I was thinking about the moment when things really turned for Anakin, in ROTS, when he lobbed off Mace Windu's arm, saving Palpatine, and although it seems like Anakin was trapped, and that he really had no other choice, I began to think about what other choices Anakin may've had.

What if Anakin had blocked Windu's blade with his own, instead of slicing off Windu's arm? ... well, then probably Anakin and Windu would've gotten into a lightsaber battle, and likely Palpatine would've interferred in it, since he was only pretending to be weakened by his earlier battle with Windu. So this would not have resolved anything.

What if Anakin had sliced off Windu's arm, and then blocked Palpatine's Sith lightning with his lightsaber? ... Anakin may have had an opportunity to set things right then. He'd basically be in the position that Mace was, which, I believe, Mace would have eventually come out the winner, since he was close enough to finish Palpatine, and Palpatine was being harmed by his own Sith lightning (you could see the effects on Palpatine), and although Palpatine hadn't weakened to the point of defenselessness, I believe he was weakening. Once Palpatine was defenseless, Anakin could've knocked him unconcious, or perhaps severed his hands, and taken him into custody.

What then? Well, Windu argued that Palpatine should be killed on the spot rather than imprisoned and put on trial because Palpatine controlled the Senate (which we already suspected), and because Palpatine controlled the Court. But we have to wonder then, what about democracy? As the Queen of Naboo said in Episode 2, the moment we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it. This is exactly what happened here, in Palpatine's chambers. If the Court was indeed corrupt, it should've been abolished, and a new Court established, in democratic fashion. The fact that there were people like Bail Organa and Senator Amidala still around proves that there were still good people in the galaxy, and I believe these kinds of people could have restored order and justice to the Republic.

Now as far as Anakin's problem with Padme's death, Palpatine would still be alive, and perhaps Anakin and the Court could offer Palpatine some leniency if he were to help Anakin find the secret to "cheating death".

So, while I do think Anakin had been put in a very difficult situation, I do not think he was in an impossible situation. I just think he made the wrong choice, and although eventually he set things right (in ROTJ), a lot of people suffered for it, including his own wife Padme, who may have been saved if things had gone differently.

all very excellent points my friend!
the force does indeed work in strange ways

*nods* good points indeed.

i have thought about this myself many times.


I have to admit.. if I were in Anakin's position I would have tried tosave Padme as well.

I woudl not have, however, chopped off Mace Windu's hadns I woudl have blocked the blade.

As you said that maynto resolve anythign in the end, but if it was me I would not take it to the point where I would fight Mace.

i would plead with him and try to reason with him and tell him why I needed palpatine alive.

Who knows what the outcome would be, though, because like you said Palpatine would certainly have taken the chance to interfear.

But I think in the end if it came down too it Mace would ahve won between the two of them.

WEll the question being what would you have done if you where anakin.. Well it would have been teh same thing.. Your ani after all. Your life experences led you to that point etc etc.

Now what he should have done is listened to his mind and his training and not his emotions. Let Mace kill Palps. Then the jedi could have restored the senate and held the republic together. Padme would have lived.

The problem with visions of the future is they are not clear. Anikin received a warning of Padmes death. He saught to prevent it by a means which resulted in it. really sad in a way. He should have listened to Yoda. But he let his emotions rule him.

Quite true. But given the fact that he didn't know all that.. I can understand his actions (though I never would take them to such and extream)


And (a bit off the subject) I do wonder... if the emporer HAD been killed...what would eppisodes 4,5, and 6 be like? lol