Most of the iconic duos in the Star Wars universe are heroes, from Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to R2-D2 and C-3PO to Han Solo and Chewbacca, but the saga is anchored by a beloved pair of villains: Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. In the original trilogy, fans were stunned to learn that there was an even more powerful, even more evil Sith Lord telling Vader what to do.
In the prequel trilogy, viewers discovered how Palpatine swayed a wayward young Jedi Knight, prophesied to be “the Chosen One” who would destroy the Sith, over to the dark side of the Force.
“Did You Ever Hear The Tragedy Of Darth Plagueis The Wise?”
In the middle of an opera performed by bubbles (it’s not exactly clear how the show works, but it’s certainly otherworldly), Palpatine summons Anakin and plays on his fears of not being able to save Padmé from dying by telling him the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise.
Palpatine’s promise of teaching Anakin how to save the one he loves from death if he disavows the Jedi and becomes a Sith Lord is the final nail in the coffin for Anakin’s turn to evil.
Anakin Learns Palpatine Is A Sith Lord
During a meeting in Palpatine’s office in Revenge of the Sith, it becomes ominously clear to Anakin that the seemingly mild-mannered politician who is quickly taking over the Galactic Senate is a Sith Lord.
His immediate reaction is to draw his lightsaber and threaten Palpatine, but since he’s come to see Palpatine as a father figure, he doesn’t go through with it.
Killing Mace Windu
When he first learns that Palpatine is a Sith Lord in disguise, Anakin takes the information straight to Mace Windu, who brings a couple of Jedi Knights into the Chancellor’s office to arrest him. However, Palpatine is prepared. He makes short work of Windu’s backup and engages him in an awesome lightsaber duel.
Windu overpowers Palpatine and almost prevents the birth of the Empire, but Anakin shows up at the last second and has to choose who to save. He decides to kill Windu, saving Palpatine and paving the way for the Empire’s rise.
Palpatine Saves Burning Anakin On Mustafar
Obi-Wan leaves Anakin permanently scorched and disabled after their lightsaber duel on Mustafar, thanks to having the high ground, and leaves him for dead after telling him he loved him like a brother.
Before Anakin is quite dead, Palpatine manages to track him down and takes him back to his ship for his wounds to be treated.
Darth Vader Is Born
After Palpatine recovers a badly burnt Anakin from the fires of Mustafar with just one limb remaining, he takes him to a medical bay where he’s fitted into his iconic mechanical suit.
As he awakens in the suit and asks about Padmé, Darth Vader is born. Palpatine lies and tells Vader that he killed Padmé, cementing his turn to the dark side for good.
Overseeing Construction Of The Death Star
Although the chronology doesn’t quite line up, because it suggests that the Death Star took more than a decade to build, the prequel trilogy ends on a spectacular note as Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine oversee its construction.
It’s the perfect image to encapsulate the beginning of the Empire’s rule over a galaxy far, far away, setting the stage for the original trilogy.
“The Son Of Skywalker Must Not Become A Jedi.”
Following the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire struggles to stay afloat in The Empire Strikes Back, seeking to wipe out the Rebels who blew up their superweapon. When it becomes apparent that Luke Skywalker is the one responsible, Palpatine calls Vader and says, “The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi.”
Vader says, “If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally,” and a futile plan to turn Luke over to the dark side is set in motion.
Palpatine Arrives On The Second Death Star
In the opening scene of Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader welcomes the Emperor onto the second Death Star in the middle of its construction. The Emperor comes along to check on the progress, and Vader insists they’re right on track.
After being teased throughout The Empire Strikes Back, this scene affirmed Palpatine as the trilogy’s Big Bad and established that he would play a huge role in the story’s closing chapter.
The Emperor Gets Luke To Fight Vader
When Luke Skywalker first arrives in the Emperor’s throne room on the Death Star and the Emperor expects him to have a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader, the bright-eyed young Jedi initially refuses.
However, Palpatine continually taunts Luke, tapping into his fears and insecurities, until he eventually gets him to take up arms and fight his father.
Vader Kills Palpatine
After Palpatine’s lie about Vader killing Padmé destroyed every shred of humanity that Anakin Skywalker once had, he spent years under the Emperor’s thumb, doing everything he was told.
But when his son came into the Emperor’s throne room on the Death Star and refused to fight his father, believing there was still good in him, and Palpatine blasted him with Force lightning, Vader came back over to the light side. He picked up Palpatine and tossed him down a ventilation shaft, killing him and redeeming himself in the eyes of the Force.
