Why Gen Z Is Obsessed With Anakin

Gen Z’s Appeal to Anakin Skywalker

The presenter argues that Gen Z’s enthusiasm for Anakin Skywalker reflects frustration with institutions that seem rigid, hypocritical, and unable to offer younger people a hopeful future. In this reading, Anakin represents someone with great potential who is denied trust and opportunity by the Jedi Order.

A satirical song by Bear Solomon, featured in the video, casts Darth Vader as a forceful enforcer of order against rebels and perceived social disorder.

The Jedi as a Symbol of Established Institutions

The presenter sees the Jedi as a symbol of an established system that preaches virtue while violating its own rules. He points to the Order’s restrictions on Anakin’s personal life, its failure to help his mother, and its rapid shift from peacekeeping to military leadership.

He draws a parallel with modern liberal institutions, which he says claim moral authority but are too inflexible to address young people’s concerns.

Economic and Social Frustrations

The presenter says young people face growing difficulty buying a home, finding stable work, and starting a family. He also makes contentious claims about immigration, gender- and race-based policies, and competition for jobs and opportunities.

He contrasts younger people’s prospects with older generations’ memories of growing prosperity, arguing that many young people now feel their future has been taken from them.

Political Alternatives

The commentary rejects both the left and the conventional right as inadequate. The presenter criticizes left-wing redistribution as economically damaging and argues that wealth creation, followed by its eventual dispersal, is a better engine of opportunity.

He also says current conservative and Republican politics largely serve older voters and offer only managed decline. In his account, young men have shifted between political camps without finding a lasting political home.

The Appeal—and Risks—of Authoritarianism

The presenter identifies a “third option” in the appeal of Anakin, Vader, and the Empire: authoritarian rule promising order, decisive action, and national strength. He argues that the Empire’s villainous image can make it an attractive rebellious symbol, especially to people who feel liberal culture has already labeled them evil or fascist.

He warns that this appeal is becoming more than a joke as some young people begin to ask whether authoritarianism might be worth considering if it delivered jobs, homes, and family stability. He acknowledges that such a path faces serious objections and practical obstacles, but says the question is gaining force.

Presenters and Contributors

• Arch: Presenter
• Bear Solomon: Song featured in the video