TheAhsokashow fixed one massiveAnakin Skywalker/Darth Vadermistake George Lucas made in theStar Warsprequel trilogy, but I still wish we’d gotten to see it 20 years ago.Ahsokaproved to be a brilliant addition toStar Warsmovies and TV shows. Not only did it flesh out Ahsoka Tano’s character so much more and finally reveal where Ezra Bridger had gone, but it also brought Hayden Christensen back as Anakin Skywalker.
As a massive fan of the prequels,Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and all of these characters, I couldn’t have been more delighted to see these events throughoutAhsokaseason 1. This became particularly emotional when Ahsoka and Anakin reunited inthe World Between Worlds, during which Ahsoka finally got the closure she’s needed for decades. Yet,one of the most thrilling moments in the World Between Worlds also proved what a major mistake George Lucas made inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
I Can’t Believe George Lucas Never Showed Us Hayden Christensen With A Red Lightsaber
Prior to theAhsokashow,Hayden Christensen had never wielded a red lightsaber as Darth Vaderoutside the Vader suit (so, visibly Hayden Christensen). The closestRevenge of the Sithever came to giving us that visual was at the very beginning of the movie, when Anakin used Count Dooku’s lightsaber and his own to decapitate Dooku. However, that wasn’t his own red lightsaber, and he hadn’t yet fallen to the dark side.
Why Anakin’s Lightsaber Didn’t Turn From Blue To Red When He Became A Sith
Although Osha turned a blue lightsaber red in a matter of seconds, there’s one key reason Anakin Skywalker’s red lightsaber didn’t happen right away.
This was a massive missed opportunity because, asAhsokaproved, Christensen looks incredibly cool as Darth Vader wielding a red lightsaber. It would have been brilliant to see this inRevenge of the Sithbefore Anakin inevitably wound up in the Darth Vader suit—the version of Anakin referred to as Knightfall Vader among the fandom. Instead, Anakin/Vader carried out Order 66 and had his epic battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar using his blue lightsaber.
This was a massive missed opportunity because, asAhsokaproved, Christensen looks incredibly cool as Darth Vader wielding a red lightsaber.
It is actually only in the comics that Vader bleeding a kyber crystal, turning it red, has been shown, making this an even greater sore point intheStar Warstimeline. This would have been an incredible event to see on screen, as would Hayden Christensen as Vader with a red lightsaber. This also made the iconic blue lightsaber seen throughout the original trilogy a little more troubling, as it was that lightsaber that had cut down younglings at the Jedi Temple.
We Finally Got To See Hayden With A Red Lightsaber In Ahsoka
These Scenes In The World Between Worlds Were Downright Breathtaking
I—like many viewers—was absolutely losing my mind during these scenes with Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the World Between Worlds in theAhsokashow. Seeing Christensen reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker would have been thrilling period, but getting to see him reunited with Ahsoka and especially getting to see him don the iconic Clone Wars armor fromThe Clone Warsfor the first time was beyond thrilling. The scenes with Darth Vader were arguably the best, though.
For one,the two times Anakin flashes between Anakin and Darth Vader in the suit in the World Between Worlds were visually stunningand a genius move by Lucasfilm. Getting to see Christensen wield a red lightsaber was next level, however, as was him acting so much like the Anakin/Vader ofRevenge of the Sith. While many have criticized Anakin/Vader’s dialogue in that movie (it actually remains one of thebiggest complaints about the prequel trilogy), I cheered out loud when he said"You lack conviction"because it was full ofRevenge of the Sith’sdramatic flair.
No Offense To Darth Vader, But Hayden With A Red Lightsaber Will Always Be SO Cool
This Felt Truly New—Making It All The More Bizarre It Wasn’t In Revenge Of The Sith
Don’t get me wrong, Darth Vader is cool in every iteration we’ve seen of him, dating back nearly 50 years. After all, theRogue One: A Star Wars Storyscene is one ofDarth Vader’s most badass moments inStar Wars. His suit remains one of the most iconic images of the entire franchise, and it was thrilling to get to see the suit at the end ofRevenge of the Sith. However,Darth Vader with a red lightsaber is something we’re familiar with seeing at this point, as was true in the prequel trilogy as well.
This wasn’t true of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, though. This image was brand-new, and it was a perfect representation of how far Anakin had fallen. Given audiences felt Anakin’s turn to the dark side was too sudden (although I disagree), this could have been a visual connective tissue that would have worked well. As theAhsokashow proved, getting to see Hayden Christensen wield a red lightsaber as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader was amazing, but that just makes me regret its absence inRevenge of the Sithall the more.
