Darth Vader: Is he really a villain in Star Wars?

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Darth Vader. Villain or victim?

What if I told you that Darth Vader is more of a sad man than an evil one? Yes, unlearn what you have learned. Don’t take it from me, but from the mouth of “the Maker” himself, George Lucas.

"Anakin is the chosen one. Even when Anakin turns into Darth Vader, he still is the chosen one."

We begin to answer two of our questions, one being the chosen one. Lucas makes it (kyber) crystal clear that Anakin is and always was the chosen one.

Now, Obi-Wan did believe that Luke was the chosen one, which we get official confirmation in the Star Wars Rebels episode Twin Suns.

"Darth Vader became such an icon in the first film, Episode IV, that icon of evil sort of took over everything, much more than I intended. If it had been one movie that would’ve have happened. He would have been revealed to be this pathetic character."

Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader was meant to be tragic, not villainous. What that displays is more of his power and Darkness on full display, proving my point once again.

Darth Vader is powerful and not weak like his former self, Anakin, not the actual villain. He was played, by Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine.

"Now by adding episodes 1, 2, 3, we begin to see the tragedy of Darth Vader, as it was originally intended to be. The person you thought was the villain is really the victim. The story is really about the villain trying to redeem his humanity. It’s really the story of Darth Vader’s redemption."

From the beginning, Palpatine had his eye on Anakin when he was a child. After Anakin’s epic podracing victory and heroic acts as a pilot during the Battle of Naboo, the future Emperor took notice.

"We’ll watch your career with great interest."