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* EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Boba Fett is referred to only as "Bounty Hunter" by everyone in the film. It's only in [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi the next film]] that he gets explicitly identified by his name.
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* EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Boba Fett is referred to only as "Bounty Hunter" by everyone in the film. It's only in [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi the next film]] that he gets explicitly identified by his name.identified.
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* EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Boba Fett is referred to only as "Bounty Hunter" by everyone in the film. It's only in [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi the next film]] that he gets explicitly identified by his name.
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* SelfDestructMechanism: The Imperial probe droid that discovers the Rebel base in the Hoth system has one, presumably to prevent anyone from capturing and identifying/analyzing it.
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* IDidWhatIHadToDo:
-->[[spoiler:'''Leia:''' You think that after what you did to Han we're gonna trust you?!\\
''(Chewie strangles Lando)''\\
'''Lando:''' I had no choice!\\
'''Leia:''' Oh, hear that Chewie? [[SarcasmMode He had no choice.]]\\
'''Lando:''' I was just trying to help!]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Leia:''' You think that after what you did to Han we're gonna trust you?!\\
''(Chewie strangles Lando)''\\
'''Lando:''' I had no choice!\\
'''Leia:''' Oh, hear that Chewie? [[SarcasmMode He had no choice.]]\\
'''Lando:''' I was just trying to help!]]
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fixing Example Indentation, EU stuff is not relevant on the film pages.
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** The EU explains this away, either by the Falcon having a lower-powered auxiliary hyperdrive or Han's getting the main engines fixed enough to make short hops through hyperspace.
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* FoilerFootage: Before the movie's premiere, the number of people who knew about TheReveal could be counted on one hand: George Lucas, James Earl Jones, Mark Hamill and whatever editors Lucas trusted to see the scene. Even David Prowse, who had to say ''something'' during filming, was given the fake line "Obi-Wan killed your father." {{Urban Legend}}s now abound of HarrisonFord turning to Hamill ''in the middle of the premiere'' and giving a BigWhat
** Director Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz also knew about it.
** Director Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz also knew about it.
to:
* FoilerFootage: Before the movie's premiere, the number of people who knew about TheReveal could be counted on one hand: George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Gary Kurtz, James Earl Jones, Mark Hamill and whatever editors Lucas trusted to see the scene. Even David Prowse, who had to say ''something'' during filming, was given the fake line "Obi-Wan killed your father." {{Urban Legend}}s now abound of HarrisonFord turning to Hamill ''in the middle of the premiere'' and giving a BigWhat
** Director Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz also knew about it.BigWhat.
** Director Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz also knew about it.
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* ShoutOut: To ''Literature/TheAeneid''. Chewbacca carrying [=C-3PO=] on his back during their escape from cloud city is a clear reference to Aeneas carrying his father out of Troy. Similarly, the Walkers' attack on Hoth is handled like the Romans' battles with Carthaginian war elephants during the First Punic War. The Official Encyclopedia states that the shot of Chewbacca holding C-3PO's head is a ShoutOut to the AlasPoorYorick moment of ''{{Hamlet}}''. [[hottip:*:"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horahhhoooooaa":]]
to:
* ShoutOut: ShoutOut:
** To ''Literature/TheAeneid''. Chewbacca carrying [=C-3PO=] on his back during their escape from cloud city is a clear reference to Aeneas carrying his father out ofTroy. Similarly, the Troy.
** The Walkers' attack on Hoth is handled like the Romans' battles with Carthaginian war elephants during the First PunicWar. War.
** The Official Encyclopedia states that the shot of Chewbacca holding C-3PO's head is a ShoutOut to the AlasPoorYorick moment of ''{{Hamlet}}''. [[hottip:*:"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horahhhoooooaa":]]
** To ''Literature/TheAeneid''. Chewbacca carrying [=C-3PO=] on his back during their escape from cloud city is a clear reference to Aeneas carrying his father out of
** The Walkers' attack on Hoth is handled like the Romans' battles with Carthaginian war elephants during the First Punic
** The Official Encyclopedia states that the shot of Chewbacca holding C-3PO's head is a ShoutOut to the AlasPoorYorick moment of ''{{Hamlet}}''. [[hottip:*:"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horahhhoooooaa":]]
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** Han & Leia's pose in the movie's first release poster (as seen in this page's image) is a reference to Rhett & Scarlett's pose from the GoneWithTheWind re-release poster.
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** Director Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz also knew about it.
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** The EU explains this away, either by the Falcon having a lower-powered auxiliary hyperdrive or Han's getting the main engines fixed enough to make short hops through hyperspace.
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* BewilderingPunishment: They aren't told that Vader is torturing them to draw Luke.
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-->'''Lando''': "We had an agreement!"
-->'''Vader''': "I have altered the agreement. Pray I do not alter it any further!"
-->'''Vader''': "I have altered the agreement. Pray I do not alter it any further!"
to:
-->'''Lando''': "We had an agreement!"
a deal!"
-->'''Vader''':"I have altered "I'm altering the agreement.deal. Pray I do not alter it any further!"
-->'''Vader''':
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-->'''Lando''': "We had an agreement!"
-->'''Vader''': "I have altered the agreement. Pray I do not alter it any further!"
-->'''Vader''': "I have altered the agreement. Pray I do not alter it any further!"
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* ElectricTorture: What is done to Han and currently the trope's page image. To make it even worse, they didn't even bother asking him any questions.
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* ElectricTorture: What is done to Han and currently the trope's page image. To make it even worse, [[ForTheEvulz they didn't even bother asking him any questions.]]
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* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Han was frozen in carbonite because Harrison Ford wasn't sure he wanted to appear in the next film, and so the character was PutOnABus. Needless to say, TheBusCameBack.
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Wasn\'t the telekinesis part already in A New Hope? Or was Vader using something else to strange Motti?
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* SequelEscalation: The movie has more locales, more action, and features the first Luke/Vader lightsaber duel. While the Force in the first movie was vaguely defined telepathic powers, ''Empire'' shows the Force can also give you telekinesis, superhuman physical abilities and low-grade clairvoyance.
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* SequelEscalation: The movie has more locales, more action, and features the first Luke/Vader lightsaber duel. While the Force in the first movie was vaguely defined telepathic and telekinetic powers, ''Empire'' shows the Force can also give you telekinesis, superhuman physical abilities and low-grade clairvoyance.
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* ImmuneToBullets: [=AT-ATs=]. Luke even says, ''"That armor's too strong for blasters."''
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* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Basically, Lando Calrissian had to turn Han and his friends in to the Empire, due to the alternative being to have Cloud City be attacked by the Empire and either occupied or worse, destroyed by them.
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* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Basically, Lando Calrissian had to turn Han and his friends in to the Empire, due to the alternative being to have Cloud City be attacked by the Empire and either occupied or worse, destroyed by them.
