He was an oppressive tyrant.
He was doing what he thought best for the galaxy.
He was wrong.
We all are, sometimes.
He tortured me, and countless others.
He believed that the ends justify the means.
They don't.
He's not right about everything. But he's not wrong about everything, either. Remember the Death Star? How many lives were lost when it was destroyed?
Imperial lives!
Do not all lives matter?
He was evil.
He did not see himself as so.
He tortured Han, turned him over to that bounty hunter, and tried to capture Luke! When that failed, he maimed his own son!
True. But when all was said and done, it was he who slayed the Emperor.
Only to save his son's life.
Only?
It was not to save the galaxy.
Perhaps not. Perhaps. But does saving Luke not count for anything? The son who he maimed – yet could not kill?
He murdered his own subordinates.
Pragmatism. A fool placed in a necessary position aboard a Star Cruiser could endanger the lives of all. And Vader did not take along guests.
He was cruel.
He was. But only ever with purpose.
He stood by as Alderaan was destroyed, and did nothing to stop it.
"Tarkin. I should've expected to find you here, holding Vader's leash."
He was... misguided.
Even Mon admits that the Republic was not perfect, either.
His last words were... of me...
"Tell your sister, you were right."
He was, in his own way, a warrior for – what he perceived to be – right.
He was.