PT We're we meant to dislike Anakin?

Do you think thats one of the reasons why Anakin is practically unbearable in AOTC? We're they trying to get us to understand what the Jedi Council sees in him?

 

We're not meant to dislike Anakin. Lucas had Anakin as he is because that was part of Vader's backstory, before they were made into the same man. Back when Vader was separate from Anakin, part of the reason for his turn was that he felt that Obi-wan was holding him back from his true potential. So Lucas was keeping to that. Showing that they were friends, but they also had issues regarding Anakin's training and discipline.

 

I feel like the TCW Anakin was the character we were meant to see in the Prequels.

The problem was the following: Instead of seeing a cool Jedi struggling with inner turmoil, it comes across as an annoying Jedi who whines about everything.

 

TCW didn't help with that in the least. He still is arrogant, doesn't listen, headstrong, reckless. I don't know why GL decided to make Anakin so unrelatable and unlikable. All I know is he did and the character and the PT suffers majorly for it.

 

Kind of hard to empathize with Anakin throughout the PT imo. Okay 9 year old Anakin, yes but completely pointless because AOTC Anakin is 10 years older and completely different. I like ROTS Anakin but too little too late.

 

The reasons you would probably cite as those for disliking them are more than likely the reasons I not only like him, but closely relate to him

 

That's one, yes

 

I don't get what so unbearable about him. His complaints about Obi-Wan, while a bit melodramatic, had a lot of validity to them. Obi-Wan is overly critical of Anakin.

 

No, he isn't Anakin never listens to a thing he says just gripe, gripe, gripe Ani *earned* censure.

 

anakinfansince1983 Dunno. I just like what I like and relate to whatever I feel I do. I feel no need to psychoanalyze myself. I just roll with whatever gives me the optimal viewing experience

 

There is, but honestly, I'm not sure how my mind works. I say just look at things the way it works best in your mind ^_^

 

No i don't think so. There should have been more heroic scene's to show both sides of him.

 

We were actually meant to sympathize with Anakin, and see things the way he sees them. We're getting his point of view on a lot of things, and we're supposed to understand and sorta root for him at first, and when he falls we're supposed to think it's tragic, not a guy getting exactly what he deserves and good riddance to him.

That you're even questioning this says a lot about the trilogy.

 

As far as I know and judging from some of Lucas' commentary, Anakin was meant to be likable, but with a dark side presence to him. And as far as I'm concerned, they did make me care for Anakin, because I do feel remorse from the ruminations scene onward and a great sense of loss (though not just for him, but for everyone involved) at the end of RotS. He basically made all the wrong decisions while thinking it was all for a good cause, but ultimately losing everything and everyone.

 

The hypocrisy in this thread from two people who spark off at the vaguest hint of intolerance being shown to their opinions just blows my mind. They scald other people for (perceived) scalding, until they're the ones scalding.

But I suppose, if you have an exceedingly negative view of something -- hate being a powerful motivator 'n' all -- you're normally able to conveniently relax your own standards; standards you're only too happy to keep reminding people of the rest of the time.

Seagoat, thanks for your integrity. I like Anakin as well. Reasons don't have to be given. Of course, they have been, numerous times, over many years, but people often have a way of assuming total ignorance of anything that runs contrary to their own beliefs.

I think, for many that like Anakin, there's a searing honesty and a mercurial intensity to the character, unlike the other characters in the saga, and most other screen heroes, period, for that matter. He's more rawly human, even if some find that off-putting. That would be my own basic explanation, anyway.

Oh, and, duh... (for those acting willfully dense) get used to people liking a prequel character on a prequel board.

I love how one of the people professing dislike of Anakin in here is called "anakinfan". Have I entered the Bizarro realm or something?

 

Cryogenic

 

Because Anakin is often in the right about whatever Obi-Wan is criticizing him about.

Anakin says trying to find Padme's assassin is implied in their mandate, Obi-Wan shuts him down. Later, Obi-Wan impulsively leaps out a window to follow an assassin droid back to its source because he wants to find the assassin just as much as Anakin does.

Obi-Wan scolds Anakin for taking a "shortcut." It actually works and Anakin catches up with Zam.

Obi-Wan scolds Anakin relentlessly for losing his lightsaber. Obi-Wan later loses his lightsaber twice in the same movie.

I'm not saying Obi-Wan doesn't have legitimate reasons to criticize Anakin (lord knows he does), but he has a hard time recognizing when to let things go and concede the point. It's a relationship that's flawed on both ends.

 

To be fair, I never really got the whole 'tragic hero' vibe from Anakin. Just a guy who felt like he was in a place where he didn't feel welcomed, wanted to stay at that place but at the same time wanted an out. He wanted to do the right thing, but he couldn't figure out what it was, so he impulsively charges to what he thinks is the right solution without thinking and ends up screwing everyone big time. That said, he could be impossibly dense, even for someone in his circumstances which doesn't help matters at all.

@Cryogenic- I don't think anyone here's saying 'you're not allowed to like Anakin', they're just stating why they specifically don't like Anakin. To be honest, I kind of have to agree, the Anakin of ROTS was the Anakin that should've been in the first two movies.

 

That sounds fairly tragic in my book, especially when you add in his explicit "slave" background, his innate potential for greatness, and the fact that he saved Obi-Wan's life multiple times, only to be mutilated and left for dead by him at the end. And, ultimately, Anakin screwed himself. His desire for love and attachment were turned inward: in classic Ancient Greek tradition, the source of his greatest strength was also his greatest weakness. IMO, anyway.

Sadly, that is not what has taken place here. Other posters were bluntly accosted and ambushed for expressing a different view. One was even snidely asked if the reason they liked Anakin was for "whiny petulance" -- and this from a poster (incidentally called "anakinfan") who always bites back whenever even politely questioned about their own opinions. The chutzpah of some people on this site is simply staggering.

 

Irony alert! Chutzpah? really? I saw a discourse between two posters which seemed perfectly civilised, which neither party seemed to take offence at and which ended with them accepting the other's differing opinions and reasons.

As to the OP itself, I think CT-867-5309 pretty much has it nailed. From what I've heard of what Lucas has had to say on the issue I think we are supposed to empathise with his character. It didn't work for me, which doubtless clouds my ability to see much tragedy for Anakin. I see tragedy for those who invested any trust or faith in him - but not for him.

 

I like Anakin's character never had a problem with him. I think to most people AOTC Anakin can be easily related to if people are honest about themselves.

There are plenty of us in this world that feel we aren't getting a fair shake at our job. How many of us have can raise our hands to coming home and whining to our husbands/wives/boyfriend/girlfriend/family, to one or more of the following:

1) My boss is overly critical of me. I do a good job and all he/she does is rip it down and never praises me for the work I do.
2) I am actually smarter than my boss and more qualified for the position my boss holds.
3) My boss feels threatened by me because they know I am more qualified, so I can't advance, they are holding me back.

Those are obviously one specific situation, but you could use Parents, Teachers, Professors, in many of those situations as well. Like I said, if people wanted to be really honest about themselves, then they can see themselves in Anakin's character, especially the AOTC Anakin. I think he is more like us than some want to admit too.

Thanks for coming in here and giving us an honest reply, and sticking to your guns! It's nice to see that someone can be honest about themselves, especially when faced with a post by someone else that uses harsh and insulting language that can easily turn people off to wanting to speak their mind for fear of being looked at as "stupidly" because they relate to that character.