Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker tried to redeem Anakin—but it wasn’t enough

I’ve always held Anakin Skywalker’s redemption close to my heart. His fall, his pain, and finally his return to the light—it’s the kind of arc that stays with you. So when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker came along, promising a grand finale to the Skywalker saga, I was hopeful that it would give Anakin the closure he deserved. But instead, it left me conflicted.

Yes, Anakin's journey from slave to Jedi to Darth Vader and finally to a redeemed father is the emotional backbone of Star Wars. In Return of the Jedi, when he sacrifices himself to save Luke and destroy Emperor Palpatine, I, like many others, saw that as the moment he fulfilled the Chosen One prophecy.

But then The Rise of Skywalker brought Palpatine back. And honestly? It made me question whether Anakin’s sacrifice was truly honored. Did it even matter?

---

That powerful moment in Return of the Jedi

Anakin’s redemption in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is one of the most powerful scenes in the franchise. When he sees Palpatine torturing Luke, something in him breaks—the cold armor of Darth Vader gives way to the father underneath. He doesn’t hesitate. He throws the Emperor down a shaft, knowing it will kill him too. And just like that, he returns to the light.

That moment, to me, was more than an act of love. It was the Force correcting itself. Anakin finally becomes what he was always meant to be: the Chosen One who brings balance by ending the Sith. Not with a grand speech or a lightsaber duel, but with one selfless act.

And Luke’s unwavering belief in his father? That was everything. His forgiveness, his love—it’s what saved Anakin. The saga told us that no one is ever beyond redemption. That even Darth Vader could come back. That’s the heart of Star Wars, right?

---

Then Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker happened

So imagine my reaction when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker casually resurrected Palpatine. I get that the movie had a lot of ground to cover, but bringing back the Emperor just felt… wrong. It cheapened Anakin’s sacrifice. It made the climax of Return of the Jedi feel like a temporary fix rather than the grand finale it should’ve been.

Sure, the movie tries to explain that Palpatine survived through cloning and Sith dark magic or whatever, but it left me wondering—did Anakin really destroy the Sith? Was the Force ever balanced? Or was it just biding time?

And yeah, the film tries to honor Anakin. His voice shows up to encourage Rey. There’s a moment or two that nod at his legacy. But for me, those moments were too small, too late. Anakin doesn’t get the closure or recognition he earned—not in the way the Skywalker saga should’ve given him.

---

Rey’s role and the generational shift

Now, don’t get me wrong—I love Rey. Her story matters, and her defeating Palpatine is a huge moment. But I wish the sequel trilogy had done a better job connecting her victory to Anakin’s sacrifice. Instead of building on his legacy, it feels like they moved on from it.

Anakin’s voice in that Jedi choir scene? It was a whisper. And that’s kind of how the sequels treated him overall—as a whisper in someone else’s story, not the central figure he was meant to be. His redemption paved the way for this new generation, but the films don’t really explore that connection.

For many fans—including me—it felt anticlimactic. Like Anakin’s arc was paused, then forgotten.

---

Did he still fulfill the Prophecy?

I’ve thought a lot about this. Did Anakin still fulfill the prophecy? I believe he did. Maybe not in the way the Jedi expected, and definitely not in the clean, fairy-tale way some fans wanted—but he did it. He destroyed the Sith, even if only temporarily. He brought balance to the Force—for a time. And maybe that’s the point.

Balance isn’t a one-time event. It’s something that has to be protected and nurtured. Anakin threw the galaxy off course by falling, and he began to right it by rising. Rey carried it forward. In a way, she finished what he started.

Still, I can’t help but feel the story missed an opportunity. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker could’ve made Anakin’s presence more central. It could’ve truly closed the loop. Instead, it left his legacy in the background, and for a character who was the saga, that just wasn’t enough.

---

Anakin Skywalker’s redemption is one of the most powerful moments in Star Wars. It’s what made me fall in love with the story in the first place. And no matter how messy the sequel trilogy got, that moment in Return of the Jedi still stands tall.

But I can’t pretend Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker gave him the ending he deserved. It tried, but it didn’t go far enough. His story is honored—but barely. For a saga that bears his name, I expected more.

Still, in my heart, Anakin is the Chosen One. Always was. Always will be.