Star Words: Episode III, Part 44

[matril]

After watching Padmé die and Vader drown in his anguish and despair, it's almost essential for me that the next scene offers a flicker of hope. Arriving at Naboo, the last survivors of the Jedi Council and their stalwart friend plan for the twins' futures even as they prepared to lay Padmé to rest. There are several important loose ends to tie up here; how Leia ended up a princess on Alderaan and Luke a farmboy with the Lars family on Tatooine; how Obi-Wan and Yoda learned the special powers that will give them a voice even beyond the grave. I can't tell you how delighted I was to learn that Qui-Gon uncovered this secret and imparted it to Yoda, proof that he had insights far beyond the Council's myopic viewpoint.

But this entry's line comes from Bail. When he offers to adopt Leia with his wife, he makes a simple but powerful declaration:

"She will be loved with us."

Something about this quote is particularly moving to me. Perhaps it's knowing that George Lucas himself adopted several children and, by all appearances, is a very loving and devoted father. It feels so personal and heartfelt. (It's also why I have a soft spot for his later film Willow because the hero is defined by his ability to nurture and care for a baby, very unusual qualities for a male protagonist and too often undervalued. Anyway, watch Willow; it's great.)

As far as its importance within the story, this gives us a glimpse of the childhood Leia will have, one surrounded by love and caring. She inherits a strength of will and passion in her principles from her birth parents, no doubt, but her adoptive parents are also a crucial part of who she becomes. She wasn't taken to Alderaan from sheer exigency; she was very much wanted and cherished. Alas, this makes the loss of Alderaan in Episode IV that much more poignant. But for the saga's themes as a whole, it emphasizes the tremendous power of love, unconditional love between a parent and child, the sacrifices undergone to protect them and the unending promise that abounds from those sacrifices.

Okay. Just one more to go.....

Comments

[krpalmer]

I've interpreted "Yoda and Obi-Wan waiting for the right time" as also "waiting for Bail to build the Rebel Alliance," having figured out they can't overthrow the Sith and the Empire all by themselves. While I do see the point of not throwing down an "anti-Disney gauntlet" right away, I agree with your opinion. Still, I can wonder a little about "trying to accept every movie no matter who's made it," supposing I'd worked at "accepting a six-movie saga"... the problem does seem those old accusations of "nihilism" in things just sort of going to pieces. "Finding a way for the old heroes to forget what lessons they'd learned, or even come to the wrong conclusions," might have had some impact for me... the problem is I'm not sure that was ever really gone into with the casual assumption "lots of stuff on set" and "snappy dialogue" would solve everything.

[matril]

Giving time for the Alliance to grow makes sense. None of them are the type to give up, no matter how bleak the situation. I know a lot of people think it's more "mature" or "complex" to tear down heroes, but I just find it exhausting. It's one thing to have flawed characters; it's another thing to turn them all into dismal failures.