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Force choke

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"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
―Darth Vader as he Force chokes Admiral Motti[src]

Force choke was a dark side Force power where one would strangle the victim with the Force. It was often performed with a grip-like gesture. This power was frequently employed by the Sith.[3]

Description

Force choke was a dark side Force power, meaning that the power was fueled from dark emotions such as fear, anger, and hatred.[13] As the name suggested, Force choke was used to squeeze a victim's throat with the Force, rendering them unable to act. Sometimes the person would be lifted off the ground by the Force choke. The power was generally used at close range, but in rare instances the target could be choked at greater distances if they are seen through a viewscreen.[13] Depending on the degree or power applied, the effects of a Force choke on a person would result in either death, unconsciousness, or simply leaving the person gasping but still conscious.

Applications

Force choke was used to inflict harm or injury for various purposes. Sometimes it was used simply as an expression of anger or displeasure.[11][14] Other times it was used to kill outright.[13] Force choke was an effective tactic when engaged in lightsaber combat.[14] Force choke was also used for intimidation and interrogation.[4] Related to this, Force choke could also be used as a display of power.[9]

Users

Generally, Force choke was used by the Sith. However, despite their strict adherence to the light side of the Force, a couple of Jedi were known to use this power.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

"Mind tricks? I don't need mind tricks to get you to talk."
"I will never talk, Jedi."
"We'll see about that, Poggle!"
―Anakin Skywalker as he Force chokes information out of Poggle the Lesser[src]

Anakin Skywalker began using Force choke while he was still a Jedi. He used it to even more deadly effect when he assumed his Sith Lord persona, Darth Vader. Those under his command who displeased him in any way would be executed by being Force choked to death.

File:Anakin Force chokes Poggle.jpg

Anakin Skywalker interrogating Poggle the Lesser with a Force choke.

During the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker's padawan Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee were infected with the parasitic brain worms. The Jedi Masters attempted to gain intelligence from captured Separatist leader Poggle the Lesser, who had vital knowledge that could save Tano and Offee. However, The Jedi Masters' attempts to extract that information were unsuccessful. An angry Skywalker decided to take matters into his own hands and entered Poggle's cell alone. Skywalker attempted to use a mind trick to get Poggle to talk, but it was unsuccessful. Poggle informed Skywalker that mind tricks wouldn't work on Geonosians, as the other Jedi had already discovered. Skywalker angrily knocked him down, telling him that he wouldn't need mind tricks to get him to cooperate. Skywalker then gave in to the dark side and grabbed Poggle using a Force choke, lifting him off the ground and throttling him until he finally explained that the brain worms were vulnerable to cold temperatures. The Jedi Masters were curious as to how Skywalker had managed to get Poggle to cooperate, but he didn't elaborate, keeping his dark actions secret.[4][1][15]

While working undercover on Zygerria, Skywalker was captured by Queen Miraj Scintel and awoke from a thrashing of shock whips to find himself alone in her chambers. Realizing his friends Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi were missing, Skywalker angrily grabbed Scintel in a Force choke, demanding to know where his friends were. While choking in his grip, Scintel responded by telling him that his friends would die if he continued to misbehave. At this, Anakin reluctantly released her from the Force choke.[16][17]

During the trial of his padawan Ahsoka Tano, Skywalker went looking for Asajj Ventress in the dark underlevels of Coruscant in an attempt to gain information that would clear his padawan's name. Anakin stalked Ventress and overpowered her. He Force choked her, demanding answers about her involvement with Ahsoka Tano and the rogue Jedi who framed Ahsoka for murder. Anakin was able to use the information he extracted from Ventress to expose Barriss Offee's involvement in the conspiracy.[18]

