TheAhsokashow subtly rewroteAnakin Skywalker/Darth Vader’sfate inStar Wars, and while that significantly changes his character, I actually think it was brilliant. Hayden Christensen’s return as Anakin Skywalker in theAhsokashow was absolutely thrilling and a major update toStar Warsmovies and TV shows.
Though we knew Anakin was a Force Ghost at this point intheStar Warstimeline, we hadn’t seen him as one sinceReturn of the Jedi.Ahsokachanged that, bringing Christensen’s version of the Force Ghost back to theStar Warsscreen. That wasn’t the only change the show made, asAnakin’s appearance inAhsokacompletely rewrote his character.
Especially Hayden Christensen’s Appearance Solidified His Complete Return To The Light
One of the most profound things to happen inStar Wars, and likely the single most profound in the Skywalker Saga, was Luke Skywalker’s ability to bring his father back to the light side of the Force after decades of Darth Vader carrying out terrible acts of evil. Vader even turned on his own master, Darth Sidious.
InReturn of the Jedi, it seems that Anakin Skywalker has fully returned, meaning he is now entirely on the light side of the Force. This is symbolized in myriad ways, first with the removal of Darth Vader’s helmet and then, especially once Hayden Christensen was added to the ending, the return to his former self as a Force Ghost.
This also makes sense, as we’ve since learned that becoming a Force Ghost is something the Sith never had access to. The ability to become a Force Ghost is one of theForce powers inStar Warssolely accessible to those on the light side.All of this seemed to confirm that Anakin no longer had darkness within him.
Ahsoka’s World Between Worlds Arc Implied Anakin Wasn’t Quite Pure Light Side
Anakin Flickered Between His Light Side And Dark Side Selves
The notion that Anakin Skywalker was fully on the light side of the Force as a Force Ghost was completely flipped on its head inAhsoka. In the show, Anakin has two appearances (technically three if counting the end of episode 4). InAhsokaepisode 5, he and Ahsoka go through a series of scenes inthe World Between Worlds.
Anakin then returned intheAhsokaending, watching over both Sabine Wren and Ahsoka Tano on Peridea. It’s in the World Between Worlds that this concept fromReturn of the Jedigets flipped on its head. In those scenes, Anakin moves between his Jedi and his Sith self.
Not only does he at times have a red lightsaber in these scenes (interestingly, something that never actually happened before he donned the Darth Vader suit), but we get flashes where Ahsoka sees him suddenly in the Vader suit—perhaps the most visually stunning part of the show.
It’s worth noting that we don’t know for certain what Anakin is in the World Between Worlds, as that entire realm has been a mystery for years now. There are some who believe this is indeed Anakin’s Force Ghost, while others think this is something Ahsoka was manifesting through memories and her fears.
It is heavily implied in the show that this is Anakin himself, though, especially because he is there as her former master to teach her one final lesson: live or die. Given the implication that this appearance is Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost, the fate of his character has now been completely altered in a shocking way.
Given the implication that this appearance is Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost, the fate of his character has now been completely altered in a shocking way.
This Ahsoka Update Fundamentally Rewrites Anakin’s Fate In Star Wars
This Implies That Anakin’s Redemption Wasn’t Quite So Straightforward
The fact that Anakin was appearing not just as his Jedi self in the World Between Worlds suggests thatAnakin may not have been firmly on the light side of the Force as a Force Ghost after all. Rather, this suggests that he somehow still had darkness within him even then.
This is actually in keeping withStar Wars: The Force Awakens’original Anakin plan, which would have seen him as a ghost that had a mix of both the light and the dark. As that plan was ultimately scrapped, though, it isAhsokathat gives him this rewritten ending.
This really does completely change Anakin’s fate inStar Wars, as it’s always been understood that, in death, Anakin was fully restored to his former self, on the light side of the Force. Yet,I can’t help but prefer this rewritten ending, as it feels so much truer to who Anakin was.
Even as a Jedi, long before his fall to the dark side, Anakin was never really entirely on the light side. That’s evident in events like his slaughter of the Tusken Raiders inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. It therefore actually makes plenty of sense for his Force Ghost to have some darkness.
Even as a Jedi, long before his fall to the dark side, Anakin was never really entirely on the light side.
Does This Change What We Know About Force Ghosts?
So Far, Force Ghosts Have Only Ever Been On The Light Side Of The Force
If it’s true that Anakin’s Force Ghost has a mix of both darkness and light, this doesn’t just change Anakin’s fate.This completely changes what we know about Force Ghosts inStar Wars. As mentioned, as far as we’ve known thus far, Force Ghosts can only be on the light side of the Force.
However, this implies we’ve gotten that all wrong. Evidently, Force Ghosts don’t have to be that straightforward. Of course, this may not be true of all Force Ghosts. Anakin was clearly always more complicated than most, no doubt in part because of his role asthe Chosen One.
With Anakin always playing fast and loose with the rules and never quite matching what a ‘true Jedi’ ought to be, it’s not difficult to imagine his Force Ghost would bend the rules as well. If anyone was going to have an odd Force Ghost, it would be Anakin Skywalker. It’s therefore possible this is really just an Anakin thing.
If anyone was going to have an odd Force Ghost, it would be Anakin Skywalker.
Nevertheless, this update inAhsokais a shocking one, and it has so many implications both for Anakin Skywalker and for the largerStar Warsfranchise. Ultimately, no matter what this means for Force Ghosts as a whole,Ahsokahas completely rewrittenAnakin Skywalker/Darth Vader’scharacter, and I love it so much more.
