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!
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., All Rights Reserved
Number 3: Revenge of the Sith
In Episode 3, Anakin truly becomes the fullest version of himself. His love for Padme is deeper than ever. His need to protect her and their newly discovered unborn child is taken to a whole new level. He has grown more powerful than ever as well.
This is shown early in the movie, as he bests Count Dooku, someone who easily defeated him three years prior. He looms over Dooku with a red lightsaber in one hand, and his blue lightsaber in the other.
To be Anakin Skywalker is to constantly be stuck between these two philosophies of life, to be engaged in a never-ending balancing act between light and dark, and the two lightsabers are an excellent visual metaphor for that struggle.
He is the chosen one, and his upcoming choices will shape the galaxy forever. This idea hangs over the entire movie. As he becomes more powerful, his resentment for Obi-Wan grows. He is named to the council, but he is not granted the rank of master.
All of this causes Anakin to dive even further into Palpatine’s grasp, and Anakin begins to truly lose sight of what matters. The kiss of death are the visions Anakin is having of Padme dying in childbirth and his deep desire to find a way to prevent that from happening. When Palpatine mentions he might know Sith tactics to defeat death, Anakin’s fate is all but sealed.
This tragedy is so painful and beautiful because it firmly establishes Anakin’s priorities early on, and so much so that it is never in doubt the choices Anakin will make that will lead him to the dark side. Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader, and we knew that going in, but it is still painful and hard to watch this character who was failed by his mentors, become the figure of evil we see in the later movies.
Number 2: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
If you haven’t watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars, put down your phone or computer or whatever device you are reading this on, and go press play. Sit there and watch every episode and do nothing else until you have finished the series. It is that good.
The Clone Wars is a great TV show that gives us one of the best versions of Anakin Skywalker to this day. We see a great bond between Obi-Wan and Anakin that makes their “Battle of the Heroes” in Episode III even more tragic. Their relationship is the backbone of the show and the moments they are together are extremely special.
During the show, set between Episodes II and III, we see an intriguing era of Anakin’s life. We see his secret marriage with Padme and how that affects her life as a senator and his as a Jedi. Anakin even takes on Ahsoka Tano as a padawan and struggles to teach her, as she teaches him a lot as well.
This relationship is something that was an unexpected surprise watching the show, I did not expect to love Ahsoka early on, but she definitely becomes a great character, and a lot of that has to do with Anakin becoming a mentor to her. The strength of their bond is something that makes Ahsoka eventually leaving the Jedi order so painful. Anakin is at his most vulnerable and most human in the Clone Wars, and it is the most likeable and heroic version we see of the character by far.
Number 1: Return of the Jedi
You might have noticed, in Return of the Jedi, Anakin is Darth Vader and so far, I have purposefully left every appearance of Darth Vader off of this list. To me, the characters are almost separate entirely.
But In Episode’s IV and V, we see Vader as he is. A murderous, heartless machine. He is essentially a guard dog for Grand Moff Tarkin in A New Hope, and in The Empire Strikes Back, he wants to bring Luke to the Emperor, no matter the cost.
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However, something changes in him during Episode VI. We see him beginning to desire more than just vengeance. He wants his son by his side, and during the scenes with Luke, we see him attempting to reason with him, almost as if he wants to protect him. This is what begins the return of Anakin Skywalker.
It is almost too perfect, how Anakin’s fall being motivated by his love for his future family could only be undone by his desire to protect his son, this time the right way.
In the prequels, Anakin wants to hold onto Padme for himself. He is desperate to keep her alive because he can’t lose her. In his redemption, we see him save Luke, and overthrow the Emperor, essentially sacrificing himself in the process.
When it is all over, and Luke is trying to save him, he asks Luke to stop and remove his helmet, knowing he will die. He is no longer willing to be half alive, clinging to his survival, as he did Padme’s. He wants to see his son with his own eyes, Anakin Skywalker’s eyes. He is human again, and in being human, he starts to fade, with the prophecy of the Chosen One, fulfilled.
The rise and fall, and eventual redemption of Anakin Skywalker is the embodiment of what makes Star Wars great, and Return of the Jedi is the ultimate payoff of Anakin’s journey.
Plus, he appears as a force ghost at the end so HA! It counts!
So what do you think? Do you agree with these rankings? Comment your favorite Anakin Skywalker moments or appearances below!