Summary
Star Warsmovies and TV showshave done so much more withAnakin Skywalker/Darth Vadersince theStar Warssequel trilogy, revealing one of the franchise’s greatest missed opportunities. Anakin is undeniably one ofStar Wars’most powerful Jediand one of the franchise’s most compelling characters. While he may have been introduced in the original trilogy as the terrifying, faceless villain Darth Vader, the prequel trilogy went on to reveal that there was so much more to Anakin.
In fact, while reception may have initially been quite different,Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithis now considered one ofStar Wars’best movies, in part because of Anakin’s arc. Despite the impact Anakin’s story had, though,the sequel trilogy confusingly barely incorporated Anakin. This error has only become more glaring in recent years in light of all thatStar Warshas since done with his character.
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Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
TheStar Warssequel trilogy received considerable criticism, although much of it pertained to the story arcs of the original trilogy’s heroes—Luke Skywalker in particular—and resistance to new stories, particularly Rey’s. However,the sequel trilogy also wasted the opportunity to develop Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader’s story in a compelling way. Anakin was present throughout the sequel trilogy, albeit in a bit of an odd way. Kylo Ren was clearly obsessed with the idea of his grandfather, but he seemed to fundamentally misunderstand Darth Vader.
Kylo Ren was clearly obsessed with the idea of his grandfather, but he seemed to fundamentally misunderstand Darth Vader.
Clearly, Kylo Ren modeled his dark side persona off of his grandfather, from the mask to the ways the First Order was a copycat of the Empire. However,this largely ignored that Vader was known to have returned to the light side of the Force before his death. Undoubtedly, when Leia and Luke told Ben about Anakin, they mentioned that, yes, he was a ruthless Sith Lord, but he had also been a powerful Jedi and, in the end, had returned to the light.
That message seems lost on Kylo Ren, though, who spent much of the sequels essentially praying to his grandfather’s destroyed helmet, asking for help growing in his commitment to the dark side. Presumably, this was really Palpatine playing tricks on Kylo Ren, as he was revealed inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerto have been a voice in Ben’s head all along. However, that one reveal didn’t have to mean that Anakin’s role in the sequels needed to be nearly non-existent.
In fact,Star Warshas since proven that Anakin was a Force ghost at the time. Rather than take advantage of that incredible opportunity, the sequels sidelined Anakin, having him included in the chorus of Jedi voices inThe Rise of Skywalkerbut not developed in any other way. This is especially odd given Hayden Christensen’s very vocal willingness to continue participating inStar Warsprojects.
Rather than take advantage of that incredible opportunity, the sequels sidelined Anakin.
There are so many more interesting forms Anakin’s story could have taken in the sequels. While it could be argued thatStar Warswanted to move in a different direction for the sequel trilogy rather than pull from the history of the Skywalkers, that doesn’t seem to be the case, particularly based on the trajectory ofThe Rise of Skywalker. Arguably, drawing more upon the idea that the final battle was Anakin’s grandson and Palpatine’s granddaughter destroying the Sith could have been a better full-circle moment.
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Ahsoka Brought Hayden Christensen Back
Since the sequels,Star Warshas more than proven that it knows how to write a beautiful story arc for Anakin Skywalker even after the Skywalker Saga has concluded. In bothObi-Wan KenobiandAhsoka, Anakin’s character was developed in a way that made an already complex character even more complicated and compelling. InObi-Wan Kenobi, set in the Dark Times, Anakin was shown not only in flashback, training with Obi-Wan in a sequence that revealed the weaknesses that would ultimately spell his downfall, but also in the Darth Vader suit.
The Vader scenes were inarguably the best of Anakin inObi-Wan Kenobi.
The Vader scenes were inarguably the best of Anakin inObi-Wan Kenobi, particularly in the epic fight between Vader and Obi-Wan in the show’s finale. This show brilliantly captured that even as Darth Vader was one ofStar Wars’most powerful Sithbrutally ruling the galaxy, he was still the same conflicted man Obi-Wan had known. In fact, the moment in which Vader’s mask breaks and half of Anakin’s face shows through is the perfect representation of the permanent conflict Anakin lived with even as Darth Vader.
