Ignoring the fact that the Jedi have been dumbasses all through Episodes I- III (Clone army, Sith lord right next to them, por treatment of Anikan), let's examine the death of those three "duputy" jedi (Windu can play sheriff).
Those three "deputy" jedi die nearly instantaneously. They do not block, dodge nor cross swords with Sidious. They are just struck down like little newbie jedi. Mace Windu is either unable or unwilling to protect them from Sidious's attack. What are the possible explanations for this series of events?
1. Mace Windu and the deputies are surprised when the Darth Sidious doesn't come willingly.
2. The "sheriff" deputies aren't powerful enough to defend themselves against Sidious.
3. Lucas writes for crap (ok this is the real reason we all know, but we have to ingore it in favor of discovering a possible plausible explanation.)
If someone has an alternative hypothesis, I'd be happy to hear it. Let's take a look at theories 1 & 2.
1. Somehow, despite the fact that Mace Windu has had the foresight to bring a posse to confront and arrest Palpatine, they are surprised by him springing to action and resisting. They continue in the I-III tradition of being stupid dumbasses. Are they arresting a Sith Boy Scout? No. Are they arresting a Sith Sargeant? No. They are arresting a SITH LORD FFS! If I were going to arrest a Sith Lord, I wouild anticipate a little bit of resistance, wouldn't you? The idea that they are surprised by Palpatine's attack is absurd. (I suppose one might argue that they are caught off guard by the speed and ferocity of Palpatine's attack. But this is just a variation of the stupidity argument.) Which leads us to theory two . . .
2. Mace Windu, expecting a confrontation, brings backup - three jedi to help him confront the Sith Lord. Except, the three jedi are absolutely no help at all. Did he grab the newly graduated jedi? "You there? Welcome to the temple. Come with me to help arrest a sith lord. What's that? No, I'm not expecting any trouble, just routine arresting a Sith Lord. . ." Mace Windu would have been better off going alone than to bring three jedi that could not defend themselves nor be any help to him arresting Palpatine.
So, this scene still bothers me, because I can only make sense of it by calling the Jedi stupid, which I hate to do, as I have been been imagining the glories of jedi-dom since I was 8 years old.
Shame, for shame.
Does anyone have a better explanation?
This post has been edited by Obi-Ken Barbi: 27 May 2005 - 11:20 AM