![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithian...I'm starting up a new meme! More specifically, the 20 Day Star Wars meme, ganked from leia_solo, originally. :)
Day 1: Favorite Character:
Mmmm...does it really need saying? I have a lot of favorite characters, really. Qui-Gon, for example -- I think he's made of win. Palpatine is bizarrely fun to watch, and Padme is made of badass. I also really love Shmi, and Dooku, and Boba Fett. And Chewbacca. And Jar-Jar.
But I think my favorite character of all of these has to be Anakin Skywalker -- hell, I'd even say that he's one of my favorite characters of all time.
I mean, he's a very complex character -- he doesn't turn to the Dark Side for the sake of it, but simply to keep his wife from dying, along with his unborn child, if only because he can't afford to lose anyone else. It really adds a layer of tragedy to it as well, especially considering that he couldn't save her, in the end. He's also very kind (for example, when he's a child, helping people he barely knows because...well, it's what he does), very funny (see the meadow picnic scene, for one thing, and him snarking at General Grievous -- seriously, he's facing a cyborg general on the bridge of the INVISIBLE HAND and all he says is "You're shorter than I expected." Also a Crowning Moment of Awesome, really), very clever and creative (landing INVISIBLE HAND, for example), incredibly loyal (for example, going back for Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith when Palpatine is actively encouraging him to leave him there) and very loving (shown through...well, for example, every time he interacts with Padme). And even as Vader...well, he may be darker, really, but he's still Anakin Skywalker, in a way. For example, the look in his eyes when that one youngling asks, "Master Skywalker, there's too many of them. What are we going to do?" (Heartbreaking, by the way. Seriously heartbreaking)
There's just something about the look in his eyes that says volumes, almost like he's bracing himself for what he's about to do. And later, after he kills the Separatists:
I just love how Hayden, in this scene, manages to express so much of what's going on inside Anakin without so much as saying a word. Others can howl and scream and weep all they want (and yeah, I'll admit I usually have my characters go for the Inelegant Blubbering when this kind of stuff happens), but Hayden manages to express so much of what's happening inside Anakin with just his eyes. And on a sidenote, I love his cloak. Seriously. I want that cloak sometime. :3
Honestly, I also love how vulnerable Anakin really is. He's not perfect, but that's really why I love him. He's human -- and I think it makes his fall all the more tragic. He falls if only out of very human reasons -- a desire to be good enough, a feeling of being pulled in multiple directions by both the Jedi Council and Palpatine, the war overwhelming him, a desire to do the right thing (even if it ultimately ends up not being the right thing, he's still trying to at least do something right), a desire to protect those he cares about...things like that. And even after his horrific act of killing every Jedi in the Temple, Lucas gives him one Pet the Dog moment with Padme before heading off to Mustafar. It's one of those parts that's really lovely and yet kind of creepy at the same time, considering the circumstances:
And it really drives home the reason that Anakin's doing what he's doing. It's not for the sake of being evil, but because he believes that he can save Padme by doing what he's doing. He doesn't, but I think it shines a different light on his motivations than...you know. I've called back to that old Russell T. Davies quote about motivating your villains, however they may be motivated, and I think Lucas did a great job with that. And it makes all the difference out of universe as well, because Anakin/Vader...he's not just the Big Bad Wolf anymore. It's made obvious in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but I think the prequels really serve to drive it home. They didn't ruin Vader, not in the slightest. They merely shed light on him and who he is.
I think another reason I love Anakin is how he can be funny. I already mentioned it of course, but I think it bears repeating. I love how easily he seems to tease Padme a bit -- and it allows a bit of an insight into his mindset, sort of...well, well-intentioned but naive, for lack of a better word. That and I think something like that is...probably all the trolling he's able to do. XD
Seriously, I just love how easily they interact. (And Padme's smile is definitely a bonus. :3)
Also, his stunt with the shaak:
And playfully tussling with Padme in the grass:
And playing with Padme's shuura fruit:
I think it may have been one of many reasons Padme fell for him -- because in a way, she felt as if she could be herself around him. Which, considering Padme, I think means a lot to her.
Also, him bantering with Padme on the balcony in REVENGE OF THE SITH:
Speaking of which, I love his relationship with Padme as well. Pretty much any interaction between them is amongst some of my favorite scenes in the prequels. But I think one stand-out scene is his reaction to learning he's going to become a father -- "We're not going to worry. This is a happy moment. The happiest moment of my life." Something about Hayden's delivery in that scene...d'awww. And Anakin's grin:
Most adorable grin ever, y/y? Which really makes what happens later all the more tragic and the ending of ROTJ all the more awesome.
