oobiedoob-penoobie
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On that torrid Anakin/Padmé/Obi-Wan love triangle which was promised in 1983, then again in 1999
My impression is that Lucas had indeed been trying to insert the Anakin/Padmé/Obi-Wan love triangle into the Prequel Trilogy - repeatedly and in different forms/with different solutions. Only, he scrapped elements of this plot line in the last minute every single time. I have written about it in previous, related posts, but here I would like to make some further additions to this line of thought, which is actually way more than speculation.
Let’s begin.
I pointed out previously that Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas (Da Capo Press; Updated ed. edition; May 31, 1999), which is a book by Lucas’ biographer, Dale Pollock, and which was first published in 1983, states that
“There will also be a torrid love triangle among the grown-up Queen (who will give birth to the twins, Luke and Leia), Annakin Skywalker, and Ben Kenobi. The consequences of this love triangle are one of the great betrayals layered throughout the three prequels that have enormous impact on all of the major characters in the story.”
Now I would like to draw attention to the sentence right before the above quote:
“A spectacular wedding for Annakin Skywalker is expected for Episode II, in which he is betrothed to the Queen (portrayed as a teenager by Portman).”
The 1999 edition was “updated with a substantial new chapter that discusses the revamped Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, the Star Wars prequels”. Based on the deal in place between Pollock and Lucas, the latter was able to cut anything he felt was factually inaccurate - yet he didn’t touch the part about the love triangle and the betrayal.
Pay attention to the sequencing of the sentences: Pollock first writes about the wedding of Anakin and Padmé (taking place in Episode II), only then does he mention the love triangle. This makes me think that the Padmé/Obi-Wan plotline was about to be strengthened in Episode III. But as per Pollock, it should also have been layered through the PT. It is not, though. Or is was it…?
Confused? Don’t be. Read along.
We know for a fact that in a 1996 revised draft of Episode I, then titled simply “The Beginning”, it is heavily implied that the teenage Queen had a crush on Jedi Knight Obi-Wan, and he picked up on it. I have written about it here (x). (In this 1996 draft Obi-Wan was not a Padawan learner. Also, Padmé and him had a great number of interactions, because Qui-Gon appeared much later on screen.) Padmé’s attraction to Obi-Wan in this draft was overt, and it appeared to be evident to him.There were multiple indications that the Queen was crushing on Obi-Wan, and at least one where he noticed it, and when he did, the reaction it generated in him was of emotional nature. (Her eyes on him made him nervous.)
But all these were not in TPM, and cannot be found among the deleted scenes, right? Right. But-
In June 1999, a mere month after TPM had premiered, LucasArts released a CDROM companion called The Star Wars Episode I. Insider’s Guide which included among other things numerous notes detailing what was in previous drafts of the film, mostly in the revised rough draft that was completed on June 13th, 1996, and which contained clear reference to Padmé’s crush on Obi-Wan. These notes were ripped from the Insider’s Guide, and published on Medium.com (x) in May 2020. The file also included so-called “callouts” that cite the specific page number(s) in the draft where the events take place.
Why is it important? Because there is a note about Padmé and Obi-Wan, literally titled “A Crush?”, and its content refers to what is happening on pages 33, 43 and 44 of the 1996 rev draft. Take a look:
“A Crush?
On several occasions in the revised rough draft, there is mention of Padmé’s growing affection for Obi-Wan. When the Jedi argues with Amidala regarding Jar Jar’s fate, the script indicates that Padmé is “impressed that Obi-Wan is able to stand up to the Queen.” As they prepare to enter Mos Espa, she “gives Obi-Wan a long, adoring look.” Once in Mos Espa, Padmé watches Obi-Wan “with interest and respect,” and it is noted that her “eyes make the powerful Jedi nervous.” (RRD, pp. 33, 43, 44)”
Lucas was clearly meant to be laying down the groundwork for that love triangle, by making Padmé fall for Obi-Wan first. Well before she fell for Anakin. And it was confirmed in an officially released insider’s guide.
Those who cannot comprehend how Padmé got besotted in the first place with Anakin instead of the dashing Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, hero of the day, who she had met during the rescue mission… Well, you have your answer now. Her mind was actually supposed to be on Obi-Wan.
Moving on.
