Ahem...Now that I have your attention...

(This is one of those "flying by the seat of my pants" blogs. You've been warned.)

Emperor Palpatine was a slimy dude. He killed lots of people. He was into the 'dark side'. He manipulated an entire galaxy. But he was also very, very clever.

What does that have to do with the title? Bear with me.

Consider the scene at the taxi-platform in Episode I. Remember what he said to Anakin? I believe the words Palpatine he used were..."I'll be watching your career with great interest." Sure, they had several layers of meaning behind them. But did they imply a more sinsiter, vile intent than simply manipulating the kid? Why did Palpatine spend so much time 'nuturing' a young Anakin through his budding career? The relationship we see between Anakin and Palpatine in Episode II is one of familiarity. One that had been developing for at least a few years. Anakin was eighteen at the time. A few years back would have put him at fifteen or sixteen. What what a fifteen year-old-boy doing hanging around, alone, in the office of a 50+ year old man?

Obviously, the implications are disturbing. But are they grounded in any form of reality? I don't think so. Palpatine wouldn't have been after something like that- he was too calculating, too detached. But he was also far too smart to let such a serious thing be even remotely implied. Palpatine had plenty of opposition in the Senate- there were more than enough people who would have rejoiced at his downfall. They would have been watching him, waiting for a slip-up they could use, just like in real politics.

That said, Palpatine, being a politican, would have instinctively known this. And he would have been careful to not needlessly give them anything to use. So why would he have allowed such a circumstance to arise between his relationship with Anakin where conclusions could be drawn to a more sinister intent?

Sure, guiding Anakin was paramount to the success of his plans, so naturally, risks would have had to be taken. But then, covering it up would have led to an even deeper hole, should it have been discovered. Think of it; someone catches these regular visits of a young boy to Palpatine's office...and then catch ol' Palps trying to cover it up? Suspicious, to say the least.

Of course, we all know this wasn't his intent or focus. Yet anybody who was watching him could have easily drawn this conclusion.

And yet it never happened.

...Hmmm...

*Begin rampant speculation*

Comments always welcome.

-JV