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Star Words: Episode II, Part 23
Mar. 1st, 2018 04:01 pmAs I've noted before, Star Wars films tend to alternate between quiet moments of deep feeling and fast-paced sequences of high adventure. So after the stillness and anguish of the funeral, Anakin and Padmé are flung straight into a wild and unpredictable rescue attempt. This is, of course, against the express orders of the Jedi Order. They all witnessed Obi-Wan's distress call; they know he's in trouble. But Mace commands Anakin to stay where he is and leave the rescuing to someone else.
Anakin meekly accepts his orders. Padmé has other plans. She knows they're much better positioned to reach Geonosis in time and fears that if they don't act, it will be too late. So she finds a loophole in Mace's command. He told Anakin to protect her, didn't he? Well, she's going to Geonosis to save their friend.
"If you plan to protect me, you'll just have to come along."
Wait, what's going on here? Isn't Anakin supposed to be the reckless, impetuous, out-of-control one? Isn't Padmé the rational coolheaded type? Nope. From the beginning, she has been characterized as a figure guided as much by emotion as by intellect. Remember how Typho said he was worried about what she might end up doing as she left Coruscant to go into hiding? He knows her well.
In fact, that duality is so pronounced that it's initially represented by two separate personas, queen and handmaiden. And though the duality is more subtle in later installments, it's still very present. Her relationship with Anakin is fraught with the tension between obeying her rational, dutiful self or following the impractical yearnings of her heart.
In this regard she is very much like Anakin. He is the one trying to practice restraint here, though his concern for his master is quite evident. The Jedi Order prevented him from going to his mother, and we've just seen the brutal consequences of that. But it is perhaps the very fact of his flagrant breach of the Code (I think we can assume that vengeful, murderous rampages are not looked kindly upon by the Jedi Order) that makes him all the more determined to be obedient here.
So it's highly convenient of Padmé to offer that little loophole. Just look at his face while she prepares for take-off. It's one of those perfect "I love this woman" faces. Right now they're perfectly in sync. You can see how they make a good team.
One final note about Padmé's choice here. I didn't realize this until someone else pointed it out (and now I really wish I could remember who and give proper credit) but she is the crucial impetus for the third act of every prequel film. In each movie, she reaches a crisis point, makes a decision about how to resolve it, and flies to the planet where the climax will subsequently ensue because of her choices. It is characteristic of her courage and resourcefulness, but is also tremendously reckless, fueled by impassioned feelings rather than logic or wisdom. It ends well in Episode I (aside from Palpatine's rise to power) but it'll be less successful in Episode II. And downright devastating in Episode III. Still, you can't help but admire this complicated, conflicted woman, the tireless agent of action and change.
Next time, intriguing words from a former Jedi...
Anakin meekly accepts his orders. Padmé has other plans. She knows they're much better positioned to reach Geonosis in time and fears that if they don't act, it will be too late. So she finds a loophole in Mace's command. He told Anakin to protect her, didn't he? Well, she's going to Geonosis to save their friend.
"If you plan to protect me, you'll just have to come along."
Wait, what's going on here? Isn't Anakin supposed to be the reckless, impetuous, out-of-control one? Isn't Padmé the rational coolheaded type? Nope. From the beginning, she has been characterized as a figure guided as much by emotion as by intellect. Remember how Typho said he was worried about what she might end up doing as she left Coruscant to go into hiding? He knows her well.
In fact, that duality is so pronounced that it's initially represented by two separate personas, queen and handmaiden. And though the duality is more subtle in later installments, it's still very present. Her relationship with Anakin is fraught with the tension between obeying her rational, dutiful self or following the impractical yearnings of her heart.
In this regard she is very much like Anakin. He is the one trying to practice restraint here, though his concern for his master is quite evident. The Jedi Order prevented him from going to his mother, and we've just seen the brutal consequences of that. But it is perhaps the very fact of his flagrant breach of the Code (I think we can assume that vengeful, murderous rampages are not looked kindly upon by the Jedi Order) that makes him all the more determined to be obedient here.
So it's highly convenient of Padmé to offer that little loophole. Just look at his face while she prepares for take-off. It's one of those perfect "I love this woman" faces. Right now they're perfectly in sync. You can see how they make a good team.
One final note about Padmé's choice here. I didn't realize this until someone else pointed it out (and now I really wish I could remember who and give proper credit) but she is the crucial impetus for the third act of every prequel film. In each movie, she reaches a crisis point, makes a decision about how to resolve it, and flies to the planet where the climax will subsequently ensue because of her choices. It is characteristic of her courage and resourcefulness, but is also tremendously reckless, fueled by impassioned feelings rather than logic or wisdom. It ends well in Episode I (aside from Palpatine's rise to power) but it'll be less successful in Episode II. And downright devastating in Episode III. Still, you can't help but admire this complicated, conflicted woman, the tireless agent of action and change.
Next time, intriguing words from a former Jedi...
