![Somehow Palpatine Returned Somehow Palpatine Returned](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/032/314/poe.jpg)
Somehow Palpatine Returned
Part of a series on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. [View Related Entries]
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).
![>somehow palpatine returned lol Anonymous Thu 19 Dec 2019 12:07:04 No.126004276 i Report Quoted By: >>126004466 >somehow palpatine returned lol](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/201/eb7.png)
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).
![~ My Rise Of Skywalker Review ~ Early in the film Poe briefs the resistance by saying "Somehow... Palpatine returned" follow 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](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/207/d08.png)
![Does anyone else lie awake at night thinking about how Poe Dameron saying "Somehow, Palpatine returned" is the full extent of 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](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/211/ec2.png)
![....... somehow palpatine returned Matthew @frigginhegg somehow palpatine returned 10:41 AM · Dec 29, 2019 · Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/212/b38.png)
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.
![friends: wanna hang out tonight? me: i can't. somehow, palpatine has returned 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](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/222/c3b.png)
Various Examples
![Annihilation is a cerebral sci-fi masterpiece. Liam @Liam_Norval Annihilation is a cerebral sci-fi masterpiece. Somehow, Palpatine returned 9:21 PM · Dec 31, 2019 · Twitter Web Client](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/224/ac6.png)
![inside llewyn davis The Apostle @LivingLearner27 "Somehow....Emperor Palpatine has returned." 8:20 PM · Jan 1, 2020 · Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/223/72a.png)
![laughing text Vehicle interior with the caption Somehow Palpatine Returned](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/220/e2f.png)
![tired: genuinely explaining how palpatine could feasibly exist in TROS wired: somehow, palpatine has 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](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/225/2b2.png)
![So I got bored and just started Rise of Skywalker. I won't livetweet it like I did TLJ, feels pointless with it so soon after 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](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/219/8bf.png)
![I hate it here 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](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/693/217/380.png)
Search Interest
Not Available.
External References
[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
Top Comments
wisehowl_the_2nd
Jan 03, 2020 at 11:57AM EST
King Edgelord
Jan 03, 2020 at 11:17PM EST