5
Somehow Palpatine Returned

Somehow Palpatine Returned

Part of a series on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. [View Related Entries]

Updated Aug 12, 2020 at 09:44AM EDT by shevyrolet.

Added Jan 03, 2020 at 11:25AM EST by Matt.

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

Editor's Note: This entry contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; read at your own caution.

About

"Somehow Palpatine Returned" is a memorable quote uttered by the fictional character Poe Dameron in the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Online, some mocked the line, criticizing the lack of specificity for the return of the character of Emperor Palpatine, the film's antagonist.

Origins

On December 19th, 2019, the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiered in the United States. In the film, the character Poe Dameron (portrayed by Oscar Isaac) tells a group of resistance fighters, "Somehow Palpatine has returned."

Shortly after the release, an anonymous 4chan [1] user in the /tv/ forum announced that an unauthorized copy leaked online. Another user responded to the thread with "'>somehow palpatine returned' lol" (shown below).


Anonymous Thu 19 Dec 2019 12:07:04 No.126004276 i Report Quoted By: >>126004466 >somehow palpatine returned lol

Spread

Over the next few days, others continued to criticize the line. The following day, Twitter [2] user @magiccola tweeted, "~ My Rise Of Skywalker Review ~ Early in the film Poe briefs the resistance by saying 'Somehow… Palpatine returned' followed by several gasps and frowns. Also I had to stifle hysterical laughter during what was supposed to be a super dramatic scene mid-way through" (shown below, left).

Twitter[3] skyelo_ren tweeted, "Does anyone else lie awake at night thinking about how Poe Dameron saying 'Somehow, Palpatine returned' is the full extent of the explanation that we receive about how Palpatine returned?" The tweet received more than 4,200 likes and 790 retweets in less than one week (shown below, center).

The following day, Twitter[4] user @frigginhegg posted two screenshots of Poe saying the line with the caption "……. somehow palpatine returned." The tweet received more than 7,400 likes and 880 retweets in less than one week (shown below, right).


Honest Abe Lincoln's Teriyaki Links @magiccola · My Rise Of Skywalker Review Early in the film Poe briefs the resistance by saying "Somehow... Palpatine returned" followed by several gasps and frowns. Also I had to stifle hysterical laughter during what was supposed to be a super dramatic scene mid-way through. 9:57 AM · Dec 20, 2019 · Twitter for Android Skye @skyelo_ren Does anyone else lie awake at night thinking about how Poe Dameron saying "Somehow, Palpatine returned" is the full extent of the explanation that we receive about how Palpatine returned? 4:38 AM · Dec 28, 2019 · Twitter Web App Matthew @frigginhegg somehow palpatine returned 10:41 AM · Dec 29, 2019 · Twitter Web App


Others used the line to joke about other situations. Twitter[5] user @theblastjedi tweeted, "friends: wanna hang out tonight? me: i can't. somehow, palpatine has returned." The tweet received more than 3,500 likes and 700 retweets in less than four days (shown below).

On Januar 2nd, 2020, The Daily Dot [6] posted a report on the meme.


marti 2 loves ben solo @theblastjedi friends: wanna hang out tonight? me: i can't. somehow, palpatine has returned 1:15 AM · Dec 30, 2019 · Twitter for Android


Various Examples


Liam @Liam_Norval Annihilation is a cerebral sci-fi masterpiece. Somehow, Palpatine returned 9:21 PM · Dec 31, 2019 · Twitter Web Client The Apostle @LivingLearner27 "Somehow....Emperor Palpatine has returned." 8:20 PM · Jan 1, 2020 · Twitter Web App Vehicle interior with the caption Somehow Palpatine Returned
Rebel Scum Finn @realtraitorfinn tired: genuinely explaining how palpatine could feasibly exist in TROS wired: somehow, palpatine has returned 3:44 PM · Dec 29, 2019 · Twitter for Android Gen @ningenparable Sol got bored and just started Rise of Skywalker. I won't livetweet it like I did TLJ, feels pointless with it so soon after release. But l'm loving this line, it's the movie in a nutshell. "Somehow Palpatine returned." 11:57 PM · Dec 24, 2019 · Twitter Web Client Eric Dripflexer @AGENTZETABEAM Poe: "Somehow...Palpatine returned." Oscar Isaac: EThe Slap.com ANDRE HARRIS I HATE IT HERE DATE FEELING: PAIN Frends Home 6:04 PM · Dec 29, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

Search Interest

Not Available.

External References

[1] 4pblebs – /tv/

[2] Twitter – @magiccola's Tweet

[3] Twitter – @skyelo_ren's Tweet

[4] Twitter – @frigginhegg's Tweet

[5] Twitter – @theblastjedi's Tweet

[6] The Daily Dot – ‘Somehow, Palpatine has returned’ is the best new ‘Star Wars’ meme

Related Entries 13 total


View All Related Entries

Recent Videos 1 total

     

Recent Images 17 total


Top Comments

King Edgelord
Delete
NSFW
King Edgelord

this right here is my sole problem with the film, they show a lot of stuff which implies cloning had something to do with it, and palpatine's new body is super fucked up so it's clear his dark side powers have been eating away at it to the point where he can't really use it. so the idea that a clone body is, at best, a temporary replacement and not a suitable vessel adds up.

but i'd love it if they fucking said anything instead of forcing us to connect the goddamned dots. I don't watch movies to do the dot connecting myself, i watch movies because i had eight extra dollars and time to kill in a room with twenty other people who also don't give a shit and just want the film to explain important plot points.
but NOOOO, we gotta be all pretentious and broadcast palpatine's return on fortnite and then NOT explain jack shit about how he's back. Fuck you movie. fuck you.

+44
Reply

+ Add a Comment

Comments (75)


Display Comments

Add a Comment


Hi! You must login or signup first!