MovieChat Forums > Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Discussion > Was Luke too smart or stupid/lucky?

Was Luke too smart or stupid/lucky?

posted 8 years ago by jaroto
14 replies | jump to latest

So Luke just defeated his father in a lightsaber duel... He is infront of the Emperor and instead of facing him he throws away his lightsaber. WTF? The logical would be to defeat the Emperor run away from there and save his father. I mean he is infront of the final boss, throws his weapon away and does nothing?

Or maybe he was smarter than I think and planned all. He wanted to be attacked by the Emperor, exagerate his suffering and convince his father to save him in roder to turn him to the good side.

Or maybe he just got lucky and everything got fixed inspite of doing the most stupid thing.

[–] overseas7 (5071) 3 years ago

Maybe Luke just knew that the Emperor was too strong for him and the only way to save his father and himself was provoking the Emperor as he did.

[–] ExTechOp (2770) a year ago

My own take is covered in this thread, but in pieces.

First, Luke was prepared to die if he couldn't turn his father. So there was no need to fight the emperor.

Second, Luke was ABSOLUTELY saying "screw you" to the emperor when he threw down his weapon. He probably knew he had no chance against the emperor with or without his lightsaber, but at least this way, he makes it clear that he's absolutely done fighting.

Yeah, he could've said "I'll never turn" then snapped his saber back onto his belt. But it wouldn't have made as strong a statement.

And it turned out to be the perfect move. Vader got to see his son show true courage and character. Palpatine got to have his moment of triumph rubbed right in his face. As a result, Palpatine drew out Luke's death just to torture him more, giving Vader time to take action.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

"He wanted to be attacked by the Emperor, exagerate his suffering and convince his father to save him in roder to turn him to the good side."

Luke would never come up with that plan on his own, he isn't deceptive, manipulative, or strategic... but Leia might. And then she'd dismiss it as being naive and unworkable, because she'd have spent too much time being a politician and general to believe in deeply hidden good sides.

No, I think everything about the final conflict is as it seems on the surface, and that was Lucas's intent - he wanted to show that Luke's dopey naivety and faith in goodness was his saving grace. He wanted to show a good and innocent person influencing others to be good, and because of that, I don't think that Luke had any plan, beyond relying on the Force and familial love. And seriously, that sort of thing can be immensely satisfying to watch on film, some of my favorite superhero films are the recent "Wonder Woman" and the first two 1980s "Superman" flicks, they both have the hero as good and innocent, and bringing out the hidden goodness in a cynical world. And frankly, they both did it better, "RotJ" has never been a fave of mine.