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Plot Twist Idea: What if Vader wasn't Luke's father?

Discussion in 'Original Trilogy' started by Kylo Solo, May 21, 2019.

  1. Kylo Solo

    Kylo Solo Force Sensitive

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    Here's a plot twist idea for you guys. Upon just watching Empire Strikes Back again, this idea came to mind. We all know the infamous scene on Cloud City where Darth Vader informs Luke that he is his father. This time, it got me thinking, what if that scene never happened? What if Vader was never Luke's father? How different would that have changed Vader's relationship to Luke? Would Luke still have cared deeply to turn Vader back over to the light side if he knew the prophecy that Vader was the Chosen One?

    What are your thoughts on it?
     
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  2. NinjaRen

    NinjaRen Supreme Leader

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    In one of the first drafts of "The Empire Strikes Back" by the deceased screenplay writer Leigh Brackett Darth Vader and Luke's father (just called Master Skwalker) weren't the same people.
    There was a scene featuring Luke summon Ben's Force ghost, who also brings Luke's father along. Master Skywalker reveals that Luke has a twin sister named Nellith.

    Darth Vader tries to communicate with Luke by help of the force, they even fight by the help of the force. Sounds familiar, right?

    I don't think so. Vader would have just been a villain to get rid off.
     
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  3. Crusifix

    Crusifix Rebel Official

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    Anakin isn't their father. They were created by Palpatine through manipulation of midichlorians...again. Maybe...LOL
     
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  4. Jedi77-83

    Jedi77-83 Force Sensitive

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    I have thought about this many times as I have a different view on this topic: What if SW was more like Indiana Jones movies? Meaning each new standalone movie would have been about the adventures of Luke, Leia and Han with a new Story/MacGuffin/Villain? It would essentially be called Star Wars 2, Star Wars 3,etc.

    I don’t think the movie would have the depth that the SW Saga has, but I think it would have opened up more storytelling possibilities and not being locked into telling one cohesive story.
     
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  5. Grand Master Galen Marek

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    If Anakin wasn't Luke's dad the rest of the trilogy wouldn't have got anywhere.
     
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  6. NunbNuts

    NunbNuts Rebel Official

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    If Vader hadn't been Luke's father then I don't think Luke would have made it off Cloud City alive. Seems like Vader could have easily killed him but was only toying with him because he wanted his son alive. Or going further back, he probably wouldn't have set up the whole thing at Cloud City to capture his son in the first place if it weren't his son. It was a huge plot twist that can't be easily undone. And in terms of Jedi, maybe Luke isn't obligated to turn himself in and face his father to try and redeem him if Vader isn't his father. But then again would Vader have even let the shuttle through if his son hadn't been on board? We could go on and on, it's a pretty big part of the story to alter.
     
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  7. StardustSoldier

    StardustSoldier Force Sensitive

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    If the twist hadn't happened, then it's interesting to think about how much differently the ending of ESB, RotJ, and then the prequels (and by extension everything after that) would've turned out. The revelation that Vader is Luke's father completely changes his role in the story from that point on, and is probably what led to him being the central character in the prequels. I think the twist was the right decision for the story and helped give it a lot of emotional depth. But still, I do wonder about what direction the story would've gone in otherwise.
     
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  8. Kato Sai

    Kato Sai Jedi Commander

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    Vader would have remained a terror of the galaxy. The revelation he is a father humanized the “machine” monster and made him relatable; this led to Vader’s descent into a less terrifying villian in ROTJ and his almost destruction in the Prequels. Let me be clear I liked Hyden’s Anakin, but I felt his attempt to transform into the the Dark Lord. What we gain in Vader’s reveal in ESB is the family connection and story, but it did weaken Vader as s villian; making him more relatable. IMHO.
     
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  9. Phil J

    Phil J Guest

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    I don't know, there are ways in which they could have humanised the character without introducing the familial connection. In the Empire, have there be a set of newly established noble Houses and have Vader be the last scion of an ancient house.

