What if Darth Vader Survived?

What if Darth Vader Lived in Return of the Jedi? Let's explore the depths of it in this video.

Vader: Luke…Help me take…this mask off.

Luke: But you'll die.

Vader: Nothing…can stop that now. Just for once, let me look at you with my own eyes.
(Dialogue from Death of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi)

Luke hesitates following his father's instructions, but as he hears his father's determination, he relents and removes the mask. Underneath is a face pale from years without sunlight and covered with scars from countless burns. But in his eyes, he sees no hatred or malice.

Vader struggles to breathe for a second but then finds himself exhaling normally after a moment's adjustment. He glanced down and saw Luke's hand pressed against his chest, power radiating from it and coursing through his body. His son was healing him, giving him life.

He attempts to protest, but Luke gives him a stubborn look that reminds him much of himself. Rather than fight, Vader allows his son to work. Despite the tender moment, they can only remain there for a few moments. Once Vader finds the strength to stand up, they depart on their ship to rejoin the rebels on Endor.

There is understandably a lot of uproar at the sight of the Emperor's right hand accompanying Luke. Many rebels demand that Vader be detained while Leia is furious at Luke for bringing him here.

She demands to know what possessed Luke to bring a Sith Lord to their camp. Luke insists that he saved him and he can provide valuable intel about the Empire. At the very least, it would allow them to give him a trial.

Leia is far from convinced, knowing that the prisoners they had taken were rowdy and Vader's presence could only rile them up. She only wishes Luke's right before informing the other rebel leaders of the situation.

A few hours later, all the highest-ranking Rebel Alliance officers, headed by Admiral Ackbar are assembled to oversee the trial of Vader and the other captured Imperials.

Ackbar: Lord Vader, you stand here accused of crimes against the galaxy. Do you deny these claims?

Vader: No. But nor do I deny my actions in saving my son.

He had decided to forgo his helmet and expose his scarred face to everyone, despite that, he stands tall and proud. Luke had given him a second chance in life, and he would not simply throw that away.

Ackbar: Nor do I, but one good act does not wash out the bad-

Luke: Nor does one bad wash out the good. Please, admiral. Vader could be a powerful ally for the rebel alliance! Surely that must count for something.

Ackbar: We are not talking about one bad act, Luke. We are talking about thousands. Countless lives lost, in Aldeeran alone-

Vader: Enough! As I said, I do not deny my crimes, and I will accept any punishment you pass down, after the war. Because let us be honest. You need me right now.

Ackbar: Scoffs and how exactly do we need you?

Vader: You might have defeated the queen, but a thousand maggots emerged from its corpse. As we speak, a hundred warlords are fighting for control of the Empire. You will have to fight each of them to restore your Republic, or you can allow me to bring them into line.

To prove his point, Vader casually begins choking the highest-ranking Imperial prisoner with the Force. A dozen rebel guards immediately point their blasters at him while Luke shouts for him to stop. He ignores them and approaches the cowering prisoners.

Vader: Let us make your position clear. You are now prisoners of the Rebel Alliance. If you value your lives, you will cooperate with them. If you cause trouble, rest assured you will not survive to see your executions.

The prisoners quickly nod their heads and Vader releases the imperial officer,

Vader: And there are a thousand more just like him who fear my name and reputation. Allow me to help and I shall bend them to your will.

Despite their misgivings, it is a tempting offer. Though they won a great victory, the rebels are still outnumbered and the prospect of convincing some imperials to surrender peacefully is appealing. Reluctantly, they agree to allow Vader to aid the war effort.

A task force of veteran rebel troops and a few imperial defectors is assembled to help Vader. Luke, Han Solo, and Chewbacca are tasked with watching his activity to ensure he will not betray them. Leia meanwhile will act as an ambassador.

Oftentimes the sight of Vader is enough to convince the garrisons to surrender. If not, his knowledge allows the rebels to quickly capture these facilities.

This task force captures dozens of imperial strongholds with little resistance. Along with the bases, they also capture weapons, starships, and facilities that allow the rebels to strengthen their forces.

Thankfully Vader shows little inclination towards politics and administration, happy to delegate those tasks to Leia, whom he introduces as his daughter, much to her dismay. However, it improves the rebels' standing as his presence also serves as an important figurehead

[Jeppe_P]

I prefer this theory to many others about the subject. These situations are more messy then the clean cut idea's put forth by some channels.

[samdickenson]

One thing you do is forget that Vader would go by Anakin again.

[RushE-zoqd]

how jedi and sith see purple lightsaber users

jedi: anti-sith defenses go

sith: DEMONS FROM JEDI HELL

[reckszkingzactivitiesrkat.]

Darth Theorist has Struck Gold with this Star Wars fan fiction again, Keep this up 🔥

[Exaris]

You'd think that after being hit with Sith lightning before multiple times, Vader should had gotten multiple crystals to be force energy absorbers.

