In the world of “what if” questions, many focus on Anakin. What would have happened if he had been made a Jedi Master or had gone with Mace Windu to confront Palpatine are some of those lines of inquiry. Topping the list, though, could be answering what would have changed if Anakin were Windu’s Padawan? We have two paths that this Jedi may have taken – one similar to what did happen and one diverting from it.
A More Rapid Fall for Anakin
If Mace Windu had trained Anakin, we probably would have witnessed a more rapid fall to the dark side. This likely result stems from how Obi-Wan was one of Anakin’s “few anchors” and kept him from falling sooner.
Fans are well aware of Obi-Wan’s attributes and may agree that he could be “the greatest Jedi of all time.” We can pick out his “devotion to the Jedi’s ideals,” “mastery of swordplay,” and Form III Soresu training, all of which benefited Anakin. His patience and love for his apprentice were also amply demonstrated. Without this kind of mentor, Anakin would have lacked support.
In comparison, Windu’s strictness is another reason why Anakin would have likely succumbed to the dark side sooner. As Windu’s Padawan, Anakin would have chafed under strict mentorship, “grim demeanor,” and “overconfidence in his own abilities.” The two of them were like the same end of two magnets being pushed together.
Another discussion emphasizes how the “friction” between the two would have been worse if Anakin were Windu’s Padawan. In this confrontational setting, Windu would most likely have been “exceptionally hard on him”, making Anakin “miserable” and “probably even more receptive to Palpatine.” The greater the press, the quicker the fall.
Anakin Became a Stronger Jedi
Then again, we can see how it was possible for Anakin to become a stronger Jedi under Windu. Another post from the opening Reddit discussion argues that Windu’s strictness could have been beneficial. Likewise, Windu’s rank and strength with the Force could have altered Anakin’s course of action.
This video explores a scenario where Windu assumes the training of Anakin after Qui-Gon’s death. We may agree that this pathway was “not only more realistic” since Obi-Wan was not ready to take on a Padawan, but also better for Anakin. Obi-Wan was more like “a brother”, but what he needed was a “father figure.”
Windu could pass on the teachings of Yoda, provide firm guidance, and train Anakin in the Form VII or Vaapad lightsaber form. Windu’s ability to straddle both the light and dark sides could have helped balance Anakin. Over a decade of training under Windu could have molded an entirely different Jedi.
A previous discussion points in this direction too. Emphasizing Windu’s ability “to control the dark side” and channel it into his lightsaber combat, he had the rare offering of controlling “both sides.” And that was “exactly what Anakin needed.” The idea of a stern but focused father figure emerges as a way to contain Anakin’s drive to the dark side.
Another video picks up the timeline and shows how, after 13 years, Anakin would have progressed into “an elite duelist” with a “power in the Force beyond measure.” More importantly, since these areas were developed under Obi-Wan too, Anakin “earned much respect throughout the Jedi Order.” We could have witnessed a mature, calm, and balanced Jedi, not as prone to falling to the dark side.
This denouement does not mean that Anakin and Windu would not have clashed during his training; they would have, but they could have come to gain mutual respect for one another by working so closely together.
Perhaps, we would have witnessed something akin to the Force Ghost Anakin depicted in Ahsoka. As potentially the strongest version of Anakin-Vader, this merged identity could have been fostered under Windu.
Anakin as Windu’s Padawan
Being Windu’s Padawan may very well have accelerated Anakin’s downfall. Without Obi-Wan’s support, he could have fallen more quickly. However, it seems more likely that Windu’s mentorship could have prevented or at least slowed that descent. Despite his stern ways, Windu could have forged a different kind of bond with Anakin and helped show him how to balance the light and dark.