After his fall to the dark side and assuming the persona of Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi told Padmé Amidala of the atrocities that Anakin had committed. Not believing what she was hearing, the deeply concerned Padmé went to Mustafar to see her husband. Upon discovering the truth of Kenobi's statements, she tearfully attempted to persuade Anakin to turn back from the dark side, to run away and raise their child together. It was then that Kenobi, who had stowed away on Amidala's starship, revealed himself on the ramp of the ship. Despite her pleas of innocence, Anakin succumbed to his anger and Force choked his pregnant wife, accusing her of bringing Kenobi to kill him.[19] Kenobi twice demanded that Skywalker release her, which he eventually did. An unconscious Padmé crumpled to the ground. Kenobi and Skywalker engaged in a fierce duel that ended in Skywalker's critical injuries, requiring him to be surgically implanted with cybernetic limbs and a life-support suit. After the surgery, Vader immediately asked Palpatine if Padmé was all right. Palpatine lied and told Vader that in his anger he killed her. In a fit of disbelief and rage, Vader reached out with the Force and crushed a multitude of items in the medical bay, leaving the place in shambles.[14]

I find your lack of faith disturbing

Darth Vader Force choking Admiral Motti for his insolent remarks.

Around 19 years later in a meeting of Imperial officers aboard the Death Star, Admiral Motti boasted of the battle station, claiming that the Death Star was the preeminent power in the galaxy. However, Vader rebutted this claim, warning Motti not to underestimate the power of the Force. Motti mocked Vader, insulting his devotion to the Force, contending that it had not helped him recover the stolen Death Star plans or locate the Rebels' hidden base. In response, Vader Force choked him and said, "I find your lack of faith disturbing." At Tarkin's request, Vader released Motti from the Force choke.[5]

At the battle of Hoth, Admiral Ozzel attempted to surprise the Rebel Alliance by bringing the Imperial fleet out of hyperspace near Hoth rather than approach from the system's outskirts. However, his plan failed and the tactical blunder only gave the Alliance time to raise their base's energy shield and evacuate the planet. Realizing that they would now have to waste resources in fighting a costly ground battle rather than simply destroying the base from orbit as a result of Ozzel's actions, Vader contacted the admiral from his meditation chamber aboard the Executor. Via a viewscreen, Ozzel announced that the fleet had arrived in the Hoth system, but his report was cut short when Vader began to Force choke the admiral as punishment for his blunder. Deciding that the man had made his final mistake, the Dark Lord executed Ozzel by Force choking him to death and immediately promoted Piett, who witnessed the gruesome execution, to fill Ozzel's position.[13]

While in pursuit of the Millennium Falcon, Captain Needa was in command of the Avenger, one of the Imperial Star Destroyers. After the Falcon emerged from the asteroid field, the Avenger resumed its pursuit, but Captain Han Solo was able to outwit Needa, making it seem as though the Millennium Falcon had escaped. When Vader demanded an update on the Avenger's progress, Needa decided to travel to the Super Star Destroyer Executor to personally apologize to the Sith Lord for losing track of his quarry. Needa did just that, whereupon the Sith Lord Force choked the captain to death as penalty for his failure. Vader mockingly accepted Needa's apology before a pair of Imperial soldiers dragged his lifeless body away.[13]

Dooku

"Punishment for a slave who does not obey her master."
―Dooku to Miraj Scintel as he Force chokes the defiant queen.[src]

On the planet Florrum, Dooku was captured by a gang of Weequay pirates for ransom. One of the pirates, Turk Falso, decided to go behind his leader's back and get the ransom for himself. However, his plans failed. Knowing that his leader would figure out his betrayal, Falso attempted to flee in a shuttle when he and his accomplice encountered Count Dooku, who had escaped from the pirate prison. Falso's escape was suddenly halted as Dooku grabbed him in a lethal Force choke, then escaped Florrum in the waiting shuttle.[6][2]

MirajScintelChoked-EFK

Dooku Force choking Queen Miraj Scintel for her threats.

