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Star Wars Movie Parallels Between Episodes III and VI...

I: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Generals

In the third movies of the first two Star Wars trilogies, central characters suddenly become generals. In The Return of the Jedi, we have Han and Lando's promotion to the rank of general, as well as Princess Leia's, and in The Attack of the Clones we have Obi-Wan's promotion to the rank of General Kenobi. In all instances the promotions happen off screen and the characters simply start being referred to as generals. The third movies also see the introduction of new characters who are generals. General Grievous, General Madine for instance.

This might be seen to reflect a parallel shift in the conflicts from the participation of aristocratic characters to a meritocracy of military ones. Count Dooku dies to be replaced by General Grievous in The Revenge of the Sith and Padmé is no longer Queen but senator. Leia's title of Princess is also on the wane with the destruction of Alderaan in A New Hope (something emphasised in The Force Awakens with her new rank as general and her past role as Princess recollected by an old ally). Ranks start to become military ones rather than aristocratic or royal ones with the exception of the rise of Palpatine to Emperor and the rise of Vader to the ranks of the nobility as a Lord.

There is a definite trend in the Star Wars canon towards sudden promotions to general, and even in The Attack of the Clones we get Jar Jar Binks being awarded the rank of Bombard General. Then in the Empire Strikes Back we have a parallel set of rapid promotions as Vader kills off his admirals and immediately promotes their subordinates to the rank.

One can only feel sorry for the Captain Raymus Antilles since in the intervening twenty or so years between Episodes III and IV he hasn’t been promoted beyond the rank of Captain.

The only Star Wars movie that bucks the trend to date is episode VII The Last Jedi in which Poe Dameron is demoted from the rank of commander following his leading the assault on the Dreadnaught Fulminatrix which results in the destruction of the Resistance's entire bomber squadron.

II: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Tarzan

In the Return of the Jedi Chewie lets out a Tarzan cry when he swings from a rope with an Ewok to take control of an AT-ST (Scout Walker). We hear the same Tarzan cries from a Wookiee on Kashyyyk swinging across the water to take out a droid ship.

III: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Darth Vader Defeated

Darth Vader gets defeated in a single combat lightsaber duel in the finale of both The Revenge of the Sith and The Return of the Jedi. In Episode III he strives to live against the odds and in VI he chooses to die despite the offer of help.

IV: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Jedi Outfits

In the third movie of both Trilogies Anakin's and Luke's outfits respectively both become darker and they start wearing black which gives us a visual representation of the possibility of them turning to the Dark Side as they are both tempted by Palpatine in the final duel scenes. It's a simple visual link which shows us that the two are embarking on parallel journeys at pivotal moments in their lives when the choices they make will affect the fates of both their close family and the whole galaxy.

V: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Anakin / Vader's Choices in the Throne Room Duel Scenes

One of the most interesting parallels between the films comes in the two times that we see Palpatine use his force lightning powers, in the climaxes of the duel scenes in both Return of the Jedi and Revenge of the Sith. Vader is faced with a similar conflict on both occasions, i.e. serve the Emperor's interests or save the life of someone close to him. When we first saw Return of the Jedi we had no idea that Vader/Anakin had faced this dilemma before, but now with hindsight, the Revenge of the Sith duel scene casts fresh light on Vader's choices.

In both instances Vader's motivation is the same, to save a family member; in The Revenge of the Sith to save his wife Padmé and in The Return of the Jedi to save his son Luke. In Episode III Palpatine understood Anakin's motivations so well that he put his own life up as collateral against the bet. Somehow by the time of The Return of the Jedi Palpatine is now completely blind as to what motivates his apprentice and it is this blindness that leads to his downfall as Vader chooses his son over his master.

VI: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - The Killing Family Members Dilemna

In the Return of the Jedi Luke says to Ben 'I can't kill my own father' when Ben tells him he must face Vader. Luke's reluctance to kill Vader directly echoes Ben's own reluctance to kill Vader in The Revenge of the Sith in which Obi-Wan/Ben begs Yoda to send him to kill the Emperor so that he does not have to kill Anakin who is like a son to him.

The theme re-emerges in The Force Awakens when it seems Snoke has set Kylo Ren / Ben Solo the same task. Ren struggles but nonetheless sends his father Han Solo to his death.

The over-arching message is that for the Jedi compassion always wins out but for the Sith the opposite is true.

VII: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Sith Collaboration

In Star Wars Episodes III and VI Palpatine has a habit of motivating Vader with offers of collaborating and working together on achieving the things that Vader desires.

In The Revenge of the Sith Palpatine Says to Vader/ Anakin about Saving Padmé: 'Only one has discovered the secret, but if we work together'.

When he disembarks from the Imperial Shuttle in The Return of the Jedi Palpatine says to Vader of Luke: 'Only if we work together can we turn him to the Dark Side'.

It's odd that Palpatine keeps winning Vader over with the offer of working together, since it is in part Anakin's inability to work as part of a team with his old master Obi-Wan which has led him on the path to the Dark Side. It was Anakin's acting alone for instance which ensured his defeat by Dooku in The Attack of the Clones.

Teamwork it seems is suddenly a Sith core value. In reality however, it is just a mechanism which Palpatine uses to seduce Vader and bend him to his will and he probably did no different with his other apprentices.

Vader noticeably likes to work alone where possible. For instance, when Vader questions the Imperial Captain about letting Shuttle Tyderium through the shield generator, the Captain asks 'should I hold them?' Vader's response is 'Let them through. I will deal with them myself'.

VIII: Star Wars Episodes III and VI - Thrones

The chair in Palpatine's chambers in The Revenge of the Sith when he is instructing Anakin to go to the Jedi temple is almost exactly the same shape as his throne in the throne room on the second Death Star. It's a neat parallel which creates a strong connection between the very beginning of the Emperor's reign and it's final moments.

All Star Wars action figures, vehicles, collectibles and Star Wars toys shown on this website are the 3.75 inch scale and from my own private Star Wars collection unless otherwise stated. Where possible original vintage accessories have been used but in some instances I have placed Kenner Star Wars figures with either reproduction weapons and accessories or for Hasbro figures close approximations have been used. This is mostly the case for modern Star Wars lightsabers where the correct item can be very difficult to identify on some ocassions. Vintage Star Wars action figures are shown with their original weapon or accessory when I have them. When a vintage Kenner action figure is shown with an accessory which is not original I have tried to point this out where possible.

All of the Star Wars action figures shown were purchased second hand, usually incomplete, and in bulk. They have been reunited with their original weapons and accessories where we could get hold of them.

All opinions expressed are those of the author and not those of LucasFilm, Disney, Kenner or Hasbro toys. All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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