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* SoulBrotha: Lando Calrissian, who gives Solo a run for his money in the charm and cool department (and even puts the moves on Leia, who's totally uninterested).
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* SoulBrotha: Lando Calrissian, who gives Solo a run for his money in the charm and cool department (and even puts the moves on Leia, who's totally uninterested).
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* WhamEpisode: Okay, even though [[ItWasHisSled it's not a secret any more]], Vader being Luke's father was a huge shock when the movie came out. Not to mention all the rest of the stuff at the end. Also "ThereIsAnother", which resulted in a lot of debate at the time. Han was a favorite candidate.
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* WhamEpisode: Okay, even though [[ItWasHisSled it's not a secret any more]], Vader being Luke's father was a huge shock when the movie came out. Not to mention And all the rest of the stuff at the end. Also "ThereIsAnother", which resulted in a lot of debate at the time. Han was a favorite candidate.
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Do not use that phrase for an entry.
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** And of course, Wedge Antilles, Star Wars' Most Triumphant Example of this trope (again, from the ExpandedUniverse).
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Creators have the same thing as works. They are to \'\'stay\'\' as links, even if red.
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After the [[ItWillNeverCatchOn surprise success]] of ''ANewHope'', a sequel was inevitable. Lucas's new story turned the series into a dramatic saga with the revelation that [[LukeIAmYourFather Darth Vader was Luke's father]]. Since making the last film had been so stressful, he had Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett write the script for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and had Irvin Kershner direct it.
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After the [[ItWillNeverCatchOn surprise success]] of ''ANewHope'', a sequel was inevitable. Lucas's new story turned the series into a dramatic saga with the revelation that [[LukeIAmYourFather Darth Vader was Luke's father]]. Since making the last film had been so stressful, he had Lawrence Kasdan LawrenceKasdan and Leigh Brackett LeighBrackett write the script for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and had Irvin Kershner IrvinKershner direct it.
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Fridge tropes do not go in the main page. You\'ll find this is already covered elsewhere.
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* FridgeBrilliance: "Vader" is actually dutch for "father."
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* FridgeBrilliance: "Vader" is actually dutch for "father."
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Irrelevant
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* IncompletelyTrained: Luke runs off before Yoda has finished training him. As ''TheSimpsons'' put it, "you never even finished Jedi school!"
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* IncompletelyTrained: Luke runs off before Yoda has finished training him. As ''TheSimpsons'' put it, "you never even finished Jedi school!"
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* IncompletelyTrained: Luke runs off before Yoda has finished training him. As ''TheSimpsons'' put it, "you never even finished Jedi school!"
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* AnArmAndALeg: Luke, who gains an [[ArtificialLimbs Artifical Limb]] at the end.
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* AnArmAndALeg: Luke, who gains an [[ArtificialLimbs Artifical Artificial Limb]] at the end.
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** The look on Hobbie's face when Leia reveals the escape plan from Hoth.
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* DavidVersusGoliath: Luke vs. Vader. Not only is Vader [[EvilIsBigger taller than him]], he's also much more skilled and experienced with the Force. It's almost a ForegoneConclusion that he'll lose. [[spoiler: And subverted, then, since he actually doesn't.]]
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* DavidVersusGoliath: Luke vs. Vader. Not only is Vader [[EvilIsBigger taller than him]], taller]], he's also much more skilled and experienced with the Force. It's almost a ForegoneConclusion that he'll Luke will lose. [[spoiler: And subverted, then, since he actually doesn't.]]
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Changed line(s) 64 (click to see context) from:
* DavidVersusGoliath: Luke vs. Vader. Not only is Vader [[EvilIsBigger taller than him]], he's also much more skilled and experienced with the Force. It's almost a ForegoneConclusion that he'll lose.
to:
* DavidVersusGoliath: Luke vs. Vader. Not only is Vader [[EvilIsBigger taller than him]], he's also much more skilled and experienced with the Force. It's almost a ForegoneConclusion that he'll lose. [[spoiler: And subverted, then, since he actually doesn't.]]
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After the [[ItWillNeverCatchOn surprise success]] of ''ANewHope'', a sequel was inevitable. Lucas's new story turned the series into a dramatic saga with the revelation that [[LukeIAmYourFather Darth Vader was Luke's father]]. Since making the last film had been so stressful, he had LawrenceKasdan and Leigh Brackett write the script for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and had IrvinKershner direct it.
to:
After the [[ItWillNeverCatchOn surprise success]] of ''ANewHope'', a sequel was inevitable. Lucas's new story turned the series into a dramatic saga with the revelation that [[LukeIAmYourFather Darth Vader was Luke's father]]. Since making the last film had been so stressful, he had LawrenceKasdan Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett write the script for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and had IrvinKershner Irvin Kershner direct it.
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* TheBadGuyWins: Let's see, the Empire crushes the rebels at Hoth, forcing the good guys to flee. The good guys are trapped in an asteroid field then barely escape with their lives. Darth Vader defeats Luke in a lightsabre duel, cutting off his hand, and Han Solo is captured by Boba Fett and then frozen in carbonite to be taken to Jabba the Hutt. Are you wondering why this film is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Empire Strikes Back]]'', yet?
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* TheBadGuyWins: Let's see, the Empire crushes the rebels at Hoth, forcing the good guys to flee. The good guys are then get trapped in an asteroid field and then barely escape with their lives. Darth Vader defeats Luke in a lightsabre duel, cutting off his hand, and Han Solo is captured by Boba Fett and then frozen in carbonite to be taken to Jabba the Hutt. Are you wondering why this film is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Empire Strikes Back]]'', yet?
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** CurbStompCushion: The Rebels ''do'' manage to take out two [[GiantMecha AT-ATs]], and a Star Destroyer is disabled (and in the ExpandedUniverse, later captured]]), breaking the blockade around Hoth and allowing the Rebels to escape and regroup.
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** CurbStompCushion: The Rebels ''do'' manage to take out two [[GiantMecha AT-ATs]], and a Star Destroyer is disabled (and in the ExpandedUniverse, later captured]]), captured), breaking the blockade around Hoth and allowing the Rebels to escape and regroup.
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* YouKilledMyFather: Famous subversion.
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* YouKilledMyFather: Famous subversion. [[HalfTruth From A Certain Point of View.]]
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* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Basically, Lando Calrissian had to turn Han and his friends in to the Empire, due to the alternative being to have Cloud City be attacked by the Empire and either occupied or worse, destroyed by them.
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* SadisticChoice: See DealWithTheDevil and AnOfferYouCantRefuse.
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[[quoteright:325:[[StarWars http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/star_wars_poster_02.jpg]]]]
-->'''Darth Vader''': ''"Obi Wan never told you what happened to your father."''\\
'''Luke Skywalker''': ''"He told me enough! He told me '''you''' killed him."''\\
'''Darth Vader''': ''"[[LukeIAmYourFather No]]. '''[[LukeIAmYourFather I]]''' [[LukeIAmYourFather am your father]]."''
