Star Wars has been one of the longest-running movie franchises with a brand recognition that is comparable to Marvel. Throughout 12 movies and 9 television shows, so far, we have been given multiple characters with in-depth storylines as they speed around the galaxy. Star Wars showed audiences the order of the Jedi and taught fans around the world the way of the Force. Returning to the Star Wars universe is easy for fans as they can’t wait to watch massive galactic battles to see who will win control over the Republic/Empire.
Star Wars fans know the iconic line of “Luke, I am your father” and how Anakin started off as the sweet kid from Tatooine and became the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Audiences also watched Obi-Wan Kenobi go from the beloved mentor of Anakin to an old recluse, wallowing in self-pity. Star Wars has put their characters through many different trials and tribulations. So, which characters have had the biggest arcs? Here are the best character arcs in Star Wars, ranked.
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7 Ahsoka Tano
Lucasfilm Animation
Screen Rant praises the impact Ahsoka Tano has made in the Star Wars universe. In 2008, Ahsoka made her debut in the television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Her character was initially met with criticism as people found her annoying and childish. A decade later, and Ahsoka has become one of the most beloved characters in The Clone Wars. Season 1 shows her as a hot-headed Padawan of Anakin who has trouble following orders. Seasons 2 and 3 show Ahsoka learning lessons and proving herself as a Jedi to Anakin and herself. By season 5, fans see the heartbreaking conclusion to her arc as she leaves the younglings and the Jedi council behind after feeling betrayed by Barriss and the Jedi Order.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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6 Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
Disney+
Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious, was undoubtedly the villain in the Star Wars universe. He had no remorse for any of his evil intentions, while also enjoying the misery of others. Palpatine, in the originals versus the prequels, is a vastly different character. Clone Corridor calls the Emperor all-knowing in the original series as he seems to know how Darth Vader is feeling and what the Rebellion is planning. In the prequels, fans see Darth Sidious in a very different light. He’s a politician and a manipulator. Anything that he sees or wants that will further his agenda to Galactic domination, he makes legal as he becomes the most powerful Chancellor in the history of the Republic. In some ways, Palpatine master-minded the creation of Darth Vader as he manipulated Anakin in the prequels.
5 Yoda
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Yoda is one of the wisest Jedi of all time. He has an unbelievably long life, which allows him to gain so much knowledge. In the Star Wars prequels, he is seen as a beloved teacher to the Padawans and was considered one of the strongest fighters in the Jedi council. In The Clone Wars, Yoda develops a deeper understanding of the Force and even glimpses into the future for the galaxy. He then battles Emperor Palpatine and loses. Yoda decides to go off by himself and become a recluse. When Luke Skywalker comes around looking for a master, Yoda has completely changed and has become disheartened and distant. Luke’s optimism shakes Yoda out of his funk and gives him a new perspective.
4 Princess Leia
Lucasfilm
Princess Leia Organa was first seen in A New Hope as the princess on a solo mission to save the planet Alderaan. During her mission, she runs into Luke and Han Solo. Leia’s original arc was to learn to trust other people than just herself in order to take down the Empire. Her character really developed when audiences started to see her love story with Han and that Luke was indeed her long-lost twin brother. Fans were also able to see a younger version of Leia in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Young Princess Leia is just as spunky and has just as much heart like that of her predecessor Carrie Fisher. In the Star Wars sequel trilogy, fans were hoping to see Leia as the last Jedi, but Fisher unfortunately passed away before that arc could come to fruition.
3 Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan in the original Star Wars trilogy is seen as Luke’s mentor and friend, like he was to Anakin. Ultimately, Obi-Wan gave up his life, so Luke could escape and find Yoda to complete his Jedi training. Giving up his life was the ultimate redemption arc that Obi-Wan needed after he failed with Anakin. The prequel movies show Obi-Wan as a friend to Anakin and later mentor after Qui-Gon Jinn dies. Audiences see Obi-Wan struggling with being a mentor and a friend to Anakin as this is a role that was given to him too soon. In the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, fans see how Obi-Wan is the contributing factor to Anakin’s walk to the dark side. The show ends with a battle between Padawan and Master, which ended in a stalemate the first time around, but now ends with Obi-Wan winning and Anakin losing any semblance to his past self.
2 Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker starts off as a kid on Tatooine with no experience outside the world he’s been living in. He learns of his powers and becomes a Jedi warrior as he leaves the only home he’s ever known. Luke meets up with Obi-Wan and tries to return some droids that the Empire is looking for. These droids coincidentally have the Death Star plans that the Empire and rebels are trying to get. This turn of events inadvertently has him joining the rebellion. TWM follows Luke’s journey through the rest of the original series as he spends his time battling the Empire or Darth Vador himself. In the Star Wars sequel trilogy, audiences see a more cynical Luke as he has become a hermit. Luke also refuses to help the resistance and Rey. It is not until Luke has a conversation with Force Ghost Yoda that he has a change of heart and decides to train Rey.
1 Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader
Anakin Skywalker has one of the biggest character arcs in the Star Wars franchise. In the prequel series, Anakin is seen as the small kid from Tatooine, who is deemed the Chosen One. He is then whisked away from his home and his mother to join the Jedi Order. In the movies that follow, we see how Anakin slowly makes his move to the dark side after the loss of his mother. Losing his mother forces a young Anakin to find a way to never lose a loved one ever again. He is manipulated by Chancellor Palpatine in his grief to turn against his mentor and friend Obi-Wan. After betraying Obi-Wan, Anakin is no more and has become the Darth Vader everyone knows from the original trilogy. Audiences believed that Anakin, now Darth Vader, would only ever be a villain. However, he has one last redemptive arc — and that’s saving his son.
