It's one of the great tragedies of Star Wars villain's life is even darker once you know how much he dreamed of having a son. However, while Pé Amidala named their children Luke and Leia, Vader had a different name planned for his son - one that speaks to the hope and goodness that lay dormant within the Sith's soul.

Star Wars fans see Vader's secret desire in Darth Vader and the Lost Command, from W. Haden Blackman, Rick Leonardi, Dan Green, Wes Dzioba and Michael Heisler. In the comic, Vader travels to the Ghost Nebula in order to retrieve the son of Grand Moff Tarkin. There, Vader encounters the religious leader Lady Saro, who brings his buried fantasies to the surface, revealing the ideal life he wishes he and Pé could have lived.

darth vader's fantasy of what his life could have been as anakin with his son jinn 2

In Vader's fantasy, Pé leads the Galactic Senate while he and his son fight to rid the galaxy of its remaining Sith. Anakin's doubts about the Jedi Order are still part of his ideal world, but in his perfect world, the Order is steadily rendered obsolete by an age of peace brought about by his wife, not cut down at his own hands.

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Luke Skywalker's Childhood Nickname Is His Perfect Sith Title

Luke Skywalker's mocking childhood nickname offers up the perfect word to twist into a Sith title akin to his father 'Darth Vader.'

Darth Vader Wanted to Name His Son After Qui-Gon Jinn

Anakin Still Missed and Respected the Jedi Who Changed His Life

Qui gon Jinn Young Anakin Star Wars the phantom Menace

In Vader's fantasy, he and Pé have a son he refers to as "Jinn" - a clear reference to Anakin Skywalker's original master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Jinn appears to be Anakin's Padawan, with the two hunting Sith together on Trandosha. It's highly unlikely the Jedi Order would have allowed Anakin to train his own son - indeed, he'd probably have been expelled for having one - but in Vader's perfect world, his love for Pé is finally accepted.

darth vader's fantasy of what his life could have been as anakin with his son jinn

It makes sense that Anakin would have wanted to name his son after Qui-Gon Jinn. Jinn was Anakin's biggest er, freeing him from slavery on Tatooine and fighting to train him as a Jedi despite the Jedi Council's reluctance. Indeed, it's been argued that Qui-Gon Jinn's death at Darth Maul's hands was the moment that Anakin's fate was sealed, as he lost the one person who might have kept him from falling to the Dark Side. Qui-Gon Jinn often found himself at odds with the Jedi Council, and might have been able to chart a third path for Anakin that wasn't strict adherence to Jedi doctrine or disastrous rebellion alongside Palpatine.

Darth Vader and the Lost Command is a Legends-era comic and so not current canon, but the story showed that deep down, the human part of Darth Vader still longed for a world where he could have remained with the Jedi while also raising a family with Pé. Despite his hatred of the Jedi, deep down Anakin still respected Qui-Gon Jinn, and would have honored the Star Wars hero with his son's name - thankfully, even without this tribute, Darth Vader's love for Luke Skywalker was still enough to save the galaxy.

Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader Split By a Lightning Bolt
Created By
George Lucas
Cast
Bob Anderson, Sebastian Shaw
Died
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi
Alliance
Jedi, Sith
Race
Human

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker In Star Wars Return of the Jedi
Created By
George Lucas
Cast
Mark Hamill, Grant Feely
Died
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
Alliance
Jedi
Race
Human

Star Wars Franchise Poster
Created by
George Lucas
TV Show(s)
Star Wars: Visions
Movie(s)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Character(s)
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand iral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren