Summary

TheStar Warsfranchise has a big wont of leave how dangerousDarth Vadertruly is . Before becoming a dreadedDark Lord of the Sith , Anakin Skywalker ’s astounding connection to the Force – and the subsequent theory that he wasthe prophesized Chosen One – led the Jedi Order to allow him into their ranks , despite the traditions broken by doing so . Anakin ’s possible power in the Force also chair him to be direct by Palpatine , who sought him as his Sith apprentice . As a Sith , Darth Vader was one of the most powerfuland feared soul in the galaxy .

TheStar Warsoriginal trilogy depicted Vader as a nearly unvanquishable threat until the terminal ofReturn of the Jedi , in which Luke Skywalker – nearly a true Jedi himself – finally overmaster his Father of the Church and nearly succumbed to the grim side in the appendage . unluckily , several dimension in both the canon and Legends continuity counteract this crucial instant of defeat for Vader by having him suffer other defeatsbefore the events ofReturn of the Jedi . Luke Skywalker is obviously not the only character reference able of defeat Vader , but these instant nevertheless are prejudicious toReturn of the Jedi’sfinale .

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Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars The Phantom Menace, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker from Star Wars A New Hope, Daisy Ridley as Rey from Star Wars The Force Awakens

Darth Vader’s First Defeat Happened… Before The Empire Strikes Back

Splinter of the Mind’s Eye

Darth Vader ’s first frustration in a lightsaber affaire d’honneur was , fascinatingly , depicted beforeThe Empire Strikes Backwas released . sliver of the Mind ’s Eye , a 1978 novel by Alan Dean Foster , hasDarth Vader affaire d’honneur Luke Skywalkerand Leia Organa on the planet Mimban between the events ofA New HopeandEmpire . Luke , unsurprisingly , is no couple for Vader , but he receive assistance from theForce ghostof Obi - Wan Kenobi and augmentation from the Kaiburr crystal . With difficulty , Luke manage to slice off one of Vader ’s arms and the Sith Lord falls into a cryptic pit .

Splinter of the idea ’s Eyehas a unspoilt excuse for this premature defeat , however . Its story was earlier conceived as a low - budget sequel toA New Hopeif the movie fail in cinemas . When the movie became an overwhelming succeeder , the sequel was canonise as a novel , becoming an early property in the Expanded Universe , which would later become an alternate persistence in 2014 . SinceSplinterwas nearly the only continuation toA New Hope , it can be easily forgive for having a nearly untrained Luke defeat Vader , and their rematch inEmpirearguably have up for Luke ’s victory .

Star Wars Legends Gave Darth Vader Too Many Defeats

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed & Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

by and by Legends - era whole shebang would , unfortunately , lack the excuse thatSplinter of the Mind ’s Eyehad , let Darth Vader bear major defeats before the events ofReturn of the Jedi . While it is perfectly fair to have Vader battle to a degree in his earliest days as a Sith Lord – he was , after all , honing his use of the dark side of the Force and becoming accustomed to his suit – having Vader bested as an experient Sith is damaging to his original trilogy portrayal . The Star Wars : The Force Unleashedmultimedia task is perhaps the guiltiest of this in Legends .

In 2008’sStar war : The Force Unleashed , Starkiller – Darth Vader ’s occult and unofficial Sith apprentice – defeats the Sith Lord , leave behind Vader ’s armor catastrophically damage . Its 2010 sequel , Star warfare : The Force Unleashed II , has Starkiller ’s clone good Vader yet again , leading to the Sith Lord ’s seizure by the Rebel Alliance ( a plot ribbon that was never resolved , as there was never a espouse - up instalment ) . Although Starkiller and his clone are exceptionally powerful , they could have been depicted as such without degrade Darth Vader in the appendage .

Darth Vader ’s true identity was a closely - defend secret during Palpatine ’s sovereignty - but there ’s still a few characters confirmed to lie with it .

Darth Vader Video Image

Star Wars Canon Has Continued The Problem

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Unfortunately , the problem persevere in the modernStar Warscanon . Like Legends , canyon can be forgiven for having Darth Vader suffer defeat early in his Sith Lordship , butseveral properties show a fully take aim Vader lose duels or at least miscarry to defeat opponents who should not be able to outsmart or escape him . Vader ’s failure to kill or capture all the Spectres inStar state of war Rebelsseason 2 comes dangerously close to cheapening his terror layer , as does his duel with Cere Junda inJedi : Survivor . The worst lesson , however , is found inObi - Wan Kenobi .

Obi - Wan Kenobi ’s victory over Darth Vader on Mustafar was not only essential but it also made sense in - universe . Obi - Wan ’s and Vader ’s rematchinObi - WanKenobi , however , has no such self-justification . In parliamentary procedure to not undermine Vader ’s duels inA New HopeandReturn of the Jedi , the net duel inObi - WanKenobishould have stop in a lot . This would avoid harming theStar Warsoriginal trilogy in multiple ways , including the fact that Obi - Wan finally lets go of his trust in the good man Vader once was , yet allows him to survive and commit more atrocities .

Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Hayden Christensen’s Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi with half his mask surrounded by red smoke

Custom Image by Molly Brizzell

Star Wars

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader