Darth Vader isn’t only one of the most popular villains of all time, but Anakin Skywalker’s story was originally the heart of the Star Wars Skywalker saga, something completely fumbled by the sequel trilogy, especially Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Continuing the Star Wars franchise beyond the six movies made by George Lucas was always going to be a tough proposition, but Disney and Lucasfilm made some great decisions early on by bringing back the original trilogy cast for a sequel trilogy that passes the torch to a new cast of characters. Unfortunately, in all the focus on original trilogy nostalgia, Anakin Skywalker was almost totally forgotten, and his legacy was undermined.
While the sequel trilogy shouldn’t be bogged down by too many ties to past movies, it should be the culmination to a nine-part saga that had, thus far, revolved around the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker. To feel cohesive as eposodes 7, 8, and 9 as opposed to just another trilogy that happens to take place after the first six movies, the final three movies should be tied to his legacy as well.
The Skywalker Saga Was Originally Vader’s Story
While Star Wars started in 1977 with a story about a seemingly nobody farm boy from Tatooine with dreams of adventure, it quickly became clear Luke Skywalker was more than that. His father wasn’t a navigator on a spice freighter like his uncle told him, but he was once a Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker. Then we learn that isn’t even the full truth, his father was a Jedi Knight, only to learn later on that he’d fallen to the dark side and become Darth Vader.
Despite Vader seeming irredeemably evil, in Return of the Jedi, Luke says he senses a last shred of good in him and stakes his life on it, throwing down his lightsaber and refusing to kill Vader. When the Emperor decides to kill Luke instead, Vader throws him down the reactor shaft, saving Luke and dying a hero. Anakin Skywalker’s ghost even appears alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda at the Ewok celebration as proof that he’s redeemed in the Force.
The original trilogy was undeniably a story about Luke Skywalker, but after the prequels came along and expanded Anakin Skywalker’s backstory, the trilogy was reframed as a part of Anakin’s rise and fall, forming a complete six-episode story. Unfortunately, the addition of the sequels don’t expand the Skywalker saga in the same way and totally undo Vader’s legacy.
Vader’s Legacy Was Undone in Episodes 7 & 8
It was clear in the early trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens that Darth Vader’s presence would still be felt, only when the actual movie arrived, Vader’s influence was at odds with the way Return of the Jedi ended. Not only were Anakin Skywalker’s sacrifice and redemption totally ignored, but the only way he impacted the story at all was through a brief scene with Vader’s helmet indicating Anakin Skywalker’s true legacy wasn’t one of redemption, but still one of corruption.
Given, this wasn’t necessarily Anakin’s fault. Ben Solo may have been taking the wrong lesson from the story of Vader, or maybe he was being manipulated (as turned out to be the case), but for Ben Solo, the story of his grandfather turning away from the dark and embracing the light once again to save the galaxy should have not only been a big story for his family, but a major influence in his Jedi training. Instead, it was just a broken helmet that made him a part of the legacy he’d overcome.
This could have easily been fixed in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Luke and Leia both agree Kylo Ren is too far gone to save, despite the example of their own father, who was saved by the faith of Luke himself. This doesn’t mean Kylo Ren was required to be saved, or even that Luke and Leia should have had faith in him, but they should have at least explained what made Kylo worse than Vader or why he couldn’t have a moment of clarity like Vader had.
Considering he appeared as a Force ghost at the end of the original trilogy, a ghost played by Hayden Christensen in canon, it’s also surprising Luke and Leia’s father didn’t have more of an impact on their own Jedi training. He didn’t even appear to Ben Solo as he was being tempted by the dark side. Instead, only Yoda ever appears to give Luke advice, even though Anakin’s appearance to talk to Luke about failure would be one of the strongest moments of the entire franchise. The Rise of Skywalker tries to make up for this shortcoming, but still misses the boat.
Rise of Skywalker’s Anakin Nod Wasn’t Enough
It’s not until the end of the third act in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that Anakin’s sacrifice is even acknowledged. During her confrontation with Palpatine, voices of past Jedi give Rey support and Hayden Christensen’s voice is heard saying “Rey… Bring back the balance, Rey, as I did… The Force surrounds you, Rey… Let it lift you.”
While this moment is certainly great, it should be so much more. Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One and brought balance to the Force (for a time). He was also Palpatine’s apprentice, so in this particular moment, it seems like a major missed opportunity. And it wasn’t the only time in The Rise of Skywalker this could have happened, either. Luke appeared to Rey on Ahch-To and to Ben on the Death Star wreckage, and both moments would have thematically benefitted from tying Anakin Skywalker in more.
Lastly, at the conclusion of the movie, Rey is on the Lars homestead on Tatooine and sees the Force ghosts of Luke and Leia before taking the name Skywalker for herself. In a movie named “Rise of Skywalker” featuring a moment where she’s inspired to take the Skywalker name on Tatooine, it’s shocking this particular moment excludes the Skywalker that started it all.
As the conclusion to the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ultimately succeeds in wrapping up the story of the Skywalkers and giving a deeper legacy to the name, but it does so without properly honoring the Skywalker who started it all.
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