Anakin Skywalker defined – who’s the Star Wars hero and villain?

Who’s Anakin Skywalker? Throughout the 9 motion pictures, numerous spin-off sequence, and comedian books, the one individual that underpins the Star Wars universe as we all know it’s Anakin Skywalker — or, as some would possibly know him, Darth Vader.

Star Wars is outlined by Anakin Skywalker. Although we be taught lots about him within the Authentic Trilogy underneath the guise of Darth Vader, you’ll have to look at the Star Wars motion pictures so as (beginning with the prequels) to get his full story. Right here, we see the Star Wars character go from a Padawan to a hero, after which grow to be the most effective film villains of all time.

A number of actors have performed Anakin and Darth Vader over time. Nonetheless, it’s Star Wars solid member Hayden Christensen who has grow to be synonymous with the character — particularly after reprising his position in Star Wars sequence Obi-Wan Kenobi. Given his instrumental position within the franchise, right here’s Anakin Skywalker defined — from starting to finish.

Who’s Anakin Skywalker?

Anakin Skywalker was a legendary Jedi Knight and hero within the Clone Wars earlier than turning to the Darkish Facet. Within the Star Wars timeline, the prequel trilogy tells the story of Anakin Skywalker earlier than he turned Darth Vader. He meets Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as a Pressure-sensitive youngster and is recruited into the Jedi Order and educated by Kenobi as Qui-Gon’s dying want.

As defined within the ebook Darth Plagueis, Anakin was the product of a Pressure experiment performed by Sith Lords Darth Plageius and Emperor Palpatine. The pair had been attempting to see if the Pressure might be used to revive the lifeless, however the Pressure went haywire in response, creating Anakin in Shmi in an act of immaculate conception. A technique of it’s that Anakin’s father is sort of actually the Pressure — however we’ll in all probability by no means know the exact, unambiguous reality for positive.

Nonetheless, underneath the coaching of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin turns into an exceptionally proficient Jedi. He takes on an apprentice of his personal in the course of the Clone Wars, Ashoka Tano (who now has her personal present on Disney Plus), and fights on the aspect of the Excessive Republic together with the remainder of the Jedi Order.

Nonetheless, regardless of his distinctive power and expertise, his ambition, ardour, and tendency to anger implies that he doesn’t all the time play by the principles of the Jedi. As an example, he defies Jedi guidelines about celibacy and relationships and falls in love with and secretly marries Padme Amidala — the chief of Naboo. Palpatine manipulates Anakin’s concern for her security, their relationship, and their future youngsters in an effort to coax him towards the darkish aspect of the Pressure.

Why is Anakin Skywalker the Chosen One?

Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One of many Jedi Order, which foretold that he would deliver stability to the Pressure.

In Star Wars canon, the prophecy of the ‘Chosen One’ was established by historical Jedi mystics and philosophers. In essence, this prophecy stated {that a} deeply highly effective, Pressure-sensitive being would sooner or later deliver stability to the Pressure by destroying the Sith for good. The prophecy by no means specified who precisely this being could be, however they had been described by Yoda as “a vessel of pure Pressure.”

Due to Anakin’s immaculate conception, excessive midi-chlorian rely, and extraordinary power with the Pressure, Qui-Gon Jinn believed that he was the being that the Prophecy was foretold, and so was decided to coach him. The Jedi Council initially forbade Jinn from coaching Anakin, however Darth Maul then slew Jinn. In his dying moments, he made Obi-Wan promise to coach Anakin, and Kenobi then made Anakin his Padawan with the blessing of the Jedi Council.

Why does Anakin grow to be Darth Vader?

Anakin turns into Darth Vader after betraying the Jedi and killing Depend Dooku to avoid wasting Palpatine, who be believes has the ability to stop the demise of his spouse Padme and save his future youngsters Luke and Leia.

This villainous origin story was brewing lengthy earlier than he turned his again on the Jedi Order for good. Again when he was nonetheless a Padawan, in the course of the occasions of Assault of the Clones, he returned to Tatooine and found that Tusken raiders had murdered his mom. Consumed by rage at that second, he killed an entire Indigenous tribe — together with ladies and kids.

After the Clone Wars, in the course of the occasions of Revenge of the Sith, he turns into more and more disillusioned by the Jedi Order for not granting him the rank of Grasp. He additionally turns into affected by nightmares of Padme’s demise, and turns into shut associates with Chancellor Palpatine. Palpatine, who’s secretly Darth Sidious, slowly pushes Anakin in direction of the Darkish Facet by encouraging him to offer into his feelings, and convincing him that turning into a Sith Lord will enable him to make use of the Pressure to stop folks from dying.

As soon as Palpatine’s id is revealed, he executes Order 66 and finally convinces Anakin to kill Mace Windu and succumb to the Darkish Facet utterly. As a part of finishing up Order 66, he kills all of the Jedi younglings. He, Padme and Obi-Wan quickly reunite, and he or she tries to enchantment to Anakin, however he Pressure-chokes her. Obi-Wan and Anakin then battle to the demise on the lava-filled planet Mustafar, with Obi-Wan finally getting the excessive floor and leaving Anakin for lifeless as he turns into consumed within the lava.

Anakin is severely injured, and turns into reliant on cybernetic implants and his armor which comprises life help know-how. This black, robotic armor contains a helmet which permits him to breathe.

How does Anakin deliver stability to the Pressure?

As Darth Vader, Anakin introduced stability to the Pressure by sacrificing himself to kill Palpatine and save Luke.

In Return of the Jedi, Luke is near becoming a member of the Darkish Facet and turning into Palpatine’s apprentice — however finally resists this, thereby incomes the mantle of Jedi Knight. Livid at this resolution, Palpatine overpowers Luke and is near killing him with Pressure Lightning, however Luke, nonetheless believing Anakin is in there, begs Vader for assist. It’s at this second that Vader turns away from the Darkish Facet and turns into Anakin as soon as once more, as he sacrifices each himself and Palpatine in an effort to save Luke.

Thus, in his closing moments, Anakin fulfils his future because the Chosen One by destroying the final of the Sith and bringing stability again to the Pressure. He dies a Jedi, turns into one with the Pressure, and joins Yoda and Obi-Wan as Pressure Ghosts.

To seek out out extra about the place Anakin suits into the Skywalker Saga, take a look at the Skywalker household tree. For extra on Star Wars extra broadly, try our information to the new Star Wars motion pictures or be taught in regards to the finest Star Wars film you’ve by no means seen, and preserve updated with the Andor season 2 launch date and The Mandalorian season 4 launch date.

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