A brand-newStar Warsbook confirms whatAnakin Skywalkersuspected all along:Master Yodanever truly trusted him. From the minute Anakin arrived on Coruscant inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceand stood before the Council, he felt (and was treated) like an outsider. The tensions surrounding that initial encounter and the relationship between Anakin and the Jedi Masters both had major influences onAnakin’sStar Warstimeline, particularly his growing animosity toward the Jedi and his ultimate fall. Indeed, this introduction was one ofthe defining moments in Anakin’s fall.
A newStar Warsbook,Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy, written by Dan Brooks, Megan Crouse, Amy Richau, Amy Ratcliffe, Brandon Wainerdi, Dan Zehr, and Kelly Knox, confirms thatthis was much more than just Anakin’s perception. The book states:
“When Qui-Gon Jinn brings Anakin Skywalker before the Council, Yoda argues that the boy is too dangerous to be trained. He later changes his mind after Qui-Gon is killed by a Sith on Naboo, but he never entirely conquers his feelings of unease. During the next few years, Yoda keeps watch over Padawan Skywalker and his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Unfortunately,this unease was felt by Anakin Skywalker throughout his young life, and it contributed not only to his feelings of isolation and ostracization but also to his eventual turn to the dark side.
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What Yoda’s Distrust Means For Star Wars
Confirmation That Yoda Didn’t Trust Anakin Reveals Anakin Was Right, From A Certain Point Of View
There’s no question Yoda and the other Jedi Council members had every intention of doing the right thing in the prequel trilogy and approached Anakin with such caution because they wanted to safeguard the light side of the Force and the future of the Jedi. Despite their intentions,the Jedi Council’s treatment of Anakin inThe Phantom Menace,Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, andStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithmade it much easier for Anakin to fall to the dark side. While the Jedi cannot be blamed entirely, their behavior was detrimental to Anakin.
Why I Still Blame The Jedi For Anakin Skywalker’s Fall To The Dark Side
Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side in Star Wars was multifaceted, but the Jedi are at least partially to blame for several key reasons.
What makes Yoda’s sentiments even more concerning and disappointing is the specific notion that Yoda was unable to ‘conquer’ his feelings of unease. This wording suggeststhis was something contrary to the Jedi way—something Yoda should not have been feeling—but he was unable to overcome the uneasiness. This is also interesting given how consistentlyStar Warsmovies and TV showsreinforce that the Jedi are meant to control their feelings. Clearly, this was a shortcoming for Yoda in this case, as he was unable to let go of his concerns about Anakin, which impacted his treatment of him.
Our Take On Yoda’s Attitude To Anakin
The Treatment Of Anakin, Especially At First, Made Matters Much Worse
Many factors contributed to Anakin’s fall to the dark side, and it’s difficult to pinpoint whether one change could have meant Anakin never became Darth Vader. There is a pretty glaring difference between a question such as whether Anakin would have fallen had Ahsoka stayed in the Jedi Order and how Yoda (and the other Jedi) treating Anakin differently could have shaped his destiny, though.With the Jedi’s treatment, this was a daily tension and sadness Anakin felt, and it went on for years, beginning when he was still a child.
Would Anakin Still Have Fallen To The Dark Side If Ahsoka Tano Never Left The Jedi Order?
Many factors contributed to Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side of the Force, but how much did Ahsoka’s departure from the Order influence him?
It’s easy to understand why feeling as though the Jedi didn’t want him there and never trusted him made Anakin more susceptible to Palpatine’s manipulations, particularly regarding the Jedi and their intentions. This doesn’t excuse Anakin’s behavior or imply that he doesn’t bear an immense amount of responsibility for all he’s done; he is responsible for how he responded to his environment. Even so, this newStar Warsbook confirms thatMasterYodatruly did remain cautious about Anakin Skywalker, which provides a bit more insight into why and how he ultimately fell to the dark side.
Source:Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
