The Star Wars Prequels: How I Would Have Done Them

To preface this special article I’d just like to say this isn’t my definitive, the only way I see it working, answer. There are most definitely other and better ways the prequels could be done than what I am about to lay out and what was done on screen. Speaking of the prequel Star Wars movies; I actually grew up loving them, being obsessed with the Phantom Menace from a young age and seeing each one I could in cinema. While looking back with more aged and critiquing eyes I can definitely see their faults but I would argue this: While the live action films did an awful job at creating the origins of one of the most powerful and terrifying presences in the galaxy far far away, making an unbelievable and creepy as hell romance between a mis-aged couple half comprised of an obsessive and whiny young Jedi; the prequels, in my opinion, do actually create a strong Jedi story. With badass lightsaber fights, great expanding of the mythology, a more mature subtext that is interesting to delve into when returning to the films a (kinda) adult, and even the ‘childish’ parts that while are annoying now I can’t deny that as a kid I had absolutely no problem with Jar Jar. But as I said, there were many faults, so onto the main event. This is how I would have done the prequels.

So the beginning: We start the story on a Tatooine by night as a mother is running, holding her 6 year old son in her arms. Why is she running? Because her enslavers are chasing their property, her family. She has arranged for her and her son to get off the planet via a galaxy-cruise type shuttle but the shuttle is leaving tonight. The mother and son manage to out-pace their chasers long enough to slip into the crowd also boarding the cruise ship. She meets with her contact to get onto the ship in the crowd but sees she is being rapidly surrounded by the enslavers as they scope through the crowd to find them. After a heartfelt and tearful goodbye she leaves her son with her contact and distracts her enslavers, drawing their attention to her as she leaves the cruise ship giving her son enough time to board an escape the planet.

Roll the iconic Star Wars opening credits and it’s 3 years later, the galaxy is peaceful but hard place and Jedi are more of a peace keeping police than the military force we will know them to be. We pan down to a planet that has obviously seen better days. In a rainy shanty town we follow two cloaked men into a not so well kept bar. They sit at the bar and mumble to each other the poor state of the planet. Then an alien enters, holding a package meant for an exchange in that bar. The two cloaked men clock this entering alien and begin to subtly surround the alien. The younger of the two makes a mistake and the alien begins to run, a chance begins ending in the racing three invading a cruise ship as it leaves the planet, the two corner the alien and with the intimidation of their light sabers they take the alien into custody and have no choice but to take the cruise until it lands on a planet where they can get transport to Coruscant. While staying in one of the cruises rooms they run into technical glitches with the rooms facilities and are sent maintenance in the form of the ships young mechanic and his tow make shift droids named C3PO and R2 D2. Sensing something special with this boy the older one of the two Jedi follows the young boy leaving his once apprentice, now master and old friend Obi Wan with the prisoner. The older Jedi see’s the young boy use the force to help him in his work shop and he confronts him on his abilities; introducing himself as master Jedi Qui Gon Jinn. The boy also gives his title, Anakin Skywalker, Ship mechanic, the same boy from the opening, he has been surviving on the ship, repaying his debut of rescue to the ship owner. Qui sense great power, maybe the most power he’s felt in a young to be Jedi and offers to teach the boy in the ways of the force. Anakin accepts and with a Jedi mind trick here or there gets Anakin and his droids off the ship and to Coruscant. There he is put before the Jedi counsel who also see his great potential and agree to let him be trained.

Sometime later Anakin is part way into his training and while going about the town with a few other young Jedi friends he sees a young girl, the same age as him, being harassed by a man. Anakin steps in, using is fore abilities to scare off the man and saves the young girl: Padme Amidala, a young to be senator who escaped her high and lofty apartment where she is staying with some other representatives from Naboo, wanting to see how the city really works. And from her a friendship is born between the two young adventurers. Meanwhile, learning of Anakin’s troubled past and missing mother Qui and Obi are searching for Anakin’s mother. Their search ends when they fins the village Anakin’s mother should be in was ransacked by space pirates. Surrounded by rubble and still burning corpses the only conclusion is that Anakin’s mother had also perished with the rest of her village. The news is sent back to Anakin and he is angry and distraught, confining in Padme as their relationship grows even stronger. However it is here that the budding friendship between the two is discovered by Chancellor Palpatine as he “accidentally” walks into the room the young friends have sneaked into, Anakin from his padawan quarters and Padme from her Senator room. Palpatine vows to keep this as their little secret, planting the seed for there to be an allegiance and trust between the two as the Chancellor (aka Sidious) begins to manipulate the strongest padawan there has ever been.

