Summary
One planStar Warscreator George Lucas originally had forStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithwould have completely changedPadmé’sstory for the better.Revenge of the Sithis undoubtedly one ofStar Wars’best movies, but there were some odd choices made for the characters, Padmé in particular. Although the events ofRevenge of the Sithwere in some ways set in stone because the original trilogy had come first inthe chronology ofStar Warsmovies and TV shows, Padmé’s story had flexibility that the prequel trilogy didn’t always take the best advantage of.
Although Padmé was introduced inStar Warsas an impressively steadfast queen at just 14 years old, byRevenge of the Sith, her agency had been diminished somewhat. Ultimately, the movie also revealedhow Padmé died, which was unsatisfying to say the least. However,one change toRevenge of the Sith’sending—which George Lucas himself considered—would have rectified all of that.
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Padmé Amidala
Towards the end ofRevenge of the Sith, Padmé learned that Anakin had killed younglings and joined the dark side. However,when she arrived on Mustafar to confront him, she still seemed open to the idea of Anakin changing his mind and leaving with her. Not only was this not a great look for Padmé, but it was also an odd contradiction to most of her character’s choices and behaviors thus far (with one glaring exception). The idea that Anakin murdering children wasn’t a dealbreaker for Padmé, who, notably, was pregnant with his children at the time, is disturbing.
The idea that Anakin murdering children wasn’t a dealbreaker for Padmé, who, notably, was pregnant with his children at the time, is disturbing.
Of course, Padmé had already proven her willingness to overlook such heinous acts of violence inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, as she had simply told Anakin that anger was a normal human emotion after he’d confessed to killing every man, woman, and child at a Tusken Raiders camp. Other than these two shocking outliers, though, Padmé was always focused on peace, harmony, and protection for the most vulnerable. That makes these moments all the more bewildering, in addition to being massively disappointing.
However, Padmé’s response, at least inRevenge of the Sith, was almost very different. In concept art forRevenge of the Sith, Padmé can be seen carrying a knife and standing before Anakin on Mustafar. As is suggested by the image,George Lucas toyed with the idea of having Padmé attempt to kill Anakin on Mustafar. While this may have complicated her later sentiment that there was still good in him, this would have been a fascinating turn for Padmé to take right at the very end, and it would have resolved the questionable decisions she’d made along the way.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Prior toRevenge of the Sith, especially inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Padmé was a character known for being brave and morally upright. However, particularly at the end ofRevenge of the Sith, she seemed more like a person who felt events were happening to her, out of her control. This shift that almost came to be, with Padmé taking matters into her own hands and attempting to kill Anakin, would have changed that.
Had Padmé tried to kill Anakin rather than plead with him to leave with her and tell him she loved him,she would have proven herself to be the character she always seemed to be prior to the Tusken Raider incident. Not only would this have indicated that Anakin’s brutal slaughter of children was enough for her to walk away, but also, an attempt on Anakin’s life would have reinforced that Padmé put the protection of others above all else. Surely, she had already realized what an incredible threat her husband was to the entire galaxy.
Moreover, this wouldn’t have had to change her insistence on her deathbed that there was still good in Anakin. In fact, trying to kill Anakin first would have made this moment all the more profound. It would have been much more moving to see Padmé willing to kill Anakin only to have this moment of clarity before her death and beg Obi-Wan not to lose faith in Anakin the way she had. It would still have been possible for Padmé to regret what she’d done, even if she’d thought it was the right thing to do at the time.
It would have been much more moving to see Padmé willing to kill Anakin only to have this moment of clarity before her death.
Padmé Could Have Died From This Fight Rather Than Losing The Will To Live
Perhaps the best thing this change could have brought was a new cause of death for Padmé. In fact,the only aspect of Padmé’s story more disappointing than her decision to overlook Anakin’s intense bouts of violence was the fact that she died seemingly of a broken heart. This ending was a major disservice to her character, who would never have given up or left her children alone. Had she tried to kill Anakin, she instead could have been severely injured in that confrontation and had only enough time to give birth to her children.
While it may have been difficult to swallow that Padmé would really get to a point where she was ready to kill Anakin, it would have made sense for her character. Anakin had just gone on a killing rampage and clearly had every intention of continuing his violent, murderous ways in the Imperial Era. HadStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithkept this plot point, Padmé’sStar Warsstory would have been so much better.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Cast
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker’s transformation under the influence of Darth Sidious. Released in 2005, the film explores Anakin’s internal conflict and the shifting political landscape, leading to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
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