I love how Clone Wars avoids a continuity error with the whole "my powers have doubled since we last met" between Anakin and Dooku in Revenge of the Sith by...making every single one of their encounters all similarly ominous lmao.

Like every single time the duo of dumbasses that is Obikin crosses paths with Dooku I swear they spend like a solid 2 minutes exchanging pause-for-effect one liners like they've never met before it's always "Ahh Young Skywalker, how fitting the great General Kenobi was able to rescue you" like omg SHUT UP as if you 3 dramatic ass bitches aren't doing lightsaber tricks with eachother every other Thursday

I was wrong Obi-Wan isn't the original source of Anakin's sass and flare, it's Let-Me-Just-Meditate-While-I-Await-Your-Arrival-Before-Battle Dooku

-Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights

@pscentral​ take two 2.0: love SHALE’S 1K PARTY ☆ for Oli

🎉+Wuthering Heights for @anakinskywalkerog

I've already mentioned this in a previous post but felt the need to clarify. One thing that George Lucas absolutely mastered in the prequels is the politics and the foreshadowing of what was to come.

I know the prequels get alot of hate (at least they used to until the sequels came out and we learned to count our blessings). And yeah they have their flaws. For me the biggest thing is I wish the romance between Anakin and Padmé had been better developed. They have great chemistry and I don't think the dialogue was that bad, sure it was awkward but realistic. He's been in love with her for 10 years, worships the ground she walks on. I just wish we could have spent a little more time watching their feelings for eachother grow, but tbh that's my only real complaint. They're fantastic together in ROTS when they're established.

But God overall those films display such a masterfull understanding of real life history and how domino's fall, one after the other, seemingly randomly and meaninglessly until they all come together and it clicks ans it all makes sense and you start to recognise this world you're watching morph into the world from the original trilogy. I will never forget those last 20 minutes of Revenge of the Sith. How Darth Sideous' plan that's been years in the making comes together effortlessly, flawlessly. It's at once tragic because it seems so preventable, but simultaneously feels like what was destined to happen since Episode I.

The dread starts to kick in when Obi Wan leaves Anakin to "be the hero" at the start pf the film, seeing how he's grown comfortable leaving Anakin with Palpatine, and builds steadily until the horrifying realisation that is Order 66. You realise how everything has come together, Palpetine slowly but surely amassing power in the senate, orchestrating a war in order to be able to use "special powers" you know as soon as mentioned he will never lose. Its so earily similar to how dictarships come about in real life. So like the "special powers" Hitler amassed, the Night of the Long Knives where he eliminated all his opponents.

Freedom is lost slowly, insidiously (pun intended) with the people often encouraging it, not knowing what they cheer for. It is like Padmé said, "This is how liberty dies. To thunderous applause"

Yeah I definitely agree that Padmé stood a better chance, and if Obi-Wan hadn't turned up (doing that ridiculous stance at the entrance to the ship to boot) she definitely would have been able to get through to him.

I do still think Obi-Wan had a chance, not as much as Padme but definitely a chance if he tried. It's true that Anakin never completely trusted him in the same way as he never completely trusted the Jedi order overall, however I wouldn't say that Anakin was jealous of Obi-Wan normally. Once he had started to turn he became mistrusful and paranoid about his relationship with Padmé, but that was the dark side clouding his mind.

Generally I'd say he felt repressed anger and resentment towards Obi-Wan for not allowing him to save his mother and because I think he felt he was never enough to impress him. I think he always felt an intense need to prove himself but Obi never gave him the validation and warmth he craved. There always seemed to be another lesson to learn (drinking game take a shot ever time he resignedly says "yes Master" in Attack of the Clones - all he ever wanted was Obi Wan to be proud of him but all he felt he got was more judgement.)

Anakin/Vader also expected Obi-Wan to try and kill him, he knows the moment he sees him that's what he's come here to do. Because he knows his master - knows that although he cares about him, he would never betray the code and the order for him. Knows that Obi-Wan will always put duty first and "do what he must" (so I guess really there was no chance of Obi Wan ever trying, he was on a mission like you say, no matter how much it might break his heart. But it says something in my opinion that he was never able to finish the job. Not on Mustafar and not ever, he could never bring himself to land the killing blow)

But that's precisely why I think if Obi-Wan HAD tried, it would have meant so much to Anakin and it would have been enough to pull him out of the dark. To have that confirmation finally, that his master DOES care, that he DOES love him, that he is willing to forego what is necessary to try and save him? I think they did love eachother enough as brothers for that to mean the world to Anakin.

