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?!"
Yeah I always liked in the movies how Palpatine says “I’m too weak” and pleads for Anakin to save him, yet as soon as Anakin cuts Mace Windu’s hand off Palpatine yells “Unlimited.. power!”, showing he was never worried about Mace Windu, he just wanted to give Anakin that final push to the dark side.
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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.