->[[AC:It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.]]
->[[AC:Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker have established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth.]]
->[[AC:The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space...]]
After the [[ItWillNeverCatchOn surprise success]] of ''ANewHope'', a sequel was inevitable. Lucas's new story turned the series into a dramatic saga with the revelation that [[LukeIAmYourFather Darth Vader was Luke's father]]. Since making the last film had been so stressful, he had LawrenceKasdan and Leigh Brackett write the script for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and had IrvinKershner direct it.
Kershner didn't know if he could top the first film, but he was determined to make the film as good as he could anyway. Though the film was initially criticized for its [[DarkerAndEdgier darker tone]] and CliffHanger ending, it was still a smash hit, and these days is widely considered the best of the Star Wars films.
----
!!TropeNamer For:
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou
* LukeIAmYourFather ([[BeamMeUpScotty a misquote]])
** {{Luke I Am Your Index}}
* NeverTellMeTheOdds
* ThereIsAnother
* ThereIsNoTry
* YouAreInCommandNow
* YouHaveFailedMe
----
!!Tropes Mostly Particular To This Film:
* AdventureRebuff: Yoda's initial response to Luke.
* AerialCanyonChase: Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon do this during the famous asteroid chase scene. As Solo was noting, "They'd be crazy to follow us." Unfortunately, Darth Vader is quite a motivator for his troops and they dive in after him.
* TheAppleFallsFar: Look closely when Luke falls out of the chute on Cloud City and clings to a weather vane; his hand can be seen falling into the atmosphere.
* AntiVillain: Captain Needa.
* AnArmAndALeg: Luke, who gains an [[ArtificialLimbs Artifical Limb]] at the end.
* AsteroidThicket: Possibly the TropeCodifier.
* AuthorExistenceFailure: George Lucas hated the process of scripting the first film, so he hired noted pulp SF novel author and Golden Age Hollywood screenwriter Leigh Brackett to write the script for ''Empire''. She wrote one draft, but died of cancer soon afterwards. As a result, Lucas wrote the next few drafts himself, before asking Lawrence Kasdan to do revisions. Incidentally, the famous LukeIAmYourFather reveal wasn't in Brackett's draft; Lucas only added it when he started rewriting the script himself.
* {{Badass}}: Darth Vader is a badass throughout the trilogy, but it is most pronounced in this film.
* BadBoss: Vader personally Force-chokes two of his officers for their perceived incompetence (one of them did have lapses of judgement, but the other arguably did not), being the TropeNamer for YouHaveFailedMe. And he sends several Star Destroyers into the asteroid field to look for the ''Millennium Falcon,'' causing at least one to suffer ''catastrophic'' damage.
* TheBadGuyWins: Let's see, the Empire crushes the rebels at Hoth, forcing the good guys to flee. The good guys are trapped in an asteroid field then barely escape with their lives. Darth Vader defeats Luke in a lightsabre duel, cutting off his hand, and Han Solo is captured by Boba Fett and then frozen in carbonite to be taken to Jabba the Hutt. Are you wondering why this film is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Empire Strikes Back]]'', yet?
* BaldOfEvil: The scene with Vader in his medical chamber is the first time the audience sees a glimpse of what he looks like underneath his helmet.
* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: Sure, Han, Leia, and Chewie put on some sort of breathing masks when they're walking around outside the ''Falcon'' inside the asteroid, but unless the giant space worm has its own atmosphere, decompression should've killed them.
* BatmanGambit: Vader wants Luke, but after the Hoth evacuation, he has no idea where to start looking for him. Instead, he pursues and captures Han and the others. While capturing them would be of value to the Empire regardless, Vader doesn't even have to bother sending out a villainous threat. He correctly anticipates Luke sensing their suffering through the Force and racing to the rescue.
* BeamMeUpScotty: Vader says "No, ''I'' am your father", '''not''' "Luke, I am your father."
* BigBad: The only film where Vader holds this role, though the Emperor is still the BiggerBad.
* BigDamnKiss: In the cargo bay. There's a reason it's one of the most famous kisses in cinematic history.
* BigNo: The most famous one in the entire series, even counting ''RevengeOfTheSith''.
** And after Han is frozen, we get the Wookie version of the trope.
* BigShutUp: Leia to 3PO after he's about to tell the odds for a second time.
* BittersweetEnding: The Rebels are on the run, Han's been kidnapped, Luke's hand has been cut off, and his soul is profoundly shaken by Vader's claim to be his father, leaving the awful suspicion that his mentors, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda have lied to him. But the Rebels have survived, Luke has not gone over to the Dark Side (which has deeply disappointed Vader), he and his friends escaped and the view of the galaxy signals that while this story is ending, [[AndTheAdventureContinues the series continues]] -- the fight will go on.
* BluntYes
-->'''Yoda (to Luke as he is about to leave Dagobah):''' Stopped, they must be. On this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now; if you take the quick and easy path as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.
-->'''Obi-Wan (also to Luke):''' Patience!
-->'''Luke:''' And sacrifice Han and Leia?!
-->'''Yoda:''' If you honor what they fight for? Yes.
* BountyHunter: Vader hires some when the Imperial fleet loses track of the Falcon, including Boba Fett.
* BrokenPedestal: Anakin Skywalker. Holy kriffing Sith, Anakin Skywalker.
* CarnivalOfKillers: The bounty hunters, including a slimy reptilian (Bossk),a cyclopean droid (IG-88), an insectoid droid (4-LOM), a creepy scuba suit-wearing bug (Zuckuss), an armor-clad and mysterious badass (Boba Fett), and Dengar. At least one Imperial officer is incensed that he's been forced to allow them aboard his ship.
--> "Bounty hunters! We don't need their scum!"
* CaveMouth: The crew of the ''Millennium Falcon'' confuse a space slug's mouth with an asteroid cave.
* ConvenientlyClosePlanet: Possibly, Han needs a place to get his hyperdrive fixed; Cloud City is oddly close by. It's possible the journey takes months as we're never told how long Luke's training takes, but this is at sublight speeds, so the odds of two inhabitable planets in separate systems being as close as Hoth and Bespin is highly unlikely.
%% All Crowning Moments go on namespaces now.
* CrypticConversation: Yoda and Obi-Wan's conversation about Luke's father on Dagobah make a lot more sense when seen in view of the entire trilogy, as well as the ThereIsAnother scene.
* CurbStompBattle: The Battle of Hoth. A ''lot'' of Rebel soldiers and equipment lost, at the cost of two [=AT-ATs=], an ''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer, and a few Snowtroopers.
