We all know the story of Anakin Skywalker is one filled with so much potential, love, and, ultimately, tragedy.
While Luke and Leia are obviously central to his legacy, there’s a side of Anakin’s journey that often gets overlooked: his bond with Ahsoka Tano, his former Padawan.
In so many ways, their relationship was like that of a father and daughter, something Anakin never really got to experience with his own kids.
The truly heartbreaking part? Ahsoka might’ve been the closest Anakin ever came to fulfilling those fatherly instincts before he fell to the dark side.
Anakin and Ahsoka’s Bond
Anakin and Ahsoka developed a unique bond throughout The Clone Wars series. From the moment she became his Padawan, Ahsoka looked up to Anakin not only as a teacher but also as a protective older brother or even a father figure.
In fact, in the final season of The Clone Wars, Ahsoka tells Trace Martez that she learned her combat skills from her “older brother,” a touching reference to her relationship with Anakin.
Anakin, in turn, took great responsibility in mentoring her, often showing more attachment and care than most Jedi typically displayed toward their apprentices.
Their relationship was built on trust, loyalty, and mutual admiration, which grew stronger throughout the war.
Ahsoka’s departure from the Jedi Order deeply affected Anakin, planting the seeds for the disillusionment that would later push him toward the dark side.
Anakin’s Distance from Luke and Leia
In contrast, Anakin’s relationships with his biological children, Luke and Leia, were almost nonexistent during their formative years.
After Padmé Amidala’s death and Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader, Luke and Leia were hidden from him to protect them from his dark influence.
Consequently, they grew up with no knowledge of their true father. Anakin never had the opportunity to raise or guide them, missing out on the chance to bond with them as a parent.
When Anakin eventually confronts Luke in Return of the Jedi, their relationship is built more on conflict than affection.
Though they share blood, their connection is strained by the ideological and moral chasm that exists between them.
Leia, meanwhile, only learns the truth about her father later in life and never shares the same kind of emotional connection with him that Luke does.
Anakin’s role in their lives was more of an abstract figure—someone who loomed large but was never personally involved in shaping who they became.
However, after his redemption and return to the light, Anakin continued to mentor Luke in a more meaningful way.
As a Force ghost following Return of the Jedi, Anakin was finally able to guide his son, allowing them to forge a more positive father-son relationship, even if only in spirit.
This later connection, while brief, helped heal the emotional rift between them.