Star Wars: Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker’s top 15 moments

Photo Credit: [Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith] Lucasfilm

7. Anakin becomes Darth Vader

When exactly does Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader? The argument can be made for two key moments in Revenge of the Sith.

The first is when Chancellor Palpatine gives him the name. Directly before he receives his new moniker, Anakin has crossed the point of no return. Now convinced that Palpatine is an evil Sith Lord, Mace Windu moves to place the leader of the Republic under arrest.

Palpatine maintains that the Jedi are attempting to seize power and begs Anakin for help. Anakin accedes to Palpatine’s request by dismembering Windu and then agreeing to destroy the Jedi Order. This moment completes the character’s fall from grace.

The second big transition moment occurs at the end of the film. Having been saved from the fires of Mustafar, a badly burned Anakin is placed into his iconic black armor by Palpatine. Anakin’s first thought is of Padmé Amidala, who he is devastated to learn he accidentally killed.

After briefly walling in anguish, Anakin resigns himself to his faith. This moment marks the end of Anakin Skywalker. The person he was, the ideals he held and the love he had are now gone. All that remains serves as a tool of the Empire.

As such, I believe Anakin Skywalker doesn’t become Darth Vader until this moment. Up until then, it was just a title, a signifier of his rejection of the Jedi and his embrace of the Sith creed. Now, having lost his limbs, his best friend and his reason for living, Darth Vader is all he has left.