Identity of the emperor

Please forgive me if this has been discussed before. But I can't quite remember this, so:

Is the emperor ever called by the name Palpatine during the OT?

If no: How do we know for sure, that chancellor Palpatine becomes the emperor?

 

He is never called Palpatine during the OT (not even during the credits).

But we can be assured that the Palpy we know and love in the PT becomes the Emperor of ESB/ROTJ because that's half the point of the story.

Also they're played by the same actor, wear cloaks, are evil, etc.



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

He is never called Palpatine in ANH, TESB, or ROTJ. He is just called "the Emperor." We know because Lucas told his name a long time ago. Besides, he said that the oily senator named Palpatine in TPM was the same guy as the Emperor. He even picked the same actor, Ian McDiarmid, to play him in TPM, AOTC, and EIII. Also, Emperor Palpatine is dressed in his Darth Sidious Sith robes. What more evidence can you get?

By the time we saw ROTJ, we knew that "the Emperor" was the main villain that held the leash of Darth Vader. But he was so mysterious/ One of the main points of the prequel trilogy is to explain who Palpatine is and how he became the Emperor. He goes from Seantor, to Chancellor, to Emperor, and he's Darth Sidious all the way. Kinda scary!

 

I'm already well aware of all the indications, and I totally believe that Palpatine is the emperor. I just wanted some real evidence, and I think you provided them. Thanks.

 

haha u guys.. don't you know that the emperor is actually Jar Jar?? that's the genius of the Emperor.. pretending to be some stupid Gungan!

 

I remember reading the novelization of Star Wars as a little kid. The preface of the book gave a little back story to Star Wars and named Palpatine as the Emperor. This book was out even before ESB. However, the memory of a 9 year old boy may be shakey...

 

^ Yes. The preface of ANH has a little short outline of how the Empire came to be, and in it the preface talks about "Senator Palpatine" having a lust for power and using something or other to his advantage and taking power of the Republic, etc. etc.

 

The novel's prologue talks about how Palpatine came to power and the, "...was controlled by the very bootlickers that got him into power," or something like that. Not the Palpatine we would know by ROTJ.

I sometimes wonder if this notion of Palps as a figure head, manipulated by the system would have been a better story than the one we ended up getting.

 

We have to assume that they are the same person because they have the same actor.

But what if we were wrong...

 

If you want a real laugh, you should read this thread (it will take some time, but worth it for the amazing ability of man to convince themselves of something without a thread of proof) in the 3SA forum: Debating Whether Palpatine=Sidious. Final version.

Amazingly the debate still goes on....

 

i thought palpentine was mentioned as emperor somewhere in the original trilogy, dammed if i can point to a place though, mayhaps i need to rewatch them all

 

Here's the entire Prologue from the novelization of Star Wars for anyone who's interested:

Prologue

Another Galaxy, another time.
The Old Republic was the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time. No need to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that...it was the Republic.
Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear those evil ones who have greed to match.
So it was with the Republic at its height. Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the danger was not visible from the outside.
Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised to reunite the disaffected among people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic.
Once secure in office he declared himself Emperor, shutting himself away from the populace. Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears.
Having exterminated through treachery and deception the Jedi Knights, guardians of justice in the galaxy, the Imperial governors and bureaucrats prepared to institute a reign of terror among the disheartened worlds of the galaxy. Many used the Imperial forces and the name of the increasingly isolated Emperor to further their own personal ambitions.
But a small number of systems rebelled at these new outrages. Declaring themselves opposed to the New Order they began the great battle to restore the Old Republic.
From the beginning they were vastly outnumbered by the systems held in thrall by the Emperor. In those first dark days it seemed certain the bright flame of resistance would be extinguished before it could cast the light of new truth across a galaxy of oppressed and beaten peoples...
From the First Saga
Journal of the Whills

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally they became heroes."
Leia Organa of Alderaan, Senator

 

Yes! Another Palpatine = Sidious thread! My prayers have been answered!

 

The_Abstract, I am surprised there is any debate among fans at this point. Even my mom who is not a big Star Wars fan but is very familiar with Star Wars knew Senator Palpatine was Darth Sidious the first time she saw Star Wars.

 

i think the only thing thats gonna mess up the connesction of E3 and ANH is threw out the whole PT we see Palpy like hes the main villian (which he is of course) but then, when we watch the movies in order, tell me if you see something wrong with this...
TPM- appears in hollograms and a breif appearence
ATOC- rarlly is even mentioned, and in person at end for 2 mins(excuse me if im wrong, have been watchin OT since i saw ATOC b/c its much better.)
EIII-probally in most of the movie
ANH-NO ONE IN AUDIENCE EVEN KNOWS ABOUT HIM YET!!!
ESB-apears for a breif hollo and a women is playing him (should be changed in up coming DVD)
ROTJ-is showed through parts of the movie and in the last half-hour.
I see something terribly wrong when you watch the movies in order. its like he get popular and disapears for about 4 hours of the trilogy (ANH & ESB) except for like a 2 min scene in ESB, then is a main char again.

Thats why GL should have made them in order. this wouldn't be a problem b/c everyone knows about palpy=emperor by the time we get up to OT. so he gets included some point in ANH. and a lot more screen time in ESB.

 

--ANH-NO ONE IN AUDIENCE EVEN KNOWS ABOUT HIM YET!!! --

They mention him in passing.

 

Remember Tarkin's line in his first appearance on ANH, after Tagge and Motti start arguing.

Tarkin: The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remanants of the Old Republic have been swept away.

Tagge: That's impossible. How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy.

 

obviously with crude jokes and toilet humour

 

I think it works well the way it is. We don't need to see him in ANH. By that time he's in charge of everything. The entire galaxy fears him. Why should he make himself visible to the masses?Its only when the threat of Luke comes up that he begins to come forward and show himself. We see so much of him in the prequels because we have to, and Palpy needs to be a central figure in the galaxy. Once ANH rolls around, he doens't need to be seen.