Isn't it unfair to say it was Skywalker family drama that caused problems for the galaxy?
Palpatine would have built an Empire without Anakin's help. He has shown himself perfectly capable of getting other apprentices. Nothing Anakin did wasn't something another powerful Force user couldn't have done.
Without Leia Rebellion wouldn't have been what it is. Without her resisting Imperial torture they would have found the Rebel base sooner.
Without Luke's Force powers Death Star would have blown Yavin 4.
Who but Anakin and his love for his son could have stopped the Emperor? When would someone like Maul or Dooku kill the Emperor and give up power?
Without Skywalkers Palpatine would have ruled the galaxy for many more decades and who knows if Empire would fall even after his death or if it would have been too entrenched by then.
Thank you OP! Ever since the fake disney sequels came out, it's been frustrating to see dismissive attitudes towards the Skywalker family. The actual, canonical Skywalkers are not 'disasters' and I want to scream whenever I see that term thrown around. First of all, implying that they are all 'disasters' because of Anakin (the only Skywalker to actually 'fall'), ignores the fact that the Skywalker family begins with *Shmi*, a kind-hearted slave woman who just wants a better life for her child. (It also ignores the fact that Anakin ultimately returns to himself and saves the galaxy, but what else is new, sigh.) Secondly, while the Skywalkers are indeed meant to be seen as catalysts for the story (because they are its main characters), their so-called 'family drama' only exists because they were never allowed to be a family unit in the first place. The 'drama' is the tragedy that ensues because of that. But the tragedy is only the first part of the story (aka the Prequels). The second half is the fulfillment of the happy ending (the Original Trilogy). As OP states, their role is to ultimately SAVE the galaxy. Everyone always conveniently forgets about Palpatine. Palpatine was already poised to take over the galaxy as of TPM. It was, *drumroll*....ANAKIN AND PADME who stopped him!!! If not for them, he might have succeeded even earlier. Believe it or not, even Anakin and Padme are intended to be viewed positively—or, at least, they are not meant to be defined solely by their tragedy. Their entire tragic, forbidden love story is vindicated in the end—by Padme's faith in Anakin's goodness (embodied by Luke) and by the unquestionably heroic actions of both of their children. Star Wars—aka the six-film Lucas saga—is NOT a tragedy. I wish people would stop viewing the disney nonsense as somehow having any bearing on this long-established storyline that was concluded in 2005. The PT x OT stands on its own as a a complete saga that tells the mythic tale of a fall from grace followed by a divine redemption.
