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so what if i just throw myself into mustafar’s lava river.

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i knowwww the running joke in the fandom is that obi wan is space jesus,but are we for real glossing over the fact that anakin is LITERALLY space jesus

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Obi Wan saying "Sith lords are our speciality" to the sith lord organizing the Clone Wars, standing next to one of the future strongest sith lords in history, while his former grand-padawan is fighting the sith lord he thought he killed, then preceding to get his ass kicked by another sith lord is objectivly one of the funiest things hes ever done.

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Vader gently pressing his head to C-3PO remembering the wonder that was baby Anakin Skywalker’s kindness forever lives rent free in my head

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a funny thing about having a Problematic Blorbo is that you'll periodically come across a post along the lines of "um let's not forget that [Blorbo] is a bad person..." listing their various crimes, and if you have a modicum of intellectual honesty you find yourself nodding along and saying yeah it's true... but it's the greyness of their character that makes them so compelling... At the same time though you have a little Saul Goodman in your ear going "your honor in their defense: who cares like omfgggg who caresssssss like come onnnnnn"

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"you called this.... home."

back to bussiness with them

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Does Anakin have any friends in the order besides Obi-Wan and Ahsoka? I'm watching clone wars and he doesn't really seem close to anyone that's not Obi-Wan or Ahsoka.

No, notreally. He had a few “friends” growing up, but none were as kind and supportiveas Ahsoka or Padmé. and eventually, they all turned on him or died. None I’dconsider “real friends” (ride or die style). I’d be considering “friends” hereas the people Anakin had continuous contact with, I’m not considering people hemet during missions or he only work with for a limited period of time (like Barrissor the padawn pack).

Anakin’sfirst years at the Temple were very lonely. People weren’t deliberately meanbut he didn’t have any friends.

Anakin had looked at himuncertainly, but Obi-Wan shooed him off. Itpuzzled and worried Obi-Wan how much time his Padawan spent alone. Anakinhad told him that he’d had good friends on Tatooine, especially a human boynamed Kitster. He’d been at the Temple forthree years now, but he hadn’t made one close friend, although he was wellliked and certainly got along with the other kids.  [Jude Watson’s  Deceptions]

Later, he would become friends with fellow padawan Darra Thel-Tanis andTru Veld but both relationships end badly. Darra and Anakin were in a couple ofmissions together and soon became friends. But she died before AOTC.

Anakin saw the exhaustion in herface she had tried to hide. “Is there anything I can do for you? Would youlike some juice, or some food, or some music?” Darra’s eyelids flutteredclosed. “Just one thing,” she said. “Stay with me until I fallasleep. It’s lonely here.” “I will.” Anakin shifted his weightso that he was sitting on the floor. He leaned against the sleep couch next toher head. He knew she could feel the pressure of his body, and that would makeher feel safe. He sat there until her breathing slowed and he knew she wasasleep.[Jude Watson’sThe Master of Disguise]

And Tru, Anakin’s first friend in the Temple,  was never the supportive and loyal friendAnakin needed.  He gave too much creditto what people said about Anakin behind his back (mainly Ferus), he didn’ttrust Anakin which eventually cost Darra’s life and after everything wentsouth, he ditched Anakin for Anakin’s rival Ferus Olin.

“Thank you for defending me,” Anakin said.“I will miss you, friend.”

“Take care,Anakin,” Tru said. “Take care.” Tru walked away.Anakin felt a tiny sting at Tru’s words. Hehadn’t meant them as an affectionate farewell. He’d meant them as a warning.[Jude Watson’s The Moment of Truth]

Tru was angry at him, buthe had never truly understood the burden that Anakin carried. Maybe Tru hadnever understood him at all. Maybe no one did, except for his Master. Tru wouldcome around. Anakin walked out. At the far end of the hallway, he saw Ferusjoin Tru. He felt as though he was watching them through the wrong end ofelectrobinoculars. They seemed so small, so far away. Feeling his presence, Trulooked back over his shoulder at Anakin. And then it hit him like a punch thatknocked the air from his lungs.Tru would never come around. He’d lost his friendforever. [Jude Watson’s The FinalShowdown]

Anakin was friendly with afew padawans but it never got intimate. Anakin didn’t open up and they didn’t knowhow to reach him. I see these relationships more like friendly acquaintances thanreal friends. Jax Pavan, another padawan, says it perfectly:

