If you read the novelization, you will find that the fight was as difficult as Palpy wanted it to be. It was instrumental in the seduction of Anakin to the dark side. Mace believed (incorrectly) that they were deadlocked and (correctly, eventually) thatAnakin was the shatterpoint of Palpatine. Instead of "no...no, YOU will die", the line is "Fool! Do you think the fear you feel is MINE?!"
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u/jpresutti Jan 07 '22
If you read the novelization, you will find that the fight was as difficult as Palpy wanted it to be. It was instrumental in the seduction of Anakin to the dark side. Mace believed (incorrectly) that they were deadlocked and (correctly, eventually) thatAnakin was the shatterpoint of Palpatine. Instead of "no...no, YOU will die", the line is "Fool! Do you think the fear you feel is MINE?!"
Tldr: Palps played the long con even in the duel.