Love or hate the Star Wars prequels, one thing that the movies failed to do was properly set up Anakin Skywalker’s turn to the dark side. In the three movies, fans saw Anakin go from a young boy to becoming a whiny teen, to finally being a whiny adult who quickly decides that killing children is fine.
And while this is one of the greatest failings of the Star Wars prequels, George Lucas, Dave Filoni, and the crew behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars used it to build out Anakin Skywalker’s story in animated form. Not only did the seven-season cartoon expand on the elements that led to Anakin’s turn, but it gave the character a whole new personality that made the prequels work with how the original trilogy presented Darth Vader.
Anakin’s Turn In The Clone Wars Was Slow And Steady
While Anakin’s switch from Jedi to Sith happens quickly in the movies, Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes the time to show the cracks in Anakin’s mental state that lead to the eventual creation of Darth Vader. One of the earliest moments was in Season 2, Episode 8, “Brain Invaders,” where Anakin tortures Poggle the Lesser, a Geonosian who is immune to Jedi mind tricks, to get information from him.
The series gives Anakin a Padawan of his own in Ahsoka, and their relationship is as important to Skywalker as his relationship with Padme Amidala. To Anakin, Ahsoka is the little sister he never had, giving him the feeling of family the Jedi took from him. Because of this, Anakin is devastated when Ahoska leaves the Jedi Order after being accused of a murder she did not commit.
For Anakin, the way the Jedi Council treated his Padawan reinforces his belief that the Order itself is corrupt. This, in turn, makes it easier for Palpatine to convince Anakin to turn his back on the Jedi.
Anakin Was Purposely Played Different In Clone Wars
When actor Matt Lanter was cast as Anakin Skywalker for The Clone Wars, George Lucas and Dave Filoni discussed how the part should be played. The decision was made to move away from the way Anakin was portrayed in the movies and instead make him more like a swashbuckling hero of the past, but with a darker edge.