From: trogers@watson.ibm.com
Subject: Re: "Strike me down" mistake
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 14:50:00 GMT
News-Software: IBM OS/2 PM RN (NR/2) v0.16 by O. Vishnepolsky and R. Rogers
Reply-To: trogers@yktvmv.vnet.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In <HAGERMAN.92Dec19161408@rx7.ece.cmu.edu> hagerman@ece.cmu.edu (John Hagerman) writes:
>sjs28257@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Steve Stelter) writes:
>>
>><GPS108@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>>
>>>It is my understanding that the ROTJ script has Luke attempting to
>>>attack the Emperor with his lightsaber after the Emperor says,
>>>"Strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the
>>>dark side will be complete."  But the way it is depicted in the movie
>>>shows Vader's lightsaber closer to the camera and Luke's closer to
>>>the Emperor.  As if Luke was swinging away from the Emperor rather
>>>than toward him.  I'm wondering if this was done on purpose or if the
>>>sabers were just colored the opposite way.  Any insights?
>>
>>I've noticed that, too.  It's possible to interpret it as a lightsaber
>>SFX glitch (A lightsaber SFX glitch?  In a *Star Wars* film?  Never!),
>>but I've always believed that when Luke snapped, he was actually going
>>after Vader, and not the Emperor at all -- an interesting thought, because
>>it means that Luke's anger has been directed at Vader all along, and that
>>the Emperor's "Strike me down" taunts obviously didn't have any effect
>>on Luke.
>
>That brings to mind another question of mine: In RotJ Yoda tells Luke
>that to complete his training he need only face Vader.  Now when this
>all started, Kenobi and Yoda used Vader as *the* example (in fact, as
>the embodiement) of the dark side of the force for Luke, and set Luke
>to conquer Vader and thus vanquish the dark side.  But by the time we
>get to RotJ it is clear that the Emperor is actually the worst guy in
>the galaxy; and yet Yoda still tells that Luke he must face Vader and
>conquer him.  Was it mere serendipity that when Luke "faced" Vader it
>was the Emperor who was conquered?  Or have I missed something?
>
>- John
>--
>hagerman@ece.cmu.edu

Yoda, knowing the Vader is Luke's father, views this relationship as the
most difficult challenge Luke will endure on the road to becoming a Jedi.
The Vader/Emperor combination is unbeatable by any single Jedi (I think
most would agree).  However, if Vader alone could be destroyed, a single
Jedi might be able to stop the Emperor.  Instead of killing Vader, Luke
tried to convert him.  Either way, it was a sole Jedi that in the end
destroyed (converted) Vader (re: Luke) and a sole Jedi that destroyed
the Emperor (re: Anakin).  So, we definitely saw a 'Return of the Jedi'.

It is very possible that Yoda could foresee that it would be a single Jedi
that causes the Emperor's death.  It is also possible that Yoda could not
sense the evil presence of Vader in this premonition.  So, it would be
correct for Yoda to assume that Luke must first deal with Vader before
destroying the Emperor.  I don't think either Ben, Yoda, or Leia, thought
that Vader would ever switch.

My 2 cents.

Regards,
Tom Rogers
roy@trigger.watson.ibm.com
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