Star Wars: Anakin Skywalker’s 10 Most Sinister Pre-Vader Quotes
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Seeing Anakin and Ahsoka training together again a Tales of the Jedi it’s a bittersweet watch. It’s great to see them together, but it’s hard to see them knowing what happens to them when Anakin falls to the dark side. That fall is not sudden, it is mocking and accumulated over years of his life, and there are many moments in his life when he shows his inner darkness.
In addition to some brutal moments, Anakin has many sinister encounters before his transformation into Darth Vader, many of which come The Clone Wars and all of them further foreshadowing the tragic fall of the once great War of the galaxieshero
“If it were up to me, I’d kill you right here.”
The Clone Wars, 4.15 “Deception”
Just because an Anakin line or moment is sinister and even borders on evil doesn’t mean his feelings aren’t justified at times. His anger when he arrested Rako Hardeen for Obi-Wan’s “murder” is one such moment.
Luckily for Rako, Anakin kept Obi-Wan’s memory close enough to not kill the criminal. Still, the delivery of this line and the instilled belief in the audience that Anakin could kill the man make this one of his more sinister pre-Vader quotes.
“I know I went too far; it’s just… It’s just something inside me is broken.”
The Clone Wars, 6.06 ‘The Rise Of Clovis’
The fact that Anakin can admit that he’s done wrong, that something inside him is broken, can be seen as a good thing. Whether he acknowledges it or not, the sinister darkness within Anakin remains a sinister beast.
It’s understandable why he attacked Clovis, but Anakin almost murdered the politician with his bare hands, an unforgivable act that shows the depth of Anakin’s emotional fragility. He’s almost cute with this quote, given that he really doesn’t seem to understand his own emotions. This lack of understanding, however, is scary because it could (and did) lead to much more violence and injury. What’s more painful about this is that Anakin could have used this as a turning point to become more aware of his inner darkness and potentially turn away from the path of the dark side.
“Zigerian scum! I’ll take care of this slaver.”
The Clone Wars, 4.11 ‘Kidnapped’
Anakin’s childhood in slavery is one of the most tragic elements of his character, so it’s hard to blame him for warming to the sight of the Zygerrians. However, the intent and fury here are further signs of his deep-rooted emotional issues.
The fact that the Imperial March plays ominously behind this moment only adds to the sinister feel of the moment. On top of that, Anakin seems to want to go kill the Zygerrian instead of finding out the location and safety status of the people of Togruta, highlighting that violent streak that would rear its ugly head one and again.
“Mercy does not defeat an enemy, master. That is why you will lose.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi, ‘Part V’
One of the most pleasant surprises of Obi-Wan Kenobi it was the flashback scenes in episode 5, which saw Anakin in a training battle with Obi-Wan, where he says this line, once again highlighting his penchant for brutality.
Mercy is a virtue that the Jedi practice and should try to show in most situations, even with the meanest of enemies. Anakin’s disregard for this, even in this training situation, is troubling, as it shows his willingness to defeat enemies, however necessary, even by sinister and overly violent means.
“He’s jealous, he’s holding me back!”
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Attack of the clones he may be known for his creepy dialogue, but he should also be remembered for Anakin’s crucial emotional volatility that led to many great and sinister pre-Vader dates.
One such line is the one spoken about Obi-Wan. The way Anakin can spew such cruel accusations about someone he truly loves is a brilliant way to show how he was able to overcome anger and how he often struggled to control his inner darkness and emotion, which ultimately helped lead to his downfall. .
“What? He was going to blow up the ship.”
The Clone Wars, 2.13 “Journey of Temptation”
While Anakin could often be scary because of his rage or how he could get angry, he was sometimes at his most sinister (especially with the flashback) when he wasn’t angry at all. The perfect example is when he kills Tal Merrik.
Anakin kills Merrik with ease instead of trying to disarm him, and his “What?” indicates that he sees nothing wrong with it. Anakin was right to stop Merrik, but the ease with which he does it and lack of care to take his own life can be seen as one of his more sinister pre-Vader moments.
“Mind tricks? I don’t need mind tricks to make you talk.”
The Clone Wars, 2.08 ‘Brain Invaders’
When those he loved – such as Obi-Wan, Padmé, Ahsoka, Artoo, etc. – were injured or in danger, Anakin became a different animal, displaying an alarming ferocity that foreshadowed his fall to the dark side. His interrogation of Poggle the Younger is one such moment.
It’s another moment haunted by the notes of the Imperial March, and everything from Anakin’s determined walk to his “leave us” to the clones inspire fear. This line, punctuated by Poggle’s punch to the face, is one of his scariest, partly because it’s spoken almost with arrogance rather than overwhelming anger, and partly because Anakin is willing to do anything to extract information from the Geonosian.
“One day I will become the greatest Jedi ever. I will even learn how to stop people from dying.”
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Anakin’s most significant goals/crippling fears of saving those he loves from death come from a place not just of fear but of love; however, that doesn’t stop him from being menacing when he talks about them.
The ambition that goes hand in hand with his quest to defy death in this quote is the truly sinister part. His need to be bigger and better than everyone else in order to achieve his goals goes against the Jedi way of things. Anakin had a good heart, but it was buried by the fear that decayed into hatred, anger, and entitlement, that rose from him in that moment.
“I have no such weaknesses.”
The Clone Wars, 7.04 “Unfinished Business”
The seventh season of The Clone Wars it was a visually stunning adventure that saw Anakin come close to his Revenge of the Sith look at. This was taken a step further by having him closer to the dark side in his brutal killing of Admiral Trench.
The word choice here is the sinister aspect of it all: “Weakness.” Calling mercy, kindness, legal/proper ways to keep the peace, and being a Jedi a weakness is quite something and shows just how deep Anakin was. He’s a Jedi who doesn’t generally follow the rules, but this was too far. It was as if he saw above these things. Following up this quote by murdering Trench made it even creepier.
“I killed them. I killed them all.”
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Anakin does a handful of bad things before falling to Darth Vader. However, possibly the worst and most unforgivable was the remorseless slaughter of the sand villagers who captured his mother.
The act itself was horrific, and this quote is a constant and painful reminder of what this young man could do. It is the first example of Anakin being blinded by his own uncontrollable emotions. Knowing what he would do as Darth Vader, the atrocities he would commit make everything to do with his slaughter of the Tusken Raiders all the more sinister.
