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Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalkerwas supposed to be the culmination of the Skywalker Saga , yet it was missing who is arguablyStar Wars ’ most authoritative character – Anakin Skywalker . Although both Hayden Christensen ’s characterization of Anakin and theStar Warsprequels were met with a lot of literary criticism in the other 2000s , Star Warshas latterly welcome the prequel trilogy and its bequest . Hayden Christensen reprised his theatrical role as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader inObi - Wan Kenobi , and while it was satisfy to see Anakin and Obi - Wan interacting again , Christensen ’s bestStar Warsreturn could have been inThe Rise of Skywalker .
fundamentally , The Rise of Skywalkerwasted four gross opportunities forHayden Christensen ’s Anakin Skywalker return . The absence seizure of Anakin inEpisode IXis a reflection of a much big problem with the subsequence trilogy – how it tried to distance itself from the prequels even when the report expect for callbacks toEpisodes I , II , andIII.The hike of Skywalkerhad the most connexion with the prequels of all three moving-picture show in the sequel trilogy , yet it did not feature a Hayden Christensen Anakin Skywalker cameo . FromThe Rise of Skywalker ’s Mustafar sequence to the film ’s ending scene , there was no shortage of options forEpisode IXto feature Anakin .
relate : The Force Awakens ' Anakin Force Ghost Plan Explained ( & Why It Did n’t chance )
Darth Vader’s Mustafar Tower
One of the most visually interesting moment in theStar Warssequels , Kylo Ren ’s journeying in Mustafar could have been much better if there were at least some book of facts to Darth Vader – especially a Hayden Christensen ’s Anakin Force ghost cameo . regrettably , The Rise of Skywalker ’s Mustafar sceneis way too brief to even acknowledge Darth Vader lived on that planet . In fact , Mustafar is not even named inThe ascent of Skywalker , and the only prescribed confirmation that the lava major planet was indeed the one fromStar warfare : Episode III - Revenge on the Sithcame later on withThe Rise of Skywalker’sVisual Dictionary . Therefore , The Rise of Skywalker ’s wasted Mustafar opportunity goes beyond a likely Hayden Christensen cameo .
Curiously , the reason why Mustafar had trees inThe Rise of Skywalkeris that metre help the planet bring around and return to its original biome . In other words , the fact that Darth Vader ’s evil presence was no longer part of Mustafar allowed the planet to heal . As such , having Anakin ’s Force ghost look in Mustafar would have function in full term of canon – and it would have added to the satellite ’s healing process . A scene betweenKylo Ren and AnakininThe Rise of Skywalker ’s opening succession would have also created a great conflict for the character , as Ben Solo would have been dissever between listening to his redeemed grandfather or Emperor Palpatine .
Ben Solo’s Redemption Scene
Harrison Ford returned toStar WarsafterStar Wars : The Force Awakensfor a abbreviated prospect inThe Rise of Skywalkerin which Han Solo reach out to Ben Solo during a pivotal moment in Kylo Ren ’s life . The backwash of Kylo Ren ’s lightsaber affaire d’honneur against Rey was the conclusion of Ben Solo ’s redemption , which was solidified by Han Solo forgive his son . Still , as great as the scene between Ben and Han Solo was inThe upgrade of Skywalker , anAnakin Skywalker Force ghostcould have also function at that here and now . Han ’s scene could have continued in the movie even if there were to be an Anakin Force spook , as Han ’s presence was more of Ben Solo forgiving himself than an actual Force ghost .
Anakin ’s Force ghost could have appeared to a redeemed Ben Solo as a mentor the same way as Luke appeared to Rey in Ach - To . Ben Solo was about to go to the most unsafe fight of his life-time , and he would soon face Palpatine and the full extent of the Sith ’s power . The acclivity of Skywalkerskips Ben Solo ’s planning for the final engagement , and it jump from Kylo Ren ’s redemption to the here and now he appear in Exegol . The gap between those scenes would have been a bully instant to feature a conversation between Ben Solo and Anakin ’s Force wraith . A moment betweenBen Solo and Anakin Skywalkerwould have also improved the former ’s sacrifice at the remnant of the movie .
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Rey Reaches Out To All The Jedi
The culmination of the intact Skywalker Saga , Rey reaching out to every Jedi that ever existed at the end ofThe Rise of Skywalkercould have been even more releasing if sport an actual Anakin Skywalker cameo . Hayden Christensen did sound a few line for Anakin , yet they are easy missable amid all other Jedi voice cameo . The Jedi voices shot inThe ascent of Skywalkerwas supposed to be a solemnisation of theStar Warslegacy , and even Jedi whose condition during the subsequence trilogy is still a mystery , such as Ahsoka Tano , were take heed . While it was an interesting idea to have Rey reach out to all of the Jedi , a seeable Anakin Skywalker Force spook cameo could have suit into that scene .
There was pretty much no connection between Rey and Anakin in theStar Warssequels , which is a mistake considering that Rey was supposed to be the Skywalker legacy even though she was not related to them . One of the most divisive elements about the continuation trilogy is how it seemly undoes Anakin Skywalker ’s choose One bequest , asThe ascension of Skywalkerreveals that Palpatine was never really destroyed . Considering thatRey defeating Palpatineonce and for all inEpisode IXcan be considered as the mo balance was brought to the Force , an Anakin Force ghost cameo flop before Rey destroys Darth Sidious would have made the Chosen One divination a lot more ordered across all threeStar Warstrilogies .
The Rise of Skywalker’s Ending Scene
Rey create a particular bail with Leia and Luke , yet the chronicle of the Skywalker family trace back to Shmi and Anakin . The Rise of Skywalker ’s finish sees Rey overcome Palpatine once and for all and taking on the Skywalker name , which makes the absence seizure of a Hayden Christensen Anakin cameo an even bigger squandered opportunity . Granted , Rey did n’t know much about Anakin Skywalker , which by itself was also a missing chance even if Rey was not theorise to be related to the Skywalkers . The Rise of Skywalker ’s final scene understandably mirrorsReturn of the Jedi ’s ending , yet it limited itself to the appearances of Luke and Leia only . Anakin Skywalker ’s appearance beside the Skywalker twins is somethingStar Warsnever got to show , and it could have happened inThe Rise of Skywalker .
Any closing to the Skywalker Saga would never be staring without Anakin Skywalker . Star warfare : The lift of Skywalkertries to tie all three trilogies into one coherent stopping point , but the picture show ’s spot in the Skywalker Saga asked for an Anakin cameo . TheStar Warssequel trilogy happened at a clip when Disney ’s Lucasfilm was still trying to outstrip itself from the prequels , but the reception toObi - Wan Kenobiproves that there was always room for bequest prequel actor like Hayden Christensen to reprise theirStar Warsroles .
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