The saga continues as we explore the most relatable scene in each Star Wars movie! You can catch up on the rest of the franchise and other perspectives here. The Empire Strikes Back ranks highly among many, if not most, Star Wars fans’ tier lists for best in the franchise. The fifth installment also regularly tops the rankings of best sequels. Released just three years after Episode IV, Empire debuted to much pomp and circumstance. However, despite an increased budget, a masterful director in Irvin Kirshner, a tight script by Lawrence Kasdan, and breathtaking new visuals, the sequel in a galaxy far, far away debuted to mixed fan and critic reaction. In fact, this would be somewhat of a trend throughout the rest of the saga. However, time would prove Lucas and company wise as Episode V is perhaps the most beloved installment in the franchise, to include the vast array of expanded universe editions.
One thing that endears Empire so much to so many is that it doesn’t simply continue our original heroes’ journeys - it builds on them. Hans Solo is no longer merely a rogue-with-a-heart-of-gold archetype, in fact he’s now a legitimate Commander in the Rebellion despite his less than savory past (foreshadowing). Princess Leia is also given more depth, as we see she’s more than the spitfire she was in A New Hope, but is able to allow herself to be vulnerable with the likes of Han ( and Luke too in a certain medical bay, but we don’t talk about that…). Luke Skywalker, the original trilogy’s main protagonist, is also developed from a plucky farm boy to a competent leader during the battle of Hoth, as evidenced by his similar advancement to Commander.
This development is not limited to only our heroes, but also the villains. It turns out Tarkin is not the holder of Vader’s leash, as we are introduced to the Emperor as the two Sith Lords plan Skywalker’s demise… or recruitment. Vader is also realized more fully from the mystical empirical enforcer we see in Episode IV to now the feared leader of the Empire audiences mostly regard him as. He even has his own Star Destroyer, actually a SUPER Star Destroyer, the Executor. Most notably, audiences get a glimpse under the helmet, as Admiral Piett alerts Lord Vader to the Millennium Falcon’s status. We see a scarred, sickly looking scalp peaking through a capsule as a robotic gimbal seals Vader’s helmet to his suit.
It is no coincidence that Luke and Vader receive much of the development. Yes, Han and Leia embark on their adventure evading the Empire after the Battle of Hoth. A major concentration of the film is Luke’s journey to train with Yoda to become a Jedi like his father. While headstrong, and borderline arrogant, Luke does show promise in the Force nonetheless. However, like his father before him, his attachment to others is also a weakness - at least according to Yoda and Obi-Wan. During his training Luke sees a vision of a city in the clouds and Han and Leia in danger. Coupled with his failure in the cave, where he battled a vision of Vader to reveal his fear of turning to the Dark Side, Yoda and Obi-Wan preach caution.
Han and Leia, all the while, seek refuge with Lando Calrissian in Cloud City, a Tibanna mining colony on the gaseous planet of Bespin. But they're double crossed by Lando who then hands Han over to the Empire, or rather to the Mandalorian Bounty Hunter, Boba Fett. We can’t necessarily blame Lando though, as Cloud City was effectively being held hostage by the Empire. Han, frozen in carbonite, is escorted to the Slave I (and yes, it is the Slave I, not the Firespray) while Leia, Chewie, and a reinvigorated Lando are just too late to the rescue. Simultaneously, Luke is drawn to Vader in the carbonite freezing chamber - all roads lead to Vader in the third act.
“The Force is with you, young Skywalker,” boomed Vader’s imposing silhouette, “but you are not a Jedi yet.” And so begins one of the most masterful duels, both in the franchise and in cinema. Luke is confident, perhaps more than he has a right to be. Armed with his father’s lightsaber he is able to hold his own against Vader incorporating acrobatics and diversion. However, it is clear that Vader is toying with the boy. The duel traverses throughout the corridors within the facility, eventually ending with Luke with his back against the wall. That is, if the wall was a hundreds-foot drop to an unknown end. Despite this, Luke is still able to land a glancing blow against Vader to which he responds in kind by severing Luke's right hand.
Vader has Luke dead to rights, but still offers him a way out.
“With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.”
“I’ll never join you!” Luke retorts. “Obi Wan never told you what happened to your father…"
“He told me enough! He told me you killed him.”
“No, I am your father.”
And just like that, Vader wins the duel not only physically, but mentally, spiritually, emotionally. He’s destroyed Luke’s world view, his purpose. His father wasn’t a Jedi anymore, but he was the cruelest man in the galaxy. Worse yet, his fear from the cave magnified. Is he destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and fall to the Dark Side? Audiences would have to wait another three years for the resolutions, and confirmation for that matter, of this reveal despite Luke already accepting the truth moments later.
I’m assuming nobody’s parent here is a genocidal, evil space wizard…hopefully. But we don’t have to have such an evil father to understand and relate to this devastating reveal. Luke, like many of us growing up, idolized and had a very particular view of his father. However he would learn the truth that his father was perhaps the most evil figure in the galaxy. For us, it could just equate to finding out that our parents are simply human and have made grievous mistakes in their past. Also like Luke, that can generate fear: am I destined to repeat that mistake?
The scene also involves more than just a painful reveal, but also an equally painful betrayal. Obi-Wan was truthful to Luke when he told Luke of Anakin: the best star pilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior, and a good friend. However, he lied when he said Vader killed Anakin. While true from “a certain point of view,” the truth told after a reveal is tantamount to mistruths and lies. However, like Luke, we can also choose to forgive.