Anakin Skywalker's corruption and transformation into the Sith Lord Darth Vader is one of the best known damnation arcs in all fiction. Anakin goes from a conflicted but heroic figure, doing great good despite his flaws, to an outright villain known for his ruthlessness and his cruelty.
The way Darth Vader behaves is often very different from how Anakin Skywalker once acted. However, they are still the same man, and this is made clear several times throughout various pieces of Star Wars media. Although the moments are rare, there are moments where a glimmer of Anakin Skywalker can be seen in Vader's actions.
10 Rushing Into The Battle Of Yavin
Darth Vader is one of the most significant and senior leaders of the Empire. Although some other leaders stand up to him, Vader's authority is absolute, and he commands several operations. With several endeavors to oversee, Vader is perfectly within his rights to take a backseat, tactical role and guide other troops from safety.
Despite this, Darth Vader shows a tendency to lead from the front, going into battle himself. This is one of the most consistent similarities to his behavior as Anakin, who also insisted on a very personal, involveld leadership style. One of the clearest examples comes during the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope. While Tarkin remains on the Death Star, Vader gets into his own TIE craft and personally slays several Rebel pilots.
9 Tracking Down Ahsoka And The 501st
Anakin doesn't appear in any significant capacity in the final episode of The Clone Wars. The storyline runs parallel to Revenge of the Sith and focuses on Ahsoka, Rex, and Maul. Darth Vader is the star of its final scene, however, leading an expedition of stormtroopers to Tribunal's crash site.
There is a chance Vader has sinister intentions, hoping to acquire Ahsoka for the Inqusition. Nonetheless, many see Vader personally tracking down a ship carrying both his apprentice and a contingent from his own Clone legion as an instance of Anakin going to great lengths for those he cares about.
8 Talking To Luke About His Damnation
For much of the original trilogy, Vader's primary role is as a threat to the protagonists. He'll stop at nothing to bring down the Rebellion and lure Luke to the Dark Side. However, when Luke surrenders to the Empire in Return of the Jedi, Vader is depicted in a different light.
Before taking Luke to the Emperor, Vader speaks with his son alone. He compliments Luke's abilities and attempts to convince him to willingly convert to the Dark Side. When Luke states his intention to redeem Vader, his father argues it's impossible. This outlook is similar to the melancholic, emotional Anakin of the prequels and The Clone Wars.
7 Seeking An Artifact To Resurrect Padme
Although he's heavily flawed, one of Anakin's most heroic traits is his deep regard for his loved ones, and the lengths he goes to keep them safe. Several times he goes against the Jedi Council to protect Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, or Padme. In the end, Palpatine turns Anakin to the Dark Side by exploiting the Jedi's desire to save his wife.
Although Vader proved a crueler and angrier person than Anakin ever was, some glimmers his love survived. The VR game Vader Immortal followed a smuggler recruited by Vader for a journey to Mustafar. Searching for an artifact theorized to bring back the dead, Vader was dead-set on reviving Padme. Anakin would've done the same in a heartbeat.
6 Seeking To Prove Himself Over Other Jedi
Despite his heroic tendencies, Anakin possesses flaws that give birth to Darth Vader. Just as Anakin's positive traits make appearances in Darth Vader's actions, so do Anakin's former insecurities — fueling his drive to become more powerful than anyone else.
Throughout the prequel trilogy, Anakin expresses pride in his skills while also proclaiming his wish to become the most powerful Jedi ever. This attitude resurfaces when Vader faces Obi-Wan in A New Hope and proclaims himself the master. Although revenge plays a part, Vader clearly wants to prove himself better than the Jedi who beat him years ago.
5 Killing Palpatine To Save His Son
Although Anakin inevitably falls to evil, he still spends years a Jedi doing genuinely heroic things — bringing low a number of villains and saving lives. Anakin commits some of his most heroic acts to save his loved ones, going above and beyond to rescue them.
In Return of the Jedi's most famous scene, the Emperor uses his Force Lightning on Luke, intent on torturing him to death. Vader, moved by Luke's pleas, picks up the Emperor and throws him to his death. In his final moments, Anakin once again risks his life to save someone else's.
4 Ignoring The Path To Chase After Obi-Wan
If Anakin Skywalker is anything, it's obsessive. He latches onto specific people and becomes fixated on them to the point of recklessness. Despite being a more controlled and dangerous individual, Vader displays this tendency from time to time, most notably in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Vader is obsessed with finally beating Obi-Wan and proving his dominance. This passion comes to a head in the final episode, when Obi-Wan lures Vader away from the Path simply by going alone to another planet. Anakin abandons the bigger picture to try and end his feud with Kenobi, letting the Path escape.
3 Showing Off During His Fight Against Reva
The Jedi Code calls upon Jedi to fight with restraint and to make violence a last resort; they should never enjoy hurting others. Among his many struggles with Jedi philosophy, Anakin has always enjoyed combat and his own skills too much. Anakin frequently shows off during battle, be it by counting his kills or handicapping himself to make things more fun.
When Reva attempts to kill Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin's cocky nature tendency is on full display. Vader toys with Reva, dodging many of her attacks and using the Force in place of a lightsaber for most of the duel.
2 Calling Out To Ahsoka On Malachor
It's clear Ahsoka Tano is one of the people Anakin cares for most. Her loss is one of the major factors turning him to the Dark Side. Once Anakin becomes Vader, he becomes Ahsoka's antagonist, sending Inquisitors after her and personally dueling her in Star Wars Rebels.
During their battle in Rebel's season 2 finale, Vader has a single moment of weakness. Fully prepared to kill Ahsoka, a surprise attack leaves Vader with a literal crack in his armor. Hurt and on his knees, Anakin calls out to Ahsoka in genuine desperation rather than malice. Although he quickly recovers, this brief moment serves as a clear reminder of their former bond.
1 Choosing To Torture Obi-Wan In Vengeance
Anakin struggles with the Jedi Code throughout the prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars, often ruled by his passions. In particular, Anakin has a vengeful streak that clashes with the stoic and just ways of the Jedi. At times, he sacrifices his morals and pragmatism to get even.
Vader's desire for vengeance reaches new height during Obi-Wan Kenobi. Coming face-to-face with his hated master after years, Anakin quickly realizes how badly Obi-Wan is outmatched. Rather than end things quickly, however, Vader chooses to mock, torment, and physically torture Obi-Wan — dragging him through flames.