25 years later, I'm still shocked that people hated George Lucas' best Anakin Skywalker's Star Wars timeline considerably more by revealing the details of his backstory, from his upbringing in slavery on Tatooine to the defining moments of his fall to the dark side.
While the prequels were therefore a pivotal addition to complaints about the prequel trilogy. These complaints included things like the dialogue and the performances, but they also extended to many of George Lucas' decisions regarding the narrative and the changes to the larger Star Wars galaxy. One of the single most controversial moments in the Star Wars prequel trilogy specifically pertained to a key Anakin Skywalker plot point, but I believe this was a brilliant choice.
The Phantom Menace Established The Chosen One Prophecy
This Brought An Entirely New Light To Anakin's Role In Star Wars
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace shocked audiences by introducing Anakin Skywalker not as an already evil, burgeoning Sith Lord or even as a violent, angry teenager (which he eventually became), but rather as an innocent, adorable young boy. Anakin was kind, thoughtful, and comionate, constantly looking for ways to his mother, such as by building C-3PO to help her around their home. This alone became a complaint from some viewers, but there was something even more controversial about Anakin in The Phantom Menace.
Namely, The Phantom Menace introduced Anakin Skywalker's Chosen One prophecy as a storyline, and many were extremely resistant to it. Although the exact language of the prophecy took time to be clarified, it was immediately clear that this prophesied being was destined to bring balance to the Force. The Jedi interpreted this as meaning destroying the Sith, but the actual prophecy didn't indicate that.
Rather, Claudia Gray's canon novel Master & Apprentice identified the exact language of the Chosen One prophecy for the very first time. The text read:
"A Chosen One shall come, born of no father, and through him will ultimate balance in the Force be restored."
Again, the Jedi interpreted (or, seemingly, misinterpreted) this to mean bringing an end to the Sith, although that was evidently just their viewpoint on what balance would mean. In either case, it's clear that this is referring to Anakin, given his mother, Shmi, herself confirmed that there was no father when speaking to Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace. It was this, combined with the notion of there being a Chosen One at all, that audiences didn't like.
This Prophecy Was Highly Criticized By Audiences
Many Found This Decision Changed The Nature Of Star Wars
The biggest issue most viewers had with the Chosen One prophecy was the way that it theoretically made Star Wars more mystical. Yes, the original trilogy introduced concepts like the Force, but the issue in this case seemed to be audiences viewing this as a shift from something otherworldly to something almost messianic. In fact, this directly ties into the trouble with Anakin having no father; many saw this as giving Anakin an immaculate conception, which they found not in keeping with the galaxy of the original trilogy.
Many saw this as giving Anakin an immaculate conception, which they found not in keeping with the galaxy of the original trilogy.
Some also felt this broke the Everyman Hero focus of Star Wars introduced in the original trilogy, particularly with Luke Skywalker. What was in part so incredible about Luke was all he managed to become and accomplish despite his humble beginnings. Luke had been a seeming nobody, as he came from a desert planet with very little connection to the galaxy beyond (including a true understanding of the evils of the Empire).
This story with Anakin certainly changed that by making him a galaxy-defining being. Arguably, though, Star Wars had already undone this Everyman Hero story in The Empire Strikes Back by revealing Luke's biological relation to Darth Vader. Whether this is a valid criticism or not, though, I fully believe that giving Anakin this legacy in Star Wars was the right decision, as it was something his character arc demanded.
Anakin's Status As The Chosen One Was The Right Call
Anakin/Vader's Story Needed This Mystical Element
Luke certainly worked well as an Everyman Hero, and that story arc was compelling in the original trilogy. Yet, Anakin Skywalker's story needed this massive legacy and mythical component. Without the Chosen One prophecy, Anakin's ability to become one of Star Wars' most powerful Sith as Darth Vader would feel unbelievable.
It would simply be too much power and influence for an otherwise ordinary character to possess had there been no deeper legacy such as the Chosen One prophecy tied to Anakin Skywalker's story. This background also made Anakin/Vader's storyline in the original trilogy make so much more sense and have an even greater impact. What this Chosen One prophecy provided was the sense that Anakin had just fulfilled his destiny in Star Wars by bringing balance to the Force.
It would simply be too much power and influence for an otherwise ordinary character to possess had there been no deeper legacy such as the Chosen One prophecy tied to Anakin Skywalker's story.
Star Wars May Not Be Done With Anakin's Role As The Chosen One Yet
A Thrilling Ahsoka Season 2 Theory Suggests This Story May Not Be Over Yet
What has me all the more convinced this Chosen One prophecy was the right decision is one thrilling Ahsoka season 2 theory regarding the Mortis Gods. Specifically, this theory suggests that Anakin Skywalker (now as a Force Ghost), his former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, and dark-sider Baylan Skoll could form the Father, Daughter, and Son comprising the Mortis Gods. This would especially make sense given the Daughter embodied the light side of the Force, the Son embodied the dark, and the Father represented balance in the Force itself.
Mortis Gods Explained: Star Wars History, Powers, Planet & Importance
The Mortis gods are some of Star Wars’ most powerful Force-wielders, and Dave Filoni is using them to unite The Clone Wars, Rebels, and now Ahsoka.
These are also roles that need to be filled, as the Mortis Gods all died in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, following Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan Kenobi crash landing on the planet. The connection to the Chosen One prophecy in this scenario is what excites me most. Some have argued that Palpatine's resurrection in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ruined Anakin's fulfillment of the prophecy, as balance was arguably not restored after all. Yet, if Anakin became the Father, it would cement him bringing balance in the most poetic way.
This would also mean Anakin's legacy would live on in a whole new way, even if he's never seen again on the Star Wars screen. All of this is only possible because George Lucas decided to take this risk and introduce the Chosen One prophecy in the prequel trilogy. There will always be some who hate George Lucas' Chosen One prophecy story arc, but, in my view, this was the perfect addition to Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader's Star Wars story.
