Vader Let Luke Destroy the Death Star?

I was reading another thread on here and I suddenly came up with kinda crazy idea. It's still a bit shaky, but here goes. Towards the beginning of ANH we hear Vader say "The power to destroy a planet is nothing compared to the power of the force." (or something along those lines) He seems to get really angry/defensive when the Imperial officers belittle the force. At Tarkin's will, Vader releases one of the officers from a choke hold and says nothing more. Now, Vader never seemed to me to be the kind of guy that takes orders, atleast not someone who was no match for him with the force as his ally.

Ok, fast forward to the Battle of Yavin. Here's Luke, preparing to destroy the Death Star. Vader senses his strength with the force. Do you think that maybe things started running through Vader's head like, "how awesome would it be if this kid, using the force, destroyed the Death Star and proved once and for all to those arrogant fools that I was right"? Do you think the thought came to his mind that the destruction of the Death Star would also mean that Tarkin would be dead, and he would have more control than ever?

There's a part of these scenes that always bothers me. It is when Vader says "I have you now", you can see that he has the perfect shot, you see him take the shot, but Luke is not hit. The movie seems to imply that Millenium Falcon shooting down the fighter next to Vader interferes with his shot, but I've never quite understood that? But maybe, just maybe, do you think that Vader decided "Let the kid destroy the Death Star, serves them right, and it's in my best interest", and at the last second purposely missed the shot?

I know this theory is still kinda shaky and probably has a lot of holes, but I guess more importantly what I'm asking is do you think that Vader had that conflict inside him? Do you think if the conflict had not been there, he could have succeeded in stopping Luke from destroying the Death Star?

 

wow, that is a very deep look at it. And to tell the truth, i understand it more than what is reprsented in the movie and i agree 100%.

everytime i watch ANH, im confused by Vader's shot. We saw Luke in the sights. He said, "I have you now" to make his flankers believe he was going to kill him, but botched the shot.

very good observation! now i have a good reason to watch the movie again!

 

Yes, but even the best marksmen miss at times.

Your theory is interesting, though I'm not sure how it would be in Vader's best interests. Surely the Emperor would be very displeased with its destruction, and even more pissed off at Vader's insufficent defense of the DS. Of course in the EU, the Emperor is very angry at Vader.

The thing only cost how many billions of dollars and how many men died? That's a lot of resources down the drain for just an "I told you so" plot.

 

You could debate what Vader meant by "The Force is strong with this one" but I don't believe Vader let Luke do anything. He started to shoot, got distracted when one of his wingmen got shot, stopped shooting, and got knocked into space.

If you really want to get detailed, every time Vader shot a volley the first few shots missed as they tracked closer and finally hit. When he first shoots at Luke it's those first few shots that get loose before the volley tracks closer when one of the wingmen got hit.

 

yeah, i see what you're saying Errant Venture, and as I said before.. there are lots of holes in my theory, it was really just a crazy idea I came up with and felt like posting lol.. but as for the theory, i dont think he would have been doing it just for the "i told you so" purpose. He also got Tarkin's power out of it.

 

i always thought that just as vader takes a step back slowly before the force-choke on commador whats-his-face, he should say sighingly "HERE WE GO!"

 

Interesting thread. I've seen this argued before, and it's been said that Vader's real reason for allowing the Death Star to be destroyed was a number of his main rivals were aboard, and it was extremely expedient for him.

From what we see on screen, it sort of makes sense. In ANH, Vader seems to be competing with all these other guys for dominance, but in ESB, they're all gone and he has command of the fleet.

 

DLM, new icon? Looks good.

I wouldn't put it passed Vader to back stab his men. In TESB, he told Luke that he wanted to rule the galaxy as father and son. If Vader was ready to betray the Emperor, he would betray anyone.

 

Interesting idea! Actually kind of plausible, but I doubt at that point Vader would be do disloyal to the Empire and the will of his Emperor. If he'd needed Tarkin, Motti, and Taage out of the way Vader could have simply executed them as he did Ozzel in ESB.

