When Qui-Gon Jinn asked the Jedi Council to train Anakin as a Jedi, it was a scene that’s hard to forget.
Many of us can even remember who said what, especially Mace Windu’s stern and direct response to Qui-Gon’s request.
From the very start, Windu made his position clear.
From that moment, it felt like Windu had an issue with Anakin, and as the story progresses, we see that tension build.
So, why did it seem like Mace Windu never trusted Anakin from the beginning, even to the point of appearing to hate Anakin?
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Mace Windu’s Lack of Faith in Anakin
From the moment Qui-Gon Jinn requested to train Anakin as a Jedi, Mace Windu was quick to shut down the idea. His response, “No, he will not be trained,” was as swift as a Jedi using Force speed.
And Windu didn’t stop there—he immediately justified his decision by pointing out that Anakin was “too old” for Jedi training.
And that wasn’t the end of it.
Windu had his doubts right from the beginning, but it goes deeper than Anakin’s age. Yoda sensed Anakin’s fear and emotional turmoil, which added more fuel to Windu’s distrust.
It’s like Windu could never really get past those early red flags he saw in Anakin, and that set the tone for their relationship moving forward.
And let’s be honest, throughout the saga, Windu never seemed to warm up to Anakin. Remember that moment in The Clone Wars when Windu and Anakin are nearly killed by Boba Fett?
Anakin sends R2-D2 to call for help, but when R2 flies away in Anakin’s ship, Windu doesn’t miss the chance to throw some shade: “I thought your astromech was supposed to call for help, not take off and leave us here.”
Despite everything Anakin had accomplished during the war, Mace Windu never seemed fully ready to believe in him.
In Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin revealed that Palpatine was a Sith Lord, Windu’s response still carried a hint of doubt. “If what you’ve told me is true, you will have gained my trust.”
This was a crucial moment, but Windu still wasn’t prepared to completely embrace Anakin.
Even after receiving such critical information from him, Windu chose to exclude Anakin from Palpatine’s arrest, demonstrating that while Anakin had proven himself, Windu’s mistrust lingered.
[The Tiny Detail] Mace Windu Didn’t Even Bother Showing Up
It’s not just in Revenge of the Sith where we see Mace Windu’s cold attitude toward Anakin. There’s another telling moment during The Clone Wars that often goes unnoticed. When Anakin is officially made a Jedi Knight, the entire Jedi Council is present—except for one notable absence: Mace Windu.
As pointed out by fans on Reddit, when Anakin stands in the center of the ceremonial circle, the lightsabers of all the Council members are raised, but there’s no sign of a purple lightsaber. Meaning Mace Windu didn’t even bother showing up to one of the most significant moments in Anakin’s life.
It’s hard not to see this as a deliberate snub, further showing Windu’s lack of respect or trust in Anakin. Even during a time meant to honor Anakin’s growth as a Jedi, Windu’s absence speaks volumes about his true feelings.
The Core Reason(s) Why Mace Windu Hates Anakin
1. Anakin’s Ties to Palpatine
Let’s be honest, Mace Windu never trusted Anakin, and you can really see why in Revenge of the Sith.
One of the clearest signs is how much Windu hated the idea of the Jedi being tied too closely to Chancellor Palpatine.
Remember the moment Palpatine tries to push Anakin onto the Jedi Council? The other Council members might stay quiet, but Windu.
He’s the first to shut it down, saying, “You’re on the Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master.”
You could practically feel the tension in the room.
It’s like Windu was saying, “Who does Palpatine think he is, making decisions for the Jedi?”
Later, when Anakin tells the Council that Palpatine requested him to lead the mission to find General Grievous, the look on Windu’s face says it all.
He doesn’t just disagree, he’s downright disturbed.
The entire Council goes silent before Windu shoots down the request: “The Council will decide who is to go, not the Chancellor.”
If you noticed, his eyes widened, and it was clear that Windu saw Palpatine’s influence on Anakin as dangerous.
For Windu, Palpatine wasn’t just overstepping—he was pushing Anakin into places Windu believed the Jedi shouldn’t go.
2. Theory: Mace Windu May Have Been Jealous of Anakin Being the Chosen One
This is an intriguing perspective, and I love how the Star Wars community picked up on it. Let’s start with Mace Windu’s lightsaber—it’s unlike any other in the Jedi Order.
Most Jedi wield blue or green blades, but Windu’s is unique: a striking purple.
Behind the scenes, we know that Samuel L. Jackson specifically requested a purple lightsaber during the filming of Attack of the Clones.
But if we dive into Star Wars lore, the story of Windu’s lightsaber runs much deeper. As a young Padawan, Mace struggled with constructing his own lightsaber, which set him apart from his peers.
During this time of frustration, Windu experienced a vision through his use of the Force ability called Shatterpoint.
In this vision, he saw himself wielding a purple lightsaber, and that image stayed with him.
His destiny finally took shape on a mission beyond the Outer Rim to Hurikane.
There, after a conflict with the native stone creatures, Windu used the Force to heal them, piece by piece.
In gratitude, the beings gifted him a rare purple kyber crystal, which became the heart of his iconic weapon.
Now, what does this have to do with Windu’s feelings toward Anakin?
Well, many fans believe that Windu, with his rare connection to the Force’s balance (symbolized by his purple lightsaber, a mix of the Jedi’s blue and Sith’s red), may have seen himself as someone deeply connected to the Force’s destiny.
When Qui-Gon Jinn declared Anakin to be the Chosen One, it’s possible Windu felt a twinge of jealousy or doubt.
He might have viewed Anakin as a challenge to his own role in balancing the Force, especially since his own lightsaber could be seen as a physical representation of this balance.