Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy brought the Skywalker story to an end. Anakin Skywalker, who has been the main character in all six previous installments under this name, or his alter ego Darth Vader, has not appeared in the latest series. To some, this seemed like a strange move. Anakin was able to manifest as a Force spirit, just like at the end of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi . So why was it Yoda who visited Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi , and not Anakin?
The new Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith novel by Adam Christopher is a kind of prologue to the sequel trilogy. It provides the story of some characters and story devices added to the universe only in the last part of the Skywalker saga. Rebirth . Why doesn’t Anakin appear in sequels?
Note: SPOILERS
Luke Skywalker with Lor San Tekka in Shadow of the Sith explored the mysterious planet of the Sith – Exegol. Luke then visited Tython, a planet sacred to the Jedi, and used the planet’s seeing stone to enter a deep meditative state. This allowed Luke to cast onto Exegol, much like he did in The Last Jedi to face Kylo Ren.
But it was different at Exegol. The planet was so deeply imbued with dark side energy that it influenced Luke greatly, even in a ghostly state. Even more dangerous turned out to be attacking ghostly figures, the spirits of the Sith. It was similar when the Hobbits were attacked on Wichrowy Czub in The Lord of the Rings . Instead of Aragorn, it was Anakin who played the role of the lifeguard.
Still from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
In the form of a Force spirit, Anakin Skywalker defended his son from the wraiths, but the dark nature of Exegol affected him as much as it did Luke. Anakin used his last strength to help Luke escape. Upon his return, Anakin’s form changed from the younger man to the older man Luke saw under Vader’s helmet in Return of the Jedi . It turned out that helping cost Anakin a lot:
“The look at Anakin’s face made Luke’s blood run dry. His father looked pained – no, worse, in agony. Luke didn’t know if it was even possible. Anakin was then one with the Force. Yet he was in trouble. His spirit flickered and faded.
Eventually, Anakin’s spirit disappeared. Reading this scene, one gets the impression that this theme will be touched upon before the end of the novel. However, it turns out that the damage done by the encounter with the wraiths explains why Anakin does not appear in Luke in the sequel trilogy.
This was Luke and Anakin’s first conversation after Return of the Jedi to occur in the new Star Wars canon . It may also be the first time Anakin has reappeared to his son since the night he died. Luke initially mistook Anakin for Obi-Wan Kenobi because he did not expect to see his father. However, Anakin did not leave entirely because he urged Rey to fight Palpatine in Skywalker. Revival , but his abilities may have been weakened since this battle.