Page 20 - Star Wars Insider #187
P. 20
THE SKYWALKER SAGA
01
This shift in tone to cautionary We are first reintroduced to
tragedy is signaled in the opening Anakin in scenes of relative calm:
sequence of Attack of the Clones: banter in an elevator; an awkward
an assassination attempt on the reunion; a conversation about
central protagonist of the first the plan to protect Padmé, then
film, Padmé Amidala. She survives, solemnly standing guard outside
but the cost is the life of Cordé, her bedroom in the night while
her handmaiden and friend. The worrying over nightmares about
aftermath of the incident brings Shmi. To show us the young man
together everything that follows: that Anakin has become, Lucas
Kenobi and Skywalker, Padmé and plunges the audience into the
Anakin, the meddling of Palpatine, first major action set-piece of the
and the inexorable march toward film, the speeder chase through
civil war. nighttime Coruscant. For the first
time, we see why Kenobi later
Star-Crossed Lovers remembers Anakin as the best
No longer a child, Anakin pilot in the galaxy and a cunning
Skywalker rises to the fore. Lucas warrior. Anakin weaves the speeder
deliberately placed the trio of films through traffic fearlessly—then 02
in Anakin’s monomyth over three leaps into midair with perfect
distinct eras of his life because timing to land atop the speeder
every individual is a sum of many they had been pursuing. In the
events over a prolonged period of Outlander Club he receives a gentle
time. In The Phantom Menace, reminder from Obi-Wan about
Anakin is a boy, aware that life patience, but Anakin’s willingness
isn’t perfect but still full of hope. to throw himself headlong into
When he departs Tatooine, Anakin the mission is never in question.
has achieved his dream of winning And once the bounty hunter is
a podrace; by the time the movie captured, Anakin reveals a flash of
ends, he has earned a spot among his temper, too, before a poison
the Jedi while holding on to his dart silences their prisoner and
dream of returning to free his starts the mystery that Obi-Wan
mother and other slaves. Anakin is assigned to investigate.
experienced the Battle of Naboo The subsequent events will test
from the gleeful perspective of a everything Anakin has learned
kid playing a videogame, bantering about being a Jedi. First, Lucas
with R2 and shooting at enemies gives us a glimpse at the ongoing,
he did not wholly understand. By gradual manipulation of the young
the time of Attack of the Clones, man by his other mentor figure, 01 Padmé is
Anakin Skywalker has lived this Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the distraught
at the death
new life for a decade, and he has metaphorical devil on Anakin’s of Cordé.
grown into a powerful and skilled shoulder whispering in his ear to
02 Anakin and
Jedi apprentice. counteract the influence of his
Padmé arrive
Jedi Master. Palpatine reinforces at the Lars
his feelings of impatience and homestead
on Tatooine.
resentment that Kenobi and
Attack of the the Jedi Order are unwilling 03 Palpatine
Clones is a story to recognize the full extent of continues
to manipulate
Anakin’s talents and abilities. Anakin’s
about the difficult Next, Anakin and Padmé go emotions.
choices faced by into isolation together on Naboo 04 Obi-Wan
for her safety. Despite busy lives
Kenobi has
those who wield surrounded by Jedi or Senate first-hand
colleagues, each of them is lonely experience of
great power. and isolated, and a bond forged in Anakin’s skills
as a pilot.
03
20 / STAR WARS INSIDER
