The Big Gamble in "Revenge of the Sith"
Let's rewind to "Revenge of the Sith." A lot of the movie hinges on a really crazy event: Order 66. It's a giant betrayal - basically the moment Palpatine turns those Clone Troopers into Sith assassins and eliminates the Jedi! It's dark, super intense, and really set the stage for a new, more brutal galaxy!
But the coolest thing, or maybe the craziest thing, about Order 66 is that Palpatine really had to take a huge, unbelievable risk. Like, how did he get all these Clones to be all in for destroying the Jedi and yet not kill the person who is arguably the most important to his scheme - Anakin? It doesn't sound very smart, right?
How Did the Clones Become "Jedi Killers" (Except for Anakin)?
Here’s the secret Palpatine pulled: He programmed the Clone Troopers to not harm Anakin, even when those other Jedi are under attack. The big twist is, that command to take down the Jedi, which they call Order 66, was so strong - those Clones couldn’t even question it! Even when it meant facing their Jedi Generals.
Now, we all know about Anakin charging into that Jedi Temple and becoming a major player in those battles. It makes it feel like Palpatine’s scheme was super easy - all thanks to this "badass" who joins the dark side, right? But what if he didn't? Or what if, after all those years fighting in the Clone Wars alongside the Jedi, his heart was a little conflicted?
Palpatine’s Dangerous Confidence
Imagine if Palpatine just programmed the Clones to attack everyone - no exceptions! That would’ve really been crazy! Then what happens if Anakin’s emotions are all over the place – he does try to help the Jedi. The Jedi are gonna need a lot more firepower if Anakin isn't going to the dark side, and all those Clones are against them. And we don't know how Palpatine would've reacted - he’s probably going to end up getting killed, right?
It all feels super risky and reckless. Palpatine put all his trust into Anakin, a powerful dude but also a guy prone to those big emotions. But Palpatine thought, "This kid, Anakin, is the one! He is gonna follow me down this dark side path.”
Order 66 and What We See Now (Or Maybe What Didn’t Happen)
Order 66 is the biggest turning point in Star Wars. The entire Galactic Republic crumbles as Palpatine’s plan to take over works beautifully - thanks to a well-executed strategy. Palpatine knew it would be a major gamble – changing the direction of those Clones in the way he did. They've gone from warriors who saved the galaxy, to a force that almost wiped out the Jedi – something the galaxy still has to deal with! And all this because a dark lord who believed in those manipulative, evil tactics and took his chances.
Honestly, it’s fascinating that they included this hidden layer in "Revenge of the Sith" – they really dug deep into what went on to create a massive, sweeping story about galactic takeover. They gave us insight into how much thought was given to making it work! This little change to the Clones is another great example of just how detailed those Star Wars creators have been - even giving those Clone Wars moments so much meaning.
