Hmmm. I read this thread. Some people have made valid points.
Emperor Palpatine aka Darth Sidious must be one of the most hated characters on these forums. I don't know why you hate him. Perhaps it is because he's a coward - which I agree on. Perhaps it is because he's just a manipulating old bastard - I also agree on. Or perhaps it is that he lasted in combat against two of the most powerful Jedi in the movie - and you have a problem with it.
I like Palpatine. To deny this would be a lie. He is my favorite movie character. My second favorite is of course the ever-ass kicking Jedi Master Yoda.
During each of their fight scenes, Palpatine switched back and forth from the offensive to the defensive. He is a master swordsman, despite what many believe. Palpatine cut down three Jedi Masters - equal in rank to Yoda and Mace - who were prepared with lightsabers in less than three seconds.
You can say they all weren't expecting it. You'd be making excuses. They had their lightsabers drawn and ignited. They were prepared. They were just simply overpowered by Darth Sidious.
Now. It is obvious that though these masters were powerful, they were not on par with a Mace Windu or especially a Master Yoda. Now. I have seen many times during the duel when Sidious could've struck Mace down. And yet he didn't. The fact of the matter is, though it is truly speculation as to whether or not Sidious threw the fight intentionally, the theory is STILL there. No one - not Fishy nor anyone else - can dismiss this theory. It can go either way.
Mace and Sidious dueled. Sidious orchestrated the fight and had Mace on the defensive. He led the fight back into the main office. Suddenly, Mace goes berserk and goes on the defenses. Then, after a quick exchange of thrusts and parries, Mace kicks the saber out of Palpatine's hands.
Mace then has Sidious on his back - cowering before him. Now, we as fans know how truly manipulating and cunning Sidious is. I do not believe he intentionally allowed the saber to be knocked from his hand. But I do believe he wasn't looking to kill Mace. In his duel with Yoda, he moves much quicker. There were times during the Mace duel when Palpatine and he just walked around - stopped and then attacked one another. With Yoda - it was ALL fighting.
Sidious has outwitted both Yoda and Mace - so it is plausible and utterly possible that he did it again by throwing the fight. Until Lucas says so, both theories can't be dismissed.
I don't believe Mace is anywhere on par with Sidious in terms of Force powers. He is an exceptional duelist. But when Sidious was firing off the lightning - Mace was also struggling to keep it at bay. As did Yoda.
Now. Anakin's intervention was a key point in the duel. It has been speculated that Sidious needed Anakin to save him. People say if it's not true, then Anakin's role in the movie has been dramatically lessoned and he isn't needed. If that were true - if Anakin was needed everywhere - then Obi-Wan shouldn't have defeated General Grievous all on his own. If that were true, there would not be a single scene in the movie that did not include Anakin. Yet there were.
So it is very plausible that Anakin wasn't needed by Sidious to defeat Mace. Yet Sidious's goal was to bring Anakin to the Dark Side. What better chance for him to do so by helping in the death of one of his Jedi Masters? Sidious had already implanted the seeds of doubt in Anakin's mind, and now to Anakin - it looked like Mace went there to kill Palpatine. To Anakin - when Palpatine fired Force lightning - it was a move of self-defense.
Anyways. Anakin's intervention was pivitol. Anakin assisted in Mace's death the moment he sliced off Windu's hand. This allowed Sidious to finish Mace off. With the battlecry of "Unlimited Power!" he was clearly giving Anakin an example of how powerful the Dark Side is.
I have to bring this thread out of the grave yard simply cause I was gone while it faded and the name of the thread got changed and merged etc...I watched read etc over and over....palpy got beat by mace! if it was a submission in order to lure annie whatever he quit he gave up he lost!!!! Mace kicked his ass and never got scratched....you would think if it was possible palps woulda at least sliced and diced just to let him know...lol....yoda soaked up the whole power of the darkside and reflected it with ease.....the reprocussion blasted him back yes BUT here proves Yoda is more powerful in the force than sids iz and mace is better swordsman....no debating yoda is more powerful.... mace swordskills maybe... sids gave up on purpose? but IF he did then it was a loss none the less! he forfeit! The original name of this thread prevails yoda and mace superior to the emperor!!! woohoo long live jedi! (paticularly the orange skinned busty twilek babe jedi)...lol...drinks on queeq!🍺