How Darth Vader Almost Redeemed Himself Before ‘Return Of The Jedi’
Image Source: The Nerd Stash
Vader asserted he never had any conflict regarding his allegiance and that his full devotion was to the Dark Side. At the time he confided this to Luke, Vader must have truly believed he had eradicated all vestiges of Anakin Skywalker. Luke, however, knew this was a lie. Despite his father maiming him and all but killing Han Solo he still held on to the belief that Anakin Skywalker's humanity still lived beneath Darth Vader's evil. In the end, Anakin admitted, "You were right about me."
This was not the first instance he was presented with a chance to alter the course of events. Anakin still could have been the chosen one before the Empire had a stranglehold on the galaxy.
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After his defeat on Mustafar, he had to earn his lightsaber and thus become a full Sith. Palpatine gave him the opportunity and tasked him to hunt the remaining Jedi across the galaxy and take a kyber crystal from a Jedi's lightsaber. Vader found the Jedi he would slay on the river moon of Al'Doleem. There in a Jedi monastery resided Kirak Infil'a, a Jedi Master who took the Barash Vow. This forbade him from taking part in any of the Jedi Order's activities. Removed from that responsibility, Infal'a stepped away and meditated until his life's purpose would be revealed. Although Vader was aware of Infil'a, the same could not be said for Infal'a. When they finally meet at the compound's gate, Infal'a felt the darkness within Vader. He also recognized in Vader the same negative energy he felt sweeping across the Force during Order 66's execution for which he confronts Vader, asking him if he killed all his fellow Jedi. Vader answered yes. With this confirmation, Infil'a realized his purpose was avenging his fellow Jedi's deaths.
Image source: ABC News
Infal'a defeated Vader twice in battle. Vader was only able to defeat Infal'a when city guards tried to halt their fight. Force-pushing the guards into the lake distracted Infal'a, which provided Vader the opening he needed to force choke Infal'a.
Now in possession of a kyber crystal, he brought the crystal to Mustafar, which has a strong Dark Side in its undersurface. Having removed the crystal from Infal'a's lightsaber, he began subjugating the crystal. The Bleeding as the Sith called the process didn't go as expected. It resulted in the crystal fighting back. It showed him a vision of a remorseful Anakin who returned with the green kyber crystal and challenge the emperor. They fight and Anakin prevails. He does not proclaim himself emperor instead he returns to Obi-Wan begging either for forgiveness or death (this has not been established). But everyone knows how this ended. With the images of everyone he'd loved, he channelled his pain into the crystal until it turned red.
For him to renounce his position of power at that early stage when his rage may not even have peaked was probably too much to hope for.
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Source(s): Geetsly’s