Arguably The Only Four Times Palpatine Was Genuinely Afraid

Palpatine always felt like he had everything under control. The man manipulated the entire galaxy into a war, turned the Republic into an Empire, wiped out the Jedi, and sat on the throne for decades like it was all part of a grand master plan. Fear? That was something for everyone else.

But let’s be honest – there were definitely moments where he wasn’t as calm and in control as he wanted to be. A few times, that mask of confidence cracked, and we actually saw him panic. I want to go through those moments because, honestly, seeing the Dark Lord of the Sith squirm is rare and kind of satisfying.

1. That Time He Was Strapped Into a Crashing Ship

One of the clearest moments where Palpatine was absolutely terrified was when the Invisible Hand started plummeting toward Coruscant in Revenge of the Sith. Up until that point, things were going just fine. He played the role of the helpless Chancellor while Anakin and Obi-Wan fought off droids and rescued him. But then? The whole ship started falling apart, and suddenly, his survival depended entirely on Anakin not crashing into a skyscraper.

I always think about what was going through his head at that moment. “I’m an apprentice down, I can’t use the Force without blowing my cover, and I’m strapped into this seat hoping this kid can actually land a burning warship.” It’s one of the few times he wasn’t in control, and you can actually see it in his face.

2. Was He Faking Fear Against Mace Windu?

This one is always debated, and I get why. When Mace Windu has him cornered, Palpatine is on the floor, looking up at Anakin, begging for his life. Some people think it was just an act to manipulate Anakin, but others argue that for at least a few seconds, he was actually scared.

Mace did beat him in that duel. Palpatine lost his saber, got overpowered, and was completely at Windu’s mercy. If Anakin hadn’t been there, that was the end for him.

3. That Time Yoda Almost Fried Him

Palpatine underestimated Yoda, and it almost cost him.

At first, he was having fun, laughing while throwing Senate pods like it was a game. But then Yoda started overpowering him. The moment that really stands out is when Yoda is pushing back against his lightning.

At first, Palpatine is cackling, enjoying the fight. But then Yoda starts winning the struggle. Suddenly, Sidious isn’t laughing anymore. You can see it in his face – he wasn’t expecting Yoda to actually match him. That was a real moment of fear, and if that explosion hadn’t separated them, I honestly think Yoda could have won.

4. The Zillo Beast Wanted Him Dead

One of the most underrated moments of Palpatine being genuinely scared is from The Clone Wars, when the Zillo Beast escaped and made a direct line for him.

Palpatine had ordered the beast to be killed, and apparently, the creature knew exactly who was responsible. It broke loose, tore through Coruscant, and headed straight for his location.

The best part? His own advisors tell him, “Sir, the Zillo Beast has escaped… and for some reason, it’s heading directly for this building.”

Palpatine wasn’t about to fight a kaiju. He had to rely on the clones to kill it because there was no way he was stopping that thing himself. Even Sith Lightning wasn’t going to work. He was helpless, and he knew it. That’s why he immediately ordered the beast to be executed before it could reach him.