Ian McDiarmid brought Palpatine to life, delivering one of the most iconic portrayals of Sith manipulation and power in Star Wars. Andy Serkis portrayed Supreme Leader Snoke, crafting an enigmatic figure whose connection to Palpatine and the Sith creates layers of intrigue. The rise and connection of these two Dark Side entities span across the Star Wars saga, weaving a narrative of deceit, power, and the Sith’s insidious legacy.
The Grand Design of Darth Sidious
Palpatine, known by the Sith title Darth Sidious, rose to power by exploiting the Republic’s weaknesses. The Sith Lord’s mastery over the Force was unparalleled, allowing the manipulation of events to orchestrate the downfall of the Jedi Order.
Sidious wielded a red-bladed lightsaber, a weapon forged through the dark practice of bleeding a kyber crystal. Proficient in Form VII, Juyo, Palpatine combined ferocity and precision in combat. Despite being a master of strategy, the Sith Emperor seldom relied on lightsaber dueling, often preferring Force lightning to subdue enemies.
After falling to Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi, Sidious revealed a macabre contingency plan in The Rise of Skywalker. The Sith Lord used the Sith Eternal on Exegol to clone his body and preserve his essence through the Dark Side. This plan gave rise to Snoke, an artificially created being who served as a vessel for Sidious’s influence.
Snoke’s Role in the First Order
Supreme Leader Snoke emerged as the enigmatic ruler of the First Order, a militarized regime that sought to succeed the fallen Empire. Snoke’s origins were veiled in secrecy, concealing the hand of Palpatine behind his creation.
Unlike the Sith Lords of old, Snoke did not wield a lightsaber. Instead, the Supreme Leader relied on his profound connection to the Force. Mastery of Force abilities such as telekinesis, mind manipulation, and Force projection allowed Snoke to dominate adversaries and allies alike. The manipulation of Kylo Ren showcased Snoke’s skill in exploiting fear and ambition.
The Supreme Leader used the First Order to destabilize the galaxy. However, the pivotal moment of Snoke’s story came in The Last Jedi. In an unexpected twist, Kylo Ren betrayed and killed Snoke, seizing control of the First Order.
The Shadows of Exegol
The Sith Eternal cultists on Exegol played a crucial role in connecting Palpatine and Snoke. Through Sith alchemy and cloning technologies, Palpatine engineered Snoke as a puppet. This creation allowed the Sith Lord to exert control while remaining in the shadows. The Sith Eternal’s hidden fleet and their preservation of Palpatine’s spirit underscored the ancient Sith tradition of achieving power through legacy.
A Dyad in the Force
The connection between Palpatine and Snoke extended to their influence over Ben Solo, later known as Kylo Ren. Snoke’s manipulation of Kylo Ren’s anger and fear mirrored Sidious’s corruption of Anakin Skywalker. Through Snoke, Palpatine orchestrated the union of Kylo Ren and Rey into a Force Dyad, an extraordinary connection between two powerful individuals.
The Dyad became a critical element in Palpatine’s final bid for power. By attempting to draw upon their combined energy, the Sith Lord sought to restore his ultimate strength.
The Legacy of Deception
Palpatine and Snoke symbolize the Sith’s enduring legacy of manipulation and control. While Palpatine’s machinations spanned decades, Snoke served as a tool to extend his influence into a new era.
Through mastery of the Dark Side, the Sith Lord ensured his plans would persist beyond his death. Snoke’s mysterious nature and connection to Exegol epitomized the Sith’s ability to adapt, deceiving even the most powerful beings in the galaxy. The story of Palpatine and Snoke continues to resonate as a testament to the enduring power of the Dark Side and its ability to shape the galaxy’s fate.
