The Star Wars prequels have long been regarded as controversial, but Episode III – Revenge of the Sith rarely receives the same criticism as the other films, likely due to the harrowing emotional journey it depicts, which culminates in one of the most epic lightsaber battles of all time. For some fans, however, Obi-Wan’s offhand remark about “having the high ground” distracted from what was otherwise an agonizing confrontation between two former best friends — but Hayden Christensen just offered a perfect explanation for the infamous line, adding yet another gut-wrenching layer to the iconic Mustafar duel.
- Release Date
- May 17, 2005
- Runtime
- 138
At SPACECON San Antonio, Christensen discussed his perspective on the pivotal duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin — which may be one of the most important moments of the entire prequel series, since it effectively seals Anakin’s fate as Darth Vader. While he joked that Anakin chose to jump due to “the arrogance of youth,” Christensen then revealed his belief that Anakin was actually trying to emulate Obi-Wan’s success from when Obi-Wan defeated Darth Maul in Episode I: The Phantom Menace, despite not having the high ground himself.
A TikTok video from the convention, posted by @thelegacyofthenerd, shows Christensen explaining that Anakin would have known all about Obi-Wan’s defeat of Darth Maul, as he would have grown up hearing those stories told by other Jedi. By employing the same technique that Obi-Wan had used, Anakin must have believed that he could also emerge victorious.
However, Christensen’s joking mention of “youthful arrogance” still makes sense given this explanation. As a result of his overconfidence, Anakin failed to stop and consider the prospect that, if Obi-Wan had known how to defeat Darth Maul when Maul had the high ground, then he would also know how to guard against that very maneuver. Obi-Wan even warned Anakin not to try it, hinting that he knew exactly what was about to happen.
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While the prequels may have their fair share of haters, Hayden Christensen will always be their number one fan — and his in-depth thought process behind just two lines of dialogue only reinforces the amount of care and artistry that Christensen brought to the role of Anakin. Though Anakin’s actions during the battle on Mustafar indicate that he possessed nothing but hatred for his former Jedi Master and friend, Christensen’s explanation reveals that subconsciously, Anakin was still seeking the approval of Obi-Wan. His ultimate decision to jump was influenced by a deeply rooted desire to replicate Obi-Wan’s successes, in the same way a little kid might copy their parents out of admiration.
Even more painful is the fact that Obi-Wan knew exactly what Anakin was thinking in those fateful moments, demonstrating for the last time the depth of the connection they once shared.
The battle on Mustafar truly is one of the most legendary sequences in all of Star Wars history, and Christensen’s analysis just makes it all the more excruciating to watch. As a lifelong defender of the prequels, it’s been immensely gratifying to see Christensen’s performances as Anakin re-evaluated, as it’s patently clear that he understands and embodies Anakin in a way that no one else ever has, or ever will.