Palpatine's Greatest Power Is Also His Greatest Weakness
There are many instances in Star Wars where fans can speculate about what an individual's powers mean and how strong they actually are compared to others. We know Anakin is said to be the Jedi with the most raw power who then embraces his darker side and makes the transition to the Sith. Emperor Palpatine is more of an anomaly than most when fully understanding the power and the true magnitude of the damage he can do.
We get minimal instances in the original trilogy as to what he can do. He is the shadowy figure teased for most of the trilogy and only appears in The Empire Strikes Back. He has more of a presence in the prequel trilogy and the sequel trilogy, but his powers and the full extent of them are still very much a mystery.
RELATED: 'Secrets of the Sith' Retcons The Rule Of Two...Again
The first time we see him use his powers is against Luke in Return of the Jedi, and one thought emerges when watching that clip. He is so manic that he doesn't even control the powers he is using against Luke. He takes such twisted pleasure causing Luke pain that it does not seem like he can or want to stop until Luke is burnt to a crisp. It is Vader who has to stop his son's torture, having faced the pain of burns personally throughout his body. In a moment of humanity, Vader saves Luke and ultimately meets his own demise because of it. This further adds that Palpatine may blackout upon using the Force lightning power.
Another proof is when you analyze the fight with Mace Windu, which happened decades before his showdown with Luke. The only way the Emperor stops the blasts is when Mace Windu deflects them back, causing the Emperor bodily harm, and then Anakin decides to help out his new master. It seems like there is no precision or control of the direction of the powers. Like a faulty switch, he can turn it on but can't seem to turn it off. It is interesting to look at it this way because for someone who manipulates so much the Emperor does not seem to have control over the use of his own power and the things he can do with it. It is either a limitation, or he simply does not care about his surroundings or anyone he may harm, including himself sometimes. It is a gripping narrative choice to present him as someone who may lose control when he is at his most sinister. It means he needs to be calm and collected to continue to manipulate and coerce people into doing his bidding. With Luke and Mace, he feels in control. He thrives on that feeling that his opponent will bend to his will and eventually be broken by the pain. However, when they are not, he seems to become this uncontrollable monster akin to his look after Mace Windu wounds him.
In the sequel trilogy, he tries to break Rey by saying she would not even have an identity unless she turns dark. Then, when all seems like a lost effort, he turns on his Force lightning as a last-ditch effort to try and just take her down that way. When it does not work, she turns the powers against him, and that is when he meets his demise. She gets retribution for Vader, who has felt the surge of lightning go through his body before he asks Luke to remove his helmet. The fight with Rey seems to be a full circle reminder that he does not have control. Similar things may have occurred with Mace Windu if things had gone down slightly differently, and Anakin wasn't primed and ready to give in to his emotions. Had Vader also not been hurt by the sight of his own son being burned alive, there is no telling what Palpatine may have done.
Villains tend to be all-powerful, and while Palpatine has a very dark power, he does not seem to always have complete control over that, which is a cool refreshing take on the villain. However, it makes him less of a controlled villain and more of an erratic villain who relies strongly on managing everything from the ground up rather than depending on his pure strength.
READ NEXT: Why The Vader/Kenobi Duel In Kenobi Will Make Sense