WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, streaming now on Disney+.
When it comes to the downfall of Anakin Skywalker, many believe he only had himself to blame, being lured in by Palpatine's promise of unlimited power in a selfish fashion. But we must remember, he wasn't that mature and the Jedi council never trusted him, so it's understandable why he gave into a misguided philosophy when you factor in all he wanted was to ensure Padme Amidala could experience eternal life.
Still, succumbing to the Dark Side is unforgivable and when we reconcile what happened in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, it didn't seem like there was anyone who could save Anakin. But thanks to The Clone Wars' latest episode, "The Phantom Apprentice," we discover there's actually one Jedi who could have brought him back to the Light: Ahsoka Tano.
In the episode before, Anakin and Ahsoka reunited and in their final meeting, you could tell they missed each other, and more so, he understood her heroic path was different -- and perhaps better -- than his. It was a silent reconciliation as duty called him to Coruscant to save Palpatine and Ahsoka to Mandalore. But when Obi-Wan Kenobi phones in via hologram in this episode, he reveals startling information that worries Ahsoka: Anakin killed Count Dooku. She didn't think her master had it in him but we saw in this final season, he was already letting hatred control him. When Obi-Wan speaks to her privately, he confesses Anakin's now spying on the Chancellor but as it's deep cover, he just doesn't like it. Ahsoka is also taken aback because, while she's not Palpatine's biggest fan, she doesn't think he's playing the Senate and the Republic, and her teacher shouldn't be placed in such a position.
Obi-Wan reasons with her why, and says maybe if she talks to Anakin, his frustrations could be quelled. After all, he's always felt like the Jedi Order's lackey and now them asking him to treat a friend like a criminal is perhaps crossing a line. Ahsoka knows things like that will push Anakin over the edge, and seeing as Anakin -- as much as he loves him -- believes Obi-Wan is a council puppet, the older Jedi knows Ahsoka is the key to getting Anakin on his page. In fact, Ani and Ahsoka are quite similar and have that rebellious spark in them, so Obi-Wan knows if she gets through to him, she can break down why he has to play this duplicitous game. With the info on Darth Sidious coming from both Obi-Wan and Maul, Ahsoka finally understands there are bigger cogs rolling and she can't trust anyone. However, while she and Anakin have a powerful rapport, it's a shame she doesn't contact him and leverage this information as she's busy trying to capture Maul.
One has to wonder if she did speak to Ani what would have happened. Maybe he wouldn't have killed Mace Windu and helped Palpatine. Maybe Ani might have struck Chancellor down himself. There's a lot of supposition and what-ifs there, but this could have saved the galaxy. She'd have prevented the rise of the Empire and saved Anakin from himself, as he wouldn't have fought Obi-Wan and been burnt to become Vader.
After her exchange with Maul on Anakin being a pawn for Sidious and not even knowing it, if she got that through to Ani, or Obi-Wan at least, the whole game would have been different. They'd have pieced together Palpatine's identity earlier, Ani would have picked up on why Palpatine urged him to kill Dooku, and the entire Clone Wars would have fallen into place as Sidious' coup de grâce. Most importantly, Ani's soul would have been rescued by the one person he truly connects with and trusts in the Order. After all, you could tell he wanted to join Ahsoka on Mandalore, and Obi-Wan sensed that, so as much as we think of them as master and student, Ahsoka as the little sister helping her bigger brother really would have reframed the entire series and painted the galaxy as a safer place.
Streaming on Disney+, the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars stars Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker, Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex and the clone troopers, James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan and Sam Witwer as Maul.