Star Words: Part XXVI

[matril]

It's always interesting to me how people tend to underestimate Padmé Amidala as a character in much the same way that the fictitious villains of the film tend to underestimate her. Sidious claims she is young, naïve, easy to control; the Viceroy sneers at her (or her decoy) and assumes he can bully her into signing a treaty. And audience members, apparently fixated on some skewed perspective of her role, dismiss her as weak, boring or other such generalizations. I have to wonder -- have they ever really watched Episode I?

She's awesome in Episode II and III as well, but just consider what she does in a single movie. With a combination of ingenuity, determination and compassion, she takes back her planet from an enemy whose forces far outnumber her own, using every resource, every trick of diversions and quick-thinking to reclaim her throne room from the Viceroy. Why do people think that having strong women in Star Wars is a recent innovation? Good grief, even if you insist on ignoring Padmé, Leia was there in 1977. But let's never disregard Padmé.

"Now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."

I love this scene so much. She allows herself and her guards to be taken, disarmed and apparently helpless, into the custody of the Viceroy. But she always has a few more tricks up her sleeve. A decoy, drawing away some of the battle droids. A secret stash of weapons, snatched up in the confusion. A captain, always ready to think on his feet and help her secure the throne room. It's all done in a matter of seconds, giving the Viceroy no time to react before it's too late and he's the one in the queen's custody.

And what a great line; what a great delivery. Steady but carrying an edge of contempt. Taking all his threats and throwing them back in his face. I love, too, that Padmé is physically much smaller, yet somehow manages to stare down her foe. Just a fantastic moment all around. The other battles of Episode I's finale are, arguably, more fun to watch, more eye-catching and intense. But this ending might be the most satisfying. After all the Viceroy's confident taunts, he must admit defeat in the face of a fierce, tiny fourteen-year-old queen.

Next, the fateful words that will change Anakin's future, for better or worse....

Comments

[krpalmer]

It was in response to remembered indignation at "Anakin winning the day by accident," but not that long ago I did manage to think that Queen Amidala turning the tables on the Viceroy was the victory that really mattered in TPM. (Not that long afterwards, I then resolved this didn't necessarily mean "Anakin should have just been thanked for his help and left on Tatooine, and everyone would have been much happier," given he did get his fighter moving in the first place to clear out the destroyer droids pinning Amidala down...) I've even wondered about linking this to "Anakin and Padme first meet" and "Palpatine becomes Chancellor" as another example of pivotal moments in TPM being sort of subtle.

A part of me worries about not being qualified to really take on "strong female characters in Star Wars at last!", but I am a little conscious these new "strong female characters" are seen as filling roles male characters might have once been expected to occupy.

[matril]

I personally like the idea that there wasn't only one truly pivotal heroic moment or one decisive victory in the Battle of the Naboo, but several points of importance and last-moment heroism. However, the queen was still right that "everything depends" on capturing the Viceroy.

Female characters occupying traditionally male roles -- that's what makes me feel kind of bad for Rey, honestly. She's a decent character in isolation, but in the larger context of the saga, she's a female Luke with an even more MYSTERIOUS and TRAGIC backstory, and even MORE GIFTED in the Force, and I can't feeling that's an unfair position to put her in, constantly inviting comparison and contrast. I just don't think it's doing anything interesting and new, at least anything that doesn't seem like an insult to Luke.