Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Is Darth Vader really the terrible villain that we grew up believing?
Today an article crossed my path from Cracked, the very company whose every issue I got my hands on each month growing up — where are all those collectible magazines by the way? Anyways, in such article, the author breaks down why they feel Darth Vader is a terrible villain.
Now that I’ve let the dust settle down, I’m going to hit you all with this additional bombshell. Darth Vader is an awful villain. That’s right, I said it. In fact, he is a pathetic excuse for one who dons a “black hat” or pressurized suit in this case.
However, my reasons are far different from the ones presented to us by Cracked. In fact, I’m going to fill in those lightsaber sized holes before dropping some more truth for you all. Now that I have my Jedi defenses up, let’s dive into a galaxy far, far away, where we will fall deep into Force, allowing it reveal who the real villain of the franchise indeed is.
If Darth Vader is not the actual sinister “Force” of the franchise, then who is? How can one so powerful and so ruthless not be the antagonist?
Of course, this opens up the whole can of worms of Darth Vader being the chosen one. Was it he, his son Luke, or even Rey? Maybe the conflicted Kylo Ren is the real golden boy or even Legends favorite Revan taking the cake from them all.
What precisely defines one as a villain? It may not be what you think. Alright, enough messing around. Darth Vader, time to expose you as a fraud that you indeed are, that you are not a villain.
"Photo Credit: Lucasfilm"
Does Darth Vader display an inconsistent display of power?
Their Argument:
"Darth Vader and his Force powers, we get the most ridiculous possible version — a character who demonstrates nearly godlike ability in one scene, then completely forgets about it in the next."
Examples they use are that one minute Vader is flinging junk at Luke inside of Cloud City — as well as using telekinesis in snagging Han Solo’s blaster — while the next he doesn’t use the same powers to capture Luke.
"There’s no reason Vader doesn’t simply pick the boy up, float him over."
The thing about being insanely powerful is that it is much more fun to toy with weaker prey. Vader is doing it here with his son, knowing that he will capture him no matter the result. When Luke escapes, it’s a surprise to Vader, whose overconfidence allows his son to escape, not his lack of power.
Another example is shown in The Force Awakens, when Kylo Ren is toying with Finn during their duel on Starkiller Base. Once Finn gets a “lucky hit” on him, he stops messing around and delivers a decisive blow.
Kylo even toys with Rey, displaying his granddad’s overconfident, which backfires on him, when she ultimately owns him during the concluding moments of the fight.
Now, back to Darth Vader. Once Luke surprises him with a bit of skill, Vader then slices off his hand, revealing his actual display of power. So, the problem doesn’t lie in Vader’s inconsistent show of strength, but in his overconfidence.
Apparently Cracked doesn’t know the true power of the Dark Side.
Next, more (so-called) examples of Vader’s lack of power.
"That’s all fairly low-key for a space wizard. Vader can’t teleport, or fly, or time travel. He can’t blow up an X-Wing with his mind or predict the future in any practical way."
What does time travel have to do with anything? Vader also has used his mind to crash aircraft into the ground — have they read any of the Darth Vader material from the newest Star Wars comics?
In the novel, Lords of the Sith, Vader can do a similar, but more impressive feat, by choking his opponent who is in another vessel while he’s in his TIE Advanced x1.
The issue isn’t the lack of Vader’s inconsistency in prominence, but in their knowledge of the Force, specifically within the actual Star Wars canon. Y’all might need to brush up on some of the new material before making these weak statements.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Darth Vader. Villain or victim?
What if I told you that Darth Vader is more of a sad man than an evil one? Yes, unlearn what you have learned. Don’t take it from me, but from the mouth of “the Maker” himself, George Lucas.
"Anakin is the chosen one. Even when Anakin turns into Darth Vader, he still is the chosen one."
We begin to answer two of our questions, one being the chosen one. Lucas makes it (kyber) crystal clear that Anakin is and always was the chosen one.
Now, Obi-Wan did believe that Luke was the chosen one, which we get official confirmation in the Star Wars Rebels episode Twin Suns.
"Darth Vader became such an icon in the first film, Episode IV, that icon of evil sort of took over everything, much more than I intended. If it had been one movie that would’ve have happened. He would have been revealed to be this pathetic character."
Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader was meant to be tragic, not villainous. What that displays is more of his power and Darkness on full display, proving my point once again.
Darth Vader is powerful and not weak like his former self, Anakin, not the actual villain. He was played, by Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine.
"Now by adding episodes 1, 2, 3, we begin to see the tragedy of Darth Vader, as it was originally intended to be. The person you thought was the villain is really the victim. The story is really about the villain trying to redeem his humanity. It’s really the story of Darth Vader’s redemption."
From the beginning, Palpatine had his eye on Anakin when he was a child. After Anakin’s epic podracing victory and heroic acts as a pilot during the Battle of Naboo, the future Emperor took notice.
"We’ll watch your career with great interest."
Photo Credit: Luasfilm
Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious is the real villain, not Darth Vader
The theme continues in Attack of the Clones when Palpatine is filling Anakin’s head with seeds of evil and selfish thoughts. In the most recent Anakin and Obi-Wan comic, the young Skywalker spends time with Palpatine, who encourages him to embrace his power and to seek more of it out.
During the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we see more of Anakin and Palpatine’s relationship on display, with the latter taking advantage of every opportunity to turn Anakin to the Dark Side.
His sinister plans were finally revealed truly for what they were, starting with the infamous opera scene in Revenge of the Sith, as you can see for yourself.
Palpatine is less subtle as time moves on, finally revealing to Anakin his true nature, the nature of the Dark Side. He is the real villain and devil so to speak, not Anakin. The heroic young Skywalker gets played, falling into natural human temptations.
Anakin’s reason for turning into the perceived vision was ones that started with noble and selfless intentions. All he wanted to do was save his friends, save his mom, his Jedi foes, his wife, and the galaxy.
Thanks to the web spun by Palpatine, not only did Anakin not achieve any of those things, but he was responsible for their undoing. Not as a villain, but as the victim.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Anakin transforms into Vader for true, noble reasons.
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We see shades of his true self during his Dark (Side) years, when Ahsoka slashes off the external layer of Darth Vader, displaying and symbolizing
Darth Vader — now Anakin Skywalker once again — finally saves the one he loves (Luke) and the galaxy, like he always wanted to do. However, he dies in a pathetic, tragic way.
In conclusion, ultimate power and strength to not necessarily equate to being evil. It was clear that Anakin Skywalker was weak until he became Darth Vader. What Anakin intended for goodness, Palpatine used for pure evil.
Being seduced doesn’t make you villain, but a victim, and in Anakin’s case, ultimately the victor.
Next: Vader constructs his first Sith lightsaber in Vader #5
The reason for Darth Vader’s redemption from Palpatine’s victim-filled crime was his son, Luke, exposing the good man that was hidden within in him by a faulty villainous front.
Maybe Anakin will return the favor in the events of The Last Jedi and Episode IX, where he guides his son from the netherworld of the Force, becoming the true hero once again, saving his son from the internal darkness. Luke, like his father before him, is a victim. But, that is a good question for another time.