Though Luke had already destroyed his dad’s shiny new Death Star, it isn’t until Empire that the family members meet. Luke gets to practise his newly acquired Jedi skills but he is still no match for the half man, half [killing] machine that is Darth Vader. Wonderfully reflecting the larger struggle of the defiant Rebellion verses all the powerful galactic Empire, the showdown doesn’t last long, with Luke getting his hand cropped off and Vader spilling the kind of secrets that should be reserved for the Jeremy Kyle show. Nevertheless, it does set the scene for the rematch when Luke faces both Vader and Palpatine and (with a little help from Skywalker senior) comes out on top.