Star Wars: 10 Reasons The Prequel Trilogy Is Better Than You Remember

The original trilogy established characters that continue to hold a special place in our hearts, and Sir Alec Guinness's depiction of Obi-Wan Kenobi for example, expertly personifies the wise old master stereotype, and finding someone to emulate a younger, less experienced version of that could have proved to be a difficult task.

However, Ewan McGregor executes this extremely well, and brings a sarcastic, snarky side to the character while still maintaining Kenobi's trademark level-headedness and wise aura. Hayden Christensen also delivers as Anakin Skywalker, and despite some questionable dialogue at times, manages to deliver in portraying Skywalker as a deeply emotional person, allowing the audience to become truly invested in his relationships with those close to him. The performances from both actors make the final confrontation on Mustafar all the more heart-wrenching.

There is another performance from the prequels that stands firmly above the rest, however. Ian McDiarmid's Chancellor (soon to be Emperor) Palpatine is a genuine masterclass, and he masterfully walks the line between charismatic politician and supremely evil Sith lord craving absolute power. While his first appearance as the Emperor was in the original trilogy, McDiarmid gets the chance to explore the character further here, and watching him manipulate the entire Galactic Republic as well as the Jedi Council is wonderfully entertaining. Despite what many think of the sequel trilogy, it was a joy to see Mcdiarmid reprise his iconic role once again in The Rise of Skywalker.