Re: The Movie Thread: New, Rented, Whatever....I don't care
Lucas even defies that logic by having the Emporer use Vader to try to convert Luke so that there would be three Sith ruling the galaxy rather than two in Return of the Jedi.
I respectfully disagree with this statement. If you listen carefully to Vader's appeal to Luke, he says "Join me, and together
we can rule the galaxy." It seems pretty clear that "we" is Vader and Luke: Vader isn't sure whether he can take down Palpatine on his own (just like Palpatine couldn't take down Mace Windu on his own, he needed Anakin's help), Vader figures with Luke's help the two of them could get rid of Palpatine together and then Vader would be the new master while Luke would be the new apprentice.
At the same time, the Emperor is no fool, my surmise is that the reason the Emperor wanted Vader to recruit Luke was because he was tired of Vader and wanted to supplant him with Luke, and was merely using Vader to get Luke to turn first.
This view also makes Vader's decision to turn on the Emperor more realistic. The idea that he would suddenly develop paternal concern for Luke is beyond corny; however, it does make more sense psychologically for Vader to say, "if I can't ever get rid of the Emperor and replace him, at least I'll get my revenge by killing him: if I can never be Emperor, then nobody can!" That is more consistent with the operation of the Dark Side, IMHO. But Lucas got saccharine (again).
PS Han shot first, and Obi-wan would never have left Anakin alive, no matter how injured he was: he would have remorselessly finished the mission by making sure and leaving no doubt. Since Vader Anakin had to survive, some natural calamity should have swept Obi-wan away rather than have him walk away. Two more saccharine moves.