Likewise, inAhsoka, Anakin’s character was explored in fascinating ways even when it wasn’t truly Anakin standing before Ahsoka. In the show, Ahsoka Tano entersthe World Between Worldsand finally comes face-to-face with her beloved former master; however, Anakin seems more like a vision or memory than his true self. Although this arc was much more about Ahsoka’s need to confront her past and let go of her anger and guilt, the episode also revealed new insights into Anakin’s experiences.
Specifically, when Ahsoka begins to discuss Anakin’s fall and all that he caused, Anakin immediately becomes defensive, and this is when he turns into Darth Vader. While it isn’t truly Anakin in the World Between Worlds, this moment is quite telling; this is likely the closestStar Warswill come to revealing how Anakin truly felt about his former Padawan after he had fallen to the dark side. Interestingly,he seems to feel guilt and shame even if he channels that into anger.
This again suggests Anakin felt intense conflict as Darth Vader, which has been explored inStar Warscomics but hasn’t been fully conveyed on-screen. In fact, the image of Vader’s broken mask inObi-Wan Kenobiwas first used inStar Wars Rebelsduring Vader’s confrontation with Ahsoka, but this was a fleeting moment. Notably,Ahsokadid leave the door open for Anakin to return again, perhaps in theupcomingAhsokaseason 2, as he appeared as a Force ghost in the final episode. However, this would have been an incredible story to explore in the sequels.
Mae
Most recently,evenThe Acolytehas been drawing upon the idea of Anakin Skywalker. AlthoughOsha and Mae are not the Chosen One, it’s difficult to ignore the parallels between their story and Anakin’s. For one, Osha joined the Jedi Order at an older age than most Jedi Initiates (in fact, at nearly the exact same age Anakin was when he joined the Order). Much more obviously, though, Osha and Mae were created with a vergence in the Force and without a father.
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Anakin’s story was different because he was the vergence in the Force itself and, of course, because he was the Chosen One, but the similarities betweenThe Acolyte’sprotagonists and Anakin Skywalker were surely not coincidental. In part, this seems to be becauseThe Acolyteis becoming an essential piece of Anakin’s origin story. The reveal that Darth Plagueis, Palpatine’s Sith master, was watching Osha from a distance has already suggested thatthe twins may be the key to Plagueis learning to create life, leading to Anakin’s creation.
These parallels inThe Acolytealso confirm that Anakin Skywalker remains an essential and compelling part ofStar Wars.
However, these parallels inThe Acolytealso confirm that Anakin Skywalker remains an essential and compelling part ofStar Wars. This again makes it all the more puzzling that the sequel trilogy didn’t take better advantage of the opportunity Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader’s legacy presented.If Anakin’s story can be developed nearly 100 years before he was born, why wasn’t it part of the sequels?
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Star Wars Has Learned To Love The Prequel Era Again
Part of the resurgence of Anakin Skywalker in the franchise has been due to the growing love for the prequel trilogy. When the sequel trilogy was created, there wasn’t the same very vocal love for the prequels that there is today, which may explain why Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader didn’t play a larger role. Like mostStar Warsmovies and TV shows, the prequel trilogy was sadly met with harsh backlash when it was released, and it took time for that criticism to be overtaken by the love and nostalgia that so many clearly now have for that era.
Part of the resurgence of Anakin Skywalker in the franchise has been due to the growing love for the prequel trilogy.
This growing love hopefully means thatStar Warswill avoid repeating the mistakes of the sequel trilogy and, moving forward, will continue to call upon the prequel trilogy stories, characters, and actors when appropriate. Already, there are multiple ways this could be true for Anakin, most obviously inAhsokaseason 2. In all likelihood,Star Warshasn’t seen the last ofAnakin Skywalker, but it nevertheless remains disappointing that the sequel trilogy didn’t take better advantage of his story.