Anakin had alwaysbeen something of an enigma to Jax and the other Padawans. He was nearly the same age as Jax, and they hadstudied and dueled together often.While it was true that no one could really getclose to Anakin—he had always maintained an aloofness, a reserve, that nonecould penetrate—still, Jax had counted himself as one of the troubled youngJedi’s few confidants.[Michael Reaves’sJedi Twilight]

Over the years, Anakin did make some “friends” but it neverlasted long enough for it to become a real close friendship. All his “friends”left/grew apart or died (like Darra and the Padawan Pack). And some of the Jedi whoweren’t his friends, talked about him behind his back:

And, to make matters worse, Obi-wan wasn’t really hisfriend either during those years. Anakin latched on to him because he was hehad but their relationship was too strained and complicated for it to be calleda friendship.

So no, Anakin didn’t have any friends in his life beforethe clone wars started.

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Anakin Skywalker & Slavery

Continuation of this post (a question by @ask-the-almighty-google)

Anakin, as a Jedi, had a unique approach to slavery. I’m aware this is a divisive topic with opinions ranging from “Anakin was worse than Jabba” to “Anakin did nothing wrong”. Instead of doing a “opinion piece” I decided it would be more constructive if we could look at the facts. My personal opinion will still be a part of this but today I’ll try to show more and talk less.

Keep reading

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In your personal point of view, where do you think the Jedi erred the most when it came to Anakin's training?

To be honest, I wonder from time to time how much different all of this went if Anakin got more experienced teacher to guide him through the training process instead of freshly promoted to Knight and still processing Qui-Gon Jinn’s death Obi-Wan that took the boy out of obligation (the last promise to fallen master) rather than anything else. This is by no means an attack on Kenobi for whom the whole situation was as unexpected as for Anakin and who I believe tried his best but Anakin was his first student and one from which greatness was expected due to some old, incomprehensible prophecy. So maybe old Ben was right, he wasn’t ready to teach Anakin as he thought he was then. Maybe if Jinn lived long enough to train little Skywalker or if one of the Council members took upon themselves this duty, Anakin’s - and galaxy’s - fate would be much better or may not, we will never learn.

However, I think the worst error of the Jedi Order didn’t lie specifically in the choice of Anakin’s teacher but rather in Yoda himself who was from the start against training the boy and whose personal reservations (fears) rubbed on everyone involved, including Obi-Wan:

Yoda’s gaze was distant when he spoke. “Decided, the Council is,” he repeated. “Trained, the boy shall be.”

Obi-Wan felt a surge of relief and joy flood through him, and a grateful smile escaped him.

Yoda saw the smile. “Pleased, you are? So certain this is right?” The wrinkled face tightened. “Clouded, this boy’s future remains, Obi-Wan. A mistake to train him, it is.”

“But the Council-”

“Yes, decided.” The sleepy eyes lifted. “Disagree with that decision, I must.”

There was a long silence as the two faced each other, listening to the sounds of the funeral preparations taking place without. Obi-Wan did not know what to say. Clearly the Council had decided against the advice of Yoda. That in itself was unusual. That the Jedi Master chose to make a point of it here emphasized the extent of his concerns about Anakin Skywalker.

Obi-Wan spoke carefully. “I will take this boy as my Padawan, Master. I will train him in the best way I can. But I will bear in mind what you have told me here. I will go carefully. I will heed your warnings. I will keep close watch over his progress.”

Yoda studied him a moment, then nodded. “Your promise, then, remember well, young Jedi,” he said softly. “Sufficient, it is, if you do.”

Obi-Wan bowed in acknowledgment. “I will remember.” [The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks]

And maybe because Obi-Wan tried so much to train Anakin as Yoda would - or rather wanted - he blamed himself for Anakin’s fall in the Original Trilogy?

“With foolish pride I took it upon myself to train Anakin in the ways of the Jedi. My mistake was thinking I could be as good a teacher as Yoda. I was not [...]”

I strongly believe if Yoda wasn’t such a coward about facing an uncertain future and with that, (subconsciously?) fearing losing control over the situation ( his Jedi Order), things wouldn’t get so ugly in the most critical time for the Republic.

