After slicing open Vader’s mask and damaging his respirator, Vader and Obi Wan exchange dialogue, where Vader tells Kenobi that Anakin’s gone, and Obi apologizes to him for everything. What stuck out to me though was when Vader said “I am not your failure, Obi Wan. You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker….I did.” Vader takes the credit for becoming the sith he is now, even though Obi Wan was the one that led him to become Darth Vader. Yes, Anakin’s actions to become Vader were his own decision. But it was never Anakin’s fault for feeling the way he did towards the council, towards Obi Wan, and towards the Order. If you want to find out my take on how Anakin was treated as the chosen one, go to one of my most recent posts where it talks about the chosen one prophecy being mistreated. 

Obi Wan simply wasn’t the right fit for Anakin in terms of being a mentor. The knowledge he learned from Qui Gon was minimal, which meant Obi taught Anakin everything he could, and the rest was up to Anakin to decide. Lacking the proper relationship of father and son instead of brother and brother was ultimately the disconnect between the two. The most heartbreaking part is Vader blaming himself for killing Anakin when it was Obi’s fault for failing Anakin in certain departments that the Jedi were not in control of, nor did they believe it was right to partake in anything Anakin was doing. After their conversation, I definitely think Kenobi felt somewhat relieved that he apologized, and at least tried to see if Anakin was still in there under the mask. When realizing his friend is truly dead (in his eyes), he leaves Vader to suffer in his injuries (Kenobi probably in hopes of him dying this time so that his pain ends). And now we finally see where Obi gets his narrative of Vader killing Anakin when telling Luke in A New Hope. Despite adopting this new narrative, I think throughout his next ten years he held a little bit of guilt, but not to the extent that he did within the first ten years. This was his way of coping with his mistakes, and being hopeful for the future through Luke. That’s why we see the promise and optimism in Alex Guinness as Obi Wan. He likely meditated often after confronting Vader and spoke frequently to Qui Gon to learn how to become a compass for Luke and learning how to manifest his being in the force as Qui Gon had in order to put that to use when it was time to guide Luke. 

I would go as far as saying that Anakin died in that moment of decision where Mace and Palpatine are fighting one another for the favor of Anakin to make the right choice. It’s difficult to describe in writing, but Anakin’s facial expression changes at a certain point in that scene showing he has made the choice of saving Palpatine, in attempts to save his wife. That choice of subconsciously pledging to the ways of the dark side by assisting in the murder of another person (I say another because The Tuskans and Dooku were the first). 


 It would be interesting to see how Qui Gon feels about Anakin’s fate now compared to when he last spoke of him. Is his sentiment toward the chosen one the same? Is it different now that Luke has a chance at saving the galaxy? Do both Obi and Qui Gon believe Luke to be the Chosen One, since we hear Obi acknowledge that Luke is the chosen one (again, in his eyes) when Maul’s asks him as he dies. 

Just a ton of questions and brainstorming that go through my brain when it comes to lore. Glad I can discuss and share my take on certain things in a space that welcomes anything and everything Star Wars. Grateful for everyone that reads my content, and may the force be with you.