The definition of “torrid” according to Merriam-Webster is “parched with heat especially of the sun: hot; giving off intense heat: scorching; ardent, passionate”. Cambridge Dictionary defines the word as “involving strong emotions, especially those of sexual love”.
Pollock writes in 1999 (the same year the Insider’s Guide was published) that this love triangle is envisioned to be “one of the great betrayals layered through the prequels”. And that it is supposed to have “enormous impact” on the main characters. These are strong words. And since we are looking at the words of the author of Lucas’ biography, we should not discard them as part of an overly eager fanfiction.
There are some betrayals we are witnessing throughout the PT: the most dramatic is Anakin’s tragedy betrayal of the Jedi Order and the prophecy; then there is Palpatine’s grand scheme betrayal of the Republic. And we know from the OT that no one is morally irreproachable; not even Yoda or Obi-Wan.
And thus I am missing the promised betrayal with enormous impact which must be connected to the torrid love triangle between the three protagonists according to Pollock. Where is it? Lucas tacitly confirmed it coming even in 1999, since it is spelled out in the book, and he did not have it cut. This is the betrayal which must be committed by Obi-Wan and Padmé. Betraying Anakin. On a very personal level.
If we put together the concept of an ardent, passionate love triangle, involving strong emotions, especially those of sexual love, as well as the concept of a great betrayal, which leaves Anakin hating Obi-Wan, and seriously questioning the identity of Luke’s father, the conclusion appears to be rather straightforward: Padmé and Obi-Wan weren’t just supposed to take the side against Vader in the new, emerging galactic order. They were supposed to have some sort of affair. They were supposed to commit adultery in Episode III. And there was supposed to be a decent buildup to it.
This is harsh.
It really is. But so is Anakin committing mass murder of children, turning against the Jedi Order, becoming a tyrant etc. So is the Chancellor taking over the Galaxy. The truth is that we all see these shocking revelations coming: Anakin’s personality and weaknesses, Palpatine’s master plan are all in plain sight. They are layered through the prequels. Just like the love triangle was promised to be.
In The Beginning, Padmé did have a crush on Obi-Wan, and he knew it/felt it/was uncomfortable about, but aware of it. The adoration could hardly be mutual (at least I hope so), since she was very much a minor, while Obi-Wan was an adult Jedi Knight. But the seed was sown: she fell for him, and he knew it. And the original idea could have been that this (buried) childhood crush was to be resurfaced later. Again, Pollock mentions the torrid love triangle after the spectacular wedding.
Or not. Was it always Anakin and Padmé, who were supposed to hide their love and affection for one another? Must two people having a “spectacular wedding” do that? Was there originally something else (apart from what’s canonic now) behind Obi-Wan’s heavy protest against Anakin acting upon his feelings towards her?
One element of the torrid love triangle, the possessive-obsessive love from Anakin’s side was there, and his paranoid fear of Obi-Wan taking Padmé from him remained in RotS, although downplayed. I have discussed the disgraceful fate of the RotS Padmé/Obi-Wan storyline several times before; not going to do that now. But one thing is clear: their affair should not have been only in Anakin’s head. (It could have been a nice last-minute try though, in order to insert the triangle somehow into the story, given that by that time, not much Padmé/Obi-Wan interaction had survived the cutting floor in TPM and AotC.) But it should have been real. And torrid. And should have been having an enormous impact on all of the major characters of the story.
Probably not just on the story of the prequels, but on that of the original trilogy as well.
I think that the original idea was the ambiguous paternity all along, Lucas just eventually didn’t have the guts to steer things to the direction of uncertainty about the identity of the father. Pollock himself mentions in the same sentence the triangle and that the Queen will give birth to twins. (“There will also be a torrid love triangle among the grown-up Queen (who will give birth to the twins, Luke and Leia), Annakin Skywalker, and Ben Kenobi.”)
To be honest, even though I am an Obidala fan, I do not really support the theory of Obi-Wan being Luke’s (and Leia’s) father. (And don’t even get me started on the twisted idea of Padmé conceiving two children from two different fathers…) I do love the father-son redemption arc, and Vader’s name is… well, it’s literally Vader. But I support the idea of creating uncertainty about the father’s identity in the viewers’ (and Anakin’s) head, as long as possible. Again, the revelation itself is one of the biggest plot twists in the OT, so it would have made perfect sense if Lucas had left us somewhat suspicious about Luke’s origins before said revelation.