There are plenty of things that Jedi did wrong - separately, these wrongs were uncomfortable yet to survive but together build an unsafe, toxic environment. Starting with not providing any proper psychological help to unpack all the stress and traumatic experiences that no child should ever be forced to face in the first place (and Force knows, Kenobi too deserved some therapy). Then there is the whole double-standard apparently employed for Skywalker, seen when one compare how Yoda (or Jedi Council) treated Anakin and other Jedi in similar situations, for example how Grandmaster showed concern for his subordinates when the mission demanded from them to work or interact with people with whom they already had personal conflict (from minor aminosy to even serious matter of facing killer of family) but doesn’t seem to give a damn for putting Anakin on missions that directly make him face slavers and even makes him work for Jabba out of all possible people. All because he has the needed experience or whatever the excuse was. Or how there is plenty of Jedi who in fact are family members and can live in the same Temple and no one makes fuss about that (Plo Koon and his niece, Nico and Tae Diath) or can speak openly about their ties to / honoring parents (Adi Gallia, A’Sharad Hett) but when Skywalker mentions Shmi he was either silenced or told “the dreams pass” when Jedi have enough experience to know special dreams / visions may happen thanks to strong connection to the Force. Or giving totally different advice to Anakin and Ahsoka in regard to dreams about someone close to them in danger of dying, in which Anakin heard “The fear of loss is a path to the dark side. [...] Train yourself to let go… of everything you fear to lose.” [RotS] while Ahsoka was told “Visions they are. Underestimate them, You must not. Meditate to see clearly. [,,,] Choose, you must, how to respond to your visions. But remember, always in motion is the future, and many possible futures there are.” [TCW S03E07 - Assassin]. Even if the last one was the creators attempt to present Yoda in more kindly light, it spectacularly backfired by only building more the contrast how Anakin Skywalker was treated by the so called wisest Jedi Master and how Yoda’s personal opinion (fears) affected everyone involved in Skywalker’s training. To the point when Yoda showed support for young Anakin, Kenobi was actually surprised by that. Which speaks a lot about the issue, isn’t it?

And this is even more frustrating to me, because Yoda was presented as a kind mentor to so many padawans and full-trained Jedi alike. Even when he acknowledged that there was darkness in Quinlan Vos and the man had a lot falling with Dark Side through the course of his adult life, when Vos was fighting for his life during Order 66, it was memory of Yoda’s teaching that greatly helped him survive [Star Wars Republic #83]. In contrast, when Anakin hits the worst time in his life to the point of actually seeking Yoda’s advice on his own, he is surprised by old master’s willingness and patience to actually listen to him:

“He’d been surprised by how graciously the ancient Jedi Master had invited him into his quarters, and by how patiently Yoda had listened to his stumbling attempts to explain his question without giving away his secret; Yoda had never made any attempt to conceal what had always seemed to Anakin to be a gruff disapproval of Anakin’s very existence.“ [RotS novel by Matthew Stover]

The different treatment mixed with high exceptions based on some mistic not fully understable ancient prophecy was a dangerous mix that couldn’t lead into a good direction. And this is not even about Anakin as a main hero, this is generally speaking unfair, hurtful approach to any kid, especially ex-slave child that come there to learn Jedi Ways but through the years was made feel unwanted, isolated, frustrated and doubting his own worth (x)(x) and yes, there was a youthful pride but also a constant fear he is and never will be good enough. This is not how you make a functional human being and definitely not a human being with enough proper control of emotions to keep in check an unnatural connection to the Force. The training, no matter how hard and difficult, was only part of being a Jedi, the other important matter was the person's psyche. By different, incomprehensible treatment, teaching a child with clear signs of PTSD to deeply bury inside himself all his traumas, fears, stress rather than help to unpack the emotional burden and teach him proper control is not only cruel and inhuman but also asking for disaster. Hell, even Darth Sidious could see that coming but not the Jedi.

And to be honest, after so many years I do not ask myself anymore how Anakin’s Fall to Dark Side could have happened. Only, how he managed to keep so long to the Light Side / Jedi mindset?

So for me, all the problems and great Jedi errors were rooted in Yoda and his fear of change, of the unknown that Force did not feel like sharing with him. It is Yoda and his openly said reservations about ex-slave child that was brave to leave everything he knew, everyone he loved behind to become Jedi but was casted away, as too old, too angry, too dangerous. A reservation that most Jedi masters took into their hearts because one green old, immutable gremlin happened to be seen as the wisest Jedi and if he said there was something wrong, they all looked for the wrongness and focused on that. Because Yoda’s fears made others beware too and in result, made Anakin’s life in Jedi Order more hardship than it was necessary. I really think if Jedi masters (Yoda) give him a fair chance, things would look much better. Not giving Skywalker any privileges because of the Chosen One status? Completely understandable. But treating him differently, harsher than other students, because he could be dangerous? Total failure on their part. The more so because every child with connection to Force and every adult Jedi was a potential a threat to others. Anakin was not an exception in that matter.

