Darth Vader’s Decision To Kill Palpatine Has Been Retconned By Star Wars

One of the most surprising storylines of the new sequel series is when fans discovers that Palpatine has survived his fall down the shaft in the Second Death Star in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. The reveal shatters some of the previous storylines and character decisions from the original and prequel trilogies, and television series, as well as books and comics that are still canon. And now, Star Wars had officially retconned Darth Vader’s decision to kill Emperor Palpatine in the recent issue of Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020). 

Many of the Star Wars books and comics add deeper levels and expand on storylines that are presented in the movies or television shows. The Star Wars comics have been deepening the connections among different stories. In Darth Vader #11, a new element has been introduced about the Sith Lord’s history that influences his character trajectory. This revelation about Darth Vader is one of the most astonishing ones yet. 

The Darth Vader comics have been chronicling the story of Darth Vader that we do not see in the original movies. They follow the storyline of Darth Vader moving behind the scenes, discovering Emperor Palpatine’s secrets and plans. Of course, it has also revealed many connections and information from the sequel movies as well. Some notable ones from Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker involve what is actually hidden on Exegol, Palpatine’s star destroyer fleet, and the Sith Eternal presence. 

In Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, when Luke rejects Palpatine’s offer be his new apprentice, Palpatine decides that Luke must die and starts to attack him. Darth Vader just watches on the sidelines as Palpatine electrocutes Luke, even while Luke is pleading to him for help. Since the release of Return of the Jedi, the consensus is that Vader is deciding between continuing down the dark path that he is on or stopping Emperor Palpatine and save his son. Of course, stepping in and saving Luke would show Luke that he is the good man deep down that Luke always thought he was. He hesitates, and we are not sure what his thoughts are as he weighs his options. Vader does step in eventually , stops the Emperor, and saves his son. In so doing, he does reclaim a little bit of Anakin Skywalker. However, the vision in the comic shows us that there was actually no reason for Vader to hesitate like he did, unless he was more corrupt than all the fans thought. 

Darth Vader #11 goes in depth about Vader’s venture on to Exegol and what he finds there, depicting events happening in the background concurrently with the events of Return of the Jedi. At the end of the issue, we saw Vader continues to have visions, not unlike during his former life as Anakin Skywalker. What he sees will make a surprising and startling change to canon. 

Vader has been having recurring nightmares of turning Luke to the Dark Side and also move against Emperor Palpatine. The latest vision shows Luke telling his father that Vader can beat the Emperor and win. After all, destroying the Sith, and Darth Sidious, is his destiny. It has been foreseen. If Vader has been seeing these visions, as the canon now suggests, there is no reason for him to hesitate in moving against the Emperor as his victory is certain. So why the pause? Perhaps he is not thinking whether he should save his son. Perhaps he is wondering if he should definitely kill Palpatine and finally takes the mantle of master.

Darth Vader has never shown any real desire to become the master. Except for when he is trying to turn Luke to the Dark Side, he seems content in his position as the apprentice. Even though he and Palpatine do not always see eye to eye on many things, he is comfortable in their current dynamics as master and apprentice. Even though the Rule of Two dictates that the apprentice will kill the master and take his place, Vader never takes this step. He never aspire to replace Palpatine and become the master.

Maybe fans have been right all along. Vader throws Palpatine down that shaft to save his son and no other ulterior motive. Vader/Anakin is at peace with his decision. He redeems himself, passes away, and becomes one with the Force.

This issue of Darth Vader definitely introduces a new perspective and reasoning behind his hesitation in that throne room scene in Return of the Jedi. It opens up further discussion which fans will no doubt continue. We hope to see the idea and storyline explored further in future comic issues.

Source: Screen Rant
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