With so many different versions of Anakin Skywalker, we rank the different iterations of the character in Star Wars movies and TV shows.
With Star Wars: The Clone Wars returning later in February, lets take a look at every film or television appearance of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars Galaxy.
Note: I will not be counting Darth Vader appearances, as Darth Vader is one of the coolest characters in film, and it wouldn’t be fair. On top of that, as Old Ben stated, “he’s more machine than man.”
Anakin Skywalker has always been one of my favorite movie characters. We see him an innocent child with a good heart. We see him as a brooding teenager falling in love with Padme. We see him slowly lose himself, as he pursues power to protect those that he loves. He is complicated, powerful and gripping.
One thing that is certain is that some appearances are better than others. With that being said, lets take a look at the best and worst appearances of Anakin Skywalker.
Number 5: Attack of The Clones
Attack of the Clones features the worst of Anakin Skywalker. Throughout the entire movie, he is moody and whiny, and every time I watch the movie I wonder how Obi-Wan manages not to strangle his angst-filled padawan.
All of that anger comes to a nasty apex, and rightfully so, upon the discovery of his mother, and her subsequent death. He starts the extremely dangerous descent into his emotions, slaughtering the Tusken Raiders that had captured her.
This is not part of the case for Episode 2 Anakin being the worst, but it definitely makes it hard to like him given the complete lack of endearing qualities in the rest of the movie. On top of the moodiness, his non-existent chemistry with Padme in this movie is incredibly uncomfortable.
He is definitely the Jedi equivalent of the “where’s my hug” guy that exists in the real world. He is creepy, he HATES sand, and he refuses to acknowledge the risks that come with a relationship between the two, despite Padme’s best efforts to try and bring it to his attention.
Worst of all, it works for him, and they get married at the end of the movie. Did I mention he hates sand?
Number 4: The Phantom Menace
When we first encounter Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace, it is hard to know how to feel.
This is our first journey into the back story of Darth Vader. We get to see him as a human, and it is far from what we expect. He is a child with a good heart. In fact, it can be hard to piece the two characters together in our minds.
The seeds are there, however. His love for his mother and his strong attachment towards her really sets us down the path that leads to Anakin turning dark to protect those he loves. We see him lay eyes on a much older Padme and deliver one of the smoothest pick up lines the Galaxy has ever seen in “Are you an angel?”
He races his podracer to help Qui -Gon and the crew repair their ship, and when his mother tried to stop him he drops a truly pure line stating, “Mom, you’ve always said the biggest problem in this Universe is that nobody helps each other.”
Seeing the galaxy’s most looming villain, as a kind child, who wants to help people is endearing, and adds to the tragedy of Anakin’s turn to the dark side.
Now THAT’s podracing!