Sidious touching Vader on forehead

Hi, I'm definitely no authority on behind-the-scenes knowledge, but from what I saw in the film, I don't know if Sidious actually had the power to "create life"...I mean, I don't know if it was *all* a complete lie or not.


So...from what I remember, Sidious says "he's still alive", and then touches Vader on forehead. Did he die within those few seconds and Sidious revived him? Did he heal some of the damage?

Or (the most intriguing possibility that I actually hope is true) was the whole "create life" (or restore health, whatever he was implying) a complete lie?
Whether or not there was a Sith that Sidious killed in his sleep or whatever is irrelevant of course.

If that was a lie, then the act of Sidious touching Vader's head is compelling.

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed, I did search a bit but I'm not gonna search all day, sorry.

 

The touch on the forehead did not transfer powers. It was a, "I'm glad you're alive," the one and only compassionate move by Palpatine.

 

He was just checking to see if he had a fever.

 

It reminded me of ANH when Obi-Wan touched Luke's forehead after the Tusken Attack. I was kind of moved that Sidious went to help Darth Vader.

 

It is the one act of true compassion we ever see Sidious do in all the films. I never imagined until the spoilers started coming around Sidious himself would retrieve the burned and broken Vader, but there he is. It's a genuine scene and one of my favorites from the film.

 

"He was just checking to see if he had a fever."

LOL!

He mighta been a little hot.

 

Reminds me of the Fantastic 4 trailer.

Nurse: You're really hot.

Human Torch: Thank you.

 

It reminded me of ANH when Obi-Wan touched Luke's forehead after the Tusken Attack. I was kind of moved that Sidious went to help Darth Vader.

That's interesting, Darth-Mule.
I hadn't made that connection.

The touch on the forehead did not transfer powers. It was a, "I'm glad you're alive," the one and only compassionate move by Palpatine.


I know you're not wrong, Sapient, based on the Ian McDiarmid interview in the latest Insider, but I think that part of the beauty of these films is the many things that are left open to interpretation. When I saw that gesture, I thought it could be interpreted in more than one way.

I hate when people insist on knowing the length of time between ANH and ESB, the distance from Hoth to Bespin, and the exact calendar ages of the characters.

I think leaving some things vague gives the films a more mythical, story-book feeling.

 

Anyway, Sidious touching Vader's forehead probably is one of the most iconic images of the saga.

In that shot, Sidious showed more compassion than the Jedi (apart from Qui-Gon of course ) did in all of the PT movies combined.

 

>>>It reminded me of ANH when Obi-Wan touched Luke's forehead after the Tusken Attack.

In the "Making of ROTS" book, there's a production painting of the scene that draws the same parallel.

 

It definitly showed compassion , and intern could be why vader seems such a slave to Palpy in the OT In actuallity he is greatful to Palpy and thus uses lines like "I must obey my master"

 

I'm a little confused that everyone is saying that this was a true act of compassion. The way I read it, he's just happy that Vader is alive to further his own cause, not because he really, truly cares about Anakin.

I mean, part of may be that he's watched Anakin grow and feels some compassion, but a Sith's overriding characteristic is selfishness and a lust for power.

 

All I saw in the "forehead touching scene" (if anyone has a better name for it please step in ) was an evil Emperor concerned for his tool, his property. Sort of like the guy running out of the coffee shop to see if his Ferrari is OK after some guy tapped the fender.

I'd like to see it in a compassionate light though, but I just can't. Keep in mind I did like the Jango/Boba Fett scenes in AotC for the father son dynamic.

 

I think the question of whether Sidious feels compassion for Anakin is answered when he tells him that Padme is dead, and then sits there with a big evil grin on his face.

 

My question is, why didn't Sidious kick him to the curb after seeing him as "damaged merchandise", and start all over?

By nature, the Sith are attracted to power, so why would Sidious, now realizing that Vader is not as powerful as he is now, nurture him back to health?

 

My question is, why didn't Sidious kick him to the curb after seeing him as "damaged merchandise", and start all over?

Because, exclusing Luke and Leia, there are no other Force-sensitive people left. Also, wasn't there some theory that as soon as the Chosen One embraces the Dark Side, the Force essntially 'dies' and no other Force-sensitive babies will be born.

So Vader is all that Palps has left.

 

First I MUST concur with Leias_love_slave.

About Palpatine touching Vader's head, I had always imagined that Palaptine somehow linked himself to Vader through whichever means allowed to him by his dark powers. Some of Vader's lines like: "I MUST obey my master." and his line to Luke as he lay dying "Nothing can stop that now." I understand he said this last line in replying to Luke's fretting over removing the helmet and the life support it offered. I know Palpatine's lightning blast helped to kill Vader but I had always thought to myself that killing Palpatine also severed whatever link Palpatine enforced through his dark powers that helped keep Vader alive. Killing Palpatine set off a time bomb off sorts. This is why I am thinking to myself that when Palpatine touches Vader's head, he is enforcing that link between himself and Vader. Besides, Palaptine had always kept Vader on a leash of sorts. It would only make sense that he would use the dark side of the force to futher enforce his control over Vader. Vader who is now, once he healed, would still be one of the most powerful forces in the known worlds.

 

It was a wink and a nod from ANH. Lucas liked that one of his conceptual artists put that in ROTS and so he used it.

 

Its was a nice tie in to the OT..
Obi wan did the same thing to Luke after the Tusken Raiders attacked him in ANH.

 

Also, don't forget that Spock used to do it all the time on Star Trek.

 

Palpatine reaches down and checks forehead..
"Lord Vader..you are burning up.."

 

Sidious appeared to be checking Anakin's pulse or touching him for any signs of life Skywalker had left. It's sort of unusual because it's not in Sidious's nature to care about anyone. Given the fact that Palpatine and Anakin had a good friendship before Anakin turned only made Palpatine more compassionate towards him.

 

>>>>>Because, exclusing Luke and Leia, there are no other Force-sensitive people left.

- Actually, I think its because of the possibility of there still being Jedi hiding in the galaxy, Palpatine needed his apprentice to help hunt down the Jedi in order to protect the Empire.

>>>>Also, wasn't there some theory that as soon as the Chosen One embraces the Dark Side, the Force essntially 'dies' and no other Force-sensitive babies will be born.

- This was a theory posted on the boards months before the movie came out. Nothing really supports it. Its more likely that force sensitive babies continued to be born, but with nobody around to train them. And newborn babies would take a long time to grow and take lots of training before they could be an apprentice.

>>>>So Vader is all that Palps has left.

- True. I would say at the end of ROTS, the two of them are stuck with each other.

 

This is one thing i liked about the movie. Palpatine seemed to care about Anakin and in his mind, the Jedi's are bad not the sith. Just cause Palpatine cares about Anakin doesn't mean he wouldn't use him or hurt him to get want he wants...power. But over all I feel he does care for Anakin.

 

'Rest easy son,you've had a buisy day'

What got me was when he walked along the burning sand so easily and then just to cap it all off he kneels down on it!!!!