In Star Wars today, the Chosen One prophecy is regarded as one of the most important parts of the Skywalker saga, but it might actually work better without it. The prophecy of the Chosen One was a long-held yet fringe Jedi belief that Qui-Gon Jinn believed Anakin Skywalker could be the manifestation of. The prophecy stated that this special individual would bring balance to the Force.
In George Lucas’s vision for the complete Star Wars saga, Anakin Skywalker fulfills this prophecy eventually by ending the Emperor’s reign and saving Luke. Much of this hinges on the fact that Anakin did not have a father, and was the result of a virgin birth. The Chosen One prophecy, however, is not a perfect concept, and has some holes that make it seem like the saga might’ve been better off without it.
What If The Chosen One Prophecy Was Misread?
Yoda Suggests Anakin Might Not be The Chosen One
Ever since his first visit to the Jedi Temple, Yoda had known about Anakin’s potentially prophetic existence from Qui-Gon. The two had a working relationship for Anakin’s entire life as a Jedi, leading Yoda to know him – and see his descent during the Clone Wars, especially in its final days. This all comes to a tee during that time, in one specific Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith scene, where Yoda expresses serious doubts about young Skywalker.
A prophecy that misread, could have been.
Yoda says the above line to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu as they are discussing Anakin and his new role as a secret spy on Chancellor Palpatine. What if this was true? The prophecy just put more pressure on Anakin as a child, and gave him a standard he could never live up to. In fact, these great expectations may have even contributed to his fall to the dark side. His arrogance in not receiving the title of ‘Master’ reveals this.
The Chosen One Prophecy Was Created For The Prequels
There Was No Chosen One In The Original Trilogy
Enthusiasts of the Star Wars prequels know that Anakin being the Chosen One is absolutely central to his character. Despite this, Anakin was in the original trilogy first, and had nothing to do with any kind of prophecy. Anakin was simply a Jedi who became Darth Vader after fathering Luke and Leia, and sacrificed himself to save his son. There was no prophecy involved at all.
This makes the prophecy of the Chosen One actually one of Star Wars‘s biggest and most prominent retcons by retroactively recontextualizing Anakin’s actions in Return of the Jedi as part of a larger prophesied series of events. Because, however, Star Wars once existed without the prophecy, is that how it should have stayed? It might have meant more for Vader to do those things without the predestination given by a prophecy.
Darth Vader’s Sacrifice Was More About Family Than Destiny
Anakin Saved Luke Out Of Love
There’s something to be said about predestination, the nature of prophecies, and free will. If Anakin was always destined to kill the Emperor, it diminishes his actions in a way, because he knows that he’s supposed to end the Sith, and everything clicks. But without a prophecy, Anakin simply acts out of love for his son. Vader kills the Emperor not out of fulfillment of a prophecy, but out of a father’s selfless love.
Sure, the prophecy absolutely still works within the Star Wars universe. It’s a pretty clever retcon in itself, recontextualizing Vader’s actions and overall purpose in the galaxy. His actions, however, could mean even more if they were a little more spontaneous and not a part of the destiny of the entire galaxy that the Jedi knew about; just a father, redeemed by the love of his son, doing the right thing. Star Wars without the Chosen One prophecy would feel a little bit more personal.