On Zygerria, Queen Miraj Scintel received Dooku in her throne room and detailed her plot to enslave the Jedi as she did Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. She stated that an army of Jedi slaves would make Zygerria invincible. However, Dooku deemed her plan too ambitious and made it plain he was interested in eradicating the Jedi Order, not enslaving it. Dooku sensed her emotions for Skywalker and demanded that he be disposed of. Infuriated by Dooku's brash statements, Scintel drew a shock whip and threatened the Count. Without turning around to face her, Dooku throttled her with a Force choke.[20] As she struggled to breathe against the Count's hold, Skywalker burst into the chamber and demanded that Dooku release her. Dooku did release Scintel from the Force choke, and she fell to the floor. Before losing consciousness, she reached out to Skywalker and spoke his name softly.[21]

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker traveled to the planet Oba Diah to investigate a new lead on the mysterious death of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas, the Jedi who supposedly ordered the creation of the clone army. There, Skywalker and Kenobi found a man named Silman, who had been held captive for many years. Unfortunately for them, years of captivity took its toll on Silman's mental health, making it difficult to get any coherent information from him. However, Silman did reveal that someone powerful was behind the death of Sifo-Dyas, someone who wanted steal his identity.[22] Outside the cell, Dooku, who had arrived on the planet, Force choked two of the guards. Then, just as Silman was about to explain more about what happened, he was lifted off the ground in front of the astonished Jedi and Force choked to death by Dooku.[23] Despite this, the Jedi were able to learn that Dooku and Darth Tyranus were the same person, and that he was actually behind the creation of the Clone army.[11]

Aboard the Separatist flagship, the Invisible Hand, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker found Chancellor Palpatine, who had been kidnapped by Count Dooku. Just then, Dooku entered the room, and after verbal jousting, a lightsaber battle ensued between the three. Dooku held off both Jedi with his swordsmanship, then he grabbed Kenobi in a Force choke and hurled him away, knocking him out and effectively taking him out of the fight, leaving Dooku to face Skywalker alone.[14][23]

Asajj Ventress

In a space combat in the Sullust system, Asajj Ventress's starfighter crashed on a Separatist flagship. Injured, Ventress was confronted by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. A heated lightsaber battle ensued. After battling both Jedi, Ventress was brought to her knees and seemingly defeated. Refusing to surrender, she reached out in a final desperate fit of rage and Force choked both Jedi at the same time, momentarily halting their attack.[24] Ventress was barely able to escape and seek refuge in her home planet, Dathomir.[7]

After being betrayed by the Sith, Ventress got involved with some bounty hunters, including a young Boba Fett. Towards the end of the bounty hunting mission, Ventress and Boba began to argue about their part in the mission and their share of the bounty. Tempers quickly flared, and Boba brashly told Ventress that she did not know who she was dealing with. At that, Ventress lifted Boba in a Force choke and informed him that he did not know who he was dealing with. After this encounter, Boba found himself bound, gagged, and locked inside a box.[25]

Savage Opress

After completing the first stages of his Sith training, new apprentice Savage Opress was sent by his master Count Dooku to kidnap Katuunko, king of Toydaria. Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, who had been hunting for the apprentice, found Opress on Toydaria with the unconscious king slung over his back. While they engaged in combat, King Katuunko awoke and attempted to flee. Depite being nearly pinned by both Jedi, Opress caught Katunko in a Force choke, eventually crushing his throat and killing him.[8][26]

After escaping the Jedi, Opress brought the dead king before Dooku, who became enraged that his orders were not followed and that the king was killed. Just then, Ventress entered Dooku's cabin. She reasserted her control over Opress, and they attacked the Count in concert. During the fight, Opress was repeatedly hit and weakened by Dooku's Force lightning. After Ventress and Dooku each criticized him for being weak, Opress snapped and turned against them both. In a fit of rage, he reached and grabbed both of them in a Force choke at the same time, then hurled them into the wall.[27] This forced Ventress and Dooku to team up to repel his furious onslaught. They eventually left him to face Skywalker and Kenobi.[28] Opress fought off the Jedi and the battle droids who turned against him by Dooku's order and managed to escape, although badly injured.[8]

Darth Maul

MaulTorturesBoKatan-Eminence

Darth Maul Force chokes Bo-Katan Kryze in a display of power.

