JJ’S Fan Feature: Examining Some of the Biggest Standout STAR WARS Scenes of the Franchise

Standout Star Wars Scenes: Vader’s Redemption

We’ll start with Eli’s choice of Vader’s redemption in Return of the Jedi. Luke had battled his father to near death. With the realization that he was becoming everything he opposed, Luke pulled himself back to the Light. “I am a Jedi, like my father before me.” Once he said those words you knew no good would follow. “So be it, Jedi.” Force lightning poured over Luke’s body torturously. Vader stood, and watched. And watched. You could almost feel the turmoil within him as his master murdered his son before him. (Just so we’re clear, we’re going to ignore the Special Edition “noooo” voice-over. I mean seriously, George, why?)

Vader sets aside the anger, the hate, the fury, and in that moment is nothing more than a father protecting his son. Vader knows that, in the process of tossing the Emperor to his fate, Vader has sealed his own. Nothing could stop Vader from dying, but in those brief moments of redemption and reconciliation, he connected with his son. Right. In. The. Feels.