What Anakin Did Right After His Death

So we all know how Return of the Jedi ends, right? Darth Vader turns back to the light, saves Luke, and dies in his arms. Then we see him as a Force ghost alongside Obi-Wan and Yoda at the celebration on Endor. But here’s the thing – how exactly did Anakin become a Force ghost? That part isn’t shown in the movie, but it’s actually covered in From A Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi, and it’s surprisingly emotional.

Anakin Was Pulled Into the Force, But He Wasn’t Alone

Seconds after his death, Anakin felt himself slipping into a strange void—quiet, still, and far from anything he’d known as Vader. The constant noise, pain, and mechanical weight were gone. All that was left was this silence. And then, memories started coming back.

First, it was his mother’s voice. She’d once told him a story about the sun dragon—a powerful creature with a brave heart that protected what it loved. She said he could be like that, too, as long as he trusted himself. That memory cracked something open in him. He remembered who he used to be.

Then came the visions—Padmé, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Qui-Gon, his mom. Their voices echoed around him, and it all hit him hard. He couldn’t hide anymore. All the pain he caused, all the destruction, all the love he lost—it came crashing in. For the first time in forever, Anakin actually felt it all.

And that’s when Obi-Wan appeared.

Anakin Faced Obi-Wan and Moved On

The second Anakin saw Obi-Wan, he broke down. No pride, no anger—just guilt. He apologized. He told him about Mustafar, about the Tuskens, about how his mother’s death turned everything inside him. He admitted he’d let fear and pain twist him into something he never wanted to be.

Obi-Wan didn’t lash out. He listened. And then he said something that changed everything: Anakin didn’t need to carry the whole galaxy’s pain. His mistakes didn’t cancel out the good he’d done. And even though his final choice didn’t fix the past, it still mattered. That moment—choosing love over power—gave the galaxy a future.

Then Obi-Wan gave him a choice—a last test. Anakin accepted. Suddenly, he was standing in a quiet forest. The Death Star burned above him. In front of him was a funeral pyre, and on it, Vader’s armor. He saw Luke watching it burn.

And for the first time, Anakin didn’t feel the need to step in. Luke wasn’t broken. He wasn’t lost. He had friends, purpose, and peace. He didn’t need saving. That realization hit Anakin like nothing else. He finally let go of that constant need to fix everything. Others could carry on. And they would—because of his final choice.

Watching His Children, Finding Peace

Later, Anakin looked at Luke and Leia from afar. Obi-Wan told him they were the best parts of him and Padmé. And he saw it. Their strength, their compassion, their fire—it was all there.

That’s when he knew he didn’t have to worry anymore. He didn’t need to control anything or carry the weight of the galaxy. They were going to be okay. And for the first time, Anakin felt real peace.

By accepting that, by truly letting go and trusting the will of the Force, Anakin completed the final step. That’s how he passed the challenge—and why he appeared later as a luminous, peaceful Force ghost beside Yoda and Obi-Wan.