Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith seems too convenient, rushed, and perhaps even immature. It's a common Skywalker saga criticism, one that for many years had merit. However, there are now multiple canonical reasons as to why Anakin's outrage and betrayal of the Council was a long time coming, and didn't require much effort on the part of Palpatine's corruption.
Notably, Anakin Skywalker's anger with the Jedi Council begins in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin's granted a seat on the Council but not given the rank of Master. Likewise, Anakin becomes even more frustrated when he's asked to spy on Chancellor Palpatine, whom he'd long considered to be a mentor and friend. However, these moments in Revenge of the Sith were just the straws that broke the camel's back, considering the Council's actions during the Clone Wars (and even Anakin's first days at the Jedi Temple).
5 The Jedi Council Doubted Anakin From The Very Start
Initially Rejecting Skywalker (While He Was In The Room)
Anakin Skywalker knew the Jedi Council didn't want him to become a Jedi at nine years old. Not only was he acutely aware of the Council's doubts that he could be effectively trained as a Jedi given his age and prior attachments, but he was in the room when the Council declared that he would not be trained. Believing Anakin to be the Chosen One, Qui-Gon naturally pushed back, and the decision was tabled until after the current conflict on Naboo was handled.
Of course, the result was the Jedi Council reluctantly allowing Obi-Wan Kenobi to train Anakin following Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul. After all, it was Jinn's dying wish that Anakin be trained, committed to his belief that Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One. Nevertheless, that initial doubt and rejection must have stuck with Anakin throughout his training and career as a Jedi Knight.
4 Lack of Concern For Anakin's Mother
Shmi Remained A Slave on Tatooine Until She Was Married
It must have also stung that the Jedi Council never did anything to help Anakin's mother, who was left on Tatooine to remain a slave. Unable to return himself due to the Jedi Order's mandates forbidding attachments, Anakin must have held some resentment that nothing was ever done on the Jedi's part to free her. This must have been especially true once Anakin finally returned home, but was too late to prevent his mother's death as seen in Attack of the Clones.
In Legends, Qui-Gon had a messenger sent before his death with a valuable object, one that was eventually used by Shmi Skywalker and her future husband Cliegg Lars to pay for her freedom. Canonically, Pé tried and failed to find and free Shmi a few years after The Phantom Menace.
3 Obi-Wan Kenobi Faking His Death
The Jedi Council Kept Anakin In The Dark
The Jedi Order as a whole became morally compromised during the Clone Wars, becoming generals and commanders for the Republic when they were meant to be keepers of the peace. However, the height of the hypocrisy was naturally centered around the leading Jedi Council in particular. This includes when Obi-Wan's death was faked so he could pose as a bounty hunter to prevent an assassination plot on the Chancellor, allowing Kenobi to get close to Count Dooku.
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During this mission, Anakin was intentionally kept in the dark to sell the deception. Wracked with anger-fueled grief in his belief that his mentor and father-figure was seemingly dead. As such, Anakin justifiably became enraged when the truth was eventually revealed that he'd been used rather than trusted, questioning how many other lies he'd been told by the Jedi Council.
2 Quinlan Vos' Mission To Assassinate Dooku
A Prime Example of the Jedi Council's Hypocrisy During The Clone Wars
One of the Jedi Council's darkest decisions during the Clone Wars was to send Jedi Master Quinlan Vos to assassinate Count Dooku. Vos failed in his attempts, and he was even temporarily corrupted by the dark side in the process. Quinlan Vos was only brought back to the light when Dooku's former Sith assassin Asajj Ventress sacrificed herself, as the duo had fallen in love while working together to try and fulfill this dark mission from the Council.
Anakin was aware of Vos' mission, and he was present in the final attempt to bring Dooku down, having ed Vos alongside Obi-Wan. In the aftermath, Obi-Wan did speak to the Jedi Council's moral failings, motivating them to abandon the assassination attempts and have Quilan Vos reinstated to the Jedi Order once he could be trusted once more. As such, it's yet another moment ahead of Revenge of the Sith that must have eroded Anakin's trust in the Jedi Council even further.
1 Ahsoka Leaving The Order
Turning Their Back on Anakin's Apprentice
Last but certainly not least, Anakin Skywalker absolutely lost faith in the Council and its decisions when they turned their backs on his apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. Near the end of the Clone Wars, Ahsoka was framed for a bombing at the Jedi Council. Charged with sedition and expelled from the Jedi Order, Ahsoka was forced to flee to clear her own name, and Anakin was the only one who stood by her.
Eventually, the real bomber was revealed by Anakin to have been Barriss Offee, who'd become disenfranchised with the entire Jedi Order, believing it had fully lost its way during the Clone Wars. While the Jedi Council apologized and welcomed Ahsoka back, Ahsoka refused and still left the Jedi Order, having lost all trust in the Council. This was a clear moment that undoubtedly broke down Anakin's trust in the Council more than it already was. All things considered, it's no wonder Palpatine had such an easy time turning Anakin against the Council in Revenge of the Sith, as he was already practically there.
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Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Pé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine's right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
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Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
7/10- Release Date
- May 19, 2005
- Runtime
- 140 Minutes
- Director
- George Lucas
Cast
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker's transformation under the influence of Darth Sidious. Released in 2005, the film explores Anakin's internal conflict and the shifting political landscape, leading to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
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