** CurbStompCushion: The Rebels ''do'' manage to take out two [[GiantMecha AT-ATs]], and a Star Destroyer is disabled (and in the ExpandedUniverse, later captured]]), breaking the blockade around Hoth and allowing the Rebels to escape and regroup.
* DarkerAndEdgier
* DavidVersusGoliath: Luke vs. Vader. Not only is Vader [[EvilIsBigger taller than him]], he's also much more skilled and experienced with the Force. It's almost a ForegoneConclusion that he'll lose.
* [[DealWithTheDevil Deal With The Sith Lord]]: Sure the alternative might have been the Empire arresting and/or executing everyone on Cloud City, but seriously, how could you think that was going to turn out well, Lando?
--> '''Vader''': [[ILied I am altering the deal.]] Pray I do not alter it further.
* DisconnectedByDeath: During Vader's teleconference with the Star Destroyers' captains, one hologram image flickers and vanishes after the ship is struck by an asteroid.
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: Vader says this to Luke verbatim after he [[spoiler:cuts Luke's hand off in their lightsaber duel]].
* DontThinkFeel: A core theme of Yoda's training.
* ElectricTorture: What is done to Han and currently the trope's page image. To make it even worse, they didn't even bother asking him any questions.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The Empire strikes back in a ''big'' freaking way in this film. By the end of the film, the heroes have ''really'' got their work cut out for them.
* ExpositionOfImmortality: Yoda already looks like he's seen his fair share of years; walking stick, not much hair, crotchety old man. And clearly, he's been around for a while if he was the Jedi Master who trained Obi-Wan Kenobi, himself no spring chicken by Episode IV. Nevertheless, a sense of his true age is held back until he turns around and says:
--> ''"What know you of ready? For'' eight hundred years ''have I trained Jedi."''
-->-- '''Yoda''', ''Star Wars'' "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back"
* EyeLightsOut: [=C-3PO=].
* FieldPromotion: Piett.
* FoilerFootage: Before the movie's premiere, the number of people who knew about TheReveal could be counted on one hand: George Lucas, James Earl Jones, Mark Hamill and whatever editors Lucas trusted to see the scene. Even David Prowse, who had to say ''something'' during filming, was given the fake line "Obi-Wan killed your father." {{Urban Legend}}s now abound of HarrisonFord turning to Hamill ''in the middle of the premiere'' and giving a BigWhat
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The scene where Luke enters a cave on Dagobah and hallucinates about decapitating Darth Vader, and Darth Vader's face changing into his own. In hindsight, [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim it's a clear warning of where Luke might have gone]]. Vader's line, "Only your hatred can destroy me," is foreshadowing of the final duel in ''Return of the Jedi''.
* FourStarBadass: General Veers, one of the few Imperial officers shown to actually be competent in the movies.
* GeniusBruiser: This film both emphasized not only how big of a {{Badass}} Darth Vader really is, but how intelligent he is.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar
--> '''Princess Leia (after accidentally falling on Han's lap):''' Let go, please.
--> '''Han Solo:''' Don't get excited!
--> '''Princess Leia:''' Captain, being held by you isn't ''quite'' enough to get me excited.
--> '''Han Solo:''' Sorry, sweetheart. I haven't got ''time'' for anything else.
* GiantFootOfStomping: The AT-AT walkers.
* GrewASpine: Luke, when he left Yoda's training to save Han and Leia.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Boba Fett, whose taking Han Solo to Jabba was told in the ExpandedUniverse interquel ShadowsOfTheEmpire.
** And of course, Wedge Antilles, Star Wars' Most Triumphant Example of this trope (again, from the ExpandedUniverse).
* HeroicBSOD: After Vader defeats him, Luke has a major one. In the Falcon's cockpit as the heroes try to escape Vader, he's clearly filled with despair, whispering, "Ben, why didn't you tell me?"
* HeroicSacrifice: Granted, the term "hero" is debatable, given that he's working on the villain's side, but Captain Needa was willing to be executed by Darth Vader for losing sight of the ''Millennium Falcon'' in order to allow his crew to live.
* HumongousMecha: [=AT-ATs=].
** According to the StarWarsExpandedUniverse, the design isn't considered to be practical even in the ''StarWars'' setting. It is, however, ''very'' effective at what it was meant to do: induce pants-shitting terror in any fools audacious enough to resist the Empire.
* InASingleBound: As Luke's Jedi training progresses, he learns to use new powers like the Force jump, which comes in handy during his fight with Vader.
* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne:
-->'''Leia:''' Why you...stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking...'''[[HoldYourHippogriffs nerf-herder!!]]'''
-->'''Han:''' ''Who's'' scruffy-lookin'?"
* IWantThemAlive: "'''No''' disintegrations!"
-->'''Boba Fett:''' As you wish.
* InsultBackfire: Leia calling Han a "scoundrel."
-->'''Han''': "Scoundrel"? I like the sound of that.
* IronicEcho: "It's not my fault!" is said by both Han and Lando when the hyperdrive fails to work.
* IsThatWhatHeToldYou: Darth Vader telling Luke he's his father, contradicting what Obi-Wan had told Luke in the original film.
* JerkAss: After [=C-3PO=] gets shot, he makes the jump from innocently annoying towards Han and Leia to outright obnoxious towards Chewie and R2.
* KilledMidSentence: A variant.
-->[''over intercom''] Imperial troops have entered the base! Imperial troops have entered-- [''burst of static''].
* KooshBomb: Used for a frame or two at a time.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Darth Vader is Luke's father. The prequels have effectively made it a non-spoiler now.
* MillionToOneChance: "Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately three thousand, seven hundred twenty to one!" "{{Never tell me the odds}}!"
* MomentKiller: Just as Han and Leia were into their first kiss, C-3PO bursts in, chattering about the reverse power flux couplings. Well, he ''has'' found the [[OppositesAttract reverse]] [[SlapSlapKiss power]] [[BigDamnKiss coupling]].
* MovingTheGoalposts: Lando tried to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with Darth Vader]], agreeing to imprison his old friend Han Solo and his companions in exchange for the Empire not killing everyone in his city. Vader kept altering the deal, because Lando realizes too late that he's completely powerless.
* TheMusketeer: It's not as obvious as other examples of this trope but Luke [[SwordAndGun carries his blaster and lightsaber into battle together]] (mostly evident in the climax where goes from shooting Stormtroopers to dueling with Vader). It's the only movie in which he does this as well as the only time in the entire film franchise we see a Jedi or Sith doing it.
* NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine: With Vader in Cloud City.
-->'''Vader''': We would be honoured if you would join us.
* NoOSHACompliance: Definitely shown during the lightsaber duel on Bespin. Why anyone would work there is anyone's guess. Railings seem to be very expensive to install or maintain.
* NoodleIncident: "I'm sure [Lando]'s forgotten all about that." Explained in the StarWarsExpandedUniverse.