I also love his relationship with Obi-Wan. Even when they bicker, it's pretty clear that they love each other, in a way (I think Rob Bricken summed it up beautifully here). For example, Anakin going back to rescue Obi-Wan when Palpatine basically tells him not to:
And his talk with Obi-Wan prior to Obi-Wan going to face Grievous:
Not to mention in TPM, when he first meets him:
And the beginning of AOTC, where they're bantering a bit:
Not to mention Anakin/Vader in the end sacrificing himself to stop the Emperor and save Luke. Because for all the evil he may have done as Vader, when it comes down to it? He's the bravest person alive. Honestly, Luke isn't the real hero of the Saga. Vader is.
Hell, even in CLONE WARS, in the roughest patches of Season Five, Anakin gave me some good moments. For example, patting Artoo's dome before the latter goes on his mission in "Secret Weapons", as well as in "Point of No Return", his panic over Artoo possibly being hurt, and his relief to see that Artoo's alive. Not to mention his showing empathy towards Letta (prior to her, um, being revealed as kind of a backstabber, to say the least) in "Sabotage". I know that fangirlblog has actually called him "selfish" a few times, but really, I disagree. I think he's very human and very real -- a very real person in a very, very fake Jedi Order, and I think that, amongst other factors, is why he suffered so much in his life. But really -- I think it's also what saved him in the end. And that's what makes him probably one of my favorite characters.
Also, Force Ghost!Anakin needs to come back in the Sequel Trilogy somehow and spend time with his children. Seriously. I miss him that much.
Rest of questions:
Day 2: Favorite Movie of the Original Trilogy
Day 3: Favorite Movie of the Prequel Trilogy
Day 4: Favorite Relationship:
Day 5: Favorite Species
Day 6: Favorite Planet
Day 7: Most Powerful Quote
Day 8: Best Scene: A New Hope
Day 9: Best Scene: The Empire Strikes Back
Day 10: Best Scene: Return of the Jedi
Day 11: Best Scene: The Phantom Menace
Day 12: Best Scene: Attack of the Clones
Day 13: Best Scene: Revenge of the Sith
Day 14: A moment that breaks your heart
Day 15: A character you wish was in the saga more.
Day 16: Favorite Villain
Day 17: Funniest Scene
Day 18: Favorite Duo/Friendship
Day 19: Favorite Battle
Day 20: Jedi or Sith
Day 1: Favorite Character:
Mmmm...does it really need saying? I have a lot of favorite characters, really. Qui-Gon, for example -- I think he's made of win. Palpatine is bizarrely fun to watch, and Padme is made of badass. I also really love Shmi, and Dooku, and Boba Fett. And Chewbacca. And Jar-Jar.
But I think my favorite character of all of these has to be Anakin Skywalker -- hell, I'd even say that he's one of my favorite characters of all time.
I mean, he's a very complex character -- he doesn't turn to the Dark Side for the sake of it, but simply to keep his wife from dying, along with his unborn child, if only because he can't afford to lose anyone else. It really adds a layer of tragedy to it as well, especially considering that he couldn't save her, in the end. He's also very kind (for example, when he's a child, helping people he barely knows because...well, it's what he does), very funny (see the meadow picnic scene, for one thing, and him snarking at General Grievous -- seriously, he's facing a cyborg general on the bridge of the INVISIBLE HAND and all he says is "You're shorter than I expected." Also a Crowning Moment of Awesome, really), very clever and creative (landing INVISIBLE HAND, for example), incredibly loyal (for example, going back for Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith when Palpatine is actively encouraging him to leave him there) and very loving (shown through...well, for example, every time he interacts with Padme). And even as Vader...well, he may be darker, really, but he's still Anakin Skywalker, in a way. For example, the look in his eyes when that one youngling asks, "Master Skywalker, there's too many of them. What are we going to do?" (Heartbreaking, by the way. Seriously heartbreaking)
There's just something about the look in his eyes that says volumes, almost like he's bracing himself for what he's about to do. And later, after he kills the Separatists:
I just love how Hayden, in this scene, manages to express so much of what's going on inside Anakin without so much as saying a word. Others can howl and scream and weep all they want (and yeah, I'll admit I usually have my characters go for the Inelegant Blubbering when this kind of stuff happens), but Hayden manages to express so much of what's happening inside Anakin with just his eyes. And on a sidenote, I love his cloak. Seriously. I want that cloak sometime. :3
Honestly, I also love how vulnerable Anakin really is. He's not perfect, but that's really why I love him. He's human -- and I think it makes his fall all the more tragic. He falls if only out of very human reasons -- a desire to be good enough, a feeling of being pulled in multiple directions by both the Jedi Council and Palpatine, the war overwhelming him, a desire to do the right thing (even if it ultimately ends up not being the right thing, he's still trying to at least do something right), a desire to protect those he cares about...things like that. And even after his horrific act of killing every Jedi in the Temple, Lucas gives him one Pet the Dog moment with Padme before heading off to Mustafar. It's one of those parts that's really lovely and yet kind of creepy at the same time, considering the circumstances:
And it really drives home the reason that Anakin's doing what he's doing. It's not for the sake of being evil, but because he believes that he can save Padme by doing what he's doing. He doesn't, but I think it shines a different light on his motivations than...you know. I've called back to that old Russell T. Davies quote about motivating your villains, however they may be motivated, and I think Lucas did a great job with that. And it makes all the difference out of universe as well, because Anakin/Vader...he's not just the Big Bad Wolf anymore. It's made obvious in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but I think the prequels really serve to drive it home. They didn't ruin Vader, not in the slightest. They merely shed light on him and who he is.
