WARNING: The following section contains spoilers for the Star Wars franchise.

No, I am your father

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

An often misremembered sentence from a very iconic villain. A mass murderer who was once the people’s greatest defender. The chosen one, who would bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness. The once great Jedi Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side and became most devastating Sith Lord Darth Vader. Unredeemable so it seems. Yet in the end he was redeemed, for the love of his son Luke, was stronger than his fear for his Emperor.

How did such a promising Jedi turned into their greatest enemy? For that we need to look what shaped Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader.

Anakin was discovered as a slave by Qui-Gon Jinn on the planet of Tatooine when he was nine years old. Which was actually too old, to be trained as a Jedi, for it could be easier to lead Anakin to the dark side. But Qui-Gon convinced the Jedi Council to make an exception. Ultimately of course, they would be right, since Anakin would turn to the dark side, and kill many Jedi, becoming a leader in the plan to exterminate them. But not out of the blue. After many years of fighting for the ideal of the Republic and the Jedi Order. The two start to show different interests, showing more and more flaws: Corruption, hypocrisy, betrayal, in both of them. What eventually pushes him over the edge the recognition of his power by the head of the Republic Palpatine and in secret the Sith Master Darth Sidious. And most of all the promise of the ability to save his loved ones from death. Which would be proven false when it’s already too late. The death of his beloved Padmé furthers drives him into darkness, to a seemingly point of no return.

And then there is suddenly “a new hope” when Vader learns that he has a son. For whom he starts to feel love again. A spark of light, in the darkest mind of the galaxy. Suddenly there is doubt. First he wants to bring his son to this dark path he as grown accustomed to. But when Luke shows resilience and it is clear that he will not join the dark side. Vader has to make to the hardest choice he ever made. When he sees his son suffer at the hands of his master. He then fulfills his prophecy (kind of) and throws Emperor Palpatine to his assumed doom. Which shows that love in the end can conquer fear and hate. And it is enough for Darth Vader to, in his final moments, become Anakin Skywalker again.

In the end the love for his son is stronger than all the hate and fear he felt. Redemption.

Have a great day and see you later!