3. The Fallout And Obi-Wan
When Obi-Wan and Anakin said farewell to one another on Coruscant in Episode III, we all knew this was the end of a good thing. They had been like brothers by this stage, and we all knew the next time they met, that it would all be over between them. So Anakin has killed Mace and taken Palpatines side to save Padme, but why now is he giving up, doing Palpatines bidding and - in turn - killing Jedi and younglings and going up against his friend Obi-Wan Kenobi? This is the tough one. I dont know if it needed a few more beats in the dialogue, or maybe even another scene or two, but what I think Lucas is trying to convey is that its easier for Anakin just to give up. Anakin fought for control of his situation but now there is no way back. Hes made a terrible decision, but a decision based on an outcome he chose to commit to saving Padme. Now hes lost control and in life sometimes we find ourselves no longer in control after a series of bad decisions. In many ways, Anakins love is his greatest weakness because from here on in he has to do everything Palpatine requires in order to save Padme. Now, to add more to the dark side, this one terrible decision spawns a ton more. Deaths, betrayal and - even more messed up - Anakin has to lie to Padme, systematically putting their relationship in jeopardy. Anakin explains how the Jedi have turned against Palpatine and the Republic, which on paper is true enough, but he leaves out the big thing about the Sith. Anakin explains his loyalties still lie with the Republic, which of course means Palpatine, but in turn also means everything Padme believes in. He also vows to end this war, something the Jedi would never have done (thanks to Palpatine). Anakins decisions are disastrous, but now, forcing a slanted point of view on their outcomes, he begins to convince himself that he could have a positive effect on the galaxy. He starts thinking of the future, after all this is done with, rather than the here and now (again something the Jedi warn against). Hes still achieved everything the Jedi could not have and very quickly. Hes stopped the war, Hell save the galaxy, hell save Padme and when all that is done, hell overthrow Palpatine, and with Padme he'll rule the galaxy and make it right again. Theres the whole Sith rule of two all over again. These apprentices seem to have the best intentions, but their compromises are so huge it destroys them. Anyway, Padme isnt buying any of this and her heart is broken by Anakins choices. Obi-Wans arrival on the scene makes Anakin believe Padme has betrayed him. Then despite all that he has sacrificed for her, his anger and frustration leads him to force choke her (a dark response Anakin of course carries through to his run as Darth Vader in the original trilogy). With this event, Anakin is almost at a point of no return. Even if he gave up now, hes almost lost everything. Anakin is very much back to being a slave to a new master - back to where he started. Then Anakin is defeated by Obi-Wan (leading to how Obi-Wan obtained his lightsaber for Luke), reconstructed in the Vader suit and finally hits his final realisation that despite everything, it was him who killed Padme and the baby (hes really lost everything now). Yodas warning to Luke in Empire Strikes Back that in making the wrong decisions you would destroy all for which you have fought and suffered suddenly has a whole lot more oomph and really the big giant jazz handed noooooooooooo at the end of Anakins journey in Episode III seems the only place for him to go because theres no recovering from his mistakes or is there? Lastly on this section (because these keep getting longer and longer), when looking at Obi-Wan individually, we see that Lucas has subtly taken this guy on a journey. He goes from one of the most closed-off Jedi Padawans in regards to other beings in the galaxy and ends Episode III with him crying and heartbroken over the very person he put down as another pathetic life form. People criticise Lucas for his writing, but he did much the same thing with Han Solo when he went from cold-hearted bounter hunter to a key member of the rebellion. Additionally, another interesting view of Obi-Wan is that he is the biggest pain in Palpatines ass out of the lot. He killed Maul, all but crippled Anakin, hid the twins, and trained Luke, who destroyed the galaxys ultimate weapon and opened Vaders eyes to the mysteries of the force again. Obi-Wan Kenobi was great, anyway, but after the prequel trilogy he's even greater.