The Catharsis of Darth Vader: The Hidden Story of The Force Unleashed 2

The Force Unleashed 2 on its release received at best middling reviews  and criticisms for its lackluster narrative, a narrative that some say falls far below the quality achieved by its predecessor. Though who is to say that the story The Force Unleashed 2 is the story that it is really trying to tell. It is true that at its surface The Force Unleashed 2 tells a rather bare-bones tale of a man trying to reunite with the woman he loves. As a result this sequel adds very little to the overall Star Wars mythos and seems to add even less to Starkiller's  story, but what if Starkiller is not the protagonist of The Force Unleashed 2? What if Vader is?  

            Darth Vader is not only the central character in the entire Star Wars film saga, but also The Force Unleashed series. Though in regards to The Force Unleashed series the character of Darth Vader is portrayed through the motivations and actions of his apprentice Starkiller. In more ways Than one Starkiller is Darth Vader. Sam Whitwer seems even to go so far as to channel Hayden Christiansen's performance in his portrayal of Darth Vader's secret apprentice. From Whitwer's stubborn somewhat monotone line delivery, to the way Starkiller is unable to let go, it is clear  that Starkiller's personality in The Force unleashed 2 is influenced by Hayden Christiansen's performance as Anakin Skywalker.

            This idea of Darth Vader's personality being manifest in another individual is informed by the ideas and concepts present in James Luceno's Darth Plagueis. In the novel Luceno suggests that Anakin Skywalker is created by The Force to counter balance the overwhelming dark side energy that is present in the galaxy. However Anakin ultimately turns to the Dark Side. It is reasonable to assume then  that The Force creates Starkiller to lead Anakin back to the Light.

             The final battle  between Darth Vader and Starkiller therefore, is more a cathartic action for Vader then it is the culmination of Starkiller's search for Juno. In facing Starkiller, Vader is facing his younger self, a self that is unable to let go even when reason tells him otherwise.

            This  is evident in how Vader reacts to Starkiller during this final confrontation. With such lines as, "The woman is meaningless, rise above this." and "I will always be your master. You will always be a slave. " Darth Vader is not so much talking to Starkiller as he is to himself. His use of the word slave is telling in this regard, he does not say and you will always be mine or you will always be my slave, but instead, "You will always be a slave". Vader is Starkiller, and Starkiller is Vader.

            Yet Starkiller fails to realize this even when  Vader says, in referring to Juno, "As long as she lives I will always control you." It is at this moment  that Darth Vader's catharsis is complete, as Vader realizes that he and his apprentice are the same, they are both men who are trapped by the memories of those they love. As a result of this revelation Vader is able to let go of his former self to become the man who would ultimately destroy the Emperor, and bring balance to The Force. Ironically, it is this letting go that allows him, even as he is consumed by the dark side to help Starkiller relies his folly in trying to control something that he cannot.

            The Force Unleashed 2 represents an approach to videogame story telling that relies almost exclusively on the players knowledge of the Star Wars mythos and narrative tendencies. That is if indeed Darth Vader is the central protagonist of the story. If this is the case then The Force Unleashed 2 adds significantly to both the character of Darth Vader and the overall Star Wars mythology. If this is not the case however, then the story is brought down by one-dimensional characters and a shallow plot. One hopes that it is the ladder and not the former, because the catharsis of Darth Vader is a tale that needs to be told.