What if Anakin Convinced Obi-Wan the Jedi Were Evil on Mustafar? Let’s explore the depths of it in the video.
Anakin’s eyes widen as he spots Obi-Wan descending Padme’s ship. A spark of betrayal crosses his face, followed by anger as his mind thinks of all the possibilities. He turns to Padme and feels the Force reaching out and urging him to lash out and strike them. But as he stares at their faces, his anger fades and he instantly feels ashamed.
Padme was his wife and the mother of his kids. The kids she’s carrying right now. How could he possibly hurt her?
Obi-Wan doesn’t say anything, but his hand drifts towards his lightsaber. Anakin does the same but hesitates. While he is confident that he can beat his former master, the idea of crossing blades with him fills him with dread. Obi-Wan is his oldest friend and the man who trained him.
Instead, Anakin draws himself up proudly, ready to fight but moves his hand away from his weapon.
Anakin: You shouldn’t have come here, master. I am on a mission by the chancellor.
Obi-Wan: I know what sort of mission he’s sending you on and where that path leads. Don’t do this, Anakin.
Anakin: I have to. I have to right the wrongs in the galaxy caused by the Jedi.
Obi-Wan: The Jedi are not responsible for this war?!
Anakin: Aren’t they? Dooku was a Jedi before he fell. He grew tired of their failures and how they served a corrupt Republic. They betrayed Ahsoka too. They turned their back on justice long ago.
The faintest flickers of doubt cross Obi-Wan’s face. His fingers flick away from his weapon. He recalls the failures of the Jedi Council all too well. He was there, he saw them himself and tried to fight them. Anakin notices this too and tries to press his advantage.
Anakin: And what about Qui-Gon? He wanted to take me in, to have me serve the Jedi but they were prepared to turn me away because of their foolish Jedi Code. When they let me in, they never trusted me or saw me as an equal.
Obi-Wan: Anakin…
His voice trails off and he thinks of that faithful day. How scared Anakin was and how much his master wished to care for him. He looks at Anakin now. He did not ever expect to forgive Anakin and was ready to cut him down when he arrived. But now Obi-Wan hesitates as he looks into his student's eyes and sees the good in him, just as Padme says.
Obi-Wan begins to see things from Anakin’s perspective and takes a deep breath.
Obi-Wan: You are correct, you were wronged and the Jedi Order made mistakes. More than a few. But you murdered children. If the chancellor is willing to order this then he is evil. You must see that.
Anakin: I don’t trust him. Palpatine is wrong, I know this. But it isn’t the Jedi who can take him down. It can be me. I can end his empire before it begins and I can build something better.
Obi-Wan: You? What knowledge do you have in ruling an empire? In running the Senate or managing the military?
Anakin: I know, I’m still working on it…but I could use some help.
Instead of drawing his lightsaber, Anakin holds his hand out, inviting him to join him. Obi-Wan can only stare at Anakin in surprise. But he sees the earnestness in his eyes, the same passion and dedication that carried him as a Jedi. Slowly, Obi-Wan reaches out and takes it.
The two former friends embrace and for a moment things seem right. However, as things calm down they realize a problem in their plan and that is Palpatine will never accept Obi-Wan in his inner circle. This means that they must work in secret, bide their time, and build their rebellion.
The first thing Anakin requires is Obi-Wan’s lightsaber. When Anakin returns to Coruscant, he offers this as a trophy to Palpatine and proof of his victory. The emperor is pleased with this and welcomes Anakin as his apprentice.
True to his word, he begins to teach Anakin the ways of the Dark Side. The two spend many months in hard training, using the Jedi Temple as their new training ground. The gesture was intentionally made by Palpatine as a mockery of the former Jedi Order. While Anakin accepts it in silence, he feels a sense of uncertainty about what he’s doing. The halls of the temple serve as a reminder of his deeds.
The training only highlights the contrast between Palpatine and Obi-Wan. While stern and sometimes sarcastic, Obi-Wan cared for Anakin, constantly looking after his well-being, encouraging him, and making him feel better when he struggled. Meanwhile, Palpatine is only concerned with getting the results he wishes. He regularly pushes Anakin to his limits, berating him if he fails to meet his standards and mocking him for his failures. All of this, he claims is to help Anakin channel his emotions.
But the lessons don’t stop in the Temple Grounds. He also has Anakin accompany him during Senate sessions and other important diplomatic meetings. Palpatine doesn’t just see Anakin as his apprentice, he also views him as a potential heir to his Empire.