Emperor Palpatine’s Legends Death: A Fitting Revenge for Order 66 Victims

Emperor Palpatine, a pivotal figure in the Star Wars universe, is renowned as the franchise’s most formidable villain. As the central antagonist of all three live-action trilogies and various animated and live-action series, Palpatine, though not the most powerful Sith in Star Wars lore, undoubtedly holds the title of the series’ greatest antagonist.

In Star Wars: Empire’s End #2, penned by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Jim Baikie, we witness Palpatine’s desperation unfold. Following the destruction of his clone bodies by Luke Skywalker, the Emperor is left vulnerable, inhabiting a deteriorating clone. With no more clone bodies available, Palpatine searches for a living host to continue his dark legacy, ultimately turning his attention to Anakin Solo, the youngest son of Leia Organa and Han Solo.

However, Palpatine’s plans are thwarted when his spirit, attempting to transfer to the infant Anakin Solo, is intercepted by Empatojayos Brand, a rare survivor of the Great Jedi Purge. By becoming the vessel for Palpatine’s spirit, Brand delivers a profound act of vengeance on behalf of all Jedi victims of Order 66. As he succumbs to death, he drags Palpatine into the abyss with him, ensuring that the Emperor faces consequences for his horrific actions.

Palpatine’s Canon Demise in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Rey deflects Palpatine's lightning with two lightsabers.

Intriguingly, the essence of Star Wars: Dark Empire‘s storyline is reflected in The Rise of Skywalker, albeit with notable adjustments. In this sequel, Palpatine’s spirit is housed within a decaying clone body, eagerly seeking to possess Rey in a bid for resurrection. While the overarching narrative shares similarities with Dark Empire, one significant alteration is its conclusion: Palpatine’s death.

In The Rise of Skywalker, Palpatine is ultimately vanquished when Rey channels the collective strength of fallen Jedi to obliterate him. This climactic moment is indeed dramatic, incorporating all those Jedi lost during his reign of terror. However, the magnitude of this death diminishes the impact of the desired revenge against Palpatine for his role in Order 66.

In contrast, the narrative in which a solitary Jedi survivor exacts vengeance on Palpatine holds a more profound significance. Not bound by overwhelming forces, Palpatine’s fate in the Legends continuity sees him scream and struggle within a Jedi body he sought to extinguish, ultimately leading to his demise after a failed attempt to inhabit Anakin Solo. This powerful narrative twist adds depth to his end, making it far more resonant.

Palpatine’s Demise Is Not the Sole Aspect Where Legends Surpasses Canon

Dark Empire’s Exquisite Telling of Palpatine’s Return

Emperor Palpatine being destroyed by Force lightning.

Beyond Palpatine’s death, Star Wars Legends greatly enhances the narrative surrounding the Emperor’s return. In Dark Empire, the process through which Palpatine resurrects is thoroughly explained, highlighting the influence of other deceased Sith who guide him back to the living world. Furthermore, unlike The Rise of Skywalker, Legends avoids the ‘Snoke fake-out’; Palpatine comes back as himself, unambiguously cementing his role as the villain from the outset.

While many arguments could be made for Dark Empire’s superiority over The Rise of Skywalker, the definitive moment lies in Palpatine’s Legends-end, which not only provides a more poetic closure to his arc but also serves as a fitting retribution for the victims of Order 66. This layered approach makes Palpatine’s Legends demise a standout moment in Star Wars lore.

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