Originally posted by Trocity
So this is just going from memory.Two decades passes between ROTS and ANH. ANH Vader you say can't beat ROTS Kenobi. ESB is what, 3-4 years after ANH? THAT Vader has a 50/50 chance? And then ROTJ, 1 year after ESB, Vader for sure beats ROTS Kenobi? He improves more in like 2 years than he does in 20? It takes him that long to get back to his old self? Seems weird that each Vader in each movie has a clear power level. I rather think all 3 incarnations are closer to each other than most claim.
ROTJ Vader is stated to be at the height of his power. Old Ben is most certainly not as good as he used to be from both a logical and canonical standpoint. So if there's relatively no difference between ANH and ROTJ, then Vader is firmly below ROTS Kenobi. I like to think that his heightened activity in the OT lead to his increase in power.
Originally posted by Nephthys
.... that CW Anakin has better TK than ANH Vader. Even if Anakin is more powerful in that regard, which he isn't, Vader is far more skilled in his use of it and uses it frequently in combat, unlike Anakin.
If he uses it so frequently as you say then that means he did use it against Ben in the off screen portions of the battle. So either he tanked it or dodged it either of which ROTS Kenobi can do better.
Originally posted by Nephthys
Speculation. Maybe he just wanted a straight lightsaber duel to cement his superiority.
And why would a straight lightsaber duel cement that over TK given their last fight?
The fact is, Vader has demonstrated himself every bit the equal to Maul and Dooku in TK, both of whom could toss Obi-Wan around.
ANH Vader is Maul level I agree. But not at Dooku's level in TK. Additionally just because Maul was able to ragdoll him once doesn't mean he can do it anytime he wants.