Does really Anakin Skywalker fulfill the so called Prophecy and so restore balance to the Force? Or does Luke do that?

The Chosen One

I believe it was The Phantom Menace which introduced the concept of there being a chosen one who would bring balance to the Force.

Anakin was considered to be the Chosen One as he was considered by Qui Gon Gin as a 'vergence' in the Force - his Midicholrian count was higher ever measured before.

Perhaps grudgingly, Anakin was accepted to be a Jedi in training by the Jedi Council - on the promise that he was indeed the Chosen One.

But was he? He left things pretty badly at the end of Revenge of the Sith. He betrayed the Jedi, killed a few more of them, massacred some Younglings at the Jedi Temple, force choked the woman he loved and he engaged Obi-Wan in the most awesome light saber duel Star Wars has ever witnessed.

He became wretched and Obi-Wan lamented that Anakin was supposed to be the chosen one but clearly his behaviour to that point suggested other wise.

How could such a betrayal mean Anakin was the Chosen One?

So does this mean Vader's son, Luke Skywalker was the Chosen One?

After all, he saved the day in a Return of the Jedi?

Right?

You better back the horses up Billy - let's a think about what happened in Jedi. Luke beat his father in the duel, mortally wounding him as he did so.

This lead to the Emperor Palpatine reigning force lightning down upon Luke - to which Vader then betrayed his master by throwing him down the pit killing, the Emperor.

This act is considered the moment when Vader brings balance to the Force.

So even though Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader and killed all those people including his friend Obi Wan Kenobi,  he actually was the chosen one who fulfilled the Prophecy.

It just came about in an extremely round about way - it showed the cleverness of the prequels - taking the existing ending of ROTJ and fashioning a grand story around Vader.

It really was good writing by Lucas and Hales.

Don't believe me?

George Lucas has stated unequivocally Anakin was the chosen one:
 

However, if you want to run a cheeky argument that Anakin didn't fulfill the prophecy you could argue that when he became Darth Vader Anakin ceased to exist (as Obi Wan put it in Jedi). Thus Vader was the chosen one.

But you could then argue the moment Vader decided to kill the Emperor he was again Anakin so it's a moot point really... and consider this - when Vader throws Emperor Palpatine down the pit, listen carefully - the Jedi motif is briefly played - signalling that yes, Vader is now Anakin.

At the end of the day you could argue that Luke helps Vader bring balance to the Force - it was his belief in his Father that drove him after all...

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