Was Palpatine Genuinely Scared When Anakin Had To Crash-Land the Invisible Hand, or Was He Just Faking It?

In Revenge of the Sith, there’s that memorable moment when Anakin is forced to crash-land the Invisible Hand with both Obi-Wan and Palpatine on board. 

And if you look closely, Palpatine actually seems tense—maybe even scared.

So, was he really afraid, or was this just another act in his endless manipulation?
Let’s dive in and see what was really going on.

Testing Anakin’s Strength

First, let’s consider what was at stake for Palpatine.

Palpatine had spent years grooming Anakin, carefully positioning him to be the perfect apprentice. 

But up until now, he hadn’t really seen Anakin handle a situation quite like this. Palpatine’s act of playing the “helpless Chancellor” wasn’t just for show; it put Anakin in a position to prove himself as a protector.

Palpatine needed Anakin to show that he had the strength, skill, and focus to handle extreme pressure. But here’s the thing—what if Anakin couldn’t handle it?

If Anakin failed to land the ship safely, Palpatine would be forced into a tricky choice. 

He’d either have to reveal his powers to save himself, risking his entire plan by exposing his Sith identity, or he’d have to accept the very real possibility of dying in a crash. 

For a master manipulator like Palpatine, who had meticulously crafted every detail of his rise to power, that’s a tough position to be in. 

It’s a dangerous game of trust, and in that moment, Palpatine might have been wondering if he’d put his faith in the right person.

To really understand how rare this moment was for Palpatine, let’s compare it to the Zillo Beast incident. 

During The Clone Wars, Palpatine found himself face-to-face with the Zillo Beast—a creature he couldn’t control and one that posed a genuine threat to his life. 

Like the crash-landing of the Invisible Hand, this was one of those rare instances where Palpatine had to rely on someone else’s abilities (and a bit of luck) to survive.

Both moments show us that even the galaxy’s most cunning Sith Lord isn’t immune to moments where he’s genuinely powerless. 

With the Zillo Beast, he knew he was at the mercy of others to contain it, and he had no choice but to rely on the pure skill and resourcefulness of those around him. 

Similarly, on The Invisible Hand, he had to trust Anakin’s piloting skills. In both cases, he’s forced to acknowledge that his survival hinges on someone else’s actions.

The Danger of Exposing His Powers

We know Palpatine’s whole plan relied on secrecy. He was the puppet master, pulling strings from the shadows without anyone knowing he was actually a Sith. 

So, imagine the risk if he had to use the Force in front of both Anakin and Obi-Wan to save himself. That one moment could have blown everything. 

All those years of scheming, manipulating, and playing both sides of the Clone Wars would be ruined in a flash.

But it’s about more than just Anakin’s ability to land the ship. Palpatine needed the timing of Anakin’s turn to be just right. 

He needed Anakin to be completely ready—mentally and emotionally—to embrace the dark side. 

If Palpatine revealed his true identity too soon, he risked scaring Anakin off instead of drawing him closer. 

So, when we see that flicker of anxiety on Palpatine’s face, it’s not just about the crash; it’s about the fear that one slip could make his entire plan fall apart.

Was It Fear or Just an Act?

So, was Palpatine genuinely scared? Honestly, I think it’s a bit of both. On one hand, he’s definitely playing up his fear to reinforce Anakin’s role as the “heroic protector.” 

By acting afraid, he feeds Anakin’s sense of responsibility, subtly nurturing that connection and dependence. 

But on the other hand, there’s a layer of real fear there, too. He’s put his fate in Anakin’s hands, and if Anakin doesn’t come through, all of Palpatine’s careful planning could end in disaster.

In a way, this moment captures one of the few times we see Palpatine’s vulnerabilities. 

It’s a reminder that, despite his incredible power and control, there are still things that lie beyond his influence. 

And as much as he tries to orchestrate everything, sometimes even the Emperor has to rely on someone else.