The prequels should have left the possibilities open, leaving it to the OT to have the story unfold. And the prequels should have given us that torrid love triangle.
Obidala
Obidala gives me brainworms and now I have to explain why. Let's see if I can. It's not just that I think they're hot together (which they are), it's the context of them in the canon that makes them chewy and good.
Part of it is because, logically, they SHOULD be together. They are the same, they have the same values, they are both idealistic and devoted to service. In a different life they WOULD be together. They would be soulmates.
But they're not. It's like they... missed. Like destiny had planned on them but then Obi-Wan was a devoted Jedi Knight and Padmé met Anakin and fell in love with him instead...
But there was still this unspoken connection hiding beneath the surface, this subconscious tension.
@wallisjewellie wrote an extensive post (lots of good posts actually) arguing that in earlier iterations of the story, Obi-Wan and Padmé were in fact actually going to have an affair. And if that's true, then they quite literally WERE meant to be together, but missed. And there's something about that missed potential... like... I just want to bring them together to realize it.
But then there's breadcrumbs of this deleted love affair left in the narrative: Anakin's jealousy, deleted scenes, details from the RotS novelization about how Padme trusted Obi-Wan more than her own husband, etc. It's just enough to suggest that there is a canonical latent attraction between them.
Layer on top of that the fact that they do both, genuinely, love and care for Anakin so much it becomes part of their identities, it makes everything so complicated. Like, there's a connection between them, and Anakin suspects it and it drives him insane, but they would never acknowledge it much less act on it because they are both so principled and love Anakin so much, it would break them if they did anything. But he punishes them for it anyways.
It's so melodramatic.
Then there's the fact that this not-quite-love triangle is only implied, in a story where everything else is so explicit and everyone says what they're thinking, it adds this sense that it's a secret, or that maybe it's not actually real and you are going crazy and seeing something that's not there.
Obidala exists and it doesn't. Obi-Wan and Padmé should be together but they can't, they would break. It's the contradictions.
I guess my brutally honest opinion of Obidala is that it's good and more people should ship it.
EWAN McGREGOR Star Wars The Complete Saga DVD - Bonus features
luke just wanna put yoda in the backpack again and run thru the forest
did i also cry when din brought him a tiny shirt wrapped in a package that looked like his little ears?
... yes.
the most insane thing about the mandalorian to me is that nobody seems to know what jedi are... like only 25 years ago, there were thousands of them running around the whole galaxy, right? like did someone cast an amnesia spell throughout the universe at the same time order 66 went into effect? presumably every single adult in this world would know what jedi were, even if they'd never met one...
also, there were thousands more jedi that were like... farmers and stuff, right? and librarians and shit? they weren't all warrior knights. where are those guys? is someone writing this lore?
I appreciate The Empire Strikes Back for being the only time I can think of when a character just shot their enemy as soon as they saw them without pausing or having a dramatic moment beforehand.
EWAN MCGREGOR as OBI-WAN KENOBI
Star Wars - Episode III
Revenge of the Sith (2005) Dir. George Lucas
did i cry even the second time watching when din took off his helmet so grogu could touch his face and look at his dad...
yes.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) dir. Gareth Edwards
Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY 2016 | dir. Gareth Edwards
LEIA ORGANA & HAN SOLO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Lost a planet Master Obi-Wan has, how embarrassing…
He is so Tumblr 2016 core to me. Alt versions below!
EWAN MCGREGOR as OBI-WAN KENOBI Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Kleya Marki and Vel Sartha in ANDOR | 2.01
I can so clearly imagine him giving a speech to the council but hes just far too pretty for his own good and its distracting everyone
May the fourth be with you!!! 💫✨
the idea of midi-chlorians always pissed me off SO much because it felt like trying to quantify the spiritual ("luminous beings are we, not this crude matter") and also how can they exist in all living matter if they're basically organelles like mitochondria, and isn't the Force also in the rock and in the ship? (ugh, i'm getting mad about it again), but then I was thinking about the His Dark Materials universe and I was like... what if they're Dust? i'm much more okay with this theory so i'm sticking with it.
#"i have no idea where he gets it from," says area jedi knight still picking glass out of his robes from leaping out of senator amidala's window earlier in the evening.