I was under the impression, from the dvd comentary, that Mace and palpatine were equaly matched. each one was doing everything he could just to keep up with the other. for the duration of the fight, Palpatine was matching every attack that mace launched, and mace was matching every attack that palpatine launched.
The fulcrum on which the fight rested was anakins decision. without the chosen on at their side, Neither one could win. Palpatine knew this.
At the moment Anakin enters the room, at THAT MOMENT Mace had the upper hand. Palpatine knew he was comming, and Intentionaly started to loose. Started to not give the fight everything he had. He could very eaisly of used the force to grab his saber after it was knocked through the window, and kep up the defence, but that would have shown anakin his hand. He needed Anakin inorder to win, just as mace did. If they had still been fighting when Anakin entered, he would of seen and known the truth about Palpatine, joined mace, and togther the two of them would have overpowered him.
But, instead as anakin enteres, he sees a weak old man, cowering on the floor, his friend, in pain, begging For his help. For Anakin to Save his life.
Mace knew what had to be done, and he knew what Palpatine REALY was. Anakin didn't. All he saw was his frined begging for help. Say what you want about anakin, he was definitely a "grey Jedi" by this point, neither truely evil or truely good, but his heart guides him to try to do the right thing. He BEGS mace not to kill him, using the excuse "he must stand trial"
Mace goes to strike, and anakin saves him, EXACTLY the same as when he saves Obi-wan from Dooku in ATOC, except he aims lower, and ends up taking maces hand, instead of blocking the attack.
This can be seen as several things. it is my opinion that anakin never intended to "disarm" ( pun intended) Mace. He either missed, or had his hand guided by the force... the DARK SIDE of the force.
He disarms mace, and palpatine is now Clearly in a stronger position, and attacks mace again, with EVERYTHING HE HAS, knocking him out the window with the power of his force lightning blast.
To answer the quest as to who had the upper hand in the fight? it depends on what you mean exactly. Combat prowess, they were equal. ability to use the force, I'd say they were probobly equal. In my opinion, Palpatine had the upper hand, Becuase of knowledge. He knew that anakin would come, and he knew EXACTLY how to push his buttons. Even then, he knew that even if, EVERYTHING was done exactly correct, there was still a chance that Anakin might choose Mace, but he hadno other choice. So he had to Gamble. And he won. It is my opinion that becuase of this knowledge, and this knowledge Sidious had the upper hand.
......wow that's a long answer. Can you tell I've analized this alot? For that matter, you can tell I run the tabeltop star wars RPG on the weekends...
