The Star Wars prequel trilogy concluded with Episode III, Revenge of the Sith. This action-packed movie had all kinds of payoff for the first two Episodes and media tie-ins concerning the Clone Wars conflict. It all built up to this, and in a single movie, the ancient Republic fell, the Jedi order was wiped out and Darth Vader was born.

Many characters crossed paths for the final time in Revenge of the Sith, and not all of them walked out of it alive. The Dark Side may have won in this movie, but a new hope was already born: the twins Luke and Leia. Which five plot developments and twists had the biggest impact on Revenge of the Sith and the franchise as a whole?

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When Palpatine Promised Anakin A Way To Save Padme's Life

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By now, Chancellor Palpatine had long since become Anakin Skywalker's good friend and confidant, and Palpatine clearly thought more of Anakin than the other Jedi did. Anakin sometimes even trusted Palpatine over Obi-Wan himself, so Anakin was all ears when Palpatine mentioned the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise during an opera concert.

Palpatine knew all sorts of secrets and historical facts that the Jedi Order wanted hidden, and he tantalized Luke with the tale of a Sith Lord who could create life via the Force and protect people from death. Anakin was desperate to learn this forbidden art to save Padme's life since he had already had visions of her death, and Palpatine reeled Anakin in with the promise of Padme's salvation. In reality, this was just one more way to keep Anakin loyal to Palpatine over the Jedi order.

When Anakin Turned On Mace Windu To Save Palpatine's Life

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Palpatine had totally won over Anakin by now, despite being outed as the Sith Lord that Master Yoda was looking for. When Jedi Master Mace Windu cornered Palpatine in his office, Anakin intervened, demanding that Windu let Palpatine live to stand trial for his treason. Mace Windu wasn't in the mood for mercy, however.

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Mace prepared to deal the final blow to Palpatine when Anakin activated his own lightsaber and robbed Windu of his sword arm, allowing Palpatine to finish him. Anakin could hardly believe what had happened, but that didn't stop him from kneeling before Palpatine (or rather, Darth Sidious) and swearing loyalty to him. In the span of one minute, Anakin proved with finality that he trusted the Dark Side over the Jedi Order with his needs.

When Darth Sidious Launched Order 66 To Destroy The Jedi Order

Commander Cody Order 66

Many developments of the Clone Wars took place in Revenge of the Sith, from General Grievous' demise to the space battle above Coruscant, but the most impactful twists all concerned the Skywalker family and the battle of Jedi vs Sith Lords. Once Palpatine had Anakin on his side as the newly-christened Darth Vader, he decided that everything was in place for his final triumph, and he fatefully contacted all clone commanders and said: "Execute Order 66."

In so doing, Sidious ended the Clone Wars and destroyed the Jedi Order in one fell swoop, as the clones turned on their Jedi generals and gunned them down. Few Jedi survived, and at the same time, Vader and some clone troopers massacred everyone in the Jedi Temple. The war was over, but at the cost of nearly every living Jedi Knight. The era of the Republic and Jedi had ended, and darkness was setting in.

When Obi-Wan Defeated Anakin/Darth Vader On Mustafar

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Obi-Wan Kenobi confronted his old apprentice on the small, volcanic world of Mustafar. After Anakin turned on his pregnant wife, he declared that the Dark Side and the new Empire had won. Obi-Wan felt differently, and out of duty, he turned his lightsaber on Anakin. The duel was a fierce and emotionally-charged one, and in the end, Obi-Wan severed three of Anakin's limbs, dooming Anakin to catch fire and nearly perish near the lava.

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This ended the master/apprentice relationship for good, and Anakin's severe injuries in this battle led to him gaining new cybernetic parts and a dark suit to match. Anakin Skywalker had been a famous Jedi across the galaxy, inspiring hope and courage against the Separatists and other threats. Now, the Jedi was gone, replaced with the mysterious and terrifying Darth Vader who commanded fear rather than respect and admiration. In a sense, Vader had to rebuild everything from scratch, including his reputation, all because he lost to his old master.

When Obi-Wan Took Responsibility For Anakin's Son And Daughter

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Padme was dying, heartbroken over her husband's descent into darkness. Right before her untimely death, though, Padme delivered her two children, the twins Luke and Leia. Hope never truly died in the galaxy, since the Force-sensitive twins were brought into the world not long after their father fell to the Dark Side, and Obi-Wan was there to help.

The newborns were orphans right away, but Obi-Wan made sure to hide them safely until the day would come when balance may be restored. The Jedi couldn't defeat the Dark Side right now, so Obi-Wan went into hiding on Tatooine with the newborn Luke to invest in the future. This would pay off enormously in A New Hope, a generation later.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: The 5 Biggest Plot Twists in The Empire Strikes Back (& Why They Matter)