A recent Star Wars project offered more clarity on what a purple lightsaber represents, which also provides new context for Mace Windu’s actions in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. For decades, the Star Wars movies only featured blue, green, and red as the main lightsaber colors. The Star Wars Legends Expanded Universe experimented with more lightsaber hues and explored what they meant, but this didn’t translate to the big screen until the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Initially, Mace Windu only had a purple lightsaber in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones because Samuel L. Jackson asked George Lucas if he could. Star Wars has subsequently explored the character in more detail, not only explaining why he has a purple lightsaber but establishing what this means for any Jedi who wields one. A Star Wars TV show even built on this and tied into how lightsaber colors are determined in the new canon.

Jedi With Purple Lightsabers Are Vulnerable To The Dark Side Around Them

A purple blade is a bit closer to red

Although purple is still a cool color, like blue and green, it’s also much closer to a red lightsaber. This represents how Jedi who wield purple lightsabers are not only susceptible to their own inner darkness, but they can also be influenced by the dark side around them. This was explored brilliantly in Star Wars: Visions season 1, episode 5 “The Ninth Jedi.”

While this episode is non-canon, it uses the same explanation for red lightsabers as the official Star Wars canon. A group of Sith claim newly constructed lightsabers intended for Jedi, and their connection to the dark side bleeds the kyber crystals, turning the blade crimson. However, a character called Homen only makes his lightsaber turn purple, even though he fights the Jedi alongside the Sith.

This is because Homen was not truly committed to the dark side, but rather was influenced by the darkness of the Sith. He eventually comes to his senses and apologizes to the Jedi, admitting that the darkness temporarily overcame him. This explanation for a purple lightsaber would also work perfectly for Mace Windu.

The Clone Wars Would Have Had A Greater Impact On Mace Than On Others

Especially since he practices a darker lightsaber form

Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber shows that he would be affected by the dark side more than most Jedi. He’s also a pracтιтioner of a lightsaber form called Vaapad, which requires the user to enjoy fighting and use negative emotions to fuel aggressive combat. This made it highly controversial in the Jedi Order, and many who practiced it inevitably fell to the dark side.

Many of Mace Windu’s actions in Star Wars demonstrate how easily he could have slipped into the dark side. When Mace killed Jango Fett, even Count Dooku was shocked that his old Jedi friend would brutally decapitate a man he had already disarmed. Of course, this isn’t the most notable example of Mace nearly giving in to the dark side.

I Totally Get Why Mace Wanted To Kill Palpatine Now

The Sith Lord was likely influencing the Jedi Master

Mace Windu’s final choices in Revenge of the Sith seemed almost out of character for the leader of the Jedi Council, but Visions makes his actions much more understandable. He was noticeably angry and aggressive while fighting Palpatine, and Mace was fully prepared to execute a man while he was unarmed. Even when Anakin reminded Mace that it violated the Jedi code, Mace didn’t even seem to hear him, focusing on Palpatine like a predator about to strike.

However, if Jedi who wield purple lightsabers are vulnerable to the dark side around them, then just being around Palpatine probably influenced Mace. He even says Palpatine is too dangerous to be left alive, the exact logic Palpatine used earlier in the movie after Anakin killed Count Dooku. It would also make sense if Palpatine had done this on purpose, as he wanted Mace to try and kill him to make Anakin lash out.

I find this explanation incredibly fascinating, as it not only recontextualizes a pivotal Revenge of the Sith scene but also opens new possibilities for other lightsaber colors. For example, Baylan Skoll uses the dark side but wields an orange lightsaber, so is he more susceptible to the influence of the light side around him? Either way, Star Wars has given us more details on Mace Windu and purple lightsabers, and I’d be intrigued to see more.

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