Dork Side of the Force
Fansided

Why Darth Vader wasn’t the evil guy we all thought he was

By C.J. Hawkings

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 20: A man dressed as the Star Wars character Darth Vader arrives for a church service centered around the 1983 film 'Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi' at the Zionskirche (Zion Church) on December 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. The latest Star Wars film, 'Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,' was released in the country two days earlier, and local priests used the opportunity to tie Biblical parallels concerning good and evil to the movie, while using the original film's score by John Williams as organ accompaniment, along with video clips. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 20: A man dressed as the Star Wars character Darth Vader arrives for a church service centered around the 1983 film 'Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi' at the Zionskirche (Zion Church) on December 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. The latest Star Wars film, 'Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,' was released in the country two days earlier, and local priests used the opportunity to tie Biblical parallels concerning good and evil to the movie, while using the original film's score by John Williams as organ accompaniment, along with video clips. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images) /
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Photo: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).. © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Photo: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).. © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. /

Misfortune

Anakin Skywalker’s life was misfortune after misfortune. From a young age, he was forced to endure the life of a slave, brutality, and violence at the hands of his masters. He and his mother Shmi were owned by Gardulla the Hutt before she lost them to Toydarian junk dealer Watto while betting on the Podraces.

When he was discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Gungan Jar Jar Binks, and disguised Queen Padmé Amidala, there was a slim chance he would be freed. While he was eventually let go, his mother wasn’t so fortunate.

Jinn did everything in his power to free Shmi too, but in the end, it was either her or Anakin. He picked the boy. Shmi told her son before he left that destiny had placed them on different paths and that her place was on Tatooine while his was to be a Jedi.

Her words would remain with him into his adult years and it would light the fuse that would contribute to his downfall upon her death at the hands of the Tusken Raiders. While Anakin did not blame his stepfamily, he saw how kind they’d been to her, some part of him blamed himself for being able to save her like he promised.

He also had the misfortunate of watching his mother die, the woman he loved be thrown from a gunship and he had an arm cut off and replaced with a cybernetic one. These are just a few honourable mentions as there are so many more we’ll discuss a bit later.

Not to mention, Anakin was forced to watch from the sidelines as his beloved student, Ahsoka was expelled from the Jedi Order for a crime she did not commit so she could be tried in a Republic court system. While he was able to prove her innocence, it was all for nothing as she refused to rejoin an institution that saw her as guilty.

Months after Ahsoka’s departure from the Jedi Order, Anakin received news of his wife’s pregnancy. While this was meant to be a joyous time for them, it ended up being a massive misfortune  as he started having nightmares of Padmé’s death in childbirth. Little did he realise until it was too late that he contributed – or so he thought – to her demise.

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