20 years afterStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,Star Warshas finally acknowledged thatPadmé Amidalawas just as important asAnakin SkywalkertotheStar Warstimeline. Padmé and Anakin rank high on the list ofStar Wars’best characters, not only because they are part ofStar Wars’most famous family, but also in their own rights. Although Anakin had already been seen throughout the originalStar Warstrilogy as Darth Vader, his story as Anakin wasn’t really explored on screen until the prequels.
Padmé, by contrast, was entirely new toStar Warsmovies and TV showsin the prequel trilogy. The prequels proved how significant a role Anakin and Padmé played in the fate of the galaxy, both because their relationship doomed the Republic and the Jedi in many ways and because they were each massively involved in the major events of that era—Anakin with the Clone Wars and the Jedi Order and Padmé within the political sphere. Finally, though,a brand-newStar Warsstory is confirming that Padmé was just as important as Anakin.
The Extent Of Padmé’s Importance Wasn’t Captured On Screen, But It Was Monumental
Deleted Scenes Detracted From Padmé’s Story, But Recent Star Wars Stories Have Improved This Issue
Sadly,Revenge of the Sith’sdeleted scenesincluded Padmé’s involvement in the Delegation of 2000, a group of senators who opposed Palpatine’s rise to power. This was a major plotline to cut, because it confirmed thatPadmé had actually directly helped to form the Rebellion. This would have protected and heightened her legacy inStar Wars, and it would have given her a beautiful connection to her children. Instead, it was removed from the movie, and few had any idea that she had helped to sow the early seeds of the Rebellion at all.
Revenge Of The Sith’s Padme Deleted Scene Is Officially The Birth Of The Rebellion
A deleted Revenge of the Sith scene featuring Padmé Amidala was officially canonized as the true Birth of the Rebellion in the Star Wars timeline.
While the movies may not have depicted Padmé’s crucial role in this capacity,Star Warsbooks are changing that.A brand-newStar Warsbook, titledStar Wars: The Mask of Fear, written by Alexander Freed, addresses this issue head-on. InScreen Rant’sexclusive interview with Freed, which included aMask of Fearexcerpt, Freed explained:
“Padmé’s absence is instrumental in this story. Bail and Mon are both affected by her death on a personal level, but Padmé also helped to bridge their ideological and strategic differences. Without her gravity, the two senators are flung out in their own directions. Bail and Mon both know that. They’re not oblivious to what Padmé did for them. But they can’t undo what happened, either.
The Rebellion would look as different without the legacy of Padmé as the Empire would without Anakin.She laid the groundwork, and she’s a guiding light for those who follow.”
Freed speaks not only to how Padmé was essential to the Rebellion, supporting the information provided in the scenes that were cut fromRevenge of the Sith, but also abouther long-lasting impact on essential figures in the Rebellion, such as Bail Organa and Mon Mothma.
Even After Her Death, Padme’s Legacy Furthered The Rebellion
Her Memory Continued To Inspire Others, And Her Work Behind The Scenes Remained Important
The Mask of Fearaffirms that Padmé fundamentally shaped the Rebellion and continued to have an impact long after her death. In fact, just as Freed indicated,The Mask of Feardepicted how much Padmé continued to be a driving force for Bail Organa. It was also clear, as Freed said, that Padmé could have been the one to bring Mon and Bail together. Instead, throughout the book, they are at odds with one another. Whereas Bail is all in on the Rebel efforts, Mon Mothma believes Palpatine can be overthrown through peaceful political means.
Padmé fundamentally shaped the Rebellion and continued to have an impact long after her death.
Padmé, with her dedication to peace but also to justice, would have been the perfect person to bridge that divide. Even without her present, though, it was her memory and all that she stood for that kept this Rebel spirit alive, especially for Bail. With Bail, it was even more personal, as he was raising Padmé’s biological daughter, Leia, as his own.The Mask of Fearrepeatedly proved thatLeia was a constant reminder to Bail of Padmé’s legacy and what she would have been fighting for, had she lived.
Padmé Was Bridging Divides In Ways That Weren’t Even Shown On Screen
Although I love Mon Mothma,I believe her hesitancy to truly rebel affected how long Palpatine maintained his power. This is shown not only inThe Mask of Fearbut also inAndor.Andorseason 2is likely to only shed more light upon that issue, as it will run right into the beginning ofRogue One: A Star Wars Storyand therefore the early days of the Galactic Civil War. These insights inThe Mask of Fearraise a pressing question, though: what would have happened had Padmé lived during the Dark Times?
What would have happened had Padmé lived during the Dark Times?
The Mask of Fearseems to suggest that,with Padmé still involved, the Rebellion would have moved further, faster. She could have united Bail and Mon, no doubt along with countless others, which is something she excelled at throughout the prequel trilogy and especially inStar Wars: The Clone Wars. Of course, this also would have introduced its own set of massive problems, as her survival would have needed to be entirely concealed from the public. Otherwise, Darth Vader could have found her and, by extension, Luke and Leia.
Nevertheless, it’s thrilling to imagine what the Rebellion could have looked like with Padmé still involved, and I appreciate that stories likeThe Mask of Fearare giving Padmé the recognition she deserves. It’s also impossible to say how much Padmé could have accomplished had she survivedRevenge of the Sith, but I believe she could have had a massive impact. Finally, withThe Mask of Fear,Star Warsis acknowledging thatPadmé Amidalawas just as important as Anakin Skywalker.
