Writing over at StarWars.com, myself and the always awesome James Floyd hurl our titanic intellects into the burning Star Wars question of our time – who would you rather follow, LEGO Star Wars Emperor Palpatine or the real flesh and blood Sheev?
Sign me up to follow the Galaxy’s Best (LEGO) Emperor, says Mark.
It’s possible to be a believer in liberty and freedom and still have a grudging respect for the long-gestating masterplan of Sheev Palpatine. From Senator of the Mid Rim world of Naboo to the most powerful seat in the cosmos, the scheming, the machinations, the manipulations, the devious brilliance of a plan that was so exacting it had 65 orders before the infamous 66th….it’s easy to admire. Consider the planning, the ability to constantly pivot between publicly leading a Galactic Republic while at the same time orchestrating a Separatist movement from the shadows. The Emperor of the flesh and blood Star Wars saga was an impressive operator, arguably the most tactically astute leader the galaxy has ever seen.
And the argument for the real life Palpatine.
As much as I love the LEGO Emperor, I’d have to go with the live-action Palpatine, says James.
I love, love, love the LEGO Emperor. He’s devious. He’s selfish with his “Gimme, gimme, gimme!” attitude. He’s everything that Emperor Palpatine from the movies is and more. But the things that make him such a fun character are the exact reasons I would rather serve plain ol’ Palpatine. The LEGO incarnation is basically a greedy child, but with unlimited power and no one to rein him in. While the regular Emperor has a long game and hides his evil nature to some extent, LEGO Palpatine is in-your-face evil: he’s in control and he knows it. Step out of line, and it’s time for zappity-zap-zap. Bring him some bad news and it’s fry time. Even catch him when he’s having a bad day or just bored, and you’re gonna wish you had stuck a fork into a power outlet instead. I’ll take my chances with the real deal.
Star Wars: Star Wars: The Galaxy’s Greatest Villains by Titan Books published by Titan Books @ ForbiddenPlanet.com – UK and Worldwide Cult Entertainment Megastore
