Anakin Skywalker: Renaissance Star Wars
Particularly since the end of the sequel trilogy, the Star Wars franchise has seen a remarkable comeback of interest in Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. New stories and investigations have given Anakin, one of the most strong Jedi and an intriguing character, fresh life and highlight a missed chance in the sequel trilogy.
The Potential Missed by Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Anakin Skywalker
Though the Star Wars sequel trilogy was received critically, especially with relation to the arcs of Luke Skywalker and Rey, Anakin Skywalker was underused in great measure. Anakin was present all through the sequels, but his part was rather limited. Though fixated on his grandfather, Kylo Ren seemed to have a faulty conception of Darth Vader.
The misguided obsession with Darth Vader by Kylo Ren
Kylo Ren adopted a similar mask and followed Empire's strategies with the First Order, obviously copying his grandfather. This representation, however, neglected the reality that Vader finally went back to the light side prior to his death. Luke and Leia especially told Ben Solo about Anakin's metamorphosis from a merciless Sith Lord to a strong Jedi who finally embraced the light.
Ironically, Kylo Ren seemed to overlook this important detail; he spent much of the sequels looking to deepen his dedication to the dark side by consulting Vader's wrecked helmet. Anakin's absence was still confusing even if Palpatine's influence, shown in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," helped to shape Kylo Ren.
Anakin's Power as a Force Ghost
Since then, Star Wars has shown that Anakin was in fact a Force ghost during the period of the sequel trilogy. Choosing a minimal role where Anakin appeared as one of many Jedi voices in "The Rise of Skywalker," the successors missed a great chance to explore this aspect of Anakin's story. Given Hayden Christensen's eagerness to be involved in next Star Wars projects, this choice is especially odd.
Anakin's story had great possibility for the sequel. Although some would contend Star Wars was headed in another direction for the sequel trilogy, "The Rise of Skywalker" shows otherwise. Ending the Sith lineage by basing more on the concept of a last battle between Anakin's grandson and Palpatine's granddaughter would have been a more fitting end.
Reclaiming Anakin's Story, Obi-Wan Kenobi & Ahsoka
Star Wars has shown since the sequel trilogy its capacity to create gripping stories for Anakin Skywalker, even outside the Skywalker Saga. Both "Obi-wan Kenobi" and "Ahsoka" investigated Anakin's character in ways that accentuated his complexity and mystery.
Obi-Wan Kinect: Vader's conflicted soul
Set during the Dark Times, "Obi- Wan Kenobi" had Anakin in both flashbacks exposing the weaknesses that finally brought him down and as Darth Vader. Arguably the most powerful sequences in "Obi-wan Kenobi," especially the epic final battle between Vader and Obi-Wan, were the Vader scenes. Though Vader is a strong Sith Lord, the show brilliantly caught his inner struggle. The moment when Vader's mask breaks to expose a glimpse of Anakin's face captures the continuous conflict he was tormented.
Ahsoka: Investigating Anakin's Remorse
In "Ahsoka," Anakin's character was deftly examined even in absence of his physical presence. When Ahsoka Tano sees her former master in the World Between Worlds, it is a spectral portrayal rather than Anakin personally. This arc concentrated mostly on Ahsoka's need to face her past and let her guilt and rage free. It also helped to clarify Anakin's inner conflict, though.
Anakin grows defensive and turns into Darth Vader when Ahsoka starts talking about his fall and its effects. Although this is not the actual Anakin, it highlights a major component of his emotions toward his former Padawan. This implies that Anakin felt shame and guilt even as Darth Vader, directed as anger.
Though it hasn't been thoroughly investigated on film, this inner struggle fits ideas from Star Wars comics. First seen in "Star Wars Rebels," the image of Vader's broken mask reappeared in "Obi-Wan Kenobi," implying a closer examination of Anakin's inner strife. Ahsoka appeared as a Force ghost in the last episode, so suggesting the possibility of Anakin's return—possibly in the forthcoming second season of "Ahsoka." Still, it is a lost chance since the sequel trilogy neglected this component.
The Acolyte: Anakin Skywalker's Echo
Anakin Skywalker inspires even "The Acolyte," the most recent addition to the Star Wars universe. Although Osha and Mae Aniseya are not the Chosen One, their narrative in major respects matches Anakin's.
Parallel to Anakin's Origin: The Acolyte
Mirroring Anakin's age upon joining the Jedi Order, Osha joined the Order at an older age than most Initiates. More especially, Osha and Mae lacked a father and were born with a vergence in the Force. Although Anakin's narrative was different—being the vergence in the Force itself and the Chosen One—there are clear parallels between "The Acolyte's" heroes and Anakin.
Anakin's origin narrative is starting to revolve mostly on "The Acolyte". The knowledge that Palpatine's Sith master, Darth Plagueis, was watching Osha from a distance implies that the twins might be the key to Plagueis's knowledge of producing life, so guiding Anakin's creation.
Anakin's Continuity of Legacy
The similarities in "The Acolyte" confirm once more Anakin Skywalker's indispensible and captivating character in the Star Wars universe. This emphasizes the odd lack of Anakin's legacy in the trilogy of sequelues. If Anakin's narrative can be investigated almost a century before his birth, why wasn't he more prominent in the sequelues?
Resurgence of the Prequel Age
Growing respect for the prequel trilogy helps Anakin Skywalker's comeback in the series to be partially justified. The prequels hadn't yet captured the kind of adoration they enjoy today when the sequel trilogy was developed. This could help to explain Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader's less prominence. The prequel trilogy experienced initial criticism, like many Star Wars films and TV shows, but time has turned that criticism into a great affection and nostalgia.
A Future Attaching Prequel Legacy
This growing love for the prequels hopefully indicates that Star Wars will embrace the stories, characters, and actors of the prequel era rather than repeating the sins of the sequel trilogy. This is already clear in several respects, especially in "Ahsoka's second season."
Though Star Wars hasn't seen the last of Anakin Skywalker, it's still frustrating that the sequel trilogy didn't fully leverage his narrative. The missed opportunity to explore Anakin's legacy in the sequel trilogy, a story that has since been expanded upon in other projects, is a testament to the enduring power of his character and the missed potential for further exploration.
