Greetings All!

I was watching "Return of the Jedi" the other day, catching the movie in mid-stream on HBO. The Rebels just had reverted to real space, flying into a trap above the lush planet of Endor. Held captive on the Death Star, Luke watches in horror as his friends, his comrades are pulverized. There is nothing he can do about it. (We can debate the use of the word "can", but what I mean is that, though uncuffed, Luke is a prisoner aboard the space station.)

The Emperor is taunting Luke, cackling, urging Luke to give into his baser emotions, to take that final step to join the Sith. Luke tamps down the anger at his inability to help his friends, the anger he feels toward the vindictive, evil individual seated so close to him. Luke glances at the "more machine than man" - he who once claimed the name Anakin Skywalker - for help, but Luke's silent plea for his father to rally to his aid falls on deaf ears.

Examine Darth Vader. Do you see that slight tilt to his head? Do you notice how the light reflects off his worn helmet at that angle? It's almost as if you can see the look on his face behind the mask, almost as if you can look into those blue eyes of his . . . all the way to his very soul. What thought has swept into his clouded mind? I have my idea. What is yours?

Luke battles his own deamons when he sees he will get no assistance from Darth Vader, and turns back to the viewport. The Emperor continues his malicious taunting. Another Rebel ship is blown to smithereens, and Luke no longer can stand by idly. He turns, Force calls his lightsaber to his waiting hand, ignites its green energy blade and slashes the blade toward the (seemingly) defenseless Emperor! Inches away from success, Luke's blade meets resistance in the form of Darth Vader's crimson sword!

I no longer know how many times I've seen ROTJ - I stopped counting a long time ago - and, silly me, I thought I had picked up pretty much every nuance in the movie. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

A new thought struck me at this umpteenth viewing. . .

"Good. I can feel your anger," the Emperor spits with self-satisfied smugness. He senses Luke is nearing the precipice that will send him over the edge. "I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete."

I always interpreted Darth Vader's quick reaction to Luke's determined action simply to be in defense of his master. Maybe - just maybe - Darth Vader wasn't trying to protect the Emperor. Maybe - just for those five seconds while their blades were deadlocked mere inches above the Emperor's chest - Darth Vader was trying to protect Luke from himself!

Remember what I said about Darth Vader's non-verbal communication as the Emperor was trying to manipulate Luke? (Non-verbal communication speaks volumes, especially in SW!) The Dark Lord of the Sith already had inferred there still might be an iota of good buried deep within himself (aboard the AT-AT after Luke surrendered). Anakin had allowed himself to be manipulated by Palpatine, and he had 23 long years to mull over his fate. Perhaps he did not want that same fate to befall his son - at least in those seconds when he lashed out to keep Luke from striking down the Emperor. Darth Vader knew - and desired - the Power of the Dark Side, but he knew what it had cost him. Maybe, just maybe, he didn't want Luke to make the same sacrifice he himself had made.

This is just a thought. I'm not saying this is what GL necessarily intended when he penned this part of the story. I'm just posing a possibility.

It's rather interesting to pick up one of the movies in mid-stream. You know what came before, but you aren't caught up in the story and how it pertains to what you are watching now. That makes it possible to see a scene in a new light. You get a different perspective . . .

. . . A different point of view.

As always, your comments are welcome!

MTFBWY
JMW

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p.s. Jedi Master Mina - if you think this blog is long, you should see what I have in store for my next one!!!