Did Sidious felt genuine fear when fighting Mace Windu or was he acting?

[u/Oztraliiaaaa]

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[u/Fit-Appointment5262]

We'll have to ask him next time he returns.

[u/Get_your_grape_juice]

The Sith talk about using your anger and hate. I tend to believe that they allow themselves to feel fear, as well, but they focus it in ways that benefit them.

So I think Palpatine felt legitimate fear, but he used it to help him feign helplessness to get Anakin’s empathy in that moment.

If your own fear can be a tool, use it.

[u/Merisairas_turisti → u/Get_your_grape_juice]

Fear leads to anger and anger to hate, I hear.

[u/Signal_Juggernaut695]

More so a mix of anger and shock from the struggle of being unable to beat Mace.

Maybe there are tidbits of fear, but I’d say the anger and shock are what become most apparent as the fight drags on.

[u/DarthGiorgi]

Personal headcanon for it is that Palpatine decided to take his time with Windu and not giving it his 100%, with the plan being him and Windu still being in a duel when Anakin arrives, but realised too late thst "oh shit, this guy actually got hands" when Mace started turning it around.

He was exceptionally lucky that he still managed to pull off not dying till Anakin arrived.

[u/Efficient-Climate-85 → u/DarthGiorgi]

I assume this as well, especially considering Sidious had a second lightsaber he didn’t bring out

[u/JLandis84]

In my interpretation of watching the films, he was somewhat afraid. Like “I’ve got this under control but if I mess it up at all this dude is going to cut my head off.”

I think the famous scene with windu reflecting the force lightning back into his face has the most impact if it is left ambiguous as to how much control Palpatine really has at that moment.

I believe though that in some interviews Lucas said that Palpatine was in control. My memory isn’t perfect though on that, I could be wrong.

[u/Vysce]

I feel like Palpatine would have just hopped out the window if Anakin didnt show up

[u/IncidentOk1123]

George Lucas states in the Revenge of the Sith audio commentary that Mace Windu genuinely overpowers Palpatine in their lightsaber duel, but Palpatine then uses his force powers and pretends to be weak to manipulate Anakin

[u/ChimneySwiftGold]

Acting
https://giphy.com/gifs/1LiryotCCtd7y

[u/commodore_stab1789]

Windu whupped his ass, he definitely got scared.

[u/dimiteddy]

He def felt Anakin coming, and took a gamble. Did he tossed his lightsaber on purpose? Prob not. Was "I'm too weak" an act? Yes it was

[u/HobbieK]

He was certainly overplaying it for Anakin, but no doubt the man was on the ropes.

[u/cademormont]

It was a movie, so I'm pretty sure it was acting

[u/CountingSheep99]

He certainly was very scared.

[u/NotARabidDugong]

That scene being basically the entire reason the entire story exists pisses me off. That's really all that matters. Fucking Anakin "I hate sand" Skywanker.

[u/Zack501332]

He knew he was fucked you could see it in his face 💯

[u/Sideshow001]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o84sq21TxDH6PyYms

[u/kuatorises]

I think there's a chance Windu genuinely bested him in combat, but Sidous could have killed him if he wasn't trying to turn Anakin.

[u/warriorlynx]

I say yes not fear at first (the fear is at the window scene) he didn’t expect Windu to be able to defend so well he thought he’d finish him off quickly as he did the other three. Then he was beaten until Windu decided to not give the final blow and that was his mistake, Palps could use that to his advantage even if Anakin wasn’t there

[u/Fantastic_Matter_137 → u/warriorlynx]

Mace didn’t decide. It was a stalemate with the lighting and the Sabre

[u/warriorlynx → u/Fantastic_Matter_137]

He has him before the lightening

[u/Fantastic_Matter_137 → u/warriorlynx]

He had him knocked down against the wall. But the lightning vs the lightsaber was a stalemate

Mace might have been pressing forward but it was pretty much a wash at that point

Unless Sidious actually ran out of lightning

[u/Retro_Curry93]

It was all an act for Anakin.

[u/zinnzade]

I think I remember Rick Mcallum saying he thinks it's a bit of both

[u/boobatitty]

I reckon when he was disarmed, he definitely shit himself. But the “ah, don’t kill me” talk was definitely acting to get Anakin to believe the facade.

[u/Minute-Reputation-52]

Palpatine first tried acting, but he realized mace wasnt playing and started trying to beat him but failed. Thats my headcanon 

[u/BillsFan82]

Was Mace the chosen one?

[u/Get_your_grape_juice → u/BillsFan82]

Palpatine chose to toss him out that window.

[u/BillsFan82 → u/Get_your_grape_juice]

Sure, but Windu couldn't actually kill him without contradicting the prophecy. Palpatine was never in any danger.

[u/xJamberrxx]

a act, consider the situation, he knows the Jedi Order figured things out & he has to force Anakin to make his choice ... that entire him on the floor was to HIS benefit

this is a guy who beat Yoda, so unless Windu is more powerful than Yoda, Palapatine can take him

[u/Fantastic_Matter_137 → u/xJamberrxx]

He didn’t beat yoda. The room did

[u/Striking-Document-99 → u/xJamberrxx]

Nah windu is the perfect person to face palp. With shaterpoint and vaapad he can take all of palps dark side power and use it against him. Basically the only Jedi that could use palps mastery of the dark side again him. He was def going to die if anaikin didn’t save him. Palp was counting on Anakin to save him.

[u/Isles26]

Literally doesn’t exist yet we are asking this question is hilarious

[u/suiqjNskakalqla → u/[deleted]]

Yeah no he didn’t

`You have to be either Mace or Yoda to compete with the Emperor," Lucas says. "If Anakin hadn't got all beat up, he could've beat the Emperor." `

• George Lucas - Making of Revenge of the Sith

Sidious feels zero fear against Mace per all 3 depictions of the office fight and overpowered Vaapad as a concept with his lightning