Origin of Anakin Skywalker: Clues from the Acolyte and Secrets of Darth Plagueis
For generations viewers have been enthralled with the story of Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight turned Sith Lord Darth Vader. Although his rise and fall are well-documented, there remains a riddle about his very existence: how was he created? Over the years, Star Wars has dropped many hints; but, "The Acolyte" might have finally provided the largest clue in five years.
Dallas Plagueis and the Authority to Create Life
The master Sith of Palpatine, Darth Plagueis, has remained enigmatic. Originally revealed in a dialogue between Palpatine and Anakin in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," his classic backstory was first Palpatine said that for people he loved, Plagueis could create life and stop death. Desperate to save his beloved Padmé from the grip of death, Anakin found great fascination in this ability.
The Star Wars universe is much changed by this insight in "Revenge of the Sith". It implies that the apparently unachievable vision of Anakin might have a clear source and that the Sith might have been directly active in his life.
Anakin's enigmatic birth: Messianic figure?
Anakin's narrative developed in an unusual and unexpected manner from his childhood introduction in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." He was presented as an innocent, strong man devoid of a father, apparently conceived without explanation. This generated ideas about his beginnings as a messianic figure selected by the Force itself.
The revelation that Anakin was conceived without a father deepened the mystery and spurred conjecture that he was some sort of Force product. His abilities and prophesied position as The Chosen One stoked this idea even more, but the prequels left the actual answer buried in secret.
Potential Role of the Sith: Creation and Manipulation
"Revenge of the Sith" sown the seeds of a likely relationship between Plagueis and Anakin. The disclosure of Plagueis's powers by Palpatine together with the fact that Plagueis was his master begged the issue: could Palpatine have learned this knowledge and applied it to produce Anakin?
The "Darth Vader (2017) #25" comic, where Darth Vader sees visions of his past including a haunting picture of a pregnant Shmi Skywalker with a phantom of Palpatine behind her, gave this theory even more weight. The picture showed whirling patterns, apparently signifying the midi-chlorian manipulation to produce life.
'The Acolyte' and the Link to Darth Plagueis
Perhaps "The Acolyte" will be the show that at last clarifies Anakin Skywalker's birth. The show debuted Osha and Mae, twins born without a father, and apparently charged with the Force. Though their creation differs from Anakin's, they are a similar anomaly that suggest the possibility of producing entities with the Force.
The startling discovery in the "Acolyte" finale—that Darth Plagueis was on the Unknown Planet—observating Osha and Qimir—adds still another layer of mystery. It implies that Plagueis, especially Osha, has become interested in these Force-sensitive people maybe in order to learn their beginnings and maybe reproduce the process.
Consequences for Anakin's Creation
The plot of The Acolyte suggests that the Sith—more especially, Darth Plagueis—may have directly helped to create Anakin. Observing and comprehending the process that produced Osha and Mae would have helped Plagueis to learn how to use the power to create life, so producing Anakin.
This presents a terrifying possibility: Anakin's existence resulted from a Sith arms race toward the ultimate power - creation of life. With the Sith trying to copy the force they saw in Osha and Mae, the events in "The Acolyte" might have set the scene for this race.
Anakin's Origin Story: Future Directions
'The Acolyte' has given important hints even if the actual degree of Darth Plagueis's participation in Anakin's creation is yet unknown. Should a second season be revived, it could explore this plot more thoroughly, exposing the whole scope of Plagueis's impact and the possible Sith arms race.
Whether or not the show is resurrected, "The Acolyte" has sparked fresh interest and conjecture about Anakin's beginnings, implying that the Sith might have been more directly involved in his life than hitherto believed. This disclosure promises to give the already intriguing story of Anakin Skywalker still another degree of complexity and mystery.
