Why Did Vader Stop Boba From Blasting Chewbacca?

One of the most memorable moments in The Empire Strikes Back is when Darth Vader commands his troopers to use the carbon-freezing method on Han Solo. 

Before Han is frozen, Chewbacca, carrying the disassembled C-3PO on his back, tries to fight back. 

From Boba Fett’s perspective, he quickly raises his blaster, ready to take Chewbacca down. However, Darth Vader immediately stops the bounty hunter. 

Was it because Vader wanted to save Chewbacca, or was there another reason behind his actions? I have discovered the real reason, and it is canon. 

Without further ado…

Vader’s Larger Goal: Trapping Luke Skywalker

At this point in the movie, Vader’s primary goal is to lure Luke Skywalker into a trap. He wants to freeze Han Solo in carbonite as a test, ensuring it’s a safe method to use on Luke. 

To maintain control of the situation, Vader needed everything to go smoothly. 

Killing Chewbacca, who was already in a rage, could have escalated the situation, leading to more chaos and potentially jeopardizing the carbon-freezing process. 

If Boba Fett had shot Chewbacca, it might have led to unnecessary fighting that would distract Vader from his ultimate goal.

Vader’s plan hinged on freezing Han Solo successfully, so he couldn’t afford for things to spiral out of control in the chamber. 

If the situation turns into a shootout, it could damage the freezing mechanism or even injure Han, which would ruin Vader’s carefully planned plan to test the process on Han before using it on Luke. 

Ensuring the freezing process went smoothly took priority, and a blaster bolt fired by Boba Fett could have derailed that.

Vader’s View on the Rebels’ Weakness

Another reason why Vader spared Chewbacca could lie in how he viewed the Rebels’ bond. 

Vader saw the close friendship between Han, Leia, and Chewbacca as a weakness he could exploit. 

Having them together, alive, gave Vader a psychological advantage. He believed their belief in friendship and loyalty would ultimately work against them. 

As Vader himself stated, “Good… Keep on believing it… Believe that your friends have survived this long through strength or fortune… instead of my design.” 

You can find this detail in Star Wars: Darth Vader #12, where the comic provides further insight into Vader’s thought process during this moment, expanding on what we saw in the movie with more clarity. 

It reveals how Vader viewed the bond between Han, Leia, and Chewbacca as something he could manipulate.

Their survival fit into his larger plan, making their deaths at that moment unnecessary.

Vader’s Authority Over Boba Fett

Despite Boba Fett’s reputation as a notorious bounty hunter, Darth Vader maintained complete control over him during their mission. 

When hiring Fett, Vader gave specific orders: the crew of the Millennium Falcon must be captured alive, which is why he famously warned Fett, “No disintegrations.” 

Vader wanted to use the crew, Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca for interrogation and as bait for Luke Skywalker.

When Fett raised his blaster to shoot Chewbacca in the carbon-freezing chamber, Vader’s intervention wasn’t just about saving a life; it was about keeping his carefully laid trap intact. 

Vader couldn’t allow Fett’s impulsiveness to interfere with his plan. By stopping him, Vader reasserted his authority, ensuring that the situation didn’t spiral out of control. 

Even though Fett was deadly, his power in this scenario was limited by Vader’s command.