How powerful was Palpatine?

"If one is to understand “the great mystery” one must study all it’s aspects, not just the dogmatic narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the force."

Palpatine is arguably the most powerful force user in all of the AU and EU because of his mastery of the force and his understanding of both the Sith teachings and the ways of the Jedi. Palpatine uses his inner peace and aspects of the light side of the Force to mask himself from the Jedi council.

However, although he understood how to use the Light Side of the force and the Jedi Code, he never understood what the Light Side of the force actually was. He didn't understand that the Light Side of the force could also feed off of emotion, which is what led to his downfall when Luke refused to kill Vader and when Vader betrayed him.

When he saw Luke give into his "rage" to assault his father, he thought that was Luke embracing the Dark Side, after all, the Jedi are about peace and serenity. But Luke gave into his urge to protect his sister, Luke was in control of his emotions without using the Dark Side of the force. Luke was a grey Jedi that didn't utilize the Dark Side, something Palpatine had never encountered.

When Palpatine says "So be it, Jedi". He is in shock. He doesn't understand how Luke could be a Jedi. The Jedi Way is dogmatic and narrow minded, they believe in peace, serenity, knowledge, harmony. They are emotionless, orderly, apathetic puppets who choose to do nothing until it is too late. But Luke clearly has control over his emotions and knows how to utilize them through the force without giving in to the Dark Side. He mocks Luke. Luke is like no Jedi he has ever seen.

/r/StarWars Thread