I think the comparison isn’t completely fair between the films. In SW Tarkin and Vader seem to be friends who respect each other but Tarkin is the military boss who is in charge of the station. Also Vader doesn’t have much to do really on his own.
Yeah, you’re right, they are on equal ground, pretty much. I guess what I meant was like Tarkin is in charge of the Death Star project, so that’s his turf, and then in TESB
we’re on Vader’s ship, as you said.
In TESB we see Vader only in his own SSD that is in charge of the relatively small fleet. Even then, the admiral of the fleet is in charge of the fleet, but sure, they act on Vader’s orders which is to find Luke and the rebels. So he had is own quest to complete by any means necessary. I think after the small group of rebels destroyed the Death Star, the Emperor realized the danger and Vader got a bit of a promotion. Before that Vader had served his duty by killing the Jedi already.
Then the Emperor is in charge of Death Star II when he arrives.
Kind of related, I also had thought it was cool that the lightning was the Emperor’s own personal force power he had mastered himself…until Count Dooku did it that is.