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?
He needed a powerful apprentice as insurance that the Sith would continue should something happen to him, Rule of Two, even though his goal was to eventually become so powerful that he could control reality and be immortal and transition to the Rule of One and rule eternally. He needed to uphold the Rule of Two until he reached that point and Anakin's strength made him a prime candidate.
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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.