Watching Obi Wan Kenobi is so heartbreaking because it is too little too late. That "I'm sorry Anakin, for all of it", it just hits so hard because it isn't enough anymore. Vaders hatred of him because of his mutilation runs too deep now. If only Obi had tried harder on Mustafar, I think he really could have guided Anakin back to the light. I understand why he didn't - he was angry and disoriented and shocked, his whole world had just been uppended, he had just watched the boy he raised slaughter a temple full of children, he was half mad with grief. I get it.

But I honestly do think it could have ended differently. Vader was only truly born after that fight, after the burns, after the surgery, after learning of Padmé death. Anakin was still there, deranged, drowning in guilt and pain and fury, choking on paranoia but he was still there. The mark of a true tragedy is how it is preventable at nearly every step.

I know George Lucas insisted the films be watched in chronocological order and I get why, I get that the story becomes more clearly about Anakin's arc, his fall and his redemption.

But imo the true Star Wars experience is watching the original triolgy and thinking, "that was pretty cool! I see why people like this". It's a nice, slightly goofy in places, tried and true heroes arc story about how anybody can make a difference, how a farmboy from some godforsaken planet became the savior of the galacy. It's a little cliche but that just adds to its charm.

And then you watch the prequels, and you see all the little parallels. You see how Anakin in Phantom Menace mirrors Luke destroying the Death Star. You see Anakin lose a hand. You see both Luke and Leia in Anakin and Padme so much. You see the end hurtling towards them like a Greek tragedy, and the more steps they take to avoid it the more you recognise how things will turn out.

There's this creeping dread that pervades the prequels and it climaxes the moment Vader's mask comes down over the audiences heads. Every time I watch that scene, literal chills down my spine.

And it leaves you wanting to rewatch the original trilogy with fresh eyes. Leaves you sobbing watching R2 flying with Luke the way he used to fly with Anakin, happy to have a piece of his best friend back. Leaves you seeing ROTS Anakin in ROTJ Luke. Leaves you seeing that Luke and Leia really are the best of Anakin. Luke who defied Yoda and Obi-Wan, threw caution to the wind and declared "there's good in him". Leia, so full of fire and anger and passion and a thirst for justice. They are who he could have been. Should have been. Who he really was under the pain.

Guilty as charged

idk if anyone has done this for anakin already

Can someone please explain to me how in the name of God Palpatine was even able to gain so much access to Anakin? It's implied he's been keeping him close since Phantom Menace. Like I can understand after he's been knighted but as a padawan???? And not just ANY padawan but the notoriously unstable, taken-in-far-too-late-trained-by-a-barely-qualified-freshly-knighted-king-of-sass-and-oh-btw-we-think-he's-the-chosen-one padawan?? That one??? Surely there must have been parameters in place to protect Jedi children from just this sort of manipulation???? Not to mention keeping a close eye on this one in particular???

Like if it weren't so sad it would be (and admittedly is) hilarious how oblivious everyone is.

Like just imagine fucking Yoda and Mace chilling and thinking to themselves "Hmm where's that boy Anakin, you know the one we really did not think it would be a good idea to train lmao" and someone just cheerfully reasssures them "Oh don't worry his kindly pseudograndpa who is definitely not grooming him has taken him to the Opera! For cultural enrichment" Like??? Honestly I know no one suspects Palpatine is a Sith, but he's sure as hell a creepy old politician with a propensity for hanging around little boys. How is no one's alarm bells ringing?? How are the pedophilia accusations not pouring in??

Yeah I'm starting to see that. I do still think the Sith overall did worse things...but the Jedi are a far cry from who they pretend to be. At least the Sith acknowledge that they embrace the darkness, the Jedi act all high and mighty. Hypocrisy makes me sick.

Wouldn't it have been cool if the sequels explored Luke bringing together the best of both and establishing a new Order embracing both light and dark? Instead of...whatever the hell we got....