-->'''Lando''': Why you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler. You got a lot of guts coming here after what you pulled.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: How Yoda first acts around Luke, [[SecretTestOfCharacter to ascertain Luke's mental preparedness for Jedi training]].
* OffTheShelfFX: Due to the scale necessary for the Star Destroyer's bridge model, ILM used an off-the-shelf Millennium Falcon model kit for the shot where the Falcon is hiding on the back of the bridge.
** Both a potato and a shoe were used during the asteroid field scene. The shoe has a rumored story too - The rumor in question being that George Lucas asked the FX crew to redo the scene so many times that they got annoyed and one of them threw in their shoe. The potato can be seen in beginning of the scene in the top left corner.
* OhCrap:
** The look on Piett's face when the Falcon finally gets the hyperdrive fixed just before the Star Destroyer can lock on the tractor beam. He [[YouHaveFailedMe knows the price of failure]]: Vader Force-chokes you. Luckily for Piett, Vader is more disappointed than angry.
** Cpt. Needa when they lose the ''Millennium Falcon'' (hiding on the Destroyer's surface itself), and realizing he has to own up to Vader that he let them get away.
-->'''Needa''': [[BenevolentBoss I shall assume full responsibility for losing them]], and apologize to Lord Vader.
-->''*GilliganCut to Cpt. Needa dropping dead; his lifeless body is carried out of the room*''
-->'''Vader''': Apology accepted, Captain Needa.
** C-3PO, before he got blasted.
-->Oh my. [[MotorMouth I am terrible sorry I didn't mean to intrude no-no please don't get up--]] ''[*BLAST*]'' [[BigNo NO!]]
* PercussiveMaintenance: Han pounding on the ''Falcon'' fixes a short in the systems.
* PlotDrivenBreakdown: The hyperdrive on the ''Falcon'' always fails just in the nick of time.
* PlummetPerspective: It's a long way down from Cloud City. If you know anything about gas giants, it's even worse, as there's really ''no bottom''; you'd just keep falling until the atmospheric pressure crushes you.
* PrecisionFStrike: during the the following conversation between Han and a rebel technician.
-->'''Rebel technician''' (to Han): Your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker.
-->'''Han''': Then [[SeeYouInHell I'll see you in hell!]]
* RuleOfThree: C-3PO describing the ridiculous odds against whatever Han Solo's trying to do. The ''Millennium Falcon'' failing to jump into hyperdrive when needed. Vader choking his subordinates for failing him.
* RunningGag: Again, the hyperdrive on the ''Falcon'' failing. By the third time, Leia and Chewie just kinda look at each other, neither one of them surprised at ''all.'' Eventually, Chewie goes into a rage, and Leia just does a FacePalm.
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: The Falcon somehow got to Bespin when its hyperdrive was broken, which should have taken months, if not years, at sublight velocities unless it was in the same star system as Anoat. This was {{Retcon}}ned in the ExpandedUniverse to actually take months (as well as giving Luke plenty of time for Jedi training).
* SecondChapterCliffhanger: Perhaps the TropeMaker for ending the second installment of a TwoPartTrilogy on a CliffHanger.
* SequelEscalation: The movie has more locales, more action, and features the first Luke/Vader lightsaber duel. While the Force in the first movie was vaguely defined telepathic powers, ''Empire'' shows the Force can also give you telekinesis, superhuman physical abilities and low-grade clairvoyance.
* ShippedInShackles: Han Solo is frozen in carbonite for his trip to Jabba the Hutt. Vader plans to use the same procedure on Luke so he can be taken to the Emperor without escaping or fighting back.
* ShoutOut: To ''Literature/TheAeneid''. Chewbacca carrying [=C-3PO=] on his back during their escape from cloud city is a clear reference to Aeneas carrying his father out of Troy. Similarly, the Walkers' attack on Hoth is handled like the Romans' battles with Carthaginian war elephants during the First Punic War. The Official Encyclopedia states that the shot of Chewbacca holding C-3PO's head is a ShoutOut to the AlasPoorYorick moment of ''{{Hamlet}}''. [[hottip:*:"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horahhhoooooaa":]]
* SlapSlapKiss: Han and Leia.
* SpaceSuitsAreScubaGear: In this case, they're face masks attached to an oxygen tank.
* StealthInSpace: Han's successful attempts at hiding from Star Destroyers (but not from cunning bounty hunters). [[GenreSavvy Boba had]] [[AttackOfTheClones seen this trick before...]]
* SternChase: The cat-and-mouse between the ''Falcon'' and the Imperial fleet.
* TheStoolPigeon: [[spoiler:Lando Calrissian was forced by the Empire to sell out Han Solo and his friends to the Empire because they threatened total occupation/total annihilation of Cloud City if he didn't. In other words, he's closer to the Lacerated Larry type.]]
* SoulBrotha: Lando Calrissian, who gives Solo a run for his money in the charm and cool department (and even puts the moves on Leia, who's totally uninterested).
* TakingTheBullet: Captain Needa [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices himself]] to a Force Choke to save his crew from Vader's wrath.
* ThatsNoMoon: The sandworm masquerading as a harmless cave.
* ThrowItIn: When they just couldn't get Han's response to Leia in their last scene right, Irvin finally just told Harrison to do anything, and he just blurted out "I know." The original line was "I love you too." Ford argued that Han Solo would never say such a thing directly, much less repeat someone. Lucas and Kershner agreed.
* TooSmartForStrangers:
--> '''C-3PO (conversing with R2-D2):''' "Why didn't we just go into lightspeed? We can't? How would you know the hyperdrive has been deactivated?! The city's central computer told you? R2-D2, you know better than to trust a strange computer!"
* TrainingFromHell: Fond of it, Yoda is. ''And'' steal your lunch, he will.
* TryAndFollow: Han rushing into the asteroid field at full speed.
* UnPaused: C-3PO is damaged by Imperial stormtrooper fire. When he's repaired and reactivated, he replays what he was saying and thinking when he was attacked.
* VillainsNeverLie: Except when [[ILied they do]].
* WeCanRuleTogether: Vader offers this to Luke.
* WellExcuseMePrincess: Han and Leia, in spades.
* WhamEpisode: Okay, even though [[ItWasHisSled it's not a secret any more]], Vader being Luke's father was a huge shock when the movie came out. Not to mention all the rest of the stuff at the end. Also "ThereIsAnother", which resulted in a lot of debate at the time. Han was a favorite candidate.
* WhamLine: Vader's parental revelation.
** "There is another."
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: [[AvertedTrope Han tries]] ''[[HanShotFirst immediately.]]'' Vader simply [[BulletCatch blocks the shots with his hand]], then Force-pulls the blaster away from Han.
* YouKilledMyFather: Famous subversion.
