The final panel of the middle triptych in George Lucas's projected space saga, Return of the Jedi initially seems to be a deliberately lighter piece than its predecessor The Empire Strikes Back, replete as it is with cuddly creatures, disgusting villains and thrilling chases. However, as the subtle narrative unfolds, it becomes sharply apparent that the centre of the trilogy is not in fact the young trainee Jedi Luke Skywalker but his father Darth Vader; the Vader's redemption provides the culmination of this triology, as he and Luke clash for the lst time under the gaze of the evil Emperor.