Can someone please explain to me how in the name of God Palpatine was even able to gain so much access to Anakin? It's implied he's been keeping him close since Phantom Menace. Like I can understand after he's been knighted but as a padawan???? And not just ANY padawan but the notoriously unstable, taken-in-far-too-late-trained-by-a-barely-qualified-freshly-knighted-king-of-sass-and-oh-btw-we-think-he's-the-chosen-one padawan?? That one??? Surely there must have been parameters in place to protect Jedi children from just this sort of manipulation???? Not to mention keeping a close eye on this one in particular???

Like if it weren't so sad it would be (and admittedly is) hilarious how oblivious everyone is.

Like just imagine fucking Yoda and Mace chilling and thinking to themselves "Hmm where's that boy Anakin, you know the one we really did not think it would be a good idea to train lmao" and someone just cheerfully reasssures them "Oh don't worry his kindly pseudograndpa who is definitely not grooming him has taken him to the Opera! For cultural enrichment" Like??? Honestly I know no one suspects Palpatine is a Sith, but he's sure as hell a creepy old politician with a propensity for hanging around little boys. How is no one's alarm bells ringing?? How are the pedophilia accusations not pouring in??

I'm ngl, my original post was meant to be light-hearted poking fun at how not-well-thought out the plot was but....everything you said makes complete sense and I can 100% believe the Jedi order seeing it that way. It just makes Anakin's whole story even sadder, and further consolidates my anger at how they treated him.

I understand, of course I do, that they were wary of him because of his potential. I could stand by Yoda's decision to not have him trained because of his age. But since it was evident Obi-Wan would be taking him on regardless, I can't believe they just kept looking down their noses at this problem child rather than pulling their shit together, biting their tongues and doing everything they could to help him. You'd think his potential and instability would be a greater reason to keep him close, rather than alienate him?

For all they keep banging on about "fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering"...you'd think they'd be able to take some of their own advice a little better and not let fear of what he might become turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.

Also did not know that about Obi-Wan, I've not had a chance to look at the novelisations and extended universe comics yet, I'm very late to the party. Only seen the 6 films, the Obi Wan Kenobi series and currently working through the Clone Wars. The reason I gave him some credit was because he seemed mistrustull of Palpetine in the films...but I can see him putting that aside (and any harm Anakin might come to) for political advantage (which he ends up trying to use in the film by making Anakin spy on Palpatine, which just pushes Anakin even further away). Again its just a sign of how corrupt and detached from what they're supposed to be the Jedi had become.

Anakins destiny to bring balance to the force was about destroying the Sith and bringing the Jedi back to their routes. Under different circumstances (e.g as Qui-Gon's padawan or if Obi Wan had been more understanding) I could see him making a difference and being the change that was needed. As things happened, he still fulfilled the prophecy by destroying both and pressing the reset button.

Can someone please explain to me how in the name of God Palpatine was even able to gain so much access to Anakin? It's implied he's been keeping him close since Phantom Menace. Like I can understand after he's been knighted but as a padawan???? And not just ANY padawan but the notoriously unstable, taken-in-far-too-late-trained-by-a-barely-qualified-freshly-knighted-king-of-sass-and-oh-btw-we-think-he's-the-chosen-one padawan?? That one??? Surely there must have been parameters in place to protect Jedi children from just this sort of manipulation???? Not to mention keeping a close eye on this one in particular???

Like if it weren't so sad it would be (and admittedly is) hilarious how oblivious everyone is.

Like just imagine fucking Yoda and Mace chilling and thinking to themselves "Hmm where's that boy Anakin, you know the one we really did not think it would be a good idea to train lmao" and someone just cheerfully reasssures them "Oh don't worry his kindly pseudograndpa who is definitely not grooming him has taken him to the Opera! For cultural enrichment" Like??? Honestly I know no one suspects Palpatine is a Sith, but he's sure as hell a creepy old politician with a propensity for hanging around little boys. How is no one's alarm bells ringing?? How are the pedophilia accusations not pouring in??

I relate to Anakin on a fundamental level because:

My mental state would also deteriorate to end-of-the-republic-as-we-know-it levels within 5 days of not being kept in check by my best friend

I too, am a complete disaster with raging ADHD and OCD who would rather betray everything I've ever believed in rather than sit in a room quietly with all my intrusive thoughts and life decisions.

UGGH I find the idea of dark/Sith Obi-Wan absolutely delectable. Because he is so fucking selfless, he is the total and complete embodiment of everything a Jedi should be. He did everything right, followed the code by the book, stood up for principles and sacrificed personal loyalties. And where did that get him? He lost everything in the name of the Jedi code. A brother, left worse than dead by his own hand. Countless friends betrayed by their own troops. His one chance at romance chocked by unsaid words and duties.

