How Fascinating Anakin And Padme's Relationship Actually Was

    I get it. As a romantic love story, Anakin and Padme was terrible, Hayden was god awful and Natalie limped through those parts of her role. There was no chemistry and the dialogue was terrible and there was no way Padme realistically fell in love with Anakin. Except...

    Star Wars isn't a romance saga. Anakin and Padme was not a love story. The dialogue was actually all too real when taking into account what was actually happening. Hayden Christensen gave the most underappreciated performance in a trilogy prequel to a popular sci-fi fantasy trilogy ever. And considering what Natalie Portman was subjected to after becoming a successful young actress (if you don't know I'll briefly sum it up: guys are gross), she clearly leaned on that experience while acting in scenes of being ogled and objectified that must have been all to real for her.

    Also, quick aside, Darth Vader was not a fallen hero. That was not the prequel story, and the story and characters were so much richer for it. I think a lot of the hate for the prequels comes from people's expectations and what they wanted to see. So people tended to miss all the subtle brilliance they were given instead. And admittedly, there was a bit way too much downtime and a lot of focus on government stuff that probably could have been streamlined to more efficiently highlight the important details of what was happening. Which distracted from the impactfulness of the very important points Lucas was making on government. And Darth Maul should have had way more screen time. And there is no excuse for Jar Jar. And this aside has gone askew so...

    At no point was Padme Amidala ever in love with Anakin Skywalker. She cared about him. Considered him a friend when he was a child. Almost definitely some motherly affection for a fellow human being who was a slave, then taken from his mother and everything he knew. But then they didn't see each other for years. When they finally did meet again, it was extremely clear he creeped her out. She tried to be respectful about it, most likely in consideration of their friendship, and her common decency, but she didn't hide it at all. 

    And for his part, Hayden played the obsessive love-struck puppy dog perfectly. It was clear he had been obsessing for years, that he had completely idealized Padme in her absence. It was also clear his Jedi training did not afford him healthy socialization, or healthy channels to deal with his intense emotions. So he was extremely awkward in her presence. For all his Jedi abilities, he was tongue tied, and frustrated. Which made his unrequited obsession so much worse. In every scene they are together Anakin is tripping over himself trying to show how he feels. Completely oblivious to the fact that how he feels is not healthy. And Padme's polite rejections make him want to show her even more. If she could just see, if he could just not be so awkward, then she would understand... Which just made him more awkward and his feelings more twisted.

    But then they fall in love and get married, right??? They go to Naboo together, Anakin slowly woos Padme with floating food and stimulating conversation about sand, until one day he kills a bunch of Tusken Raiders and their kids and Padme falls in love completely against character. Right? No. Holy crap no. Only if you ignore everything else happening with Anakin.

    Primarily, Anakin had no real control over his force abilities. His Jedi trained abilities sure, he had a good handle on those. Because of his emotional turmoil, and the Jedi's inability to help him reconcile his emotions, the dark side is already flowing through him and he is using the dark side without even understanding what he is doing. Often said, the Jedi Council was so afraid to help Anakin because they feared he may turn to the dark side, which helped compel Anakin to the dark side both from their rejection and lack of guidance. What is often overlooked, at the time the Jedi were blind to the dark side. When they sent Anakin with Padme they could not understand his feelings, because they gave him no room to share. He couldn't possibly share with his mentors. And they could not sense that the dark side was already running wild with those emotions. Only Palpatine knew, and he wasn't telling. Probably helping to hide...

    So the "wooing" of Padme on Naboo was unintentional brainwashing on Anakin's part. He was genuinely trying to get her to fall in love with him. Being in such close proximity, with his uncontrolled twisted emotions, fueled by the dark side, Anakin isn't even aware he is clouding Padme's mind. The scenes are even shot and acted like dream sequences. The reality of the characters is being warped unknowingly by Anakin, who seeing he is finally making romantic headway isn't going to question why. And then, the murder...

