Vader Reacts 2024

Darth Vader's descent into darkness wasn't just about power—it was shaped by the women who played pivotal roles in his life. From the love and loss of Padmé to the betrayal of Ahsoka, and the redemptive power of Leia, each woman left an indelible mark on Vader’s fate. But which woman truly had the most profound impact?

Here’s the breakdown of our Community poll so far:

• Padmé Amidala – The mother of his children, the tragic catalyst of his fall to the Dark Side. (53% of voters agree)
• Leia Organa – His daughter, unknowingly key to the downfall of the Empire. (7% of voters agree)
• Ahsoka Tano – The apprentice who left him, marking one of his greatest personal betrayals. (20% of voters agree)
• Doctor Aphra – The rogue archaeologist with a genius for trouble—now an unpredictable asset to Vader’s quest. (20% of voters agree)

So, which woman really shaped Darth Vader’s path? Was it Padmé’s tragic loss that drove him to the Dark Side? Ahsoka’s departure that sealed his fate? Or Leia’s unexpected role in his eventual redemption?

Let’s discuss! Vote and share your thoughts—who truly had the most profound impact on the Dark Lord’s journey?

And if you're interested in how one of these women might change Vader's future, check out my latest video: Vader Reacts: Ep 2 – Meet Doctor Aphra, Vader’s Unpredictable New Asset. After the Rebels destroyed the Death Star, Vader finds an unlikely ally in Aphra. Can he trust her—or will she complicate his quest for power?

#DarthVader, #VaderReacts, #StarWars, #DoctorAphra, #VaderJourney, #StarWarsCanon

https://www.tiktok.com/@sirabivonda/video/7427955245247925536?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7426781254055495200

Okay, hear me out: Darth Vader was not inherently a bad person. Anakin Skywalker didn’t just wake up one day and think, "Yeah, I’m gonna start doing terrible things for no reason." The guy was messed up because of how he grew up and the situations he was thrown into, and I feel like a lot of people forget that or oversimplify his arc.

First of all, Anakin had a really rough start. He was born a slave, and that kind of upbringing messes with you. You grow up in a world where you have no control, no freedom, and the people around you treat you like you're less than human. He had to fight for everything, all while watching his mom suffer. This leaves serious emotional scars on anyone, especially a kid. So, right from the beginning, Anakin had some deep-rooted abandonment and control issues.

Then, enter the Jedi, who come in and basically take him away from the only family he’s ever known—his mom. They take him to train as a Jedi, which, sure, sounds great, but they throw him into this strict, emotion-suppressing lifestyle. The Jedi were all about “don’t get too attached” and “keep your emotions in check,” but that's not really how humans (or anyone) naturally work. Anakin was full of fear and attachment from the start. How could he not be? He lost his mom, had a tough upbringing, and now the people supposed to guide him are telling him his feelings are wrong. Recipe for disaster, honestly.

Fast forward to when he starts having these nightmares about his mother suffering and dying. It’s the same situation all over again—he’s got no control. By the time he gets to her, it's too late. She dies in his arms, and that pretty much breaks him. What does he do? He lashes out, killing a bunch of Tusken Raiders in revenge. Was it wrong? Of course. But it wasn’t random evil. It was pain and rage from a guy who never had a healthy outlet for his emotions and didn't know how to process loss.

And then there’s the whole thing with Padmé. Anakin’s attachment to her was literally the only thing keeping him grounded. She was his anchor, the only thing that made sense to him in a galaxy that was always asking him to make impossible choices. The Jedi were all about being detached and unemotional, but Anakin was wired the opposite. He loved fiercely, even if it was unhealthy. He started having visions of her dying, just like his mother. Of course he was going to do everything in his power to prevent that. He wasn’t motivated by some evil desire to take over the galaxy; he was scared of losing the only person he cared about, the one thing in his life he thought he could protect.

And then Palpatine shows up, like a freaking snake, whispering in his ear that there’s a way to save Padmé, but only if Anakin turns to the dark side. Palpatine knew exactly what buttons to push. He took advantage of Anakin’s fear, his desperation, and his trauma. So, yeah, Anakin made the choice to turn, but it wasn’t out of some inherent evil. It was out of fear and pain. He thought he was doing the right thing for the people he loved. It’s tragic.

Now, let’s talk about Darth Vader. People act like as soon as Anakin became Vader, he just turned into this evil, soulless monster. But, honestly, even as Vader, he’s still the same broken guy making terrible decisions for what he thinks are good reasons. The Empire gave him a purpose. He could be strong and in control, something he never really had growing up. His anger and hatred fueled him, but it all stemmed from that same fear and pain. And it’s not like he didn’t have moments of doubt. We see his struggle with Luke later on. When Luke is in danger, the father in Anakin wakes up. Deep down, he wasn’t evil; he was just lost.

Even when he did horrible things, it wasn’t like he was cackling like some cartoon villain. There’s a reason behind it all. When he choked Padmé, it wasn’t because he wanted to—it was because he thought she betrayed him. His mind was so twisted by fear and paranoia that he acted out of desperation. And killing all those Jedi at the temple? Palpatine convinced him it was the only way to bring peace and order to the galaxy. To Anakin, everything he did had a reason, even if those reasons were messed up or misguided. In his mind, it was all about protecting the people he loved, bringing order, or stopping more pain from happening.

That’s what makes Vader such a tragic character. He wasn’t born evil, and he didn’t do bad things just for the hell of it. He had reasons. Wrong, twisted reasons, sure, but they were reasons based on his fears, his need for control, and his inability to process emotions properly. And at the end, we see the truth of who he really is. When Luke refuses to fight him and throws down his lightsaber, Anakin’s humanity resurfaces. He makes the ultimate choice to save his son, turning against Palpatine and sacrificing himself. That’s not something a truly evil person does.

So, no, Darth Vader wasn’t a bad person at his core. He was a deeply flawed and broken man who made terrible choices because he never had the tools or the guidance to deal with his trauma in a healthy way. If his upbringing had been different, if the Jedi had taught him how to handle emotions rather than suppress them, or if someone had intervened before Palpatine got to him, we could be talking about Anakin Skywalker, the hero, rather than Darth Vader, the villain. But that’s the tragedy of it all, isn’t it? He was never truly evil, just… lost.

I know not as much as Palpatine, but how evil he was?