Summary
Palpatinetook one shocking risk inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Siththat is easy to miss but could have changed everything.Revenge of the Sithis one ofStar Wars’most important movies for several reasons. For one, this point intheStar Warstimelineis absolutely critical. Not only does Order 66 occur inRevenge of the Sith, killing most of the Jedi, but also, Palpatine takes power and transforms the Galactic Republic into the Empire. ManyStar Warsmovies and TV showsare therefore directly shaped by the events ofRevenge of the Sith.
These events also took meticulous planning on Palpatine’s part, beginning long beforeStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. In fact, Palpatine plotted not only his increasing access to power through the Senate but also the mass execution of the Jedi via the clone army for years. Yet,one piece of this plan put Palpatine at major risk—and he couldn’t be sure it would work.
Star Wars: Every Jedi Who Survived Order 66 (In Canon)
Clone Protocol Order 66 caused once-loyal Clone troopers in Star Wars to wipe out the Jedi, but a handful managed to survive this initial purge.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Anakin’s role in Order 66 is well-known. The incredibly dark scene in which Anakin walks into the Jedi Council chambers full of hiding younglings and ignites his lightsaber is both chilling and a staple in the franchise. However, the jarring, disturbing nature of Anakin’s role in Order 66 has overshadowed one of the most shocking details of the entire ordeal:every clone knew not to turn on Anakin Skywalker.
Palpatine may have indicated to the 501st specifically that Anakin would lead them, but it’s simply impossible that every clone trooper had been given the command to stand down when it came to Anakin Skywalker. Moreover,Star Warsshows likeStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars: The Bad Batchhave made it clear how overwhelmingly powerful the Order 66 command was; even with a verbal order, it’s unlikely the clones could have resisted cutting down Anakin if they perceived him as a Jedi. This means that the clones must have already been programmed to not attack Anakin Skywalker.
The clones must have already been programmed to not attack Anakin Skywalker.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
Making it so the clones would not attack Anakin during Order 66 was a massive risk for Palpatine. Clearly, Anakin wasn’t just any Jedi; he wasthe Chosen One. While he may not have been able to take on the clone army and Palpatine himself, giving him such a major advantage in this fight threatened Palpatine’s entire plot, and it’s difficult to say how radically Anakin could have changed things. Given his massive impact on the Clone Wars, though, it’s possible that this could have ruined Palpatine’s plan, especially if he didn’t have Anakin by his side.
However,Palpatine clearly felt confident that Anakin would fall to the dark side. This raises interesting questions about when Palpatine may have made this specific alteration to the clones, as they were in the works long before Anakin started exhibiting the more glaring signs that he was headed toward a dark path. Nevertheless, Palpatine was sure enough about Anakin’s inevitable fall that he took this incredible gamble inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, and, ultimately, it paid off.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Cast
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker’s transformation under the influence of Darth Sidious. Released in 2005, the film explores Anakin’s internal conflict and the shifting political landscape, leading to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
