Recap / The Empire Strikes Back

Three years have passed since the destruction of the Empire's Death Star. Despite this groundbreaking victory, the Rebel Alliance has been hunted down by the Imperial fleet across the galaxy. Darth Vader dispatches several Imperial probe droids to find them, one of which locates the rebels on the remote icy planet named Hoth.

Luke Skywalker, hero of the Rebellion, goes on a patrol to investigate that droid but is knocked out cold and captured by a Wampa. While Han Solo braves the freezing temperatures to find Luke, the Jedi-to-be uses the Force to escape, only to be confronted by the bitter cold outside the Wampa's cave. Before passing out, the Force spirit of his late mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi tells him to go to Dagobah to train under Master Yoda as Han arrives to keep Luke warm.

The next day, Luke and Han are found with Luke being placed into medical care and Han having a minor fallout with Leia when she tries to ask him to stay with the Rebels. Meanwhile, Vader and the Imperial fleet arrive on Hoth to attack the Rebel base. In response, the Rebels evacuate in small groups in transport ships, but despite their valor and Luke's ingenious methods to down some of the Imperial's fearsome AT-AT Walkers, one manages to blow up the main generator and the Rebels suffer massive casualties. Han escapes with Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2 and his Wookie co-pilot Chewbacca, but the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive malfunctions and they are forced to hide in an asteroid field to evade the Imperials. All alone in one asteroid, Han and Leia grow closer amidst tensions, but are forced to fend off the parasitic Mynocks before escaping from the asteroid's giant worm inhabitant.

Back with the Imperials, Lord Vader's fleet is unable to pass through the asteroid field. As for Vader himself, he sends some bounty hunters to find the Millennium Falcon and also receives a transmission from his master, Emperor Palpatine going as Darth Sidious, who discusses about Luke Skywalker, stating the lad could potentially cause the Empire's destruction. Vader, however, is convinced he can turn him over to his side.

Meanwhile, Luke escapes Hoth in his X-Wing and sets course for Dagobah on Obi-Wan's instructions. There, amidst the planet's swamps, he meets the old Jedi Master Yoda, who rigorously trains the lad the ways of the Force over many days, from physical training to using the Force to lifting objects such as rocks and his sinking X-Wing. However, when he receives a vision of his friends in danger, he leaves to help them despite Yoda and Obi-Wan warning him otherwise.

Han and company head to Cloud City to repair the Falcon and are warmly welcomed by Han's old friend, Lando Calrissian. The Rebel group, however, is suspicious of his activities while 3PO gets attacked and dismantled. Indeed, a bounty hunter named Boba Fett had already arrived there a day prior to theirs, and threatened Lando into submission to capture Han and his team, back by the Imperials. The group are captured and Han is frozen into a block of carbonite which Boba carries away to Jabba the Hutt. Darth Vader alters his deal with Lando, but the dissatisfied governor frees Leia and Chewbacca and overpowers the Imperials with aid from Cloud City security personnel. This effort for redemption was sadly too little too late, for Boba has left with Han in tow and the city is teeming with Imperials.

Luke arrives at Cloud City where he tries to rescue his friends, but wanders to the same room where Han was frozen in carbonite. There, he meets the dark Sith lord Vader and duels with him while his friends engage the Imperial forces, intending to escape the city on the Falcon. Amidst the duel between Jedi and Sith, Luke loses his right hand before Vader reveals a shocking revelation about himself: he is Luke's father. Luke is left flabbergasted by this information and screams in denial. Vader offers him a place at his side but the Sith apprentice's son drops down to Cloud City's underside.

Leia mysteriously picks up Luke's distress signal and the Falcon's crew arrives to his rescue. The group attempts to escape, but the ship's hyperdrive fails again, due to a sabotage by the Empire's forces. As Luke hears the cries of his father, R2-D2 undoes the sabotage, allowing the Falcon to jump to light speed and evade the Empire's clutches.

Regrouping with the Rebel fleet, Luke receives a prosthetic right hand and watches with Leia, R2 and a repaired 3PO as Lando and Chewbacca head off to rescue their ally and friend, Han Solo...