there's nothing wrong with disliking anakin skywalker. you don't have to like him, or his personality or choices.
but it surprises me when star wars fans act surprised, confused, or offended when someone expresses him being their favorite character, or a character they enjoy or love.
darth vader is a main character of the star wars franchise, that much is clear. and when george lucas wrote anakin's story, it was written with the goal of invoking sympathy, pathos, conflict, and some level of understanding, not only condemnation. his story is a tragedy, a lesson, not a villain origin story. his story was written this way intentionally, to make his return to the light something more meaningful, and worth cheering for, a triumph that the viewer wants to happen.
anakin skywalker was an enslaved, young boy, filled with hopes and dreams. dreams that involve helping people, and freeing other slaves. he grows to be a mostly selfless, and courageous hero, with strict intention to do good.
a reoccurring theme for anakin are his struggles to manage his fears and emotions. he grows up feeling conflicted, and insecure, while lacking the proper structure or support he needed, due to the system and institution he's been thrust into after being taken from his mother, at age 9. an institution that at this point in the story, despite being well intentioned, has clear flaws. (also written this way purposely.)
the story of his fall paints the picture of a man who at the height of his stress feels as if they've been cornered, he's desperate, and afraid.
he dreamt constant premonitions of his mother's death, and she dies. now he dreams similar, of the love of his life, who he values above all else, dying. dying while giving birth to his children. he remembers what happened the last time he wasn't quick enough to save his mother.
this insecure, terrified, desperate and cornered (22 year old) man, is essentially taken advantage of by a sith lord who has been grooming him since he met him at age 9â someone anakin cares for and trusts. the only one anakin feels is willing to listen, to help, after failed attempts to reach out for it within the jedi order. this sith lord feeds him false hope and promises, disguised as someone who has cared for anakin since he was a child.
"i can save the one you love", "those closest to you aren't trustworthy", "they don't trust you either", "you need me". anakin who already feels alone, certain that the he's going to lose the one he loves, and who is losing faith in those he has respected and looked up to his whole life, who he feels doesn't trust him (they don't.) is incredibly susceptible.
anakin makes the selfish, heart breaking choice. to save the one he loves from what he sees as an unavoidable death. he decides nothing is as important as padmé. his desperation and essentially selfishness of putting said loved one first, creates darth vader. creates the terrible, inexcusable atrocities he commits. he's enslaved once again.
anakin skywalker is not "evil" by default. he wasn't written that way or meant to be viewed that way. he was a hero of the republic, a good husband, a good friend.
for a star wars fan to cheer for him, to mourn the tragedy of his story, is not wrong. we want this, we want to feel heart broken for padmé, for anakin, for obi-wan, for luke and leia, for the jedi. we want to put our hands up and go "no! why anakin! how could you, don't do it!" not "oh yeah he's evil, makes sense".
the narrative relies heavily on this. for a fan to say "i like anakin skywalker" is not wrong. he's one of the main characters of the story ffs.
