I don't think there's that huge of a gap between the Anakin that beat Dooku and stormed the Jedi temple and the emotionally conflicted Anakin who lost to Kenobi. There definitely is a gap between the two Anakin's, but it's not that huge. Just like SW_Legend said, "a nexus doesn't turn a mook into a monster", the opposite logic would apply here. Anakin's emotional conflict wouldn't turn him into a mook.
I view Kenobi and Maul as peers, with Maul having better TK and kicking and Kenobi having an edge in sabers (based off the last fight we see them in in TCW).
I put Anakin a bit above Kenobi, but not by much. So if Kenobi could beat Anakin (even if it's an emotionally unstable Anakin), then I think Maul can as well.
Depsite this, I see Anakin winning more often then not.
Originally posted by FreshestSlice
@Arheal:
Spinning more and twirling sabers around each other doesn't mean you fought better.
Originally posted by FreshestSlice
Even then, Dooku isn't doing well against the pair. Yes both were knocked down, but Dooku's own thoughts make it clear that he is struggling the entire duel.
Well the fact that both of the duo were knocked down, but he was standing the whole time shows he was doing well upto the point where he threw the platform on Kenobi (which was btw precious time he wasted in which he should have been attacking Skywalker who was still floored and helpless).
Yes he was struggling. But it's not like the duo were not struggling. Clearly Kenobi was, and Anakin also was when he was floored helpless for 10 seconds.
And how much he was struggling against BOTH of them Together, doesn't aid Anakin's case at all. Because the fact is up until that point Dooku was clearly fighting better than either one of them, and even possibly came close to defeating both of them.
He was also edging out both of them together in their final fight in TCW.
So Dooku may always find Skywalker to be a challenge and a threat, but the evidence shows that 90% of the time Dooku is the superior combatant to Skywalker.
Originally posted by FreshestSlice
Anakin is also more conflicted here. Anakin hasn't fully embraced the Dark Side and is emotionally torn, where as in the duel with Dooku, no such conflict. Anakin has no reason to fight Maul the same way he fought Dooku.
I think you mean the same way he fought Kenobi.
Well let's not forget Kenobi was also conflicted. Though perhaps his Soresu is more able to handle Skywalker's power blows.
Doesn't change the fact that ROTS Skywalker is also the one who got floored by Dooku for a good 10 seconds, while he was simultaneously Force stomping Kenobi.
Originally posted by FreshestSlice
Because in a forum duel, you are supposed to assume that someone performs at the peak of their abilities unless otherwise stated. It doesn't really matter what your opinion on what would happen on, "Any given day," is because we're assuming this isn't every given day.
Actually no not exactly. We ignore moments where the Character is dumbed down specifically for the plot. Like Darth Maul standing there like an idiot over Kenobi instead of just Force Pushing him off, and kicking away Qui-Gon's Saber just like he did Obi-Wan's.
But we also don't ignore the way characters generally fight. So I'd say for Skywalker it's quite normal for him to get angry and more powerful against Dooku, and put up a legitimate fight, being a legitimate threat to him, but still generally not be as good as the Count. And in that state, I'll probably give him the edge over Maul, but you know Maul's gonna go down with immense effort.
Unleashing his full power and overpowering the Count one time after the Count had already fought and embarrassed Skywalker plus and almost equal opponent to Skywalker, is hardly what I would call the expected scenario.