I think another reason I love Anakin is how he can be funny. I already mentioned it of course, but I think it bears repeating. I love how easily he seems to tease Padme a bit -- and it allows a bit of an insight into his mindset, sort of...well, well-intentioned but naive, for lack of a better word. That and I think something like that is...probably all the trolling he's able to do. XD
Seriously, I just love how easily they interact. (And Padme's smile is definitely a bonus. :3)
Also, his stunt with the shaak:
And playfully tussling with Padme in the grass:
And playing with Padme's shuura fruit:
I think it may have been one of many reasons Padme fell for him -- because in a way, she felt as if she could be herself around him. Which, considering Padme, I think means a lot to her.
Also, him bantering with Padme on the balcony in REVENGE OF THE SITH:
Speaking of which, I love his relationship with Padme as well. Pretty much any interaction between them is amongst some of my favorite scenes in the prequels. But I think one stand-out scene is his reaction to learning he's going to become a father -- "We're not going to worry. This is a happy moment. The happiest moment of my life." Something about Hayden's delivery in that scene...d'awww. And Anakin's grin:
Most adorable grin ever, y/y? Which really makes what happens later all the more tragic and the ending of ROTJ all the more awesome.
I also love his relationship with Obi-Wan. Even when they bicker, it's pretty clear that they love each other, in a way (I think Rob Bricken summed it up beautifully here). For example, Anakin going back to rescue Obi-Wan when Palpatine basically tells him not to:
And his talk with Obi-Wan prior to Obi-Wan going to face Grievous:
Not to mention in TPM, when he first meets him:
And the beginning of AOTC, where they're bantering a bit:
Not to mention Anakin/Vader in the end sacrificing himself to stop the Emperor and save Luke. Because for all the evil he may have done as Vader, when it comes down to it? He's the bravest person alive. Honestly, Luke isn't the real hero of the Saga. Vader is.
Hell, even in CLONE WARS, in the roughest patches of Season Five, Anakin gave me some good moments. For example, patting Artoo's dome before the latter goes on his mission in "Secret Weapons", as well as in "Point of No Return", his panic over Artoo possibly being hurt, and his relief to see that Artoo's alive. Not to mention his showing empathy towards Letta (prior to her, um, being revealed as kind of a backstabber, to say the least) in "Sabotage". I know that fangirlblog has actually called him "selfish" a few times, but really, I disagree. I think he's very human and very real -- a very real person in a very, very fake Jedi Order, and I think that, amongst other factors, is why he suffered so much in his life. But really -- I think it's also what saved him in the end. And that's what makes him probably one of my favorite characters.
Rest of questions:
Day 2: Favorite Movie of the Original Trilogy
Day 3: Favorite Movie of the Prequel Trilogy
Day 4: Favorite Relationship:
Day 5: Favorite Species
Day 6: Favorite Planet
Day 7: Most Powerful Quote
Day 8: Best Scene: A New Hope
Day 9: Best Scene: The Empire Strikes Back
Day 10: Best Scene: Return of the Jedi
Day 11: Best Scene: The Phantom Menace
Day 12: Best Scene: Attack of the Clones
Day 13: Best Scene: Revenge of the Sith
Day 14: A moment that breaks your heart
Day 15: A character you wish was in the saga more.
Day 16: Favorite Villain
Day 17: Funniest Scene
Day 18: Favorite Duo/Friendship
Day 19: Favorite Battle
Day 20: Jedi or Sith
