The importance of not knowing what the Emperor could do in 1983

 ... or, happy Star Wars Day 2025?

<<Star Wars spoilers below>>

In 1980, The Empire Strikes Back loosed Darth Vader from Tarkin's leash, and while he ran rampant across the galaxy, he was still beholden to the Emperor.  Despite a brief mention in Star Wars and a short conversation with Vader in Empire, in 1983 the Emperor was still a cipher.  Was his power mostly political, or did he have powers like those of a Jedi?  (*probably* latter, because the conversation in Empire strongly suggests that he can sense disturbances in the Force) 

Not knowing is key to enjoying the best throughline of Return of the Jedi: the looming second confrontation between Luke and Vader, the Emperor's and Vader's attempt to turn Luke to the Dark Side, and Luke's victory.

Our appetite is whet by Vader's arrival on the second Death Star.  The Imperial in charge of construction is willing to complain that the timelines are unreasonable to *Vader*, you know, the guy who spent the last movie choking out everyone who crossed him, but when Vader invokes the Emperor, he is quickly cowed.  So the Emperor inspires an extra level of fear!

The arrival of the Emperor (*just* "the Emperor", for he is never named Palpatine in the original films) shows us a wrinkly old man leaning on a cane.  How dangerous could he be?  Then again, Yoda was a wrinkly old guy leaning on a cane...

Over a few scenes, it becomes more clear that the Emperor is indeed sensitive to the Force, and he interrogates Vader on whether his "feelings" on the matter are clear, after Vader reveals he sensed Luke on the mission to Endor.  

Luke turns himself in to Vader, who has gone from offering Luke to "rule the galaxy as father and son" to "I must obey my master."  We're left wondering, what kind of hold does the Emperor have on Vader?

Then in the throne room, the Emperor finally shows he has telekinetic force powers by unlocking Luke's shackles with a wave of his hand!  Throughout the following encounter, the Emperor needles Luke until he can bait him into a duel with Vader.  Vader successfully tempts Luke towards the Dark Side and then... then Luke throws away his lightsaber.  It is the most heroic action of the series.  The Emperor has failed, and he will not get a new acolyte.  What will he do?  What can he do?  "So be it, Jedi," he spits contemptuously.  And then the scene cuts away.

When we return, the Emperor approaches menacingly.  "If you will not be turned, then you will be destroyed!"  And the lightning flies out of his fingertips.  The theater was shook.  We had never seen anything like this before.

While I appreciate that Rod Hilton has given this serious thought and agrees it is the greatest flaw of his "Machete Order" for viewing the Star Wars series, I have to respectfully disagree with choosing a better "twins reveal" over "what the Emperor can do reveal".  Machete Order sounds great on a rewatch.