For decades, Star Wars fans have held one debate close to their lightsaber-loving hearts: who really was the Chosen One? Anakin Skywalker? Luke? Both? That question refuses to die, and Reddit just reignited it — again.
The prophecy that someone would bring balance to the Force wasn’t even part of the original trilogy. George Lucas added it later, and ever since, it’s turned into one of the most contested topics in the entire galaxy far, far away.
The Prophecy That Was Never There… Until It Was
In 1977, nobody had ever heard the term “Chosen One” in theaters watching A New Hope. That wasn’t a thing back then.
Fast forward to 1999, and The Phantom Menace suddenly introduced Jedi talking about ancient prophecies and Force-balancing figures. Just like that, the idea of the Chosen One entered the mainstream Star Wars lore.
Some fans were all-in from the start. Others rolled their eyes.
And even in-universe, characters couldn’t agree. Qui-Gon Jinn was convinced young Anakin was the One. Obi-Wan eventually came around too. But the Jedi Council? They weren’t so sure. Mace Windu’s face during those council scenes said it all: “We’re not buying it.”
Anakin’s Fall, Vader’s Redemption
So, let’s lay it out straight. Anakin Skywalker was supposed to bring balance to the Force. Instead, he went full Dark Side and slaughtered a bunch of younglings. Not a great start.
Years later, he’s Darth Vader — feared, broken, and serving the Emperor.
But then comes Return of the Jedi. That iconic throne room scene. Luke, refusing to fight. Palpatine zapping him into near-death. Vader, watching silently… then suddenly choosing to act. He lifts the Emperor and throws him into that big, conveniently placed pit.
Boom. Balance.
Or was it?
The Reddit Thread Stirring Things Up Again
User Kudder86 recently asked a question on Reddit that many have pondered for years: was it Anakin or Vader who was the Chosen One? And if Vader fulfilled the prophecy, does Luke get any credit for pulling his dad back from the brink?
Reddit, being Reddit, had opinions. Lots of them.
One user, upvoted to the top, said:
“Anakin. He brings balance to the Force. In a really long, drawn-out, roundabout way. But he did it.”
Another chimed in:
“It’s true that he needed Luke to be there. That doesn’t make Luke the ‘chosen one’ though.”
But the best comment? Probably this:
“Not to mention one wouldn’t have ‘brought balance’ without the other. Luke didn’t kill Palpatine, Vader did. But Vader wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t see his son.”
Hard to argue with that.
A Family Affair That Spans Generations
You can’t talk about this prophecy without talking about family. It wasn’t just Anakin. It wasn’t just Luke. It was the Skywalkers — plural.
And fans aren’t forgetting Leia.
One Redditor nailed this sentiment with a sharp memory of Yoda’s words in Empire Strikes Back.
“When Obi-Wan says Luke is the last hope, Yoda replies, ‘No… there is another.’ That ‘another’ is Leia.”
So it wasn’t just one person all along?
Maybe that’s the whole point.
• Anakin’s pain led him to fall.
• Padmé’s love gave him children.
• Luke’s compassion brought him back.
• Leia’s presence ensured balance, even beyond the battlefield.
Maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t a single-person prophecy.
Star Wars Canon Doesn’t Make This Any Easier
If you think George Lucas or Disney ever gave a final, clear answer, think again.
In Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan still calls Anakin the Chosen One. Later, in The Clone Wars, the Father — a powerful Force being — confirms it too. Canon, right?
But then The Rise of Skywalker happened. Palpatine’s back (somehow). Anakin’s sacrifice didn’t really “end” the Sith if you’re keeping score.
The whole “balance to the Force” prophecy got murky all over again. Here’s a quick timeline to show just how confusing it all is:
| Event | Outcome | What It Means for the Prophecy |
|---|---|---|
| The Phantom Menace | Anakin identified as Chosen One | Begins prophecy arc |
| Revenge of the Sith | Anakin falls to Dark Side | Prophecy seems off track |
| Return of the Jedi | Vader kills Palpatine | Fulfillment? Maybe. |
| The Rise of Skywalker | Palpatine returns | Wait, what? |
The Best Answer Might Be the Most Human One
If you’re looking for a final answer, you may not like it. Because this story, much like life, isn’t about clean lines or easy answers.
Anakin was broken. Luke wasn’t perfect either. But together, they shaped the galaxy’s fate.
It’s the kind of messy, emotional, family-driven storyline that Star Wars does best. One user summed it up perfectly:
“Anakin fulfilled the prophecy… with a lot of help.”
And maybe that’s okay. Maybe that’s even the point.
