Was Sheev Implied to Be Anakin Skywalker’s Biological Father?

Often, fans across the Internet and media platforms discuss various theories about the Star Wars universe, one of the most prevalent being the possibility that Darth Sheev (Darth Sidious) was implied to be Anakin Skywalker’s biological father. However, this theory is based on a misinterpretation of certain events and details within the story. Let's break down the facts and explore why this notion is neither supported nor implied in the canon series.

Canon Conclusion: Palpatine as Anakin’s Biological Father

In the latest Darth Vader comic released in 2018, it was revealed that Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) did use the Force to have Shmi Skywalker conceive Anakin. This reveals that a biological connection between Anakin and Sidious is not applicable, as it was clearly Sidious himself who manipulated the midi-chlorians to create Anakin as the Chosen One.

Lucas’s Initial Ideas and Post-Cancellation

It is also worth noting that George Lucas initially considered making Palpatine Anakin’s father in a sense. Lucas envisioned the idea that Palpatine used his ability to manipulate and influence midi-chlorians to get Shmi pregnant with Anakin. However, he later cancelled this idea. There is no mention of this in any officially canon source. The speculation about Sheev as a father is based on fan theories and out-of-universe information rather than canon details.

Sheev’s Hateresponse in Fan Theories

Many fans reject the idea that Sheev could be implied to be Anakin’s father, referring to it as a "bad EU (Extended Universe) legend." Qui-Gon Jinn is widely considered the father of Anakin because of the affection and care Qui-Gon showed towards Shmi Skywalker, despite their having to go through a kabuki act of appearing to be strangers. This act may have been due to protecting Qui-Gon's Jedi career and Qui-Gon's belief that he could not interfere with Shmi's fate.

Qui-Gon’s Possible Role as Anakin’s Father

The idea that Qui-Gon Jinn could be Anakin’s father is based on several background details and theories:

Qui-Gon may have felt obligated by the Living Force to protect Shmi because of her unique balance of the Force. He may have also fallen in love with her, causing him to feel a strong connection to the child she bore. Shmi may have been bound to a form of an honor code, leading to her selling herself into slavery to protect her unborn child. Qui-Gon abandoned Shmi to her fate on Tatooine, but still managed to rescue and take Anakin under his tutelage. This juxtaposition has led some fans to question his role as a father.

Furthermore, the blood test that confirmed Anakin’s paternity served multiple purposes. It not only confirmed his true parentage but also revealed if he had inherited the powerful connection to the Force from his mother.

Conclusion: Qui-Gon as the Most Likely Father

While the possibility of Sheev being Anakin’s father is interesting and intriguing, the canon evidence clearly points to Qui-Gon Jinn as a more plausible candidate. Theories about Sheev's involvement are mostly fan speculation and not supported by official sources.

Understanding the complex nature of fatherhood in the Star Wars universe is crucial to comprehending the intricate plot and backstory of these characters. The definitive answer, based on canon sources, is that Sidious is not Anakin’s biological father, and Qui-Gon Jinn is the most likely candidate for the influential father figure role.