Uncovering an Overlooked Aspect of Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back introduced many iconic elements and important lore to the Star Wars universe, with one fan uncovering a significant detail about Darth Vader. Perhaps Anakin Skywalker's famous dislike of sand had deeper implications than previously thought.

The Hoth sequence in The Empire Strikes Back is a standout moment in the Star Wars franchise, known for its iconic status. Despite being overshadowed by other scenes, it remains impactful due to its cinematography and action. Notably, this section showcases Darth Vader actively participating in a battle with his troops, setting the stage for his dramatic reveal later in the film.

But according to Wheatley-Crabb on the Star Wars subreddit, this battle also marks a notable first for Darth Vader. Surprisingly, this is the sole instance in the original trilogy where Vader physically sets foot on a planet's surface. Can you think of another occurrence? It's not as simple as it seems, right? This scene in the first three films stands out as the only time he actually comes into contact with the ground. Could it be that his aversion to sand, as depicted in Attack of the Clones, influenced his reluctance to touch the grass as Vader?

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Another user analyzed Darth Vader's appearances throughout the trilogy to provide evidence for this claim. In Star Wars: A New Hope, he is seen on the Blockade Runner ship searching for the Death Star plans and later spends most of the movie on the Death Star itself. In Empire Strikes Back, aside from the Hoth scene, Darth Vader is predominantly on his flagship or in Cloud City, a city in the clouds rather than on solid ground. It's quite interesting, isn't it?

ANH: First seen on the Blockade Runner then spends the rest of the movie on the Death Star

ESB: Outside the [mentioned] scene on Hoth, Vader is either on his flagship or Cloud City

Return of the Jedi shows Darth Vader moving between locations, primarily on a Star Destroyer or the Death Star throughout most of the movie. However, during the scene on Endor, he remains elevated on the landing platform/AT-AT docking bridge.

Some may argue that Vader's presence on the forest moon of Endor challenges this notion, but he does not physically step foot on the planet's surface during that scene. This technicality is a favorite among Star Wars fans. Another interesting point raised in the comments is that Vader has not set foot on any planet since his duel with Anakin and Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith.

Vader's feet are still on Mustafar, a trick question indeed.

Aside from the robot leg concession, it's intriguing to consider that Vader spent 99% of his time in the original Star Wars trilogy off the ground. This may unintentionally allude to how he's "more machine now than man," as mentioned by Obi-Wan. The subtle difference between Anakin and Darth Vader is evident, especially considering Anakin's preference for ships and piloting over staying on the ground. It seems that some things carried over from his past.

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Source: Wheatley-Crabb/Reddit

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing observation about Darth Vader's aversion to setting foot on planets' surfaces in the original Star Wars trilogy. The Hoth battle scene in The Empire Strikes Back marks the only instance where Vader physically interacts with the ground. This detail, coupled with his aversion to sand in Attack of the Clones, suggests that his reluctance to touch the grass as Vader may have stemmed from his traumatic experience on Mustafar.

The article also highlights Vader's predilection for remaining elevated or on ships throughout the trilogy, further supporting the idea that he has become detached from the physical world. This subtle shift in his behavior from Anakin Skywalker, who preferred piloting and being on the ground, underscores the profound transformation he underwent after embracing the dark side.