Even as a tired, broken man he CANNOT HELP but be compassionate, cannot help risking his own life and Leia's in order to help as many as he can. Cannot help giving up his chance to start a new life to watch over Luke until the time is right. Cannot help to die rather than kill Vader/Anakin.

Obi-Wan gives, and gives and gives. Obi-Wan is a starving man weighed down by his crown of thorns.

It would be delicious to see him crack and say enough. Say "what have the Jedi done for me"? Say it's my turn to take. And once he starts he wouldn't be able to stop. His hunger would be unsatiable.

if things on Geonosis played out a bit, well, differently

/watch me spin out of control and draw each character i appreciate in sw universe, which is far too many/

Can someone please explain to me how in the name of God Palpatine was even able to gain so much access to Anakin? It's implied he's been keeping him close since Phantom Menace. Like I can understand after he's been knighted but as a padawan???? And not just ANY padawan but the notoriously unstable, taken-in-far-too-late-trained-by-a-barely-qualified-freshly-knighted-king-of-sass-and-oh-btw-we-think-he's-the-chosen-one padawan?? That one??? Surely there must have been parameters in place to protect Jedi children from just this sort of manipulation???? Not to mention keeping a close eye on this one in particular???

Like if it weren't so sad it would be (and admittedly is) hilarious how oblivious everyone is.

Like just imagine fucking Yoda and Mace chilling and thinking to themselves "Hmm where's that boy Anakin, you know the one we really did not think it would be a good idea to train lmao" and someone just cheerfully reasssures them "Oh don't worry his kindly pseudograndpa who is definitely not grooming him has taken him to the Opera! For cultural enrichment" Like??? Honestly I know no one suspects Palpatine is a Sith, but he's sure as hell a creepy old politician with a propensity for hanging around little boys. How is no one's alarm bells ringing?? How are the pedophilia accusations not pouring in??

It's a good thing Dune and Star Wars don't take place in the same universe. Anakin thinks he hates Tattoine, he'd lose his shit over Arrakis.

A planet full of and named after dunes.

High ground made of sand

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I'll see myself out

Interesting takes, I admit I am brand new to this fandom and I know I have ALOT of stuff to catch up on, canon and in the extended universe. I guess if the Chancellor already had a decent relationship with the Order it makes more sense.

I will say though, I really don't see Palpatine caring for Anakin on a personal level at all. Isn't Palpatine's whole deal that he's basically a psychopath? He's the only Sith with no backstory explaining how he fell, it's implied he's always been like this.

He goes out of his way to ruin Anakin's life to make him more and more easy to manipulate. I also headcanon that the prosthetics and suit are designed to give Vader just enough independance to get the job done but ultimately keep him on a leash. Plus in the OT, it's heavilly implied he would prefer to have Luke as a new apprentice if he can make him fall, and would get rid of Vader without a second thought.

Can someone please explain to me how in the name of God Palpatine was even able to gain so much access to Anakin? It's implied he's been keeping him close since Phantom Menace. Like I can understand after he's been knighted but as a padawan???? And not just ANY padawan but the notoriously unstable, taken-in-far-too-late-trained-by-a-barely-qualified-freshly-knighted-king-of-sass-and-oh-btw-we-think-he's-the-chosen-one padawan?? That one??? Surely there must have been parameters in place to protect Jedi children from just this sort of manipulation???? Not to mention keeping a close eye on this one in particular???

Like if it weren't so sad it would be (and admittedly is) hilarious how oblivious everyone is.

Like just imagine fucking Yoda and Mace chilling and thinking to themselves "Hmm where's that boy Anakin, you know the one we really did not think it would be a good idea to train lmao" and someone just cheerfully reasssures them "Oh don't worry his kindly pseudograndpa who is definitely not grooming him has taken him to the Opera! For cultural enrichment" Like??? Honestly I know no one suspects Palpatine is a Sith, but he's sure as hell a creepy old politician with a propensity for hanging around little boys. How is no one's alarm bells ringing?? How are the pedophilia accusations not pouring in??

