The romance between Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala in Star Wars ultimately proves to be the deciding factor that sees Anakin turn to the Dark Side, being the crucial element in the manipulation used by Chancellor Palpatine to drive him to evil. Furthermore, at numerous points in their relationship, Anakin's significant flaws make themselves known, often leaving them both angry and disagreeing.
Nonetheless, there are moments, in both the films and in The Clone Wars, where Anakin does get to show the better side of him that Padme brings out. While they're rare in between the drama and the wars, there are still times Anakin gets to demonstrate his love.
7 Marrying Padme With His Place In The Jedi At Stake
Despite his clear disagreements with various aspects of Jedi life, from the Code, to many of the masters, to the discipline expected of him, Anakin clearly enjoys his place in life as a Jedi Knight. He enjoys the adventure, he has many close friends in the order, and he genuinely strives to do good.
As a result, he is loathed to risk it, but after he and Padme admit their feelings for one another in Attack of the Clones, Anakin marries her. He is willing to put the life he loves at risk for her.
6 Attacking Rush Clovis For Assaulting Padme
One of the strongest challenges to Anakin and Padme's relationship comes from Rush Clovis during The Clone Wars, when the banker, a former lover of Padme's, re-enters her life and the two begin working together to investigate corruption in the Banking Clans.
Picking up on the relationship between Anakin and Padme, Clovis attempts to bait Padme into admitting what is going on. When that fails, he attempts to force a kiss on her, despite her protests. Anakin appears in the doorway and attacks Clovis, beating him first with the Force, and then, when Clovis goads him, with his bare fists. Despite Clovis portraying it as a fight over Padme, Anakin's furious reaction stems from seeing Clovis attempting to assault his wife.
5 Carving Padme A Japor Snippet
Although different from the romantic relationship they would share, Anakin clearly feels a huge amount of affection for Padme in The Phantom Menace, with her and Qui-Gon being the people he primarily latches onto during his travels with the group.
Whilst they travel to Coruscant, Anakin gives Padme a talisman that he had carved from a japor snippet, that is said to bring luck. Already a touching gift, its significance is expanded in that Anakin had been a slave until very recently in his life, without ever having much to give another person. Despite this, he makes something specially for Padme.
4 Attempting To Kill Palpatine Upon Learning Of Padme's Death
The true cost of Anakin's bitter, vengeful nature would make itself known on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith, after Anakin attacks Padme in a fit of paranoia and jealousy, believing her to be collaborating with Obi-Wan to kill him. Anakin's Force Choke begins the series of injuries that ultimately leads to Padme's death, and convinces Obi-Wan to fight him.
Despite this, when Anakin learns of Padme's death, his immediate reaction of grief and regret shatters everything in the lab with a powerful force shockwave. Furthermore, the novelization reveals that Anakin came very close to killing Palpatine at that moment, for setting him on the path that led to Padme's death, only relenting because he would have no other purpose in life.
3 Communicating With Padme From The Battlefield
Marriage is explicitly against the Jedi Code, which forbids its members from romantic commitments and discourages romantic attachments. As a result, Anakin and Padme have to keep their marriage secret, even from their closest friends.
Nonetheless, when Anakin is fighting the Outer Rim Sieges, kept away from Padme for months at a time, the two find time to privately communicate via holograms, despite Anakin being close by Obi-Wan the entire time, and despite the risk if his Master finds out. Even Obi-Wan bringing up knowing who Anakin was talking to doesn't stop him.
2 Celebrating Padme's Pregnancy With All Of His Heart
Part of having a secret relationship is that Padme's pregnancy comes as a mixed blessing. While both are overjoyed to be having a child, they know that it will make things much harder to keep a secret, especially if people begin to ask who the father is.
Despite this, Anakin is visibly over the moon when Padme tells him, looking to be the happiest he has the entire length of the Clone Wars. Even when he begins to worry, it is never about himself, it is exclusively about Padme dying in childbirth.
1 Turning To The Dark Side To Try And Save Her
Ultimately showing the darker side of Anakin's love, his passionate nature leads him to care for Padme with all of his heart, far in excess of anything else in his life. As such, the mere risk of her dying in childbirth is enough for Anakin to begin desperately searching out ways to save her life.
The tragedy of Anakin Skywalker is that it is love that sees him fall under Palpatine's sway, turn to the Dark Side, and commit atrocities. Taking things too far and acting in a way Padme could never love him for, Anakin is prepared to betray the Jedi, aid in a purge against them, and even try to kill Obi-Wan, all to keep her safe.
0 Comments