Summary

ThisStar Warstheory intimate thatDarth Vadermay have died for one central intellect inReturn of the Jedi — and it was n’t Emperor Palpatine ’s Force lightning . Return of the Jedihas long been considered one ofStar Wars’best film , and it continues to have a monumental influence ontheStar Warstimeline . In fact , in many way , Return of the Jedilaid the groundwork for many of theStar Warsmovies and TV showsthat followed , as it established both the future of the Jedi and the New Republic and give away even Skywalker family tree .

Specifically , Return of the Jedishockingly revealed that Leia was Luke Skywalker ’s sister , but it also confirmed that Darth Vader / Anakin Skywalker truly did still have dependable in him , just as Luke had distrust . unhappily , though , this revelation came right before Darth Vader died . Yet , Darth Vader ’s dying inReturn of the Jedimay be more than it seems . In fact , oneStar Warstheory advise that the very nature of Darth Vader ’s death in the original trilogy might be mostly misunderstood .

Darth Vader is one of the most crucial reference in all of Star Wars , and these 10 stories from the comics , movies , and television shows are the very best .

Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker with a cracked mask in Obi-Wan Kenobi to the left and Force choking someone in Rogue One to the right in a combined image

Vader Needed His Mask To Breathe

There have been manySith helmets inStar Wars , several with immense power , butDarth Vader ’s helmet was much more than a Sith mask . AsStar war : Episode III - Revenge of the Sithrevealed , Vader ’s helmet was a key part of his life - sustaining suit ; without this helmet , Vader could n’t take a breath . This was exactly the reason for the iconic labored breathing that is so heavily link with Darth Vader both within the franchise and outside it .

Without this helmet , Vader could n’t breathe .

In fact , Star Warshas break out of its way in late year to divulge just how necessary this helmet was . InObi - Wan Kenobi , for instance , Darth Vader and Obi - Wan Kenobi engage in an larger-than-life conflict , during which Vader ’s helmet was broken , divulge half his face underneath . Once the helmet had broken , though , that was effectively the end of the fight . Vader could be heard struggling to respire , and Obi - Wan was capable to simply walk away , even as Vader tolerate before him .

Palpatine, Vader, and Momin

Vader Had Sustained Injuries, But He’d Survived Worse

It ’s true that Vader had been importantly injured inReturn of the Jedibefore his death . After all , he had risked his own life to save Luke from Palpatine , stepping in and taking on the Force lightning Palpatine was prove to spud at Luke . Undoubtedly , this did cause considerable damage , particularly as Vader had already been subject to so much serious harm throughout his life sentence . However , Darth Vader had survive much regretful before .

For one , Obi - Wan Kenobi had leave Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader effectively for dead on Mustafar after their epical battle inReturn of the Sith . Not only did Obi - Wan dismember Anakin , cutting off all his persist build limbs , but he also watched as he was burnt nearly to last by lava . presumptively , Anakin / Vader only survived this because of his Brobdingnagian strength in the Force . Yes , Vader was about 20 year older and had already support other injury inReturn of the Jedi , but it ’s nevertheless uneven that Force lightning would kill him after he survived all that happened on Mustafar .

Moreover , Anakin had already survive being blasted with Force lightning . InStar war : Episode II - Attack of the Clones , Anakin took on Count Dooku for the first time , and , during this encounter , Dooku attacked him with Force lightning . Palpatine ’s Force lightning was no doubt much more sinewy than Dooku ’s , but , again , it ’s unknown that Anakin would have survived this attack — in this case , relatively unharmed — but he break down due to Force lightning inReturn of the Jedi .

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Vader Asked Luke To Take His Helmet Off

Notably , Vader also directly told Luke to withdraw his helmet for him inReturn of the Jedi . In part , this was a sugared moment between father and Logos . After all , Vader did specifically say he wanted his helmet off so that he could expect upon his son with his own eyes for the first ( and last ) time . Some have even added to this scene by intimate Anakin / Vader also wanted to see Padmé ’s trait in their Word with his own eye in particular , to have this connection to her as he died .

Vader knew that Luke removing his helmet would kill him .

However , Vader know that Luke withdraw his helmet would kill him . As has been established , Vader needed his helmet to live ; he would suffocate without it . Yes , Vader was likely hard injured , but by need Luke to remove his helmet , he knew he was seal his circumstances . This raises questions about the true causa of Darth Vader ’s end . Was Darth Vader truly already dying from the Force lightning , or was there another reason he asked Luke to transfer his helmet , beyond just the desire to see his son without his helmet on ?

Darth Vader wielding his red lightsaber to the left and standing looking ominous to the right in front of a red background

Custom Image by Ana Nieves

Vader Had Accomplished What He Needed To

ThisStar Warstheory instead suggests thatDarth Vader may have been capable to last inReturn of the Jedi , but he decided to give-up the ghost because he do it it was his time . Specifically , Darth Vader had reach all that he had prepare out to accomplish , and he had little purpose in the galaxy that would shape keep up the fall of the Empire . For one , Vader had saved the life of his Word and returned to the light side of the Force . Moreover , though , Anakin / Vader had ultimately fulfilledthe prefer One prophecy .

Darth Vader had accomplished all that he had set out to carry out , and he had small theatrical role in the galaxy that would spring following the fall of the Empire .

The prophecy stated that the Chosen One would bestow balance to the Force , and , by returning to the light side of the Force and destroying Palpatine ( or so it seemed at the meter ) , Anakin / Vader had fulfilled the prophecy . While these were incredible victories , they do n’t change the fact that Anakin / Vader would n’t have truly had a place in the new galaxy . Luke was perfectly put to rebuild the Jedi , and Leia was primed to aid plant the New Republic .

Darth Vader dies with his helmet off in Return of the Jedi

Essentially , Anakin ’s children were the future , andalthough he had been redeemed , it would not have made sense for him to be part of rebuilding the Jedi or the Republic . buyback can only go so far , and while Luke may have been quick to forgive him , others — including Leia — would not have been . Perhaps for that reason , Vader decided that it truly was his time to go , induce him to have Luke take away his mask even if he could have lived longer without it .

Of course , this remains only a theory , but it certainly makes sense . As the Chosen One , Anakin would have succeeded in the task he was born to do , and he had safeguard the future of the galaxy through Luke and Leia . Although it would have been heartwarming to see sire and boy have more fourth dimension together and perhaps even father and girl find oneself some common understanding , at the end ofReturn of the Jedi , Darth Vader / Anakin Skywalker’sStar Warsstory was really over .

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Cast

Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas ’s original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his ally seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and face a reincarnate threat as the Emperor attempts to veil the Rebellion through a second Death Star , broaden the epic struggle between good and iniquity .

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Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his allies seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and facing a renewed threat as the Emperor attempts to obliterate the Rebellion through a second Death Star, broadening the epic battle between good and evil.

Headshot Of Mark Hamill In The Premiere of Disney’s Star Wars

Headshot Of Harrison Ford In The 29th Annual Critics' Choice Awards

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Star Wars