    In his downtime, have him visit his castle and just walk and stroke the staircase and frescoes. Halls where revellers laughed and frolicked and musicians sang now lie empty and silent. Family portraits and tapestries hang in tatters. Floors and walls crack and crumble and native flora covers the walls with thick vines.

    In his hands, he holds a hologram of a laughing boy, a childhood friend and wonders what may have become of him.

    Vader is then put on a mission of counter-subversion and does the worst thing. He starts to read and listen, mirroring the actions of Judge Dredd in Complete Case Files 14 when Dredd reads letters from a boy.

    The letters innocently lead Dredd to criticise his approach. The brutal actions of the Judges during the Pro-Democracy marches. The fact that crime has not gone down despite the harsh measures.
    Soon Dredd begins to compose a comportment of his own thoughts and muses to his recent clone.

    "What about the big lie?" Wagner never directly follows up on that within this volume, but it echoes. The big lie is the one behind the system itself: the claim that the Judges are entitled to power indefinitely, by whatever means necessary. Dredd knows it's a lie, and has always believed it anyway. The city loses him when he stops believing it for a little while, and it turns out that without the lie, the city is doomed.
    [​IMG]
     
    #9 Phil J, Mar 2, 2020
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  10. Rebel on Toprawa

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    Originally the story/character arcs of episodes IV, V & VI would've carried on into the original plans for episodes VII, VIII & IX. Return of the Jedi was originally going to be as dark as The Empire Strikes Back which would've been way better.
     
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  11. Mando LXXXV

    Mando LXXXV Rebel Official

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    I would love to play a game or read a comic series that features an alternate galaxy with what if scenarios
     
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  12. Obi5Kenobi

    Obi5Kenobi Rebel Official

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    There are some:

    Star Wars Infinities

    I think a good question would be what if Vader not being Luke's father was the only thing that was changed? What if Vader had killed his father like Obi Wan said, but Luke also senses good and conflict in him? Without being his father it might not matter. Or, Luke might still see hope that Vader could return to the light and help against the Empire. It would be even more significant if Vader wasn't Luke's father but actually had murdered Anakin Skywalker. Imaging forgiving the man who murdered your father and going out on a limb for him? Deep stuff....
     
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  13. Lukestarbucker

    Lukestarbucker Force Sensitive

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    If Vader wasn’t Luke’s father, then a whole lot of the “family tree” would be screwed up and SW would have loop holes and wouldn’t be as interesting. Luke would have had to face Vader anyway, but I doubt Vader would have gone through the same indecision in ROTJ which ultimately led to the Sith Lord’s death. The Empire would have lasted longer, but the rebllion would grow in numbers, eventually over taking or destroying the empire as a whole.
     
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  14. Embo and His Pet Anooba

    Embo and His Pet Anooba Jedi Commander

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    If Vader wasn’t Luke’s father, he wouldn’t have bothered screwing with him in empire and would have chopped off his head. Then the head would have fallen and lando comes out of the top of the millennium falcon, only to have a head come out of the tube.
     
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  15. jitara

    jitara Clone

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    There was a scene featuring Luke summon Ben's Force ghost, who also brings Luke's father along. Master Skywalker reveals that Luke has a twin sister named Nellith.
     
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  16. NunbNuts

    NunbNuts Rebel Official

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    If Vader hadn't been Luke's father then Luke would never have been born

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Jack_Forest

    Jack_Forest Force Attuned

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    What if Padme had an affair while Anakin was away fighting in the war? That would turn SW into some 90s soap opera.
     
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  18. Oliver Hodges

    Oliver Hodges Clone Trooper

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    don't even
     
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  19. Josh

    Josh Rebel Official

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    True, Lucas added this in the second draft, the first of two, he wrote himself.
     
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  20. Olivia Kenobi

    Olivia Kenobi Rebel General

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    I mean... I can't say that wouldn't happen... Lol:p. But I think there might be a chance that Luke would live to fight another day, possibly still turning Vader to the light. But Vader killing Like is a lot more likely.
     
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