Things that would fix Star Wars characters

Maul: a stress ball

Anakin: a tiny Lego pod racer set

yoda: nothing he’s irreparable

kenobi: like a little bit of spice in his food. not the drug I’m talking about adding at least some salt and pepper. maybe adding some colour to his wardrobe idk

palpatine: a little cat to sit in his lap. it wouldn’t fix the guy but it would make the movies more enjoyable for me personally.

owen lars: nothing doesn’t need fixing he’s perfect as is

Jocasta nu: a sheet of gold Star stickers

Its honestly so painful to me, the sheer amount of turmoil that Anakin has experienced in his life. If you really sit down and think about what he's been through, he truly is one of the most tragic characters in fiction.

Born a slave to a single mother on a backwater, forgotten, barren world with no opportunities (Sidenote as much as we laugh at the "I don't like sand" meme, it actually is a meaningful line. He hates that world, that life, wants to put it behind him. Can't help but think of the mother he abandoned there)

Forced to choose between freedom and leaving his mother to her fate. A ridiculous amount of pressure to put on a 9 year old

Loses the only father figure he's had, and ultimately the only person to truly show faith in him, almost immediately after finding him

Becomes a burden and disappointment to a reluctant, inexperienced master (Before you come at me, I ADORE Obi-Wans and Anakins relationship. I love their banter, and I truly think they loved one another ridiculously and my heart breaks at what they became. But I do think that Anakin felt like a burden and disappointment sometimes. Especially at the beginning, Obi-Wan only really takes him on out of duty to Qui-Gon, it wouldn't have been his own choice. He didn't believe in him the way Qui-Gon did. And because Obi himself was grieving and young and inexperienced, he didn't have the confidence to guide Anakin the way he should have. He falls back on the rules too much, after bending them to take him on in the first place. He's too strict with him, too harsh. He doesn't tell him how much he loved him until it's too late, which just adds to the angst)

Is constantly told that he needs to let go of his attachment to his mother whilst being plagued my dreams of her death.

Watches his mother die in his arms with the knowledge if only he could have done something sooner he could have saved her (and this is the moment I think, pivotally, that his capacity for the dark side becomes real. Not the moment when he kills the Tuscans in anger just after. But in this quiet moment of death. The moment that voice in his head starts burrowing like a worm "Not enough, more, better, faster, stronger". If he could just burn hotter, brighter, push harder, then no one else would die.)

Is thrust into a war at 19

Is entrusted with a 14 year old apprentice at 20. Loves her like family only to watch the order he gave up everything for, the order that let his mother die, the order that is the reason he cannot have a normal life with his wife, drive his little sister away from him.

Plagued to madness by visions of his wife dying. Goes insane to try to save her only to be her own downfall. Is cut into pieces and left to burn alive by his brother. Suffers excruciating pain being pieced back together. Is forced to live with the knowledge that he led to the love of his life's death, where every breath is a reminder of the monster he has become.

Becomes increasingly aware that his new master, the only person he has left, the person he betrayed everyone for, the person he trusted in his times of need and thought understood him, would toss him away without a second thought and replace him with Luke.

That smile when he takes off the mask and looks at Luke in Return of the Jedi means so much. It's so pure, and light and carefree for those few seconds. The first time we've ever seen him truly at peace. He is finally free from the pain.

Can someone please explain to me how in the name of God Palpatine was even able to gain so much access to Anakin? It's implied he's been keeping him close since Phantom Menace. Like I can understand after he's been knighted but as a padawan???? And not just ANY padawan but the notoriously unstable, taken-in-far-too-late-trained-by-a-barely-qualified-freshly-knighted-king-of-sass-and-oh-btw-we-think-he's-the-chosen-one padawan?? That one??? Surely there must have been parameters in place to protect Jedi children from just this sort of manipulation???? Not to mention keeping a close eye on this one in particular???

Like if it weren't so sad it would be (and admittedly is) hilarious how oblivious everyone is.

Like just imagine fucking Yoda and Mace chilling and thinking to themselves "Hmm where's that boy Anakin, you know the one we really did not think it would be a good idea to train lmao" and someone just cheerfully reasssures them "Oh don't worry his kindly pseudograndpa who is definitely not grooming him has taken him to the Opera! For cultural enrichment" Like??? Honestly I know no one suspects Palpatine is a Sith, but he's sure as hell a creepy old politician with a propensity for hanging around little boys. How is no one's alarm bells ringing?? How are the pedophilia accusations not pouring in??