10 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Darth Vader

5. The "Choke On Your Aspirations" Joke Wasn't Out Of Character

Darth Vader Obi Wan
Lucasfilm

One of the most polarising lines in recent Star Wars history occurs in Rogue One, when Vader summons Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) to answer for the Death Star's attack on Jedha and promptly Force-chokes the hell out of him.

As Vader leaves, he cheekily tells Krennic, "Be sure not to choke on your aspirations, Director," which was immediately met with cringe-induced outcry from large swaths of the fanbase, who felt that it was out of character for Vader to make such a cute, punny quip.

But that's not really true. Consider some of the wise-cracks Vader made in the original trilogy, perhaps most memorably telling Captain Needa (Michael Culver) "apology accepted" after Force-choking him to death.

Plus, Vader isn't a literally robotic, inhuman entity, so what's the matter with a dark joke or two? It's not like Anakin (Hayden Christensen) was a total pillar of stoicism in the prequel trilogy, so it follows that Vader would have a penchant for gallows humour.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.