The Mandalorian Season 2

[Peelee]

And this is a telling microcosm of that concept. How do you strike him down after throwing away your lightsaber? With your other one? Was Luke supposed to toss it aside, leave the room, come back in and then pick it up again? If yes, what was the initial tossing aside supposed to represent narratively? It's nonsensical.

Thinking about it just now, he probably fully believed he could turn Vader at that point. The very next thing Luke says is a plea for his father to help him. Just from a worse position than he thought.

I've always had a bit of a problem with this conceit in action movies. If you've offed a pile of henchmen with no consideration, then why extend more to the guy at the top of the pile, most responsible for evil?

Why worry about sparing the leader and not the minions? If anything, it should be the other way 'round.

Even if the guy you're sparing immediately tries to shank you after sparing you, why go through that particular song and dance?

The minions can't be martyrs. They don't have the eyes of the public on them. If there are enough of them (eg Death Star population), there is no way to stop the Death Star at that time while not killing them. None of these are strictly, necessarily true for the leader. It sucks, but that's how it is sometimes.

Not all the times. But sometimes.