Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side is what essentially allowed Order 66 to happen, but Anakin could have prevented Order 66 far before Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. While some may argue that Anakin’s change from a respectful Jedi to a cold-hearted Sith Lord happens too fast in the Star Wars prequels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars offered a better look at Anakin as a character and improved his Revenge of the Sith arc. Not only that, but Clone Wars also showed what Anakin was like as a leader – and how his misjudgment prevented Palpatine’s plans from being exposed.
One of the most iconic moments not only in the Star Wars prequels but in Star Wars as a whole, Order 66 has been revisited in all sorts of media. It’s safe to say that Order 66, the events that led to it, and its aftermath are among Star Wars’ most retconned stories – which makes sense given how crucial the death of the Jedi at the hand of the clones is to the saga. One of the first significant Order 66 retcons came from Clone Wars, in which it was revealed how the clones had been set up to answer Palpatine’s call.
Clone Wars season 6, also known as The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions, had a four-episode arc following clone trooper Fives investigating a shocking event in which a clone killed a Jedi. The Kaminoans and the Chancellor were quick to conclude that CT-5365 was malfunctioning, but Fives suspected that something was off. The last remaining clone of the Domino Squad, Fives disobeyed direct orders and went against all Kaminoan protocols to better understand what was happening to his friend Tup. Eventually, Fives found out that not only Tup but every single clone created in Kamino had been born with a chip inside their head. Fives’ investigation got the attention of Chancellor Palpatine, who revealed his plans to the clone to make Fives’ story sound even more unbelievable. Fives became Coruscant’s most-wanted man after trying to kill Palpatine, and his last hope of being heard was Commander Rex and General Skywalker. Fives told them about a plot to destroy the Jedi and that the evidence was inside every clone’s head, but neither Rex nor Anakin chose to believe him.
Not Trusting Five Was One Of Anakin's Biggest Mistakes
Clone Wars established Anakin as a trustable Jedi general who would do everything it takes to protect his battalion's clones, which is why his decision not to trust Fives is so tragic. Anakin did try to help Fives and was willing to listen to the clone, but everything changed once Fives mentioned the Chancellor. Fives’ discovery already sounded too absurd for anyone to believe, and the fact that Anakin trusted Palpatine so much meant that the clone never had a chance of convincing General Skywalker of what was about to happen. Anakin’s fall to the dark side only happens in Revenge of the Sith, but his choice of believing the Chancellor over Fives in Clone Wars shows how Palpatine had already won Anakin’s full trust.
Not trusting Fives may seem like a small mistake compared to Anakin’s fatal actions in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. However, had Fives been listened to by the Jedi, the fate of the galaxy could have been a lot different. Fortunately, Fives’ discovery at least helped Rex and Ahsoka escape Order 66.