#the eternal tension between doylist and watsonian readings of media

[ossidae-passeridae]

Opinion on 15 or 17? Or both 🫢

Questions from here

15. Opinion on Anakin’s characterization discrepancies between Clone Wars and the prequels? [i.e., the broification of Anakin Skywalker]

The short answer to this (from a Watsonian-esque perspective) is that the Clone Wars show is, at its core, a narrative told from Ahsoka's POV. Ahsoka, as Anakin's padawan, has a very rose tinted view of him — he's a hero, he's a charming rogue, he's able to get out of every situation — and of course she does! She's a child, he's his teacher and guide, it's normal to look up to people in those roles in your life when you're young.

In the movies, though, we're seeing Anakin from a removed third person perspective, which is to say we're seeing him as he really is. Ahsoka can't conceptualise Anakin crying from overwhelm, the same way that kids can't conceptualise their parents doing the same. But he does (very prettily, might I add). The 'real' Anakin is awkward, and cries when he's emotional, and is more than just the confident front he puts on for other people.

From a Doylist perspective, I'm just 😩 at Filoni trying to make Anakin "cool" in TCW because he thought he wasn't manly enough or whatever. Spray bottle direct to the face for him.

17. What event is Anakin’s point of no return in his fall to the dark side?

Baby boy is doomed by the narrative before he's even born <3 So his conception I guess 🤣

Putting that aside though, I think it's not when he killed the Tuskens after his mother's death — though that is undoubtedly a Dark act — but when he decides to keep it a secret from Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi. He doesn't own up to his actions, which he clearly knows were wrong. It isn't that he keeps it to himself, either! He tells both Padme and Palpatine, both of whom have enormous political power.

But he doesn't tell the Jedi. He decides to let fear — of what the consequences might be, of what Obi-Wan might think of him — rule him. Because how they (he) perceive him is more important to Anakin than atoning for his actions.

And that's not a once-off, Anakin choosing to keep this secret. That's a choice he has to make over and over every day, a fear that hangs over him like a pall — the fear that they'll find out what he's done, the fear that someone will tell them, or someone will sense it, or that he'll somehow give it away.

It's a fear that impacts every single choice he makes from that moment on, and every moment he continues to let that fear rule him, he's giving more and more power to the Dark.

(All opinions expressed above are solely those of pass e. ridae and do not express the views or opinions of any affiliates or associates, passerine or otherwise)

#dae asks #star wars #anakin skywalker #the eternal tension between doylist and watsonian readings of media #I love Anakin so much but that man has never seen a bad choice he didn't immediately want #in the words of my immor(t)al friend mid: #anakin sees a bad decision and asks 'is anyone gonna make that' and then doesnt wait for an answer