----
-->'''Darth Vader''': ''"Obi Wan never told you what happened to your father."''\\
'''Luke Skywalker''': ''"He told me enough! He told me '''you''' killed him."''\\
'''Darth Vader''': ''"[[LukeIAmYourFather No]]. '''[[LukeIAmYourFather I]]''' [[LukeIAmYourFather am your father]]."''
->[[AC:It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.]]
->[[AC:Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker have established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth.]]
->[[AC:The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space...]]
After the [[ItWillNeverCatchOn surprise success]] of ''ANewHope'', a sequel was inevitable. Lucas's new story turned the series into a dramatic saga with the revelation that [[LukeIAmYourFather Darth Vader was Luke's father]]. Since making the last film had been so stressful, he had LawrenceKasdan and Leigh Brackett write the script for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and had IrvinKershner direct it.
Kershner didn't know if he could top the first film, but he was determined to make the film as good as he could anyway. Though the film was initially criticized for its [[DarkerAndEdgier darker tone]] and CliffHanger ending, it was still a smash hit, and these days is widely considered the best of the Star Wars films.
----
!!TropeNamer For:
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou
* LukeIAmYourFather ([[BeamMeUpScotty a misquote]])
** {{Luke I Am Your Index}}
* NeverTellMeTheOdds
* ThereIsAnother
* ThereIsNoTry
* YouAreInCommandNow
* YouHaveFailedMe
----
!!Tropes Mostly Particular To This Film:
* AdventureRebuff: Yoda's initial response to Luke.
* AerialCanyonChase: Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon do this during the famous asteroid chase scene. As Solo was noting, "They'd be crazy to follow us." Unfortunately, Darth Vader is quite a motivator for his troops and they dive in after him.
* TheAppleFallsFar: Look closely when Luke falls out of the chute on Cloud City and clings to a weather vane; his hand can be seen falling into the atmosphere.
* AntiVillain: Captain Needa.
* AnArmAndALeg: Luke, who gains an [[ArtificialLimbs Artifical Limb]] at the end.
* AsteroidThicket: Possibly the TropeCodifier.
* AuthorExistenceFailure: George Lucas hated the process of scripting the first film, so he hired noted pulp SF novel author and Golden Age Hollywood screenwriter Leigh Brackett to write the script for ''Empire''. She wrote one draft, but died of cancer soon afterwards. As a result, Lucas wrote the next few drafts himself, before asking Lawrence Kasdan to do revisions. Incidentally, the famous LukeIAmYourFather reveal wasn't in Brackett's draft; Lucas only added it when he started rewriting the script himself.
* {{Badass}}: Darth Vader is a badass throughout the trilogy, but it is most pronounced in this film.
* BadBoss: Vader personally Force-chokes two of his officers for their perceived incompetence (one of them did have lapses of judgement, but the other arguably did not), being the TropeNamer for YouHaveFailedMe. And he sends several Star Destroyers into the asteroid field to look for the ''Millennium Falcon,'' causing at least one to suffer ''catastrophic'' damage.
* TheBadGuyWins: Let's see, the Empire crushes the rebels at Hoth, forcing the good guys to flee. The good guys are trapped in an asteroid field then barely escape with their lives. Darth Vader defeats Luke in a lightsabre duel, cutting off his hand, and Han Solo is captured by Boba Fett and then frozen in carbonite to be taken to Jabba the Hutt. Are you wondering why this film is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Empire Strikes Back]]'', yet?
* BaldOfEvil: The scene with Vader in his medical chamber is the first time the audience sees a glimpse of what he looks like underneath his helmet.
* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: Sure, Han, Leia, and Chewie put on some sort of breathing masks when they're walking around outside the ''Falcon'' inside the asteroid, but unless the giant space worm has its own atmosphere, decompression should've killed them.
* BatmanGambit: Vader wants Luke, but after the Hoth evacuation, he has no idea where to start looking for him. Instead, he pursues and captures Han and the others. While capturing them would be of value to the Empire regardless, Vader doesn't even have to bother sending out a villainous threat. He correctly anticipates Luke sensing their suffering through the Force and racing to the rescue.
* BeamMeUpScotty: Vader says "No, ''I'' am your father", '''not''' "Luke, I am your father."
* BigBad: The only film where Vader holds this role, though the Emperor is still the BiggerBad.
* BigDamnKiss: In the cargo bay. There's a reason it's one of the most famous kisses in cinematic history.
* BigNo: The most famous one in the entire series, even counting ''RevengeOfTheSith''.
** And after Han is frozen, we get the Wookie version of the trope.
* BigShutUp: Leia to 3PO after he's about to tell the odds for a second time.
* BittersweetEnding: The Rebels are on the run, Han's been kidnapped, Luke's hand has been cut off, and his soul is profoundly shaken by Vader's claim to be his father, leaving the awful suspicion that his mentors, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda have lied to him. But the Rebels have survived, Luke has not gone over to the Dark Side (which has deeply disappointed Vader), he and his friends escaped and the view of the galaxy signals that while this story is ending, [[AndTheAdventureContinues the series continues]] -- the fight will go on.
* BluntYes
-->'''Yoda (to Luke as he is about to leave Dagobah):''' Stopped, they must be. On this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now; if you take the quick and easy path as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.
-->'''Obi-Wan (also to Luke):''' Patience!
-->'''Luke:''' And sacrifice Han and Leia?!
-->'''Yoda:''' If you honor what they fight for? Yes.
* BountyHunter: Vader hires some when the Imperial fleet loses track of the Falcon, including Boba Fett.
* BrokenPedestal: Anakin Skywalker. Holy kriffing Sith, Anakin Skywalker.
* CarnivalOfKillers: The bounty hunters, including a slimy reptilian (Bossk),a cyclopean droid (IG-88), an insectoid droid (4-LOM), a creepy scuba suit-wearing bug (Zuckuss), an armor-clad and mysterious badass (Boba Fett), and Dengar. At least one Imperial officer is incensed that he's been forced to allow them aboard his ship.
--> "Bounty hunters! We don't need their scum!"
* CaveMouth: The crew of the ''Millennium Falcon'' confuse a space slug's mouth with an asteroid cave.
* ConvenientlyClosePlanet: Possibly, Han needs a place to get his hyperdrive fixed; Cloud City is oddly close by. It's possible the journey takes months as we're never told how long Luke's training takes, but this is at sublight speeds, so the odds of two inhabitable planets in separate systems being as close as Hoth and Bespin is highly unlikely.
%% All Crowning Moments go on namespaces now.
* CrypticConversation: Yoda and Obi-Wan's conversation about Luke's father on Dagobah make a lot more sense when seen in view of the entire trilogy, as well as the ThereIsAnother scene.
* CurbStompBattle: The Battle of Hoth. A ''lot'' of Rebel soldiers and equipment lost, at the cost of two [=AT-ATs=], an ''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer, and a few Snowtroopers.
