Emperor Palpatine’s presence marked all three Star Wars trilogies, but he was the most powerful in Return of the Jedi. His influence and power are undeniably immense during the prequel and original sagas. Even at his lowest point, during the sequel trilogy, he was able to create the Sith Eternal cult on the planet of Exegol. While Darth Vader is the Chosen One and a powerful Force user, it was Palpatine who ultimately controlled the galaxy, first from the shadows, then as the Emperor.
As a Senator of Galactic Republic and a member of an influential Naboo family, Palpatine already had a considerable amount of power in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. During the Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, he used all of that influence and sway to be elected Supreme Chancellor and eventually gain emergency powers, setting up everything he needed to end the Galactic Republic and declare himself the Emperor. However, at that time, he was still constrained by the rules and laws of the Republic, having to keep his Sith powers and Darth Sidious persona a secret. He knew he could not reveal himself too early, or he would have to face a strong Jedi Order, filled with masters and knights all ready to take him out. He masked his presence so well, not even Yoda knew Palpatine’s true Sith identity.
While the Jedi Order challenged Palpatine’s powers in the prequel trilogy, his problems were more of a physical nature during the sequel movies. After being defeated by Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, Palpatine’s survival was not a guaranteed success. Palpatine had to be cloned back to life, and that process was not only arduous but prone to failure. The limitations of clone technology meant he was never resurrected back in a body capable of holding all his Force powers. Once again limited, the Emperor relied on his charisma and status as a Sith to continue influencing crucial events such as helping turn Kylo Ren to the Dark Side and controlling the First Order by using Snoke.
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It’s only during the original saga and the Return of the Jedi that Palpatine is truly at the height of his powers. As Emperor, he had access to sources and armies across the entire galaxy with none of the limitations he had to deal with as a Senator and Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. He controlled the Death Star, the most powerful weapon ever created, and without the Jedi Order, he was free to fully use his Force powers anywhere and at any time. And for the longest time, not even Darth Vader could kill him. Or, at least, he dared not to try. Palpatine didn’t even need his lightsaber to threaten the galaxy and his enemies. All it took was his position as the Emperor and a good lightning strike to instill fear across the universe.
With so much power, both physical and political, Palpatine was virtually untouchable at this point in the Star Wars saga. The only way to defeat him was to get close enough to surprise him. Captured and taken to the Emperor so Palpatine could try and bring him to the dark side, Luke had the singular opportunity to challenge the Emperor in front of Darth Vader. It was the emotional bond between father and son that tipped the scales in favor of the heroes, not a weapon or a lightsaber. As powerful as Palpatine was, he was incapable of understanding a parent’s love for their children, and that failure also led to his eventual defeat in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.