the dark side until the Emperor stared to hit Luke with the lightning. Remember that Vader provoked Luke into fighting when he did he would turn Leia his sister to the dark side if he couldn’t turn Luke . If Luke didn’t redouble his efforts and overwhelmed Vader it could be that Luke could have been killed. I’d say that in the end Vader was overcome by compassion since he couldn’t take anymore of the Emperor torturing Luke and finally snapped.

[@Thaumh]

Plus, no one (including Lucas) knew about Palpatine's experiments on Tanntis and Exogol then. Had Vader let Luke unalive the Emperor then, Sheev would have exploded (probably killing or maiming the two) and gone to his cloned body.

[@jimokane9891]

The Emperor would have to be pretty fast from that range. I mean he was a couple of inches from Palpatines head when Vader blocked the blow. A further point is what if Vader also directed his blade towards the Emperor instead of blocking Lukes blow. There is absolutely no way the Emperor could have stopped it. I also still find it hard to believe Vader did not realise it was he who was on "The Chopping block". I mean he had literally seen this exact scene happen before with Count Dooku then Palpatines apprentice being betrayed by his master for the younger more powerful future apprentice. I mean Vader is very intelligent and he must have realised Palpatines greed and desire for the "Whole" apprentice that he was denied when Anakin was injured on Mustafar would make him betray Vader to make Luke his new apprentice.

[@MrTrekfan]

I think Palpatine wanted it to play out just as Anakin killing Dooku did. He wanted a new apprentice. Also, he wasn't going to wake up in a new clone body. I don't think that was Lucas' idea.

[@starkilr101]

I was actually thinking of this scene a few days ago. This is what you call irony. May God guide us.

[@jaythor70]

Vader knew Palpatine would stop Luke, and he didn't want Luke struck down.

[@kellygreenii]

Lucas was the creator of this scene. So his take is the better one. Palpatine was not going to allow Luke to kill him. If Vader had mastered tutamnis, Palpatine naturally had as well. So I’m betting that he could have simply reached up and grabbed the blade of Luke’s lightsaber and taken it from him. Which would explain his contempt and boredom at lightsaber combat. Hard to respect something you aren’t really threatened by. Vader stopped his blade because he knew that Palpatine was in control…and knew that Vader would eventually betray him. Vader needed Luke’s allegiance to defeat Palpatine. So he would have naturally wanted to make his move at a time of his own choosing. Not one where Palpatine was holding all the cards.

[@jimokane9891]

There are limits to Tutaminis. Just because Satele Shan blocks Malgus's blade in the old Republic game doesnt mean its something the Emperor can use. If so powerful he was why did he run from Yoda. The only thing Yoda could really kill him with was his lightsaber. He did not really use the force offensively except for Force push. Yet we see when Yoda sends the senate pod flying back at Palpatine in the Senate chamber (which he just barely gets away from) that Palpatine loses sight of Yoda for a second and we see a terrified expression on his face as he looks around for him. Now when Yoda strikes Palpatine does do well to use lightning to blast the lightsaber from his hand because he certainly aint letting Yoda hit him with the lightsaber. Yoda is the true master of Tutaminis anyway as he is able to reflect Palpatines full power lightning back at him and do him more damage than he was doing to Yoda.

[@kellygreenii]

@@jimokane9891 He ran from Yoda because he is an assassin not a warrior. He isn’t interested in fair fights. When he strikes he wants a quick and easy victory. Like most predators. The only reason he had that fight in his office was because he had the advantage…and then moved to the senate chamber to regain the advantage when he lost it.

[@c.ladimore1237]

my question is that it is such a weak block, why didn't luke just circle around vadar's saber and stab the emperor? (ya ya plot, duh). but in reality that is what should have happened instead of just pausing while the emperor laughed

[@chrisa84]

Vader in Jedi seems to have given up on the idea of killing the Emperor after Luke came to them on Endor. If he could’ve hidden Luke from the Emperor and trained him in the dark side, they’d have stood a chance against him, but Luke coming to them was game over. I think he stopped Luke because Vader was conditioned to be used like a tool and the Emperor was wielding him. He’d probably been in that situation a hundred times before and the Emperor proved he wasn’t as defenseless as he made himself appear.

