Title: A Discussion of Choices
Author: Peppermint_Shamrock
Rating: G
Genre: Gen
Status: Complete
Pairings: nil
Link: AO3

Summary:

A well written oneshot. It's basically a story where Mace, who survived Order 66 and travels the galaxy training people to fight the Empire, has a chat with Luke about Vader. Can't really say any more.

4/5

 

It's fine. Getting to hear Mace and Luke discuss their differing ideologies is fun, but their just isn't a whole lot of meat to chew on with this story, which is a consequence of the story being so short.

3/5

 

This works really well as a character examination for Mace Windu, and even though I would have liked it to be longer, it slots in perfectly with the Original Trilogy, and doesn't really need to go into greater depth or length. I'd give it a 4/5.

 

Hard to say much about something this short. It would have been good as a scene in a larger fic, but fails to have enough pizazz to stand on its own.

It doesn't really feel poignant or revealing enough about either character, it's just a scene out of context.

3/5

 

I don't really have anything new to add, but I'll echo what the others said before me. The writing is good, the subtle way au shifts are introduced is tasteful and effective, and both characters have accurate and distinct voices.

But there just isn't enough to it. I walked away feeling like it was an excellently executed scene, but without more length it just doesn't feel like it has a reason to stick with you.

3/5

 

This was good for what it was. I'm not too bothered that it was short.
4/5 from me for not being afraid to have the characters disagree and even argue, though in a civilized manner.

 

As gauche as it is to basically quote half of a story in a review thread:

*chef's kiss*

I'd like to see more of a continued story here, sure. Some backstory, how Daddy W lived, etc. But looking at it for what it is, I loved it.

 

There's not much to it, but what there is is one of the rarest things in fandom - a moral debate where no-one is vilified or ridiculed for their position, which I have a lot of time for. Great, for what it is.

 

Aye. And that it's Mace Windu who is the sounding board, as it were. He's a hard character to get right in fanfic, (and canon) but I feel like this hits the sweet spot.

That he respects Luke's compassion, yet thinks he's wrong is great. It's the rare fanfic moment that enriches canon, because you can feel it. It matches all characters involved. He fell to the Dark Lord. He failed to recognize Anakin's fall (kinda). He knows what he's talking about WRT the dark side, because he's been there. Every time he raised a saber he flirted with it.

The dark side monologue fits. Luke is looking for the choice where he gets his cake and can eat it too - defeat the empire and redeem his father. The path that lets him not choose. The path where his crossroads leads solely to Anakin's redemption and the Emperor's destruction.

It even ties into canon, because he does choose, there at the end. And sacrifices himself, knowing that he faces death at Palatine's hands.

Never. I'll never join the dark side. You have failed, your highness. I am a Jedi. Like my father before me.

This one shot just rules.

 

It is made even better because Windu is, ultimately wrong. And right.

Luke's commitment that he couldn't kill Vader was right. And wrong. He didn't and couldn't kill his father. He did come in conflict with him, because of his beliefs and allegiances. And he very nearly died there in the throne room because of it.

What Luke wanted did become what is.

This one shot is up there with the Son of Suns trilogy for me. As far as SW fanfic goes.