this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2010
6 points (87% like it)
7 up votes 1 down vote
Submit a link
to anything interesting: news article, blog entry, video, picture...

reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own!

5
6
​

Just rewatched ESB after a couple years. Question re: Vader-Piett non choking. (self.StarWars)

submitted 6 months ago by matzopacalypto

OK, so in ESB, Vader does not Force-choke Piett after the Millenium Falcon goes to light speed and escapes from Cloud City.

Even though he had choked everyone else who screwed up, up until then.

Why ? He had just met Luke for the first time, and basically asked him to help overthrow the Emperor. Is this Vader's turning point ? Is he conflicted ? What do you think ?

comments

sorted by:
best
hotnewcontroversialtopold

johnnyblade1 5 points6 points 6 months ago[-]

Piett was better at putting the blame on others.

matzopacalypto [S] 2 points3 points 6 months ago[-]

I really kind of feel like we're expected to notice it. Like even the other officers in the room seemed surprised.

Watch it again -- this is the only time Vader doesn't kill one of his guys for screwing up.

hole-in-the-wall 1 point2 points 5 months ago[-]

Piett got Ozzel's job at the beginning of the film, perhaps Vader just liked him as a commander and was willing to forgive a mistake?

matzopacalypto [S] 1 point2 points 5 months ago* [-]

Could be, could be. Piett also hadn't bad-mouthed the Force like that other guy from ANH.

I still feel it violates precedent, if you will. ;)

Watch it again. Piett looks scared, everyone's expecting something to happen -- but Vader just walks away.

But maybe I'm reading too much into it. It would have been a little jokey to have Vader choke another person.

EDIT: Know where we could find a copy of the script online ?

EDIT: OK, found one here:

EXT. SPACE

The Falcon soars into infinity and away from the huge Star Destroyer which seems, by contrast, to stand still.

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE

Admiral Piett and another captain glance at Vader in terror. Vader turns slowly and walks off the bridge, his hands held behind his back in a contemplative gesture.

hole-in-the-wall 1 point2 points 5 months ago[-]

Also Vader has been chasing the Falcon and it's crew for a movie and a half at this point. The Falcon escaped the Death Star BY ITSELF. Vader isn't an idiot and realises the difference between narrowly losing a slippery mofo like Han and making two big mistakes in rapid succession (doubting there was a base on Hoth, coming out of lightspeed too close (was it close? or far?)). Its cool how this scene plays out though, I never noticed before.

Aitrus233 1 point2 points 5 months ago[-]

I always interpreted it as him being far too much in thought about Luke.

jaxspider 1 point2 points 6 months ago[-]

Think of it this one. You can fire a few middle management managers, but you can't fire them all.

HisDudenesss 0 points1 point 6 months ago[-]

Think of it in movie terms; it would have probably damaged the pacing, or it wouldn't have been as interesting to see another third time; there doesn't have to be a psychological reason behind it.

ancientweird 0 points1 point 5 months ago* [-]

Well overthrowing the Emperor is the Emperor's plan anyway. (of course not the way it happened)

But you are correct in that he is definitely troubled at that point, and it could both be a longing to reconnect with family, and frustration that he failed his mission to turn Luke.

If you haven't seen Return of the Jedi, I'm not sure there is any indication Vader can be turned. The vagueness can go either way and is valid.

ketsugi 0 points1 point 6 months ago[-]

He has a soft spot for Piett and his harem of yeomen.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. (c) 2010 Conde Nast Digital. All rights reserved.

REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.