Summary

• A deleted scene from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi shows that Imperials had no respect for Darth Vader despite his power and presence.
• Vader's lack of respect fueled his rage, making him a more powerful Sith.
• Lack of respect reinforced Vader's tragic story, showcasing his desperate need for admiration and honor.

When the Star Wars original trilogy came to a close, Darth Vader was solidified as one of cinema's most iconic villains, not only for his intimidating presence but also because of his tragic life. Outside of the Force, the Sith Lord's power came from fear, yet that didn't mean his fellow Imperials respected him.

If anything, his connection to the Emperor is what brought him attention. That idea is shown further by a deleted scene from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which highlights Vader's true place in the hierarchy of the Galactic Empire, a place that earned him no respect whatsoever.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 21, 2024: Darth Vader may be one of the most respected cinematic villains of all time, but that doesn't mean that he got that same respect from among his own ranks. As terrifying, powerful, and physically imposing as Vader may have been, the Imperials over whom he ruled did not necessarily share any warm feelings of respect for the Sith Lord. In fact, many of them despised Vader. This doesn't take away from the villain's legacy, however, but rather makes him an even more interesting character.

The Imperials Had No Respect For Vader

In the opening sequence of the 1983 film, Darth Vader arrives at the under-construction Death Star II to speak with Moff Jerjerrod, the commander of the mobile battle station. Vader informs him that construction needs to speed up and that Emperor Palpatine is displeased with his progress. Although Jerjerrod seems afraid of Vader, he pushes back on his comments by saying, "My men are working as fast as they can... This station will be operational as planned." It isn't until Darth Vader mentions that the Emperor is arriving that he actually respects the Dark Lord's wishes. Consumed by fear, Moff Jerjerrod sets about ensuring that the Death Star is prepared for the arrival of Emperor Palpatine, whom Vader promises is far less forgiving than he is.

Among Star Wars' deleted scenes from Return of the Jedi is one that takes place after Palpatine's arrival on Death Star II. As Darth Vader goes to see his master, Moff Jerjerrod stands confidently by the door with two royal guards. Jerjerrod waves his hand to Vader, saying, "You may not enter," which results in Jerjerrod being Force-choked. Once Jerjerrod exhales, "It's the Emperor's command," Vader releases the officer and does as he says.

Jerjerrod clearly has satisfaction from telling Darth Vader what to do and holds no respect for him outside of fear. That lack of respect from Imperials stretches back to Star Wars: A New Hope when Vader explains that the Death Star's power is insignificant compared to the Force. In the meeting is Admiral Motti, who says, "Don't try and frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader," before criticizing the Sith Lord for failing to retrieve the stolen Death Star plans.

Anakin's Defeat Destroyed Any Hope Of Respect For Vader

Other than Grand Moff Tarkin, few Imperials ever show respect to Vader in the Star Wars saga, and those who do mostly fake it out of fear. That even extends to the Emperor, who held disdain for his apprentice. Palpatine hoped for Anakin Skywalker to become the most powerful Sith. However, after his defeat by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, Vader became nothing but a beaten dog with no other use than to do the Emperor's bidding.

George Lucas often describes Vader's story as a tragedy, and this deleted scene only solidifies that. Anakin gave up everything to become Palpatine's apprentice. But, in the end, he was hated by everyone around him. Even as Death Star II crumbles in Return of the Jedi, no Imperial bats an eye as Luke Skywalker drags his father's dying body to a ship. Vader's relationship to the rest of the Imperial forces just goes to show that fear and respect can be two very different, mutually exclusive things.

Vader's Lack Of Respect Makes Him An Even Better Sith

Darth Vader's lack of respect from his subordinates doesn't make him a worse character, but rather makes him a far better Sith than he ever would have been otherwise. Like most other Force-sensitive individuals, Vader is adept at picking up the feelings and emotions of other people. This means that he was more than likely aware that his subordinates carried very little respect for him, especially in contrast to Emperor Palpatine. Someone as emotionally turbulent as Vader would no doubt be angered by this, fueling the rage that makes him such a powerful Sith. While Vader was never more powerful than the Emperor, his visible rage far exceeded that of his master, who was often much calmer in demeanor. As such, Vader put the negative emotions so commonly associated with the Sith on full display, fueled in part by the disrespect from the other Imperials.

Darth Vader was the kind of man who always needed to gain the respect of others, even going all the way back to his days as a Jedi. Anakin's childish tantrum at not being promoted to the rank of Master by the Jedi Council proves that he believes himself far more worthy of respect than others do, fueling his rage and sending him on a downward spiral into the Dark Side. Ironically enough, even after Anakin betrayed the Jedi Order, he still lacked the respect that he so desperately sought. While this increased his negative emotions and made him a stronger Sith, it also shows just how pathetic a man Darth Vader truly was. By the time that audiences meet him in A New Hope, Vader is a shell of his former self, simply living off of the hatred and rage that had caused his downfall in the first place.

As feared as Darth Vader was by both the galaxy and the officers of the Empire, very few people truly respected the Sith Lord. Emperor Palpatine, wicked though he was, at least commanded some level of admiration from his subordinates for his leadership, but Vader never really found the respect that he had searched for as Anakin Skywalker.