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I plan on extensively yelling about Yoda’s visions in the immortality arc in the future, but for now please consider this.
Okay, getting this quick remark out of the way: it’s Katooni (the little Tholothian girl) who guides Yoda there. Children are a symbol of innocence, and what’s interesting is that Yoda takes her hand without hesitation after seeing all of the Jedi dead (and specifically Mace, Petro and Ahsoka). Throughout this scene here Yoda is the one asking questions and Katooni is the one answering - she speaks slowly and patiently, almost as if she’s talking to a youngling. –> The embodiment of wisdom manifested to Yoda (in a vision meant to tempt him through his dearest wishes) is a child. Talk about humility.
Now please pay attention to the Jedi in the background.
Here, the three Jedi right in the center of the set are Mace, Ahsoka and Petro - the exact three Jedi Yoda just saw dead and cried over (boy, s6 is so much fun, isn’t it?). So a significant part of Yoda’s deepest dreams is seeing other Jedi safe. He knows how to let go - that’s what this whole scene is about - but he still very much yearns for his fellow Jedi’s safety and happiness.
Onto the even sadder part: have you noticed what’s going on here? Younglings are playing around, and the older Jedi are all talking. Quinlan with Saesee Tiin, Tera Sinube with Gungi, Anakin with Aayla Secura, and Mace with Ahsoka. And not just talking, look at the gif above! Mace is openly laughing at whatever Ahsoka said.
And Ahsoka looks at him like this. (Again, this is right after Yoda’s vision of her dying, desperately asking how the Council could expel her.)
One of Yoda’s greatest hopes is seeing Ahsoka happy with her fellow Jedi, at ease with the embodiment of authority that is Mace.
Yoda loves Mace - he’s the first person he reaches for in the vision of the devastated Temple - and he loves Ahsoka, and part of his greatest temptation? Is to see the rift between the lost child of the Order and its Head healed.
Same thing with Quinlan - the known loose cannon - and Saesee - another Council member. And Tera Sinube is an elder Jedi, talking to a youngling. And Aayla is “just” a Knight, almost a random one, and Anakin is chatting with her.
This follows a pattern: the rogue and the conventional, the very old and the very young, the common and the extraordinary - each pair shows opposites enjoying each other’s company, differences embraced.
(Anakin talking to Aayla instead of sticking to Obi-Wan’s side like he does in the real world is especially interesting - he’s part of the community here, not ostracizing himself like he tends to do. Again, for this to be part of Yoda’s great temptation says so much about how caring he is. He wants Anakin to belong, more than anything.)
And finally, we get this:
(I couldn’t make this part into a gif because of technical reasons, so enjoy the beautiful family picture.)
Once again we find that central theme of healing and wholeness. This part is what convinces Yoda to briefly let go of his (well-founded) doubts and to embrace the vision. It’s his biggest, greatest, deepest desire. The one that could have made him abandon reality itself to stay in this idyllic dream. It’s his unbroken lineage, happy, in the light.
Yoda just wanted them all to be a family. Obi-Wan clearly adores Dooku in this scene (check it out, his awestruck look is amazing), their body language is incredibly warm and open, and they are completely at ease with each other and delighted to be sharing stories. It just screams domestic life.
And that’s it, that’s all Yoda ever wanted. For the young and the old to be content together, a community bathed in light, the gardens filled with the sound of windchimes and the laughter of children. He just wanted to have his family alive and safe and smiling.
. . .
Dammit, I love this frog grandpa so much *sobs*
I wish we got more interactions from these two…Dooku was right about the Jedi Order in the end. He would’ve made a great character if he didn’t turn to the dark side.
Anakin in the movies and legends should be given a lot more credit than people think. Anakin even as far back as ATOC is stronger than most people think the people who worked on the films made sure to put Anakin as front and center as one of the strongest jedi the order has to offer. For example, Obi-wan is literally mocked by Dooku and said to be a disappointment yet people fail to realize and pay attention to the fact that Dooku never says anything like that to Anakin in their fight. This is how Dooku looks after their fight
Does that look like the face of someone who had an easy time against their opponent and had no trouble? I don't think so. Now lets add more stuff to suggest Anakin is no joke
When asked who would win in a fight -- Ray Park’s Darth Maul or Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker -- Gillard had no hesitation. "Hayden would cream Darth Maul."
Source: Sword Master & Apprentice
Here Nick Gillard said with no hesitation that Anakin in ATOC would "cream" Maul not beat him not that it would be close but low diff him. Anakin grows significantly stronger than this(well he would if it weren't for TCW) to the point where becomes stronger than any jedi in the jedi order
This is Anakin Skywalker:
The most powerful Jedi of his generation. Perhaps of any generation. The fastest. The strongest. An unbeatable pilot. An unstoppable warrior. On the ground, in the air or sea or space, there is no one even close. He has not just power, not just skill, but dash: that rare, invaluable combination of boldness and grace.
He is the best there is at what he does. The best there has ever been. And he knows it.
