by Ben Mapp
It was never going to be an easy job to write a follow-up to one of most shocking and exhilarating movies of recent memory. The Empire Strikes Back not only built beautifully on the universe introduced in A New Hope, but also took the story to the next brutal level – and unleashed upon us all a plot-twist which would forever go down in history as nothing less than iconic.
The secret was out. Darth Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, father to Luke and former Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars. And since Padme was long dead, the only other person capable of restoring Anakin’s lost humanity was one of his children. Luke opted to take the challenge, but first he would need to reunite all of his allies who had been left scattered after the disastrous events of the previous movie.
It was never going to be an easy job to write a follow-up to one of most shocking and exhilarating movies of recent memory. The Empire Strikes Back not only built beautifully on the universe introduced in A New Hope, but also took the story to the next brutal level – and unleashed upon us all a plot-twist which would forever go down in history as nothing less than iconic.
The secret was out. Darth Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, father to Luke and former Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars. And since Padme was long dead, the only other person capable of restoring Anakin’s lost humanity was one of his children. Luke opted to take the challenge, but first he would need to reunite all of his allies who had been left scattered after the disastrous events of the previous movie.
After a failed attempt to rescue Han Solo, Leia is captured and enslaved by Jabba the Hutt. Luke arrives afterwards and commands that they be released but, after fending off a gigantic Rancor being kept in the cellar of Jabba’s palace, is also held hostage. However things come to a head during a public execution over a Sarlacc Pit in the desert when Luke reveals that several of his friends have been pretending to be Jabba’s slaves, and together they take control of the situation. In the battle, Jabba is killed and renowned bounty hunter Boba Fett is supposedly eaten by the Sarlacc. The heroes escape the planet, and Luke splits off in order to seek out Master Yoda for guidance on Dagobah. Yoda is dying of old age, but confirms that Vader is indeed Luke’s father. Obi-Wan’s spirit arrives too, explaining that Luke has a twin sister, Leia.
Upon returning to the Rebellion, Han and Leia learn that the Empire is constructing a second Death Star above the forest moon of Endor. A task force is sent to destroy the shield generator which is located somewhere in the forest, but things go awry when an Imperial ambush is waiting for them. The survivors, including Han, Leia and Luke, are rounded up by a group of natives called Ewoks. The Ewoks gradually reveal themselves to be more passive than aggressive, believing C-3PO to be a god of some kind, and follows the droid’s orders to treat his friends with respect. Luke reveals to Leia that they are siblings, and goes off to confront Vader on his own – surrendering to one of the nearby Imperial patrols.
As the Rebellion works on attacking the shield generator down on Endor, Luke is brought before the Emperor by Vader. Palpatine attempts to turn Luke to the Dark Side, as he had his father, but fails as Luke declares himself a Jedi. The Emperor attacks Luke, but is thwarted by Vader who defies Palpatine and launches him into the core of the Death Star. The Rebellion meanwhile launches their attack and is successful. Luke manages to clamber aboard a ship and escapes the destruction of the Death Star with the body of his father in tow.
As the Rebellion works on attacking the shield generator down on Endor, Luke is brought before the Emperor by Vader. Palpatine attempts to turn Luke to the Dark Side, as he had his father, but fails as Luke declares himself a Jedi. The Emperor attacks Luke, but is thwarted by Vader who defies Palpatine and launches him into the core of the Death Star. The Rebellion meanwhile launches their attack and is successful. Luke manages to clamber aboard a ship and escapes the destruction of the Death Star with the body of his father in tow.
Luke cremates his father in a traditional Jedi ceremony on Endor as, across the whole galaxy, celebrations break out in light of the Empire’s defeat.
After The Empire Strikes Back took the saga to its darkest depths yet, Return of the Jedi restored hope to the galaxy and showed that – despite all of the odds – the heroes would still inevitably come out on top. The only real complaint about the movie came from the inclusion of the Ewoks which were purposely designed to be toyetic and appeal to the younger audience, replacing an earlier concept which was to have the Death Star be built above Kashyyyk, the homeworld of the Wookies.
After The Empire Strikes Back took the saga to its darkest depths yet, Return of the Jedi restored hope to the galaxy and showed that – despite all of the odds – the heroes would still inevitably come out on top. The only real complaint about the movie came from the inclusion of the Ewoks which were purposely designed to be toyetic and appeal to the younger audience, replacing an earlier concept which was to have the Death Star be built above Kashyyyk, the homeworld of the Wookies.
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