Much like your fathers

[FOG3]

Now while it is true that the Sith aren't exactly known for being truthful what's with this snipe in RotJ?

The color of Luke's saber is different, the hilt is radically different, and it's a fixed size, where Anakin's is variable. Why bother with commenting that the saber is "much like your father's" if it clearly isn't? Could he not have just as easily drawn a actual comparison or not have used one?

[Admiral_K]

[Noble Ire]

By what strech of the imagination does it matter?
Vader just wanted to start a dialog with Luke, what else is he going to say?

[SCVN 2812]

By what strech of the imagination does it matter?
Vader just wanted to start a dialog with Luke, what else is he going to say?

Luke, Owen gave you the talk about the Mynocks and the Krayt Dragons right? ...Just checking...

[Icehawk]

Could just be refering to the quality of the craftsmenship.

[Junghalli]

I think he just meant Luke's father used the same kind of weapon (i.e. a lightsaber).

[DPDarkPrimus]

Now while it is true that the Sith aren't exactly known for being truthful what's with this snipe in RotJ?

The color of Luke's saber is different, the hilt is radically different, and it's a fixed size, where Anakin's is variable. Why bother with commenting that the saber is "much like your father's" if it clearly isn't? Could he not have just as easily drawn a actual comparison or not have used one?

Which saber are you talking about? Certainly Anakin could have made another one between AotC and RotS. For all we know, he's got multiple lightsabers, because he loses them all the time.

[Burak Gazan]

Now while it is true that the Sith aren't exactly known for being truthful what's with this snipe in RotJ?

The color of Luke's saber is different, the hilt is radically different, and it's a fixed size, where Anakin's is variable. Why bother with commenting that the saber is "much like your father's" if it clearly isn't? Could he not have just as easily drawn a actual comparison or not have used one?

Its just another example of Palpatine being a prick
The entire conversation he had with Luke was an attempt to make him angry, make him fear for his friends, despair of the Alliance being eradicated -- plus, Like isn't exactly aware of all the specifics of his fathers' past, so it really doesnt matter in the end

[Stravo]

Perhaps it wouldn't have been as annoying if not for the fact that it was an almost exact replica of Obi Wan's and looked nothing like Anakin's.

[HemlockGrey]

Why does it matter? They're both lightsabers, they're both Jedi weapons, that's the chief point. The fact that they have differently designed handles and blade colors is irrelevant.

[Vympel]

Perhaps it wouldn't have been as annoying if not for the fact that it was an almost exact replica of Obi Wan's and looked nothing like Anakin's.

Hear hear. I rated lightsabres on SB.com a few weeks ago, and I rated Luke's RotJ sabre as the absolute worst of the bunch, because it is literally an ANH prop for Obi-Wan.

Anakin's three lightsabres are the best of the entire series: AotC, RotS, and ANH/TESB/RotJ (Vader sabres)- because they all have clear similarities between them that imply that these were made by the same man.

I would've preferred, in retrospect, for Luke's RotJ lightsabre to look like Anakin's AotC lightsabre.

Why does it matter? They're both lightsabers, they're both Jedi weapons, that's the chief point. The fact that they have differently designed handles and blade colors is irrelevant.

Because "much like your father's" doesn't make any sense if he's just saying "you both use lightsabres"- well, duh, old man.

Of course, there are reasons why Luke's lightsabre would be at least similar to Obi-Wan's:

1. Supposed Jedi tradition of making your lightsabre to emulate that of your Master's, somewhat- though all three of Obi-Wan's lightsabres look nothing like that of Qui-Gon Jinn's, nor does Anakin's look like Obi-Wan's;

2. Using materials from Obi-Wan's hut to construct his lightsabre- this would probably include a green crystal (possibly retrieved from Qui-Gon Jinn's sabre?) and spare parts for Obi-Wan's, since we know from TPM & AotC that Obi-Wan constructed quite similar sabres after he lost his TPM model.

But still, they shouldn't look the same.

[Stofsk]

Perhaps it wouldn't have been as annoying if not for the fact that it was an almost exact replica of Obi Wan's and looked nothing like Anakin's.

Hear hear. I rated lightsabres on SB.com a few weeks ago, and I rated Luke's RotJ sabre as the absolute worst of the bunch, because it is literally an ANH prop for Obi-Wan.

I can understand why they're so similar. Luke learned how to make lightsabers in a book left behind at Obi-wan's desert shack. It's likely Luke just built a replica of Obi-wan's 'saber simply because he was learning how to make his own and was following the guidelines. I don't see a reason to consider it bad.

[Vympel]

I can understand why they're so similar. Luke learned how to make lightsabers in a book left behind at Obi-wan's desert shack. It's likely Luke just built a replica of Obi-wan's 'saber simply because he was learning how to make his own and was following the guidelines. I don't see a reason to consider it bad.

Because it's unoriginal and doesn't make much sense in light of the Emperor's line. Irrespective, while I agree the similarity is due to him using Obi-Wan's stuff, it's not going to come from a book- Obi-Wan's sabre isn't some sort of standard design- the Jedi design each of theirs pretty much according to their whim. It really shouldn't look virtually identical.

It's also a bad choice because Luke trained on Anakin's lightsabre, and used it, for three years. That he would then make a hilt totally unlike it is pretty unlikely (Nic Gillard in Episode 3 game interviews, when he brought he lightsabre hilts to show them- commented they were different and should be handled differently).