As for his missed shots, look the scene again. Right when he shoots, one of his wingmen blows up, and Vader's fighter moves slightly upwards at that moment, probably spoiling his shot. The next shot is Vader looking up and going "Whaaaat?" His fighter moved when he fired, spoiling his shot. This maybe happened because:

1) Debris from the explosion hit his fighter, sending it slightly upwards.

2) Vader sensed the explosion and was maneuvering slightly to avoid debris.

3) Vader got rattled by the sudden death of his wingman and spoiled his own shot.

I always figured Luke was toast, but Vader's slight moving of his fighter, for whatever reason, spoiled the shot.

 

Hey, nice theory

Interesting stuff, thanks for that. I don't believe in it myself, I feel Vader would be risking an awful lot just to prove a point (perhaps even death)...he also seems to sense some Force power in Luke a few seconds before he tries to blast him, a split-second judgement to let the guy go and possibly blow up the DS just because of that would be very foolish...

But it's still a cool idea

 

Nice crackpot theory you have going here.

It's interesting, but most likely not true. It's pretty clear that Han Solo is the one that gives Luke the opportunity to make the shot and that any "pauses" on Vader's part were just editing to heighten the drama as to whether or not Luke would make the shot.

 

I do not agree with the theory, but I see the logic behind it and it is VERY interesting. And now I would like to add some fuel to it.

What if the DS2 is already under consruction at the end of ANH and Vader knows about it? It might make it easier for him to 'let' the DS1 blow up with all of his Imperial rivals/doubters, and knows he'll be THE MAN under the Emperor without them, with the possibility he's found a cantidate to be his new Sith apprentice.

 

I thought this theory was totally absurd at 1st. But I don't know, possibly, at this point Vader thinks all Jedi are dead. The Force is a old religion to people. Pions seem to have more power. Maybe he did say screw it. Doing this would empower him through the Emperor to hunt and destroy the rebels and be the almighty powerful Vader he is.

Vader is great!

 

If Vader needed the Imperial Officers and the DS out of the way, he could have let the first group make the shot...or two if need be..., he could have sabotaged the DS in any number of ways and pinned the destruction on Tarkin, or any number of ways besides a close call moment.

 

Vader - "I have you now. WHAT!"

Solo - "Yahoo!"

TIE Pilot - "Look out!"

---

I say that Vader was caught off guard by Han Solo, which lead to having Luke destroy the Death Star. Solo saved Luke's life and in the ESB, Solo saved Luke's life again on Hoth and Solo said this.

[i]"That's two you owe me junior."
--Han Solo[/i]

 

"Yes, but even the best marksmen miss at times. "

Well put EV
If you watch combat footage you'll see where the jet has the enemy in his sites. However, once the bullets leave the plane various forces act upon them. Sure most bullets will hit the target but very few will hit exactly where it's lined up in the Pilot's crosshairs. Of course w/out being a blaster specialist I can't prove it but I'm sure the bolts would react similarily to my example. Hence, hitting R2 and the fuselodge(sp) around him.

 

Very interesting theory. I really can't see it though.

 

Well, I think Vader's thumbs were right over the trigger, so I think Han and Chewie can, back just in time to distract Vader in those few milliseconds...

 

I don't think Vader let that happen but, I do like the logic behind this theory, and I don't think Luke cared about the Death Star being destroyed.

 

I don't think Vader intentionally allowed Luke to destroy the Death Star to prove the power of the Force over such a horrible technology, but it's highly possible Vader might have been thinking that subconsciously, which played a part in his erratic, twitchy actions while aiming to get the right shot at Luke.

 

My theory has always been that Vader was too "enlighted" to kill the threatening X-wing because it was so close to the exhaust-port and he just messed up from nerves. Even the most evil can fail. He knew that he only had one change to destroy Luke.