Anakin Skywalker is one of the most popular characters in modern fiction. First introduced as Darth Vader in 1977, Anakin has suffered greatly throughout the Star Wars saga. With Hayden Christensen’s triumphant return in Obi-Wan Kenobi, fans are looking back on the career of the Chosen One. Anakin has gone through some serious turmoil, and we will be looking at some of those moments today. Here are some of Anakin’s saddest moments throughout the Skywalker saga.
CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR OBI-WAN KENOBI
10. Leaving Shmi
Along with his mother, Anakin Skywalker was raised as a slave on Tatooine. He has lived with his mother Shmi all of his young life, and slavery is all he knew. When Qui-Gon discovers how strong he is in the force, he arranges for him to be freed. Anakin wins a race securing his freedom, and he is excited to begin his Jedi training. His excitement is short-lived when he realizes his mother has not been freed. In a tear-jerking moment, he promises his mother that he will return and free her. Shmi was the most important person in his life at that point, and leaving her was the first in a life of suffering.
9. Qui-Gon’s Funeral
Qui-Gon is one of the most popular characters in the Skywalker saga, and Anakin saw him as his mentor. He was the first Jedi he ever met, and he managed to free Anakin. Young Skywalker clearly looked up to the Jedi Master, and his death hit him hard. While having dinner, Anakin states that nobody can kill a Jedi. This funeral proved to the young boy that the fabled Jedi are as mortal as anyone. Anakin was to be taken under Qui-Gon’s wing, but this was all shot down thanks to Darth Maul. Obi-Wan promises to train Anakin but was unable to prevent his fall to the dark side. Many Skywalker Saga fans speculate that had Qui-Gon lived, Anakin’s fate would have been different.
8. “My Father Is Truly Dead”
In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker is desperate to see the good in his father. He turns himself in and shares a brief moment with Darth Vader. Vader begins the classic spiel of turning to the dark side, but Luke gets to him. Luke pleads with Vader to let go of his anger, to which Vader claims his time has passed. The usually angry and vengeful Darth Vader suddenly seems remorseful and full of regret. While talking to his son, it is clear that Anakin Skywalker is truly behind that mask, desperate to be freed. This was the first time Vader had a true moment with his son, and it is clear he wishes he was there for Luke from the very beginning. Vader would clearly give up everything he had done if it meant being with Luke.
7. Shmi’s Death
Thanks to his Jedi training, Anakin was not able to return to his mother as quickly as he would have liked. It isn’t until he begins to have visions of his mother’s death does he return to his home planet. Unfortunately, he is too late. Shmi was kidnapped by Tuskan Raiders, and Anakin arrives just in time to see her take her last breath. This fuels a fire in Anakin and causes him to slaughter the entire camp of Raiders. This was the first major step in Anakin’s turn towards the dark side, and it is gutwrenching. Seeing Anakin hold his mother, realizing he couldn’t save her, is one of the most heartbreaking moments in all of the Skywalker Saga.
6. Choking Padme
In Anakin’s adult life, his only passion is his wife, Padme. The visions of her death led to his final transformation into Darth Vader. He betrayed the Jedi Order and led the assault on the Jedi Temple, all to save her life. When she confronts him, he learns that she isn’t as supportive of his actions as he had hoped. Anakin is filled with rage at this, and seeing Obi-Wan didn’t help matters. Not truly thinking, he chokes his pregnant wife into unconsciousness. Harming Padme in such a way shows that by this point, Anakin Skywalker was truly dead. From here until his death, Darth Vader was all that remained. The hope of saving Padme is why Anakin gave in to the dark side to begin with, so seeing him choke her out of anger is hard to watch.
5. Mace’s Death
From the moment Qui-Gon brought Anakin before the council, Mace Windu did not trust him. As an adult, Anakin was arrogant and reckless, which didn’t help his feelings. Mace felt that Anakin was too close to Palpatine, whom he also didn’t trust. Anakin tells Master Windu that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, leading Mace to begin to trust him. After a fierce battle, Anakin appears to stop Mace from killing Palpatine. Palpatine claims to be able to teach Anakin how to save Padme. Giving in to his feelings, Anakin cuts off Mace Windu’s hand, giving Palpatine the opportunity to kill him. Anakin regrets this almost instantly, but the thought of Padme was stronger than his remorse This is the moment Anakin officially became Darth Vader and led to serious issues in the Skywalker Saga.
4. Order 66
After successfully seducing Anakin Skywalker to the dark side, Palpatine put his master plan in motion. The Clone Troopers unknowingly are implanted with brain chips. When Palpatine executes Order 66, the chips are activated. This causes the Clone Army to turn against the Jedi, killing a majority of the order. Anakin’s hand in the purge is even more heartbreaking. The newly christened Darth Vader leads a legion of Troopers into the Jedi Temple, killing anyone they see.
Not even the children are safe, as Anakin takes out younglings as well as adults. Anakin’s face shows he does not wish to do this, but his longing for power corrupted his mind. Seeing the Jedi that once trusted Anakin fall by his blade is not easy to sit through and shows just how far Anakin is willing to go.
3. Obi-Wan’s Apology
The newest addition to the Skywalker saga, Obi-Wan Kenobi, has recently completed its six-episode run. The final episode sees Obi-Wan face his former apprentice to ensure young Leia gets away safely. After an intense duel, Obi-Wan slashes Vader’s helmet, exposing the face of his former friend. A tearful Obi-Wan apologizes for what has become of Anakin, taking the blame for his fall. Kenobi blames himself not just because of what happened on Mustafar but his failure in training him. Vader says, “You did not kill Anakin Skywalker; I did.” This could be interpreted in a few ways. For one, this could be what is left of Anakin telling Obi-Wan that he doesn’t blame him. On the other hand, this could be Vader taunting his former master. Regardless of how it is viewed, this is a tear-jerking moment that has broken the hearts of fans everywhere.
2. Duel On Mustafar
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were inseparable. Their relationship was more than just that of a master and his apprentice; they were brothers. Obi-Wan took it upon himself to face Anakin after his fall, and he realizes his friend is gone. Despite his best efforts, Obi-Wan has to fight Anakin. In arguably the best lightsaber duel in the franchise, the two former friends brutally fight on a planet filled with lava. Throughout the battle, Kenobi tried desperately to plead with Anakin, but it is no good. Anakin’s arrogance is his downfall, as it leads to Obi-Wan cutting off his limbs and burning in the lava. Seeing these two go at it is nothing short of gutwrenching, but the aftermath is where the tears truly start.
1. Rise, Lord Vader
Obi-Wan leaves his former padawan on Mustafar to die. When Palpatine finds him, all that is left is a charred warrior barely clinging to life. Anakin is put into a mechanical suit, which he wears for the remainder of his life. In many ways, this isn’t just a suit, it is a prison. Any hope that Vader could return to the light was seemingly lost behind the emotionless helmet of Darth Vader. The moment the mask covers his face for the first time, fans know that the Anakin they have come to love has gone. There is no more hero of the Clone Wars, no more Jedi Knight, no more Anakin Skywalker. Seeing the once-great hero fall in such a way is perhaps the saddest moment of all.