Source: Revenge of the Sith
Gillard also reports that the duel will explain how Obi-Wan is able to defeat his protege, even though Anakin has been established as the most powerful Jedi who ever lived.
Source: The Making of Revenge of the Sith
At nine years of age he had been an expert Podracer; by twenty-one he would have been a galactic champion. With or without Qui-Gon's or Watto's help, he would eventually have won the Boonta Eve race, and his reputation would have been made. He would have bought freedom for himself, his mother, all the slaves in Mos Espa, gone on to win the Grand Races on Malastare, been hailed in the gambling casinos on Ord Mantell and Coruscant. He wouldn't have become a Jedi--he would have been too old to train--would never have learned to wield a lightsaber. But he would have been able to fly rings around the finest of Jedi pilots, including Saesee Tiin.
And he still would have been stronger in the Force than any of them.
Source: Labyrinth of Evil
"Skywalker is arguably the most powerful Jedi alive, and he is still getting stronger."
Source: Revenge of the Sith
I’m more powerful than any of you.
It was a boy’s expression of anger, but it was true.
Source: Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines
Even after all these months, she couldn't make herself entirely believe that actual Jedi blood ran in her veins-not only Jedi blood, but the blood of arguably the most powerful Jedi in history.
Source: Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
Even one quote in junior novel from Yoda's perspective says Anakin was the strongest and someone asked about it to the author and the author went out of his way to say yes he meant to include Yoda in that statement and that George *made* *sure* Anakin was the strongest jedi. So if an author went out of his way to say "Yeah Anakin is the strongest the creator himself made sure to make that clear." Why do people still question these quotes?
Some people i have seen to act say "Oh Dooku was told to hold back on Anakin in ROTS that means he is a lot stronger and would win their fight if they fought for real" yet people also fail to realize that was the original plan up until Anakin and Obi-wan went all out and Dooku stopped holding back because if he didn't he would be dead. Even then we have quotes saying Anakin is stronger than Dooku
"Lord Vader, your skills are unmatched by any Sith before you. Go forth, my boy. Go forth, and bring peace to our Empire."
Source: Revenge of the Sith
"Soon, I shall have a new apprentice. One far younger and more powerful."
Source: Revenge of the Sith
Sidious then turned his attention to Anakin Skywalker, knowing that young Skywalker was much stronger in the Force than Tyranus.
Source: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Sidious bared his teeth, but only briefly. "Darth Tyranus knew what he risked, Lord Vader. If he had been stronger in the dark side, you would be dead, and he would be my right hand."
Source: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
Re-live the incredible battle between two of the most powerful Jedi of all - as they fight to the finish on a Trade Federation Cruiser! Only the strongest Jedi remains—will it be the light side or the dark side of the Force?
Source: Battle Arena: Federation Cruiser
Sidious is merely playing for time until he is ready to replace Tyranus with a new, more powerful apprentice, who will help him to achieve his ultimate aim: utter subjugation of the galaxy under Sith rule and the formation of a merciless new order — the Galactic Empire.
Source: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections
Also before anyone mentions this Obi-wan as much as i like him did not beat a prime Anakin. They make it quite clear Anakin is above Obi-wan under normal circumstance
"When I started, I figured that a youngling is a level one. And somebody like Kit Fisto - seven. I did take it to eight and nine, but not many people know that. Eight and nine is cheat. So Obi-Wan is eight. Yoda is nine. Mace is eight, bordering on nine. Anakin is nine."
Source: https://youtu.be/Z2-iZNQrFBA?t=908
"Yes, but it's like a Richter scale - an earthquake - and so the difference between seven and eight and eight and nine is enormous."
Source: https://youtu.be/Z2-iZNQrFBA?t=946
"Obi-Wan has gone up one level from Episode I to Episode III, but it’s a huge jump from one level to another. It’s not just about a style of fighting—it’s mental as well. Anakin has gone up probably four levels from Episode II to Episode III. So he’s gone beyond Obi-Wan, but he hasn’t gone beyond him mentally."
Source: http://www.theforce.net/episode3/story/nick_gillard_talks_rots_game_92147.asp
The ease with which Kenobi had taken command of the situation was frightening. More frightening was the fact that of the two, Skywalker was reportedly the greater warrior.
Source: Revenge of the Sith
He had been a superior fighter even when he had been Anakin Skywalker, and yet Obi-Wan had defeated him.
Source: Death Star
So why did Obi-wan win? Well its because Anakin was vulnerable
Anakin had still been between worlds then, and vulnerable.
Source: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
Now even then Obi-wan admits he is going to lose if it weren't for the high ground
As Anakin’s lightsaber hummed toward him, a calm certainty filled Obi-Wan. Anakin was going to kill him. Oh, he’d make Anakin work for it. He’d fight with everything he had. But he was positive, with the sureness that came from any Force-driven insight, that he would die at Anakin’s hands.
Source: Revenge of the Sith Junior Novelization
So yeah Anakin is one of the top tiers in SW not much else to say