Star Wars movies and TV shows like the prequel trilogy and even Star Wars: The Bad Batch, but Andor didn't even need to show him to confirm that.

Yet, Andor also proved that Palpatine wasn't nearly as powerful as he claimed to be, particularly when it came to the claims he made in Revenge of the Sith. Specifically, two key components of Palpatine's rule that were showcased in Andor—especially Andor season 2—reveal that he oversold just how powerful he really was. Ultimately, not only is this a reflection on Palpatine, but it also conveys a critical message about the Sith throughout the Star Wars timeline more broadly.

Palpatine Claimed To Have Unlimited Power In Revenge Of The Sith

He Made This Declaration Even Before Overthrowing The Jedi And The Republic

In Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin Skywalker made the fateful decision to side with Palpatine over Mace Windu, sealing not only Mace's fate but also the fate of the Jedi, the Republic, and the galaxy, Palpatine declared that he had "unlimited power" as he shot Mace Windu with Force lightning. This was a bold claim, given all that had happened thus far was Palpatine wiping out a few Jedi and Anakin (seemingly, as he hadn't said that yet) accepting the dark side. This therefore came even before Order 66 and the fall of the Republic.

This bold claim likely stemmed in part from the importance of Anakin's fall to the dark side to Palpatine's larger plan. He likely believed that, with Anakin by his side, he really had achieved unlimited power, and it was only a matter of time before all his plans fell into place. In a sense, that was true.

Not long after this scene, Anakin had fully accepted his new role as Palpatine's Sith apprentice, Darth Vader, and Palpatine had managed to all but eradicate the Jedi via Order 66 and replace the Republic with the Empire. Even in light of the success of those schemes, though, it seemed a bit premature for Palpatine to declare that he had unfettered power. Now, Andor season 2 has confirmed that, not only was this not true in Revenge of the Sith, but also, it was never true at all, even years later.

Andor Season 2 Proved How Limited That Power Really Was

Palpatine Needed The Senate And Needed The Death Star To Be A Secret

There are two key ways that Andor, particularly Andor season 2, proved that Palpatine was far from having unlimited power as the Emperor. The first of the two has actually been clear since Revenge of the Sith, which is the need for Palpatine to maintain the Senate. Had Palpatine truly had unlimited power, he could have entirely dismantled the Senate and ruled without needing to keep up the facade of some democracy or choice remaining under Imperial rule.

Had Palpatine truly had unlimited power, he could have entirely dismantled the Senate and ruled without needing to keep up the facade of some democracy.

What makes this different in Andor season 2 is the fact that the true fragility of Palpatine's power given the existence of the Senate was revealed. Specifically, Mon Mothma's imioned speech before the Senate was enough to cause the Imperials to panic, and, ultimately, it did cause fissures that contributed to the Empire's downfall. This came on the heels of the Ghorman Massacre, which confirmed that the Empire (and Palpatine, by extension) was not all-powerful, as the Imperials needed to lie, manipulate, and make heavy use of propaganda to maintain favorability.

Clearly, then, Palpatine's power was actually limited enough that he needed to keep the Senate in place, despite the risk it posed. In addition to that, Orson Krennic's role in Andor season 2 proved that the Empire's gravest atrocities had to be concealed, even within the Imperial ranks. That is, Andor season 2 revealed how the Death Star was kept a secret, and it involved the cover story that it was really just an energy project—something that Bail Organa said even the Senate had been paying into.

Had Palpatine and the Empire had the unlimited power he claimed to have, then the truth of the Death Star would not have needed to be hidden from the larger galaxy and especially not concealed within the Empire's own ranks. As with the need for the Senate, Palpatine was still beholden to the people of the galaxy, and the Empire recognized that the situation was precarious, even all those years later. However, that doesn't mean Palpatine intentionally mischaracterized his power in Revenge of the Sith.

Palpatine Likely Believed His Own Lie

This Statement Wasn't Meant To Convince Anyone Else; Palpatine Thought It Was True

Palpatine certainly had no qualms about lying, but it's unlikely he said he had unlimited power for any reason other than he really believed it at the time. At that point, the only people who were present were Mace Windu and Anakin, and Palpatine had every intention of killing Mace and knew he'd already won Anakin over. Based on that, there was no benefit to Palpatine lying about the extent of his power.

Instead, Palpatine really believed that at that moment he'd achieved ultimate power. Presumably, Palpatine was taking into not only Anakin ing him but also the fact that Order 66 was already perfectly primed to take place. That, combined with a plan to frame the Jedi and use that lie to overthrow the Republic, likely had Palpatine convinced he really was in possession of unlimited power. This wasn't merely a flaw of Palpatine's, though. As Andor season 2 proved, Palpatine was wrong about his power, and that reflects the greatest flaw of the Sith.

As Andor season 2 proved, Palpatine was wrong about his power, and that reflects the greatest flaw of the Sith.

This Will Always Be The Flaw Of The Sith

They Are Blinded By Their Own Power, So They Will Always Lose

As Star Wars has proven time and again, the Sith will always lose—and that includes Star Wars' most powerful Sith. This boils down to the very nature of the Sith, which Palpatine showcased in his false claim in Revenge of the Sith. Palpatine believed he had unlimited power because his anger, hate, and (yes) power blinded him. He was unable to see the flaws in his own plan or believe anyone could ever overthrow him.

This is especially odd because that is the very way the Sith Rule of Two works, wherein the Sith apprentice inevitably tries to take the power and the place of the Master. Yet, throughout Star Wars, Sith have died because of this very flaw with letting their power blind them. In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul fully believed he could take on two Jedi by himself, and while it didn't actually end in his demise as it originally seemed to, it did nearly kill him and leave him severely injured.

Likewise, Count Dooku didn't anticipate Palpatine's betrayal whatsoever, as he no doubt believed he would eventually overpower Palpatine himself. Even Palpatine, in the end, overestimated his own power, and it led to his death as well (actually leaving no existing Sith behind). In that sense, Andor perfectly captured both how false Palpatine's claim of unlimited power in Revenge of the Sith really was, as well as why the Sith are doomed to fail.