** CurbStompCushion: The Rebels ''do'' manage to take out two [[GiantMecha AT-ATs]], and a Star Destroyer is disabled (and in the ExpandedUniverse, later captured]]), breaking the blockade around Hoth and allowing the Rebels to escape and regroup.
* DarkerAndEdgier
* DavidVersusGoliath: Luke vs. Vader. Not only is Vader [[EvilIsBigger taller than him]], he's also much more skilled and experienced with the Force. It's almost a ForegoneConclusion that he'll lose.
* [[DealWithTheDevil Deal With The Sith Lord]]: Sure the alternative might have been the Empire arresting and/or executing everyone on Cloud City, but seriously, how could you think that was going to turn out well, Lando?
--> '''Vader''': [[ILied I am altering the deal.]] Pray I do not alter it further.
* DisconnectedByDeath: During Vader's teleconference with the Star Destroyers' captains, one hologram image flickers and vanishes after the ship is struck by an asteroid.
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: Vader says this to Luke verbatim after he [[spoiler:cuts Luke's hand off in their lightsaber duel]].
* DontThinkFeel: A core theme of Yoda's training.
* ElectricTorture: What is done to Han and currently the trope's page image. To make it even worse, they didn't even bother asking him any questions.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The Empire strikes back in a ''big'' freaking way in this film. By the end of the film, the heroes have ''really'' got their work cut out for them.
* ExpositionOfImmortality: Yoda already looks like he's seen his fair share of years; walking stick, not much hair, crotchety old man. And clearly, he's been around for a while if he was the Jedi Master who trained Obi-Wan Kenobi, himself no spring chicken by Episode IV. Nevertheless, a sense of his true age is held back until he turns around and says:
--> ''"What know you of ready? For'' eight hundred years ''have I trained Jedi."''
-->-- '''Yoda''', ''Star Wars'' "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back"
* EyeLightsOut: [=C-3PO=].
* FieldPromotion: Piett.
* FoilerFootage: Before the movie's premiere, the number of people who knew about TheReveal could be counted on one hand: George Lucas, James Earl Jones, Mark Hamill and whatever editors Lucas trusted to see the scene. Even David Prowse, who had to say ''something'' during filming, was given the fake line "Obi-Wan killed your father." {{Urban Legend}}s now abound of HarrisonFord turning to Hamill ''in the middle of the premiere'' and giving a BigWhat
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The scene where Luke enters a cave on Dagobah and hallucinates about decapitating Darth Vader, and Darth Vader's face changing into his own. In hindsight, [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim it's a clear warning of where Luke might have gone]]. Vader's line, "Only your hatred can destroy me," is foreshadowing of the final duel in ''Return of the Jedi''.
* FourStarBadass: General Veers, one of the few Imperial officers shown to actually be competent in the movies.
* GeniusBruiser: This film both emphasized not only how big of a {{Badass}} Darth Vader really is, but how intelligent he is.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar
--> '''Princess Leia (after accidentally falling on Han's lap):''' Let go, please.
--> '''Han Solo:''' Don't get excited!
--> '''Princess Leia:''' Captain, being held by you isn't ''quite'' enough to get me excited.
--> '''Han Solo:''' Sorry, sweetheart. I haven't got ''time'' for anything else.
* GiantFootOfStomping: The AT-AT walkers.
* GrewASpine: Luke, when he left Yoda's training to save Han and Leia.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Boba Fett, whose taking Han Solo to Jabba was told in the ExpandedUniverse interquel ShadowsOfTheEmpire.
** And of course, Wedge Antilles, Star Wars' Most Triumphant Example of this trope (again, from the ExpandedUniverse).
* HeroicBSOD: After Vader defeats him, Luke has a major one. In the Falcon's cockpit as the heroes try to escape Vader, he's clearly filled with despair, whispering, "Ben, why didn't you tell me?"
* HeroicSacrifice: Granted, the term "hero" is debatable, given that he's working on the villain's side, but Captain Needa was willing to be executed by Darth Vader for losing sight of the ''Millennium Falcon'' in order to allow his crew to live.
* HumongousMecha: [=AT-ATs=].
** According to the StarWarsExpandedUniverse, the design isn't considered to be practical even in the ''StarWars'' setting. It is, however, ''very'' effective at what it was meant to do: induce pants-shitting terror in any fools audacious enough to resist the Empire.
* InASingleBound: As Luke's Jedi training progresses, he learns to use new powers like the Force jump, which comes in handy during his fight with Vader.
* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne:
-->'''Leia:''' Why you...stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking...'''[[HoldYourHippogriffs nerf-herder!!]]'''
-->'''Han:''' ''Who's'' scruffy-lookin'?"
* IWantThemAlive: "'''No''' disintegrations!"
-->'''Boba Fett:''' As you wish.
* InsultBackfire: Leia calling Han a "scoundrel."
-->'''Han''': "Scoundrel"? I like the sound of that.
* IronicEcho: "It's not my fault!" is said by both Han and Lando when the hyperdrive fails to work.
* IsThatWhatHeToldYou: Darth Vader telling Luke he's his father, contradicting what Obi-Wan had told Luke in the original film.
* JerkAss: After [=C-3PO=] gets shot, he makes the jump from innocently annoying towards Han and Leia to outright obnoxious towards Chewie and R2.
* KilledMidSentence: A variant.
-->[''over intercom''] Imperial troops have entered the base! Imperial troops have entered-- [''burst of static''].
* KooshBomb: Used for a frame or two at a time.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Darth Vader is Luke's father. The prequels have effectively made it a non-spoiler now.
* MillionToOneChance: "Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately three thousand, seven hundred twenty to one!" "{{Never tell me the odds}}!"
* MomentKiller: Just as Han and Leia were into their first kiss, C-3PO bursts in, chattering about the reverse power flux couplings. Well, he ''has'' found the [[OppositesAttract reverse]] [[SlapSlapKiss power]] [[BigDamnKiss coupling]].
* MovingTheGoalposts: Lando tried to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with Darth Vader]], agreeing to imprison his old friend Han Solo and his companions in exchange for the Empire not killing everyone in his city. Vader kept altering the deal, because Lando realizes too late that he's completely powerless.
* TheMusketeer: It's not as obvious as other examples of this trope but Luke [[SwordAndGun carries his blaster and lightsaber into battle together]] (mostly evident in the climax where goes from shooting Stormtroopers to dueling with Vader). It's the only movie in which he does this as well as the only time in the entire film franchise we see a Jedi or Sith doing it.
* NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine: With Vader in Cloud City.
-->'''Vader''': We would be honoured if you would join us.
* NoOSHACompliance: Definitely shown during the lightsaber duel on Bespin. Why anyone would work there is anyone's guess. Railings seem to be very expensive to install or maintain.