"Our combined strength will be rewarded. Mandalore will be yours, and Kenobi, this Sith pretender Dooku, and all our enemies... will fall."
―Darth Maul making a point as he holds Bo-Katan Kryze in the air with a Force choke in front of the Death Watch.[src]

At the Death Watch camp on Zanbar, Darth Maul proposed an alliance to their leader Pre Vizsla, telling him and his assembled soldiers that he can help Death Watch reclaim Mandalore and kill Kenobi. Death Watch member Bo-Katan Kryze spoke out against this possible alliance, stating that they had once allied with a Sith, Dooku, who ended up betraying them. She expressed her mistrust the Sith and stated that they were no better than the Jedi. She stated that the Sith claimed to be powerful, but pointed out that Maul and Opress were put back together only after they were "gutted" by the Jedi. At this, Maul grabbed her in a Force choke. As Bo-Katan gasped for breath, the Death Watch soldiers in the tent raised their weapons toward Maul. Pre Vizsla ordered his solders to hold their position. While choking Bo-Katan and holding her in the air with the Force, Maul declared that together, all their enemies would fall under their combined strength. At this, he released Bo-Katan, who fell to her knees. Despite this ordeal, when Maul left, Bo-Katan and Viszla smiled at each other, as if all was going according to plan.[9]

Barriss Offee

Ahsoka Tano was investigating the bombing of the Jedi Temple. The suspected bomber, Letta Turmond, was in custody and requested to speak with Tano alone. When Tano arrived, Turmond asked her for protection in exchange for the name of a Jedi involved in the temple bombing. However, before Turmond could reveal the Jedi's name, she was Force choked to death. Clone Commander Fox, who had seen the exchange on the security cameras, believed Tano was Force choking the prisoner, when in fact Tano was reaching out to Letta in an attempt to save her. Fox rushed into the cell, but Turmond was already dead. Tano was arrested for murder. Tarkin came to visit Tano and showed her the security footage that looked like Tano was Force choking the prisoner, however the images were recorded without sound, so no one was able to hear that Tano was trying to help.[10][29] It was later revealed that the person who Force choked Turmond to death and framed Tano was disgruntled Jedi Barriss Offee.[18]

Palpatine

"This is not the first time you have proven to be clumsy, Lord Tyranus. You know the price of failure."
―Palpatine to Dooku as he Force chokes a lesson into him.[src]

A furious Palpatine contacted Dooku via a holocomm regarding the Jedi who seemed to be investigating a new lead on the mysterious death of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. Dooku expressed he did not know what trail the Jedi were following. Palpatine ordered Dooku to tie up these loose ends lest their plans be exposed, then he grabbed Dooku in a Force choke and lifted him off the ground, reminding him of the dangerous consequences of clumsiness and failure.[30] After the communication ended, Dooku was released from the Force choke and picked himself up while coughing from the punishment and went to fulfill his assignment.[11]

Luke Skywalker

Lukechoke2

Luke Skywalker gets past the Gamorrean guards.

Nine months after the Battle of Hoth, Luke Skywalker set in motion a plan to rescue his friends who were being held captive by the Hutt crime lord Jabba. Luke Skywalker entered Jabba's Palace, where he was met with two Gamorrean guards who blocked his way. Luke raised his hand and the two Gamorrean guards clutched their throats and fell back. Luke was able to penetrate the Hutt Crime lord's palace and eventually rescue his friends.[12]

Behind the scenes

During the episode Brain Invaders, while Anakin Skywalker was Force choking Poggle the Lesser, the background music played a variant of The Imperial March, a somber musical piece that is frequently associated with Darth Vader, perhaps hinting of the darkness that resided in Anakin and his eventual fall to the dark side.[4]

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 StarWars-DatabankII Force choke in the Databank (backup link)
  2. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Brain Invaders"
  3. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
  4. ↑ 6.0 6.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Gungan General"
  5. ↑ 7.0 7.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Nightsisters"
  6. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Witches of the Mist"
  7. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Eminence"
  8. ↑ 10.0 10.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Jedi Who Knew Too Much"
  9. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Lost One"
  10. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
  11. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  12. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  13. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Slaves of the Republic"
  14. ↑ 18.0 18.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Wrong Jedi"
  15. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Escape from Kadavo"
  16. ↑ 23.0 23.1 StarWars-DatabankII Count Dooku in the Databank (backup link)
  17. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Bounty"
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