Posted on 02/25/2024 8:05:51 PM PST by nickcarraway
Star Wars fans explain why Anakin Skywalker's decades of evil as Darth Vader outweigh his last-minute redemption act in Return of the Jedi.
Some Star Wars fans believe Anakin Skywalker can never be fully redeemed for his evil actions as Darth Vader, even though he sacrificed himself in an attempt to make amends in Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars character Anakin Skywalker, once a heroic Jedi, fell to the dark side of the Force and became the ruthless Sith Lord Darth Vader, serving the evil Emperor Palpatine for over two decades. Though initially conflicted about his turn to evil, he fully embraced it and committed countless atrocities across the galaxy. This included leading a siege on the Jedi Temple and murdering children training there. However, when Palpatine attempted to kill Luke Skywalker during their confrontation on the second Death Star, Vader intervened, killing Palpatine and sacrificing himself in the process.
Star Wars Jedi The Force Overpowered RELATED Star Wars Fans Debate Whether Newer Films Ruined One Thing About The Jedi Star Wars fans debate whether the recent depictions of Jedi and Force powers diminish the mysticism established in the original trilogy. Many Star Wars fans believe this final redemptive act fulfills Anakin Skywalker's prophesied destiny to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force. However, on a recent Reddit thread, user eer2323 condemned Anakin as "irredeemable," arguing that killing Palpatine "doesn't come close" to atone for his previous misdeeds, including betraying friends. The user went so far as to call Anakin "literally worse than Hitler" for the scale of atrocities committed in service of the totalitarian regime. Nonetheless, other fans believe that no one is beyond redemption, even those who have committed terrible evils.
As user GAR_Figures commented, "It's fair to think this [that Vader cannot be redeemed], and that's your right." But they note that "one of the key themes of Star Wars is that no one is ever too far gone." Perhaps Anakin Skywalker felt his path was predetermined as a former slave on Tatooine. This may have initially attracted him to becoming a powerful Sith who controls his own destiny through the force. But in the end, he broke those chains of control and made an independent choice to sacrifice himself to save his son and defeat evil.
The last-minute turn from the dark side echoes similar redemptive arcs of other Star Wars characters. Han Solo went from a selfish smuggler to joining the Rebel Alliance and leading daring missions that helped defeat the Empire. Similarly, the character of Asajj Ventress began as a ruthless acolyte of Count Dooku but later rejected the Sith ways and found redemption through self-sacrifice. Both illustrate that those who have strayed morally can still choose to change course and find redemption, even if it comes at great personal cost. Yet whether this final sacrifice outweighs the numerous misdeeds continues to divide fans.
The Star Wars saga can be streamed on Disney Plus.
I have seen part of that holiday special. It was terrible. They had to get chewy home for Christmas. Who knew he had a family. I don’t think any of the major stars wanted to do that piece of crap and yet they had to. If I’ve been carry Fisher might’ve Been on drugs, too to get through that shoot.
Get a life. It’s a movie.
A New Hope is my favorite also, for the same reason you said. It stands up by itself.
Some things are so bad they're good.
That was so bad it was bad. I watched the whole wretched thing, waiting for something redeeming to come out of it ... there was none.
No contest. Mary Ann.
Just to clear, it was to celebrate "Life Day". There was no celebrating Christ in that holiday.
It's odd to hear interviewers decades later ask the actors about the "Star Wars Christmas Special" when it was distinctly not about Christmas, even though they launched it to coincide with it.
I cannot recall which film, but the three of them jointly appear to Luke, or maybe to Rey.
Bottom Line...
Darth Vader seems to have been rehabilitated as young Anakin in the spiritual Here-After.
It's amazing that Hollywood executives tell viewers exactly what they think of themselves and movie viewers and the viewers don't want to believe it.
If fairness, George Lucas destroyed it before she even got her hands on it.
Materialism vs. faith
Wasn’t Jor-el in that appearance with Yoda and Obi-wan?
It happened in Return of the Jedi.
In my yout it was always about Mary Ann. But now in my 50’s there’s something to be said about a tall readhead, even if she’s higher maintenance. I’ll take the bombshell even if she’s trouble with a capital G.
i always wanted the star wars legacy to do a full circle like the planet of the apes movies... where jedi loyalty would lead to universal oppression and someone would need to bring balance to the force... enter anakin skywalker.
If you mean with his three prequels I totally agree, I find them unwatchable. The only good film not directed or written by Lucas was The Empire Strikes Back. ‘
Still Star Wars could have been fixed to a degree but as of now it’s dead in the water.
NickCarraway's "Materialism vs. Faith" is right. With the second trilogy they sucked the magic out with the midichlorian explanation and thus spoiled the wonder that enthralled many fans. BTW - "The Empire Strikes Back" is still 'the ring that rules them all'.
I really like the original trilogy. It is a tossup between first two as to which one is the best. My favorite scene is the battle on Hoth at the beginning of the Empire Strikes Back.
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