Summary
Star Warshas reconfirmed the scariest part of Palpatine, and what makes him such a terrifying villain. Since the firstchronological movie in theStar Warssaga, Palpatine has terrorized the many heroes of the Skywalker Saga. Not only did the prequel trilogy, the original three films, and the sequel story all include Palpatine as the main antagonist, but he will likely impactupcomingStar Warsmoviesdue to his familial connection to Rey Skywalker.
The reason for this is self-explanatory: Palpatine is one ofStar Wars' most powerful Sith Lords. Through the manipulation of the dark side of the Force, the evil Darth Sidious has long proved a foil for the Jedi Order and anyone inclined toward the light side of the Force. However, while Palpatine’s otherworldly Sith powers are prevalent throughoutStar Wars’best and worst movies, it is one other element of his character that makes him so terrifying - an element thatStar Warshas doubled down on.
The Sith Aren’t Demons… They’re Just People
Palpatine’s Humanity Makes Him Scarier Than Any Monster
The fact that makes Palpatine, and other Sith, so terrifying is that they are simply people. UnlikeStar Wars' various monstrous creatures, the Sith are sentient beings who give in to their worst impulses. Rather than be born as evil villains who have no choice but to give into the darkness, the Sith are people who chose that path and lived it willingly, which makes them every more horrifying. This is summed up inStar Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empireby Dr. Chris Kempshall:
“While he was able to utilize powers that most of the rest of the galaxy could not, his desire for power and control were not summoned from the Force. They existed within him in the same way they could conceivably exist in anyone.Palpatine was not a demon. He was a man. It is that aspect I find most terrifying of all.”
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Star Wars' True Warning Is That Anyone Can Fall To The “Dark Side”
Any Sentient Being Is Capable Of Being Corrupted By Darkness
This exploration by Kempshall drives home the true precautionary aspect that lies at the center of allStar Warsstories. As evident by once-good people like Palpatine, Anakin, Maul, Kylo Ren, or any other Sith-inclined villain in the franchise, anyone is capable of being corrupted. While the dark side of the Force adds an ethereal, fantastical element to proceedings, the true message ofStar Warsis that people should always strive to overcome their darkest urges, be it those inhabiting a galaxy far, far away or those watching the movies as fans.
This message is what makesStar Warssuch a timeless franchise. Always, that message will be at the center of every upcoming movie or upcomingStar WarsTV show;darkness is a choice, and choosing to fight for the light will always put people on the right side of history. Palpatine, evidently, chose to indulge his darkness, leading him down a path that saw him become the most evil person in theStar Warsgalaxy.
