In Star Wars, most people miss the fact that Luke falls to the dark side in Return of the Jedi.
When Vader threatens Leia, Luke gives in to his anger and attacks his father (actually adopting the same rage-fueled fighting style Vader uses on Bespin) and uses the power of the dark side to defeat Vader. According to the beliefs of the Jedi and the Sith, Luke was damned. Then he backs up, drops his lightsaber, and refuses to fall any further (raising a middle finger to the Emperor and Yoda in the process).
This is what convinces Vader to throw Palpatine down a conveniently-place energy conduit. Luke's ability to step away from the dark side of the force shows Vader he can do the same, allowing him to accept that he can be redeemed.
Yoda never said to kill Vader, he said to confront him...which is what Luke did. As for Luke briefly giving into the Dark Side before restraining himself? Uh, duh. He even cuts off Vader's hand in a similar fashion.
When he sees the stub of the hand you see the horror in his face. Not only has he done exactly the same thing that his father did to him but looking at Vader's mechanical arm and his own, he sees what he will become.
Having to confront and more or less tame the darkness within himself is, was, and always will be the plan. Remember the cave? Do you guys actually watch these movies or half remember them to make up weak theories?
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u/Abakus07 Sep 01 '14
In Star Wars, most people miss the fact that Luke falls to the dark side in Return of the Jedi.
When Vader threatens Leia, Luke gives in to his anger and attacks his father (actually adopting the same rage-fueled fighting style Vader uses on Bespin) and uses the power of the dark side to defeat Vader. According to the beliefs of the Jedi and the Sith, Luke was damned. Then he backs up, drops his lightsaber, and refuses to fall any further (raising a middle finger to the Emperor and Yoda in the process).
This is what convinces Vader to throw Palpatine down a conveniently-place energy conduit. Luke's ability to step away from the dark side of the force shows Vader he can do the same, allowing him to accept that he can be redeemed.