The Real Anakin Skywalker Only Appeared Once In The Star Wars Prequels

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Throughout the three Star Wars prequel films, the true Anakin Skywalker was only shown once. Anakin is incredibly powerful, potentially the most powerful Jedi in the Star Wars universe, and the prequels tell the story of his life before he became Darth Vader. As the villainous Darth Vader, he helped rule the galaxy with Palpatine.

Instead of just portraying the Empire as purely evil, the prequel films explored the backstory of the characters, particularly the one behind Darth Vader. Over the years, opinions have shifted, and the prequels are now often considered valuable parts of the Star Wars saga, with Revenge of the Sith frequently appearing on lists of the best films in the franchise.

One reason for this is the exploration of Anakin Skywalker’s origins. However, the original version of Anakin, briefly introduced in 1977’s A New Hope, only appeared once across all three Star Wars prequels.

Revenge Of The Sith’s Opening Sequence Showed The Real Anakin Skywalker

Obi-Wan Kenobi first described Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars as the galaxy’s best pilot, a skilled warrior, and a good friend. However, it wasn’t until the opening scenes of Revenge of the Sith that audiences truly saw that version of the character.

Even though the prequel films gave us a lot of backstory, this scene only happens once. The beginning of Revenge of the Sith features Anakin and Obi-Wan rushing to save Chancellor Palpatine, who has been captured by General Grievous and Count Dooku. This sequence really showcases Anakin’s skills as a pilot.

Anakin truly shines as the galaxy’s top pilot, building on the potential hinted at in The Phantom Menace. This part of the story also showcases his peak lightsaber skills, as he defeats both General Grievous and Count Dooku in combat after Obi-Wan is injured. Plus, the playful back-and-forth between Obi-Wan and Anakin is at its best here.

After this point, neither of the other films, nor the rest of Revenge of the Sith, fully lives up to Obi-Wan’s initial portrayal of Anakin. In The Phantom Menace, Anakin is just a child, so his bond develops more strongly with the paternal Qui-Gon Jinn than with Obi-Wan himself.

Throughout Attack of the Clones, Anakin and Obi-Wan spend most of the film separated, and Anakin feels bitter towards Obi-Wan. Interestingly, Anakin doesn’t pilot any ships in Episode II, and he loses all of his lightsaber fights, which contrasts with Obi-Wan’s earlier claim that Anakin is a skilled and resourceful fighter.

Throughout most of Revenge of the Sith, Anakin’s story focuses on his turn to the dark side and ultimate downfall. However, the very beginning of the film is the only part that truly shows Anakin Skywalker as the skilled pilot, brave fighter, and loyal friend he once was to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The Star Wars Prequels Skipped Over The Most Interesting Versions Of Anakin

It’s unfortunate that the Star Wars prequels didn’t explore more compelling versions of Anakin Skywalker. It would have been fantastic to see Anakin consistently portrayed as a genuine hero, like he is at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, throughout the entire prequel series. That would have better aligned with the character we know from the original Star Wars films.

Beyond that, the prequel films missed opportunities to delve into important parts of Anakin Skywalker’s life. Specifically, the years he spent training with Obi-Wan between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones could have shown more about his inner conflicts – his difficulty following the strict rules of the Jedi, and the beginnings of his romantic feelings for Padmé.

Honestly, I always felt Anakin in Attack of the Clones came across as a bit whiny, and I think they could have really made him a more sympathetic and relatable character. If they’d spent more time showing why he was struggling, and really delved into the things that pushed him towards the dark side, it would have made his fall so much more impactful. The prequels just kind of glossed over that really interesting part of his journey, and it’s a shame.

While Revenge of the Sith offered an intriguing look at Anakin’s turn to the dark side, many fans believe the films would have been stronger if they had focused on his youth and earlier successes as a Jedi, rather than what was shown in The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Used Anakin Better Than The Movies

As a huge fan, I really think The Clone Wars did a much better job with Anakin Skywalker than the prequel movies did. Because the show took place right before Revenge of the Sith, we got to see Anakin at his absolute best. For seven seasons, it really showed us why Obi-Wan talked about him the way he did – we saw that powerful, skilled, and hopeful Jedi in action, and it was amazing!

Anakin was a classic Star Wars hero – skilled in lightsaber combat, dedicated to the Jedi, and a talented pilot who consistently saved the day. The show also did a great job of explaining why Anakin lost faith in the Jedi, exploring sides of his personality that the movies didn’t fully develop.

Watching The Clone Wars helps viewers understand Anakin Skywalker as a more complete and complex character. It makes his turn to the dark side more believable, and it fully realizes the Anakin described by Obi-Wan in Star Wars and briefly glimpsed at the start of Revenge of the Sith.

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2025-11-29 01:59