In the first draft of The Phantom Menace, Padmé had romantic feelings for Obi-Wan Kenobi. This screenplay choice would have had a significant impact on Anakin’s shift to the dark side by fueling his paranoia even more.
Before becoming the franchise that we know, Star Wars had the right to several drafts. In one of the first drafts, Palpatine did not even exist, a certain Cos Dashit having the role of supreme antagonist. It’s always interesting to find out what the writers had in mind. The Episode I Insider’s Guide tells us in particular that many changes have been made between the first draft of The Phantom Menace and the final grind.
Qui-Gon Jinn was notably of minor importance compared to Obi-Wan who was not a padawan but a full-fledged Jedi knight. What’s more, Padmé had a crush on Kenobi in the original draft. Feelings which, however, would not necessarily have been reciprocal. According to the book, Padmé’s interest still made Kenobi ” very nervous “. And would have had a significant impact on the prelogy and Anakin’s swing.
Anakin’s paranoia would have been exacerbated by a love triangle
Indeed, even if the feelings of Padmé had not materialized in actions, they would inevitably have fueled the paranoia of the young Skywalker. As a reminder, the latter turns to the dark side to save his dear and tender, premonitory dreams making him fear the worst. Such a feeling would have been exacerbated by suspicions of an idyll between his master and Padmé. Feeling betrayed, Anakin would have had one more reason to fall into Palpatine’s clutches.
In our humble opinion, however, such a love triangle would not have been convincing because it would have mirrored too much that between Han, Leia and Luke in the original trilogy. Another “menage à trois” would have sounded wrong. In Revenge of the Sith, Padmé and Obi-Wan care deeply about Anakin without romantic feelings interfering between them. What make the turn of the fallen Jedi even more tragic, this one being based on unfounded fears of betrayal rather than on facts.
