Darth Vader and Yoda

[Great Sage]

There’s no relationship between Darth Vader and Yoda in the original installments of Star Wars.  Which leads me to believe that George Lucas didn’t originally intend Vader to be Luke Sykwalker’s father, nor did Vader ever know about Yoda.  There are a number of reasons for my opinion:

1) Obi Wan Kenobi was killed in the original Star Wars, yet in Empire Strikes Back and through Return of the Jedi, Vader continually credits Obi Wan Kenobi for training Luke.  Wouldn’t he have guessed that someone, most likely Yoda, was training Luke?  Afterall, how far could Luke possibly progess on his own?...  As a former Jedi, Vader would have knowledge of Jedi training and  surmised that Luke recieved his training from someone else.

2) In Empire, Vader openly tells Luke that He’s his father... This seems odd considering that Vader could have at any time during his career taken Luke from his uncle Owen.  This is evident in Lucas own draft which he did not complete until actual filming of Empire began.  Mark Hamil (Luke Skywalker) recalls being told when filming commenced that Vader would become Luke’s father.

3) In Star Wars, Obi Wan never mentions that Anikan was his pupil... Only that he was a friend, as if they attended an academy together.  Therefore, it seems odd that Vader never mentions Yoda, or any other Jedi.  If Obi Wan had survived, it seems likely that other Jedi would have too, at least in logic.

[AndyC]

Actually, Kenobi does mention that Vader was "a pupil of mine before he turned to evil," and later that he thought he could instruct him as well as Yoda.

There was also quite a bit of foreshadowing in the careful way Luke's elders spoke about his father, including Ben. You get the impression that a lot was witheld from him.  Remember Owen and Beru worrying that Luke was too much like his father? In hindsight, there is a lot more dread in that scene than one would expect  if Anakin was merely an idealistic adventurer. The clues were there.

Vader would not necessarily have any knowledge of Yoda in the present. Yoda was in hiding on Dagobah. Vader probably believed he was long dead. Remember, before Kenobi showed up, Vader was believed to be the last of the Jedi.



Post Edited (09-25-03 14:14)

[Fearless Freep]

Also Vader saw Luke and Kenobi in short succession.  If Vadser didn't see Luke in the landing bay right after he killed Ben, he ccertainly knew he was strong in the Force during the final battle and could've put two and two together (gee...a long missing Jedi Knight and a young kid strong in the Force show up almost simultaneously to ruin my day....what are the odds)

Also, Luke figured out Leia was his sister.  Maybe Vader felt something in the Force that clued him in that Luke was his son, without direct knowledge.

Yes, Ben's explanation of Vader, and the luck of guardedness on his face, along with Owen and Beru's misgivings...certainly look interesting in hindsight.

[AndyC]

Just another thought. It's true that Vader could have taken Luke at any time while he was growing up. However, it would seem logical that he, or the emperor, might have forseen that Luke would come to them when he was ready. After all, he's his father's son. Then again, maybe Vader simply didn't know that Luke was with Owen and Beru, and didn't really care to have anything to do with them.

Or, he might have had no interest in Luke until the boy demonstrated his abilities by blowing up the Death Star. Vader was probably not even aware of Luke's identity in Star Wars, but clearly felt that "the force is strong with this one." Presumably, the empire's agents did some digging for information after the Battle of Yavin, because Vader was searching specifically for Luke in ESB.

Freep also makes a good point, that it would not be too difficult for Vader to figure out that Ben was Luke's teacher. Luke has clearly received some instruction in the force. He showed up on the same ship as Ben. He reacted emotionally to Ben's death.



Post Edited (09-26-03 08:37)