* NoodleIncident: "I'm sure [Lando]'s forgotten all about that." Explained in the StarWarsExpandedUniverse.
-->'''Lando''': Why you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler. You got a lot of guts coming here after what you pulled.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: How Yoda first acts around Luke, [[SecretTestOfCharacter to ascertain Luke's mental preparedness for Jedi training]].
* OffTheShelfFX: Due to the scale necessary for the Star Destroyer's bridge model, ILM used an off-the-shelf Millennium Falcon model kit for the shot where the Falcon is hiding on the back of the bridge.
** Both a potato and a shoe were used during the asteroid field scene. The shoe has a rumored story too - The rumor in question being that George Lucas asked the FX crew to redo the scene so many times that they got annoyed and one of them threw in their shoe. The potato can be seen in beginning of the scene in the top left corner.
* OhCrap:
** The look on Piett's face when the Falcon finally gets the hyperdrive fixed just before the Star Destroyer can lock on the tractor beam. He [[YouHaveFailedMe knows the price of failure]]: Vader Force-chokes you. Luckily for Piett, Vader is more disappointed than angry.
** Cpt. Needa when they lose the ''Millennium Falcon'' (hiding on the Destroyer's surface itself), and realizing he has to own up to Vader that he let them get away.
-->'''Needa''': [[BenevolentBoss I shall assume full responsibility for losing them]], and apologize to Lord Vader.
-->''*GilliganCut to Cpt. Needa dropping dead; his lifeless body is carried out of the room*''
-->'''Vader''': Apology accepted, Captain Needa.
** C-3PO, before he got blasted.
-->Oh my. [[MotorMouth I am terrible sorry I didn't mean to intrude no-no please don't get up--]] ''[*BLAST*]'' [[BigNo NO!]]
* PercussiveMaintenance: Han pounding on the ''Falcon'' fixes a short in the systems.
* PlotDrivenBreakdown: The hyperdrive on the ''Falcon'' always fails just in the nick of time.
* PlummetPerspective: It's a long way down from Cloud City. If you know anything about gas giants, it's even worse, as there's really ''no bottom''; you'd just keep falling until the atmospheric pressure crushes you.
* PrecisionFStrike: during the the following conversation between Han and a rebel technician.
-->'''Rebel technician''' (to Han): Your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker.
-->'''Han''': Then [[SeeYouInHell I'll see you in hell!]]
* RuleOfThree: C-3PO describing the ridiculous odds against whatever Han Solo's trying to do. The ''Millennium Falcon'' failing to jump into hyperdrive when needed. Vader choking his subordinates for failing him.
* RunningGag: Again, the hyperdrive on the ''Falcon'' failing. By the third time, Leia and Chewie just kinda look at each other, neither one of them surprised at ''all.'' Eventually, Chewie goes into a rage, and Leia just does a FacePalm.
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: The Falcon somehow got to Bespin when its hyperdrive was broken, which should have taken months, if not years, at sublight velocities unless it was in the same star system as Anoat. This was {{Retcon}}ned in the ExpandedUniverse to actually take months (as well as giving Luke plenty of time for Jedi training).
* SecondChapterCliffhanger: Perhaps the TropeMaker for ending the second installment of a TwoPartTrilogy on a CliffHanger.
* SequelEscalation: The movie has more locales, more action, and features the first Luke/Vader lightsaber duel. While the Force in the first movie was vaguely defined telepathic powers, ''Empire'' shows the Force can also give you telekinesis, superhuman physical abilities and low-grade clairvoyance.
* ShippedInShackles: Han Solo is frozen in carbonite for his trip to Jabba the Hutt. Vader plans to use the same procedure on Luke so he can be taken to the Emperor without escaping or fighting back.
* ShoutOut: To ''Literature/TheAeneid''. Chewbacca carrying [=C-3PO=] on his back during their escape from cloud city is a clear reference to Aeneas carrying his father out of Troy. Similarly, the Walkers' attack on Hoth is handled like the Romans' battles with Carthaginian war elephants during the First Punic War. The Official Encyclopedia states that the shot of Chewbacca holding C-3PO's head is a ShoutOut to the AlasPoorYorick moment of ''{{Hamlet}}''. [[hottip:*:"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horahhhoooooaa":]]
* SlapSlapKiss: Han and Leia.
* SpaceSuitsAreScubaGear: In this case, they're face masks attached to an oxygen tank.
* StealthInSpace: Han's successful attempts at hiding from Star Destroyers (but not from cunning bounty hunters). [[GenreSavvy Boba had]] [[AttackOfTheClones seen this trick before...]]
* SternChase: The cat-and-mouse between the ''Falcon'' and the Imperial fleet.
* TheStoolPigeon: [[spoiler:Lando Calrissian was forced by the Empire to sell out Han Solo and his friends to the Empire because they threatened total occupation/total annihilation of Cloud City if he didn't. In other words, he's closer to the Lacerated Larry type.]]
* SoulBrotha: Lando Calrissian, who gives Solo a run for his money in the charm and cool department (and even puts the moves on Leia, who's totally uninterested).
* TakingTheBullet: Captain Needa [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices himself]] to a Force Choke to save his crew from Vader's wrath.
* ThatsNoMoon: The sandworm masquerading as a harmless cave.
* ThrowItIn: When they just couldn't get Han's response to Leia in their last scene right, Irvin finally just told Harrison to do anything, and he just blurted out "I know." The original line was "I love you too." Ford argued that Han Solo would never say such a thing directly, much less repeat someone. Lucas and Kershner agreed.
* TooSmartForStrangers:
--> '''C-3PO (conversing with R2-D2):''' "Why didn't we just go into lightspeed? We can't? How would you know the hyperdrive has been deactivated?! The city's central computer told you? R2-D2, you know better than to trust a strange computer!"
* TrainingFromHell: Fond of it, Yoda is. ''And'' steal your lunch, he will.
* TryAndFollow: Han rushing into the asteroid field at full speed.
* UnPaused: C-3PO is damaged by Imperial stormtrooper fire. When he's repaired and reactivated, he replays what he was saying and thinking when he was attacked.
* VillainsNeverLie: Except when [[ILied they do]].
* WeCanRuleTogether: Vader offers this to Luke.
* WellExcuseMePrincess: Han and Leia, in spades.
* WhamEpisode: Okay, even though [[ItWasHisSled it's not a secret any more]], Vader being Luke's father was a huge shock when the movie came out. Not to mention all the rest of the stuff at the end. Also "ThereIsAnother", which resulted in a lot of debate at the time. Han was a favorite candidate.
* WhamLine: Vader's parental revelation.
** "There is another."
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: [[AvertedTrope Han tries]] ''[[HanShotFirst immediately.]]'' Vader simply [[BulletCatch blocks the shots with his hand]], then Force-pulls the blaster away from Han.
* YouKilledMyFather: Famous subversion.
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