[@davidmontgomery8332]

Don’t forget. Anakin stopped Mace Windu from killing the emperor. I would say that Vader stopped Luke for two reasons. Reason 1) Vader maybe felt like he still had more to learn from the emperor. 2) he didn’t want Luke to turn to the dark side

[@joepemberton9031]

I prefer the explanation that vader knew a dark side luke would have no qualms about killing him right after the emperor

[@briandrayton3835]

Luke wouldn't have been allowed near that saber if Sideous had not planned it so that he couldn't be killed. Also I think Vader feared Luke to a degree as well. It didn't serve his ultimate goals.

[@jonathancapel3595]

I don't think either reason is mutually exclusive from one another. I think it would be very much like Vader to have both these thoughts running around in his head during that moment.

[@toddkurzbard]

I remember seeing this in the theater when ROTJ came out. And I could never figure it out. Vader wants the old pruneface dead, so he and his son can rule the galaxy As Father And Son. Luke's lightsaber is an inch from Sheev's neck. Why PROTECT the man he so hates and actively wants to kill off?

[@ShnozzleShabizzle]

I thought it was because Vader thought Palpatine had the power to bring back the dead. The Sith hunger for more power and Vaderhadnt learned that power yet, so he kept him alive.

[@jonnovember2136]

Vader thought that he had #TDBank💳 card... 🌎💘💰

[@axlesmith]

One thought I had after the sequel series, I know I didn't like them, but if Vader/Anakin knew Sidious's plans to live forever through possessing younger strong force sensitives like Luke and at one point Anakin himself. But after Anakin was maimed and burn he was no long a viable option for Sidious to possess. If Vader/Anakin knew this, then he just saved Luke from a terrible fate. But that's just my thoughts.

[@ricardorivera6092]

Never believed that Luke should have beaten Vader. Though trained by Obi-Won and Yoda, Vader is an experienced warrior. Maybe someone could explain?

[@InventiveHarvest]

We all know why Vader stopped Like from killing the emperor - Cerveza Cristal!

[@williamkeys8310]

If palpatine could take on multiple sith assassins and the Maul & Savage brother combo so easily he could have dodged that attack if he wanted to

[@artemthetrain14]

I think the behind the scenes stuff ruins it. I much prefer the dual struggle that is so clearly portrayed in the actual movies... Vader struggling with the light, and Luke struggling with the dark.

[@ldever3]

I really don’t think the emperor was going to just let Luke kill him, or rely on Vader, who he knows wants him dead, to save him. The emperor would have lived, and not been happy about Vader disobeying orders.

[@jasonbenton7962]

I think both parts are right. Sidious was testing both of them. He wanted Luke to strike. He wanted Vader to block it, but he was ready if he didn’t. Sidious and Vader were playing chess against each other that whole scene but at the end, Luke just destroyed the board.

[@LALMCGatorsfan]

What most people don't know is Luke was playing the Emperor Force lightning hurts Luke it doesn't do damage to him look at him after he was hit by the lightning he still looked the same, Luke adsorbs Darkside power, this is what he did to Vader and Mara Jade. Luke Skywalker knew that when Anakin saw what Palpatine really was he would destroy him. Now their was a Grey Jedi who uses both side of the force and can adsorb lightside power. Baylan Skoll who they put in the Ashoka series, anyone who ever read Episode 7 was the Jedi who turned Leia to the Darkside after Han Solo was killed. Episode 8 Leia would be head him kill her sister-in-law and destroy the NEW JEDI TEMPLE, coldest words ever spoke was "VADER WAS RIGHT YOU WERE WRONG" Luke fought to bring Leia back but she was too gone Darth Caedus was all that was left Luke killed his sister and then jump off into space, ENDING THE JEDI AND THE SITH FOREVER!

[@claymac7895]

I don't think Sideous was ever in any danger. If he sensed Vader wouldn't step in he would have hit Luke with force lightning.