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Can anyone explain to me why some Jedi can speak about their biological parents & family or have strong family bond without any real reprimand but when 12 years old Anakin mentioned his mother left behind in slavery, he was silenced? This is at best inconsistency between various sources or the fucking hypocrisy of Jedi Order at worst…

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When members of the Council needed to send a Jedi on mission they discussed who would be the best candidate and usually talked with chosen person(s). In case above, Yoda asked if Jedi in question was really ready for such challenge (like asking Halcyon if he can work with Slayke despite what happened between them last time) or warned / probed about Dark Side (like questioning Hett’s resolve to catch Aurra Sing - a murderer of many Jedi, including Hett’s own father - without failing to Dark Side’s whispers). The two examples showed that Council took Jedi’s state of mind / emotions into account before sending anyone on mission.

And then we have Anakin Skywalker, a former slave from Tatooine, who is just told to risk everything (and everyone) for Jabba the Hutt and rescue his kidnapped son. Because Republic needs it. No question if he is all right with that task or if he feels enough mentally / emotionally strong to do it, not even when he isn’t capable of hiding his disgust / reluctance. No warnings about Dark Side, just an order. Anakin doesn’t even know why Council chose him despite knowledge about his past but is determinated to prove that he is worth of a Jedi Knight title. What is not really healthy thing.

I doubt that Yoda’s question or explanation would change much here but it could be nice to see that the so called wise master could at least, I don’t know, devote some attention to Skywalker’s troubled psyche before sending him on mission that triggers him in so many ways?

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Anakin Skywalker and Clone Troopers

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STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH:  Anakin trying to deal with Overwhelming Feelings aka, Whenever Anakin doesn’t know how to parse what he’s feeling or what he wants to do about it, when conflicted over this raging storm inside him, he bows his head and looks away, unable to look at the person directly anymore

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naboo's senator and her favorite jedi meeting at the opera.... i wonder what's going on with those two

gahhhh i wish i had time to draw fanart again and specially fanart for anidala fanfics, but istg that after everything calms down i'll get my tiny hands working >:^)

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so, look, here’s the thing, palpatine and anakin know each other. i mean that in the ROTS novelization, in deleted ROTS scenes, anakin refers to palpatine as “family”, and palpatine has been going out of his way to get anakin alone since anakin was a very literal child - when anakin’s a sensitive pretween in the obi-wan/anakin miniseries, palpatine sneaks him off to a bar, in ROTS he takes anakin out to a fucking bubble opera, this all implies that palpatine regularly took anakin out to things like dinners and plays and art galleries and bought him stupid expensive glasses of wine, like they spent a chunk of time together. anakin is legitimately close to palpatine. anakin thought he knew palpatine before palpatine’s “hey, i’m secretly evil” reveal in ROTS, and because we don’t see anyone else ever close to palpatine, i’m sure anakin thought he was literally the only person who actually knew palpatine, who loved him like family.

i want you, specifically, to distill that image in your mind. a friend so close you consider them family. a friend you are confessing things no one else in your life - not your wife, not the man who raised you, not your spiritual leaders - knows about, and things you feel like you can’t tell them. it’s that guy. and then we flash forward to the part where this guy finds you smoldering on the bank of a river of lava, and then proceeds to design ungodly horrific contraptions to inflict you with. like this guy, he’s like your best friend, and then suddenly his image is swimming over your eyes while your ribcage gets sawed out, while your throat’s sliced into to scrape of the desiccated tissue. this guy in one fell moment replaces your face, your voice, and the shape of your body with his vision for what he wants you to be. people will only ever understand why i can’t be normal about darth vader when they understand the extent to which anakin and palpatine have the most grotesque relationship imaginable. “my boss is my best friend and also my dad and also the head of state, and he designed an outfit i will die without but it involves wearing a mask that shoves needles into my face” is fucking CRAZY dude it’s fucking CRAZY

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@whump-adjacent requested the gang celebrating Anakin's birthday on the road!!

(ko-fi requests are open!!)