Was Anakin Skywalker really the most powerful Jedi of all time? A few years ago, we offered you a reflection on the character, from his creation to the post-Disney era, but it's important to remember that he continues to constantly evolve. Each time a new Star Wars work about Darth Vader is released, the Jedi/Sith becomes more fleshed out (even if it creates some inconsistencies). We now know more about his place within the power scale of this universe.
Anakin Skywalker, a powerful Jedi turned Sith
First introduced in his definitive form, that of Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker has one of the most tragic and mythical destinies in pop culture. From a promising young boy, considered the Chosen One by his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, he will become a galactic tyrant at the command of the ultimate Evil, Emperor Palpatine. Corrupted by hatred, anger, pain, fear, and jealousy, his soul will become blacker than the confines of space. Forced by Darth Sidious, the heretic Sith, to fall to the dark side of the Force, he will turn away from his Jedi teachings, until the reversal of events in Star Wars VI and the assassination of Emperor Palpatine. Considered the most powerful Jedi by many fans, what is the truth?
Anakin Skywalker: The Difference Between Potential and Fulfillment
Few characters exert such a fascinating appeal as those whose potential is squandered by environment or upbringing. This is typically the case with Anakin Skywalker, who, by George Lucas' own admission to Vanity Fair in 2005, after the release of Revenge of the Sith, claimed that his fight on Mustafar had greatly diminished his potential. Anakin, as a Skywalker, as a human, would become extremely powerful. But he ended up losing his arms and one leg and became part robot. Much of his ability to use the Force, much of his powers, are therefore limited at this stage, because, as a living being, there is not much left of him. His ability to be twice as strong as the Emperor is therefore gone, and he is now perhaps 20% less powerful than the Emperor.
The midi-chlorian rate, a reliable but hypothetical indicator
The Force is therefore intimately linked to the living and to the physical envelope. Introduced in the prequel to Star Wars, the concept of midi-chlorians scientifically explains the characters' Force sensitivity. A concept explored in depth by The Acolyte Visual Guide, a book written by Pablo Hidalgo, due for release on June 17. In it, the author expresses the nuance surrounding the potential of this microscopic life form, hidden within the cells of living beings, and its tangible fulfillment.
These microbial symbiotes inhabit the cells of all living beings and are a reliable indicator of potential. A higher concentration indicates greater sensitivity to the Force.
But as we know, and as is also the case in reality, potential does not equal fulfillment. After his impressive lightsaber battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker lost any chance of harnessing his midi-chlorian levels. The psychological trauma of losing Padmé, as well as the physical trauma of his duel (he was burned and dismembered), damaged his connection to the Force. Waking up in cybernetic armor, unable to breathe or continue living without it, his diminished body no longer allowed him to fully realize his innate talent. His connection to the Force, supposedly greater than any other, will therefore forever remain an unproven possibility, proving that the Force is not so much a concrete level of power as a dimension to be explored and understood. Anakin Skywalker could therefore become the most powerful Jedi of all time, but this possibility was not meant to happen.
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