    Or, to be more exact, the slaughter of Tuskens. When Anakin completely gives into the dark side long enough to kill kids. For the first time. Nothing about Padme's character to this point would lead one to believe she would do anything but flip out when she found out. Surely it wouldn't further endear her to the guy who did it. The Padme up to that point would have pitied Anakin for his mother's passing, but also not married him after he slaughtered children. But now, so much dark side power flowing uncontrolled through Anakin. And it was all focused wholly on Padme. She was his light in the darkness. And she had no defense against what she didn't even know was happening. The dark force fueled Anakin's desires, and blinded Padme to everything, even her own correct knowledge that Anakin was damaged and creeped her out. He wanted her so badly he unconsciously used the dark side to wear down who she was so he could have her.

    Not a poorly told love story. A brilliantly told cautionary tale of an emotionally stunted male lacking proper guidance from the men he looked up to in order to come to terms with and heal his internal issues. And how now this hurting young man drops his pain at the feet of a woman whose compassionate nature draws him to her, and demands she fix him. The horrible spot that puts the legitimately caring woman in. How her polite rebuttals are ignored regardless of how clear she is. How being polite and caring as a woman costs her everything. Or better put, how a damaged young man uses the woman's desire to be decent human being against her, putting her in danger.

    Hayden Christensen nailed the awkward angst-ridden teenage boy. The covering his insecurities with false bravado. The fumbling attempts of someone with emotional issues and limited social skills to romance someone he placed on a pedestal. The deflated ego of being rejected by the authority figures he looked up to. The inability to accept and process rejection from Padme. And the descent into the madness of obsession and untreated emotional trauma. The only way to say he didn't give a masterful performance that basically created a perfect archetype for everything that is wrong with men in today's society, in a way that is both extremely sympathetic to the individual male yet still unflinching in holding the individual accountable for what they do... is if you put everything in the context of the formulaic adventure movies people were expecting to see, instead of within the context of what was actually occurred on screen.

    Of course, that Anakin so perfectly reflected many of the negative qualities of much of the male Star Wars audience, is probably also a big reason so many of them disliked the movies. And all their criticisms and nitpicking are really just covering for how uncomfortable Hayden's performance made them feel about who they are. The fact they were also objectifying and idealizing and sexualizing the lead actress while the movie was presenting through the male lead how clearly damaging and unhealthy that is for everyone involved, obviously struck chords a lot of the viewers still refuse to acknowledge. 

    And Natalie Portman, herself the subject of unwanted male lust on a worldwide level from way too young of an age, was equally fascinating in her portrayal. She was a heroine whose strengths were compassion for others and sheer determination to do what she could to protect those around her. To the point of detriment to her own well being. She wanted to protect Anakin's feelings, so she was clear but never harsh enough to dissuade his attraction. A virtue he manipulated to a fault. But Natalie conveyed in every scene together both the genuine concern and friendship she felt towards Anakin, and the reservation and unease at how put off she was at his attraction. Trying to be warm and accepting of a friend who she knew had been through so much, while trying to tactfully stop unwanted advances is pretty much a defining universal experience among women. 

    Important to note that the character of Padme, from an extremely young age, was also always expected to be diplomatic in all her interactions, especially with important men. Which was an excellent way to highlight the expectations society places on how girls are to behave. 

    Just one last overthought little nugget, how Padme being blinded by Anakin's dark force powers helps other things make so much more sense. Padme does not simply die of a broken heart. She was under such intense mental and emotional strain since their time on Naboo. Anakin and the force broke her down, and then held her in what was basically a mental force choke. When that was finally lifted, when she was finally free and saw things clearly, there just wasn't much of her left. She didn't just give up on life in spite of having just given birth. Her will was worn away during three years of trying to reassert itself while she was in the thrall of the dark side.

    It is such a rare and unexpected take on a relationship between two leads in a major motion picture. To the point so many people are still trying to fit it in the box of traditional love story. To which I say: