Page 19 - Star Wars Insider #195

THE COMEBACK CLONES
As the focus of the prequels, to maintain balance, showing him
Anakin Skywalker’s rise to terrible visions of his future should
Jedi Master and fall to the dark is well
documented on film. But through The
Clone Wars, George Lucas and Dave he was permitted to return to his own
Filoni explored more of the internal
struggles the warrior was facing in
balancing not just his fears but his
urge to control the world around him
and protect the people he cared for,
including his secret wife Padmé.
The Clone Wars were a time
of growth and new challenges
for Anakin, punctuated by the
occasionally thankless task of
teaching young Ahsoka, who
at times turned out to be just as
impertinent and impulsive as her
master. The surprising assignment
to lead Ahsoka’s training came
from wise Jedi Master Yoda, who
hoped the exercise would fi nally
teach Skywalker how to let go.
(Unfortunately, we know how that
ultimately turned out.)
Initially, Anakin and Ahsoka butted
heads as his patience was stretched
thin by his energetic Padawan, but
ANAKIN
they grew to with the staunch Republic militarist
trust one another. and future Imperial Grand Moff.
When Ahsoka was And although the war frequently
plagued by brain kept them apart—Anakin on the
worms, Anakin’s frontlines of battle and Padmé in
rage consumed the senate and offworld, offering
him, driving him diplomacy to end the suffering—
to venture closer brief reunions over the course of the
to the dark side animated series shined a light on their
as he mercilessly strained but committed relationship.
interrogated Although deeply in love, professional
Geonosian leader obligations often took precedent
Poggle the Lesser. over personal feelings, a dichotomy
On Mortis, the that Anakin wrestled with often as
Force-wielders he tried to fulfill his confl icting roles
beckoned Anakin as husband and Jedi. At times, their
to fulfill his destiny personal attachment led them to
as the Chosen make strategically unwise decisions,
One and take the including when Padmé agreed to
place of the Father trade a key prisoner of war, General
Grievous, for Anakin to ensure her
secret husband’s safety.
he refuse. The specter of Darth Vader We will have to wait and see
was wiped from his memory before exactly what role Anakin and Padmé
play in the new episodes, but with
realm, but he still walked the path to Ahsoka on her own and ultimately
the dark side. Indeed, during a rescue rushing in to battle Maul once more,
from the Citadel, his fi rst encounter Anakin’s test to learn to let go of all
with Captain Tarkin led to discovering that he fears to lose, including his
he shared a surprising commonality former Padawan, is far from over.
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