[joshakins]

Its kinda sad that Vader sees Luke use a power that he was promised by the emperor.
I feel for him in these moments. Anakin was never bad, just misunderstood.
Another amazing What if, thank you

[ryanriot]

Normally (until now, ALWAYS, actually) I'm so NOT into Star Wars "what ifs" and the like, but these ones here are so interesting and well-written that I find I'm wanting to watch another and another and another etc... Seriously, this is some top-notch writing. Maybe could use the help of an editor here & there, mostly for grammar etc, but mistakes are rare and minor when they do crop up 😊👍🏻
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[toddkurzbard]

I wish these video's would end with, "That's our theory...and we're sticking to it".

[Jtbown]

Could you imagine if Disney made a star wars what if series that was as good of quality as tales of the Jedi? Would be so epic to see scenarios like this. They did it with Marvel why not star wars? So many possible stories. Instead of the garbage we've been getting.

[dakotagau]

i notice theres a couple spots where you had vaders voice overlap with your own making it hard to understand, you think you could clear that up and add a little more spacing between the voice lines?

[blindvision]

If you’re able, I suggest that you clean up some of the editing issues at the beginning. I understand if it’s hard to take it down and put it back up again, but if it’s at all possible for you to do so without compromising your aims for this channel, that would be my suggestion. The first time it sort of works because it talks about Vader, ignoring them, but it’s probably more distracting than anything else most of the time.

[TVAvnger]

They would have had to hide far away in the galaxy. If Anakin had anything resembling a conscious left, he would turn himself in for punishment
The rebels
would never trust Vader, and Leia would probably want to kill him herself. Remember, he tortured her on the Death Star.

[marcusisgod]

As we know darth vader was a natural engineer and could use mechaguru or whatever so what if he used skill to create nanobots to repair his lungs and burns while also making limbs that could conduct the force to make lightning. This could relate to inquisitor baris as she used nanobots in the bomb and he may remember nanobots and their uses. He could could also conduct experiments diguised as torture to fool sidious, learning to heal wounds, make force sensitive droids/limbs and using nano bots to manipulate mididclorians to strip or enhance the force in individuals.
What I was thinking was that he used nanobots to remove scar tissue especially around the lungs and he would be dipped in bacta or bacta would be applied this would allow him breath which means he can meditate more deeply. And for the limbs, it is possible to make material force sensitive and I was thinking he make limbs skeletal looking like in attack of the clones but would then cover the we either grafed flesh from his body or flesh made from his blood and other ingredients like perhaps kyber crystal this would make the force flow from him easier and perhaps with the sith alchemy in the limbs making his force lightning more powerful. Basically an uber vader who is perhaps stronger than full potential anakin.

[ThattherG]

the editing seems a bit off on this, the voice overs overlapping was uncharacteristically sloppy...

[danielharman]

What if master thon's force ghost helped obi-wan kanobi and anakin skywalker by communicating with them through their dreams. I believe that master thon was nomi sunrider's master. Kind regards from Daniel Harman.

[Omnipulsar]

what if palpatine secretly used the force to freeze padme for the zilo beast to kill her

[cronag]

What if Ahsoka brought Padme to the future in the world between worlds?

What if Dooku blinded Anakin instead of taking his arm?

[notapplicable]

If I was Vader I'd either use the inquisitiors attack or have a bounty hunter capture then return Han Solo to force Leia to train. He's already a shit father who outed vader/Leia's relationship at the very least he could make sure Leia can defend/kill another force user. A defenseless Leia is not attractive

[marcusisgod]

What if darth vader went to darthomir to learn. New suit or perhaps more unique powers.
Resurrect talzin maybe.
what if Vokara Che became a mentor to anakin as anakin was being treated for bullying and trauma from being a slave.
What if anakin fell in love with luminara unduli, serra keto or bultar swan.
What if anakin was taught by agen kolar or sasee tin or adi gallia.

[marcusisgod]

What if anakin spirit in the world between worlds saved padme by making her a force ghost or new mother if the ones. She could make him help ben solo and others saying you got to help people who are suffering from your past actions.
What if anakin was piloting before attack of the clones and sensed ventress fall to the darkside as her master died and took his ship to the planet to investigate. Perhaps starting a romance as they are very similar in their stories.
Also what if ahsoka taught ben skywalker as she saw him as history repeating itself.
What if anakin was a jedi watchmen or wayfinder.
What if anakin went with kenobi to face maul and savage instead of adi gallia.
What if anakin fell in love with luminara or your own version of aayla secura romance.

What if oppo rancis trained anakin.
What if anakin met and fell in love with ventress just before the clone wars just after her masters death.
What if anakin became a jedi sentinel like a watchmen or one of those who find younglings.
What if evan piel became a mentor or second master to anakin.
Or anakin became a healer either before or after his mother death could be related to his friendship with offee or alternatively what if he was trained by tra sa who taught windu and actually did not forbid attachment as shown by her relationship with tholme, they could become like a pseudo parents to anakin and train him away from the temple in azati martial arts and from trasa the living force as she is a plant lady so imagine anakin controlling plant life.