[Stofsk]

I can understand why they're so similar. Luke learned how to make lightsabers in a book left behind at Obi-wan's desert shack. It's likely Luke just built a replica of Obi-wan's 'saber simply because he was learning how to make his own and was following the guidelines. I don't see a reason to consider it bad.

Because it's unoriginal and doesn't make much sense in light of the Emperor's line.

What line?

Irrespective, while I agree the similarity is due to him using Obi-Wan's stuff, it's not going to come from a book- Obi-Wan's sabre isn't some sort of standard design- the Jedi design each of theirs pretty much according to their whim. It really shouldn't look virtually identical.

No, it isn't a standard design. It doesn't have to be. Luke could have modeled his 'saber purposely after Obi-wans as a sign of respect. It was his first try.

How do we know he didn't make more?

It's also a bad choice because Luke trained on Anakin's lightsabre, and used it, for three years.

Then found out that Anakin was the guy who he was fighting and getting his arse kicked by.

[Vympel]

What line?

"Much like your father's". It's nothing like it.

No, it isn't a standard design. It doesn't have to be. Luke could have modeled his 'saber purposely after Obi-wans as a sign of respect. It was his first try.

I find it unlikely though.

How do we know he didn't make more?

Who? Luke? Why?

Then found out that Anakin was the guy who he was fighting and getting his arse kicked by.

I'm talking for practical reasons, rather than sentimental ones.

[Stofsk]

How do we know he didn't make more?

Who? Luke? Why?

Jedi Academy? His little tykes needed to have laserswords to slice and dice all those incompetent imperials and masochist warriors.

[PainRack]

Or Palpatine could be just trying to tell Luke that you will turn to the Dark Side just like your papa did

[Kurgan]

Minor question, but where is it stated that Anakin's saber is variable length?

The only thing I can think of off hand (not having read through all the Prequel era literature) is a line from the audio commentary of the AOTC DVD by one of the production guys, which I think has been misinterpreted (it's talking about production FX, not SOD physics of the technology).

Just curious.


Edit: I forgot that if we take the statements in the Visual Dictionaries for TPM and AOTC literally, then all lightsabers seem to have variable length knobs on the side! I haven't read the OT VD to see if it shows such a feature there though.

[Dorsk 81]

This might be a bit of a leap of the imagination, so bear with me;

[RotS Spoilers!]




When Obi-Wan takes Anakins lightsaber after their duel, in the novel, there's a paragraph saying "Obi-wan picked up Anakin's lightsaber. He lifted his own as well, weighing them in his hands. Anakin had based his design upon Obi-Wan's. So similar they were."

Vympel already said how similar Obi-Wans and Luke RotJ sabers look, so maybe they weigh the same or something?

[Winston Blake]

I always figured that Palpy had no idea what Anakin's sabre looked like, he was just making a point and trying to mess with Luke's head. i.e...

You think you're hot stuff, don't you, well your old man was the same, boy. Who's your daddy? That's right you little shit, he's my bitch now, so you might as well just bend over already.

[Vympel]

When Obi-Wan takes Anakins lightsaber after their duel, in the novel, there's a paragraph saying "Obi-wan picked up Anakin's lightsaber. He lifted his own as well, weighing them in his hands. Anakin had based his design upon Obi-Wan's. So similar they were."

Vympel already said how similar Obi-Wans and Luke RotJ sabers look, so maybe they weigh the same or something?

Buggered if I know. The RotS quote makes little sense either. They certainly look nothing alike.

[Fw 190]

I always interpreted the line “Much like your father’s” to be another attempt to anger Luke and draw him to the Dark Side.

Also, what’s wrong with copying Obi Wan’s lightsabre? It’s a tried and true design. Doesn’t it make sense for a fairly inexperienced Jedi (Luke) to use something he knows worked in the past? It’s less guesswork. Handguns have kept roughly the same shape for 100 years (obviously their mechanisms varied) because it’s a design that has worked.

No doubt the feel and usage of Anakin’s lightsabre differs from Obi Wan’s but Luke made the decision to change designs for one reason or another. Perhaps he did not know how Anakin’s worked internally or when he built a copy of Anakin’s it didn’t work or feel right.

[Vympel]

I always figured that Palpy had no idea what Anakin's sabre looked like, he was just making a point and trying to mess with Luke's head. i.e...

Mmm no he had a pretty good idea of what it looked like- he'd seen it on Anakin's person for at least three years (between AotC and RotS)- and it in action more than once.

You think you're hot stuff, don't you, well your old man was the same, boy. Who's your daddy? That's right you little shit, he's my bitch now, so you might as well just bend over already.

[/quote]

But yeah, he was just talking smack.

[Stravo]

Think of it this way. Vader sports a desert Eagle revolver, Luke sported one too. He loses the Desert Eagle and builds himself a Glock 9mm. Palpy says, "Ah yes, a handgun...much like your father's"

That's what I think annoys some people about the line. Aesthetics wise they are nothing alike but yes they are handguns much like Vader and Luke's lightsabers. They are the same in function but certainly not in form.

[Shroom Man 777]

Palpy's a crazy senile old man.

EDIT:

Gah, lemme continue.

So it's no wonder that he bullshits a lot.