Star Wars Just Made The Sequel Trilogy’s Anakin Skywalker Problem So Much Worse

by

It’s been six years since The Rise of Skywalker came out, and the way the sequel trilogy handled Anakin Skywalker continues to be a problem for many fans. Considering he was the hero who defeated the Sith in Return of the Jedi, his limited role in the sequels felt odd to begin with. Now, with new Star Wars stories being released, his lack of involvement is becoming even more noticeable.

Since the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker’s Force ghost has appeared in a few new Star Wars stories. This raises a big question about the sequel trilogy: why wasn’t Anakin there to help his family when they needed him most?

In The Entire Sequel Trilogy, Anakin Skywalker Only Had One Off-Screen Line

Throughout the three sequel movies, Anakin Skywalker only makes a brief appearance in The Rise of Skywalker as a voice, alongside other Jedi Masters. He simply tells Rey to “Bring back the balance, as I did,” and that’s the extent of his role.

Anakin Skywalker doesn’t appear as a Force ghost after his death. This means there’s no continued guidance from him, no heartwarming reunion with Luke and Leia’s spirits, and no chance for his grandson, Ben Solo, to connect with his grandfather’s true self. It’s odd, considering he was established as a Force ghost at the end of Return of the Jedi.

Before The Rise of Skywalker came out, most fans expected to see Luke Skywalker play a significant role in the concluding film of the Skywalker saga. Because of this, many were disappointed with what amounted to a brief, single line of dialogue for the character.

After Luke Skywalker’s Jedi school was destroyed and he lost hope in the Jedi, he spiraled into a deep sadness – and Anakin Skywalker’s spirit remained silent. At the same time, Luke’s nephew, Ben Solo, became consumed by the dark legacy of Darth Vader. He abandoned Luke, fell under the influence of the mysterious Snoke, and was secretly manipulated by the resurrected Emperor Palpatine through Vader’s helmet. Throughout all of this, Anakin’s Force ghost offered no guidance or intervention.

It’s surprising Anakin didn’t try to guide his grandson away from repeating his mistakes. Because Anakin’s spirit doesn’t appear in the sequel trilogy, his earlier journey to the light side feels less meaningful when looking at the larger story. It’s even more noticeable now, as later Star Wars stories have shown Anakin as a Force ghost, highlighting what was missing in those films.

Anakin’s Force Ghost Has An Active Role In Ahsoka

Even though Anakin Skywalker isn’t physically present in the sequel movies, his Force ghost still appears in other Star Wars stories. For example, he shows up in a comic book, guiding a group away from the ruins of Darth Vader’s castle.

In Adam Christopher’s 2022 novel, Shadows of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker’s ghost appears to rescue Luke from Sith spirits after Luke is lured to the planet Exegol.

Shadows of the Sith, set before the events of the later Star Wars films, depicts a time when Luke is receiving cryptic warnings and sensing danger from the dark side. The story hints that the dark side—possibly even Palpatine—may have been working to prevent Anakin from taking further action.

While it’s a potential reason, it doesn’t fully explain things when you consider other Force ghosts shown in the later movies, like Yoda and Luke Skywalker after he dies in The Last Jedi. The most significant appearance of Anakin’s Force ghost so far was in the 2023 series Ahsoka, which takes place during the New Republic era, earlier in the timeline.

In a pivotal moment within the mystical World Between Worlds, Anakin Skywalker imparts one last lesson to his former apprentice, reaffirming her path as a Jedi. Hayden Christensen’s portrayal of Anakin in Ahsoka demonstrates that he wasn’t simply a memory, but could actively participate and influence events using the power of the Force.

Anakin Skywalker makes a brief but meaningful appearance in the final episode of Ahsoka, quietly supporting Ahsoka Tano as she fully commits to her journey as a Jedi and begins training her own apprentice, Sabine Wren, while they’re both stuck on the planet Peridea. Because season 2 of Ahsoka will include even more scenes with Anakin, fans are thrilled to see his Force ghost return.

This also raises a continuing question about Star Wars: if Anakin Skywalker’s spirit could guide Ahsoka and others, why didn’t he offer help during the events of the sequel trilogy except for a brief moment of encouragement right at the very end?

Kylo Ren Just Made The Anakin Problem Even Worse With Legacy of Vader

I was really surprised by something I read in Legacy of Vader #10! It takes place between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, and it shows Kylo Ren doing something incredible – he actually reaches into this hidden realm of the Force and talks to Luke’s ghost, even after their fight on Crait. It’s a really fascinating addition to the story of Anakin’s Force ghost and how it all connects!

Throughout Ben’s vision, the Force ghosts of Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi appear alongside Luke, confirming them as key Jedi spirits within the established Star Wars universe. Notably absent, however, is the Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker.

The latest Star Wars comic does include a Jedi wearing a hood who has a quick conversation with Luke, but it seems unlikely to be significant. The primary reason Anakin Skywalker probably wasn’t included is to stay true to established Star Wars lore. Keeping Anakin out helps maintain Kylo Ren’s focus on the dark side and his obsession with Darth Vader, leading up to his eventual redemption in The Rise of Skywalker.

If the mysterious hooded figure isn’t Anakin Skywalker, it suggests Luke, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Qui-Gon can appear to Ben without issue, making Anakin’s absence feel deliberate. However, there’s no official explanation, and it’s likely the writer of the ‘Legacy of Vader’ comic, Charles Soule, was instructed not to include Anakin, possibly because of his role in the upcoming ‘Ahsoka’ series.

Kylo Ren, the grandson of Anakin Skywalker, spends most of the sequel trilogy consumed by darkness, influenced by the shadow of Darth Vader and the manipulative Palpatine. It’s odd that Anakin himself doesn’t play a role, especially when combined with Luke Skywalker’s years of self-imposed isolation, as seen in The Last Jedi. This makes the legendary ‘Chosen One’ seem surprisingly distant during a deeply personal family struggle.

It would be great to have a clear explanation, even if it’s simply that the Force itself stopped Anakin’s ghost from helping when he couldn’t. Knowing why would be really satisfying.

Read More

2025-11-15 21:13