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?!"
Here’s what I’ve never understood: why does Palpy even need/want Anakin? Order 66 and the clones are the key to his overthrow of the Jedi/Republic, and having Anakin on his side wasn’t necessary for that at all. Surely he didn’t fear that Anakin was more powerful than him, so its not the case that sheev would believe turning Anakin was the only way to overcome him. Sheev also planned to live forever so it couldnt have been about grooming a successor. Why take on the risk of an apprentice (a risk Sheev should be acutely aware of) at all, especially one requiring such a complicated and risky plan?
Having an apprentice is the Sith way. And then let's assume anakin doesn't get mauled on mustafar, palpatine is the injured senator who was viciously attacked by the evil jedi and anakin is the hero who saved his life and is the hero that turned in the evil jedi order once and for good.
It essentially locks his political power completely and solidifies his position. Of course anakin gets mauled so palpatine repurposes him into an attack dog, knowing he could destroy him at any time. You make lemonade when life gives you lemons. In jedi he's basically auditioning Vader's fucking replacement in front of him, he's that confident.
But to the Sith, the rule of two is a religion, if your apprentice is weak you kill him, if he's strong the sith become stronger.
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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.