"Only now, at the end, do you understand."

The Emperor says this to Luke right after he blasts Luke with his Force lightning. What does the Emperor mean in this statement? What exactly does he think Luke finally understands?

 

That his feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side, for one thing.

It's a "you stupid shmuck, you should have joined the dark side because we're more powerful and we kick everyone's butt" sort of statement. I don't think it's anything more profound than that.

Great line though says me.



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

Yeah, Palpy was trying to portray himself as this feeble old man ("I am unarmed") until the end when he zaps Luke.

 

That's a good explanation, but Vader and the Emperor have been preaching the gospel of the Sith to Luke well before he was about to be fried.

I always felt that the statement meant that Luke blew his chance and that he'd pay for his stubborn ways. Palpatine wanted to make an example out of Luke and wanted him to know it before he was burnt to a crisp.

 

Palpy is just misunderstood. So he's a little rough on the help and has an ego. Doesn't Donald Trump?

Just because a guy sends an entire legion of his best troops to wipe out a tribe of Ewoks doesn't mean he's a bad guy. In fact, I think many Star Wars fans would APPLAUD such an action.

Underneath,
he's just a strong leader, just oozing with
charm and an electric personality.

 

I think Palpatine basically was resigned to killing Luke Skywalker...as opposed to turning him to the Sith. In the duel between father and son, Palpatine was waiting to see which would have the most aggression...and emerge the winner. Luke won the fight, but would not abandon his jedi principles.

It was basically "the point of no return" for Luke (fro Palpatine's POV) He never expected Vader to turn against him, in defense of his son.

 

Also, remember "Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor". It's here that Luke finally understands the true nature of the evil he is facing, and what the Dark Side is capable of. Palpatine is revealing his true power, which he has kept hidden throughout the rest of ROTJ (and, indeed, since I'm spoiler-free for Episode III, throughout the rest of the saga that I know of).

 

Too bad Dooku and Yoda's little Force hackey-sack fun at the end of AOTC put the kibosh on Force Lightning being the Emperor's provence alone. That and knowing that, had Obi-wan told Luke about lightsabers being able to block the lightning, things could have turned out much differently.

 

"Palpy was trying to portray himself as this feeble old man ("I am unarmed") until the end when he zaps Luke."

Agreed.

"Also, remember "Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor". It's here that Luke finally understands the true nature of the evil he is facing, and what the Dark Side is capable of. Palpatine is revealing his true power, which he has kept hidden throughout the rest of ROTJ (and, indeed, since I'm spoiler-free for Episode III, throughout the rest of the saga that I know of)."

I would hope so as well, though I don't doubt Lucas will blow his wad and show Sidious using Force lightning in Ep.III to satisfy everyone who doesn't see taking over a galaxy with Machiavellian planning as "powerful".