The Jedi learned just how dangerous the Sith were in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Mace Windu led two other Jedi Masters to arrest Palpatine, but he killed two of them with ease. Later, Master Yoda engaged Darth Sidious in a one-on-one duel, swiftly discovering he was outclassed. This point is driven home in Matt Stover’s novelization of Revenge of the Sith, which portrays Yoda’s shock as he realizes the Sith have evolved and the Jedi remained static. But now, 19 years after Revenge of the Sith , Star Wars has revealed just why Palpatine was so unbeatable.
The Acolyte Made The Sith So Much More Dangerous
Introducing a new Force power
The Acolyte may have been canceled, but one thing’s for sure; the Disney+ TV show featured some of the best lightsaber choreography ever seen in Star Wars. Set a century before the Skywalker saga, at the end of the Jedi Order’s golden age, it saw a group of Jedi discover the existence of a mysterious Sith Lord. Played by Manny Jacinto, The Acolyte‘s Sith Lord – officially known only as the Stranger – was determined to ensure his existence remained a secret. In The Acolyte episode 5, he took on the Jedi in a devastating battle.
This dark side power explains why, a century later, Palpatine would be able to effortlessly kill two Jedi Masters in battle.
There had never been anything quite like it in Star Wars before; a live-action clash between a large group of Jedi and a single Sith, who lashed out with brutal efficiency. Most troubling of all, though, was the fact that he demonstrated a subtle and dangerous Force power that gave him in edge in combat; he got into his enemies’ minds, confusing them, making them doubt themselves, slowing their reactions. This dark side power explains why, a century later, Palpatine would be able to effortlessly kill two Jedi Masters in battle.
Palpatine Could Only Be Defeated Through Spontaneous Reaction, Rather Than Strategy
We now understand why he lost
Return of the Jedi arguably sets up this Force power, because Palpatine is clearly exploring Luke Skywalker’s thoughts and emotions all the way through their encounter. The Acolyte takes an idea that was already present, though, and effectively weaponizes it – just as the Sith would do. It becomes the secret to the near-invincibility of the Sith. But it also explains why Palpatine could only be defeated through something truly spontaneous – as seen in both Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
As powerful as he may be in the dark side, Palpatine’s vision of the future was clouded by the light. He couldn’t envision a reality in which Darth Vader turned on him because of love, not hate, and so was wrong-footed when his apprentice attacked him in Luke’s defense. Likewise, he had no idea the spirits of the Jedi would come to Rey’s assistance on Exegol, meaning he couldn’t anticipate her defense. The Sith really are almost unbeatable in Star Wars – but they still have a major weakness.
News
‘I haven’t felt this much hatred for a fictional character’: The Rings of Power fans are furious with season 2’s slimiest individual, and it’s not even Sauron
Step aside, Sauron – there’s a new villain in town Sauron is no longer public enemy number one in The Rings of Power season 2 (Image credit: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video) The Rings of Power season 2 has passed its midway point – and…
The Rings of Power showrunner is “happy” for people to hate-watch and make YouTube videos about season 2: “It wouldn’t be a journey through Middle-earth without some trolls along the way”
The Rings of Power season 2 is already proving to be a big hit for Prime Video, earning some significant streaming ratings. However, there is a big slice of the J.R.R. Tolkien fandom who make their less than positive thoughts very clear on…
The Rings of Power season 3 has reportedly been in the works for months, although it hasn’t been greenlit
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 hasn’t even come to a close yet and we’re already thinking about season 3, which according to recent reports, is already in the works. “A third season has been in…
70 Years Later, ‘The Rings of Power’ Is Revealing a Mysterious Tolkien Tragedy
This could be the beginning of the end for the Dwarves. Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy doesn’t leave much to be desired (thankfully), but there are a few mysteries still haunting his post-apocalyptic take on Middle-earth. Across three films, the Fellowship…
You may think Rings of Power season 2’s wizards are Gandalf and Saruman, but J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings offer a different possibility
Tolkien writes of a mysterious pair of “Blue Wizards.” Are they the real identities of the Stranger and the Dark Wizard in Rings of Power season 2? The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power features some characters that fans…
What [Spoiler’s] Shocking Death in ‘The Rings of Power’ Means for Númenor
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 5.] After too little time spent in Númenor in the first half of the second season, The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 5 refocused…
End of content
No more pages to load