It’s about time we wrap up the Most Relatable series here at the Spaceport with the penultimate installment of the original trilogy. Return of the Jedi released in 1983 to cap off the initial trio of outings for the Star Wars Saga, not to return until 1999’s The Phantom Menace. You can read about Episode I’s most relatable scene here! Critical reception of Return was more mixed than its two predecessors - citing Harrison Ford being present “more in body than in spirit” (Los Angeles Times, 1983) and leaning “too much on slick commercialism” (James Kendrick, 1997). However, critics were mostly on board with the impressive and dynamic visuals as well as a happy conclusion to tie off the bow at the end of the trilogy. As memorable as the conclusion is, Return of the Jedi remains the weaker of the initial trilogy both in the eyes of many fans and critics.
One such criticism of the film comes from Pauline Kael, then writing for the New Yorker in 1983, calling it “impersonal,” which is such a vital miss as the film contains one of the most personal scenes between two characters. Luke Skywalker returns to Yoda on Dagobah after rescuing Han from Jabba the Hutt. While Luke has returned to complete his training, Yoda reveals that his time is at an end, twilight is upon him, and the light must fall. Yoda gives Luke one final charge - before he becomes a Jedi he must confront Vader, whom he confirms is indeed Luke’s father. With all the drama and spectacle, it is quite easy to forget that Luke is actually not a Jedi … yet.
Fast forward to the forest moon of Endor, Luke reveals to Leia that they are siblings and that with time she too can learn to tap into her potential to use the Force as he does. Shortly after, he allows himself to be taken to the Emperor by Vader. Though Vader and Luke’s interaction comes a little late in the film, they do not waste a moment of screentime in showing the audience the heart of the movie. Luke appeals to Vader’s better angels, reminding him of his true name and pleading that there is still good in him. Despite this, Vader delivers a sentiment of resignation to his fate: “it is too late for me, son.”
The two make their way to the Emperor’s chambers where, for the sake of brevity (you’ve seen it before, if not what are you doing here?), Luke and Emperor Palpatine pontificate. Palpatine taunts and goads Luke to stroke him down and thus starts the last duel in the original trilogy. Intercut with the Rebel attack on the second Death Star and a small strike force on the shield generator below, the tension mounts between Luke and Vader. The Dark Lord presses his attacks as his son maintains a solid defense. Vader taunts Luke while he stalks his son during a lull in the duel, trying to turn him to the dark side.
“Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for... sister. So, you have a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too ... If you will not turn to the Dark Side... then perhaps she will."
Luke unleashes a bout of fury - a Jedi’s fury - against Vader, pushing him ever backward until he falls under the weight of a barrage of strikes. Luke deflects Vader’s saber to then cut off his mechanical hand, to which he takes a beat to reflect on his own prosthetic. He let his anger get the best of him and he was a step closer to fulfilling the vision from the cave on Dagobah. Palpatine taunts Luke once more before he casts his lightsaber away. “Never. I’ll never turn to the dark side. You’ve failed your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me.”
The emperor unleashes a fury of his own, now in the form of force lightning from his fingertips electrocuting Luke. As Luke writhes in pain he calls to his father, now at his master’s side almost like a beaten animal. In the midst of Palpatine’s lightning blasts, Vader turns between Luke and his master until he makes the ultimate decision to lift Palpatine above his head and throw him down a never-ending shaft. Palpatine is defeated, but the cost is more than Vader’s body can bear. We both hear and see Vader’s strength leaving him as his breathing apparatus is compromised and he limps along as Luke carries him to an open shuttle ramp. Vader, dying, bids Luke to remove his helmet to look on his son with his own eye - the eyes of Anakin Skywalker and not the lenses in the helmet of Darth Vader. Nothing can stop his passing, so Luke removes his father’s helmet, and we see an old, broken, wounded man smiling nonetheless. “You're coming with me. I'll not leave you here, I've got to save you.” “You already... have, Luke. You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister... you were right.” And so, the most powerful Jedi of his time and most feared man in the Empire dies as himself, as Anakin Skywalker.
The relationship between Vader and Luke is powerful, both in dramatic weight but also its relevance to parents and parental figures. Take a look at Mike Landry’s writing on All Pro Dad where he discusses lessons learned on fatherhood from none other than Darth Vader. His third lesson leans into the importance and relatability of this scene.
"Each of us has shortcomings as a father. We may be painfully aware of the ways these are impacting our kids. In the same way Luke hoped beyond all hope that he could help bring the best out of his father and change their story, our kids hope for the same from us. It falls to us, then, to embrace the privilege we have as fathers to love our kids and, in those places where we fall short, to be willing to get up and try again."
You can read the rest of his article here.
This scene speaks volumes for a multitude of factors. First, it speaks to the power of forgiveness and choosing to see the best in others. Vader was arguably the cruelest man in the galaxy, next to the Emperor himself, and responsible for a number of atrocities. However, Luke chose to see the best in him and see him as his father, as Anakin, and ultimately prove Padme right - there is still good in him. Secondly, Vader is a shining example of a powerful sentiment for everyone - redemption. Despite his wrongdoing and all his mistakes, Vader chose to believe in his son and not only see the good in himself but also act on it. In the end, he chose to die to Vader to live as Anakin once more before becoming one with the Force.