Soon after there is a report of a Sith attacking planet capitals (the Sith’s effort to gain allegiances for Sidious’ planned war, and if an agreement cannot be met the apprentice, Darth Maul, makes it so this planet’s government can be of no help to the Republic). Qui and Obi are sent to find the Sith and after searching with a few near scrapes of capture the final battle results in Qui’s death at the hands of Maul and Obi’s defeat of Maul, cutting him in half. Qui uses his dying breath to make Obi promise to finish Anakin’s training and he vows to.

The training between the two starts rocky, with Anakin refusing Obi’s help through his rage of Obi not being able to save his master. However the two eventually bond over the losses they have experienced and their inability to save the ones who meant most to them. Obi and Anakin now go on creating a strong bond not just as friends but as brothers.

10 years later and Padme is now senator of Naboo and is now being targeted for her idealistic views on keeping the peace in a galaxy that with each day that passes seems to fall deeper into chaos by an unknown forces. The Jedi agree to protect the senator. Obi is sent to unmask what force is targeting the senator. Anakin insists to the counsel to be the one to personally protect Padme and through Palpatine’s endorsement is given the position.

It is here that the events of Attack of the Clones pretty much takes place with Obi unveiling the plot that the Sith are amassing an army (and in my version are responsible for the galaxy falling into chaos through strategic intervention as crime, disorder and public moral has been grievously dropping), and that the Republic mysteriously also have an army ready and waiting on Kamino.

However with the Anakin and Padme side plot I would have their relationship be represented much differently. While they haven’t seen each other all the time through the 10 years since we last saw them, they are stringer friends then they are in the movie, with their relationship obviously on a course for romance, with Padme falling for Anakin’s charm and heroism and Anakin falling for her strong morals, beauty and inspiring idealism. Instead of the stalker vibe given off in the ultimate cringe fest that are their scenes in the second movie I would have their relationship be sparkier. They would constantly be bouncing off each other in fun exchanges full of banter (much akin to the relationship between Elena and Nate, for an example) and would find the fun in their dark situation just as they did as kids.

But while on their retreat Anakin gets a vision through the force of his mother alive, and attempts to go back to Tatooine alone as Padme would be in safe hands and Tatooine is no place to keep her safe. But being discovered leaving, Padme insists on accompanying her friend and they leave for Tatooine with the droids they also brought on the retreat. There Anakin hunts down the leads to his mother and one night, alone, finds her. She has been brutally beaten for disobeying orders and is suffering from great starvation as she and the other slaves have not been properly fed. In utter shock from her harrowing times she doesn’t recognise Anakin, no matter his pleading. He attempts to rescue her but sees she is too weak and will probably not even survive the night no matter the medical attention she receives. With no other route he puts her out of her misery and goes on to murder his mother’s enslavers full of rage and hatred.

The next morning Padme finds Anakin, soaked in blood, huddled in the corner of a dark room, she comforts her friend. Again instead of a whining confession to Padme that just felt awkward in the movies, I’d have this as a more tender moment where Padme sees who Anakin is really on the inside, a boy that just wanted to save his mother, as he confesses to the horrible things he’s just done but in a way that she understands and fully sympathises his position. Padme helps Anakin clean himself up and through more romantic tenderness the two have sex for the first time.

Now this is where the two learn of Obi Wan’s capture and endeavour to save him, but are captured. But instead of C3PO and R2 D2 being pulled into this also they stay in the ship and alert the rest of the Jedi counsel. From here events would take place like the ending of Attack of the Clones but when going into the gladiator pit, Anakin and Padme confess their love for each other in a more believable and satisfying way then the way in the film. The fight with the beasts follows with their escape happening when in the crowd, R2, shoots Anakin’s lightsaber from a compartment in his head to Anakin, as an homage Return of the Jedi. The other Jedis reveal themselves, then the clones, then the Dooku final fight, Anakin loses his hand, Dooku escapes, and a war is declared – you know, like the movie – but instead of a rushed wedding Anakin and Padme just start a romantic relationship in secret.

Now the Clone Wars movie and series takes place exactly how they did with one difference, (spoilers for Clone Wars Series here) Maul is killed by Sidious in THAT epic fight, Obi Wan brings back the Republic to Mandalore and defeats the rest of the now scattered army that had taken over the planet with a final shot of him looking over the dead body of Maul, raged that he wasn’t the one to take Maul’s life but at peace that it is finally done. I’d also have Padme and Anakin get married in season 2 of the show and have Padme become pregnant in the final season.

Also a side note on the Clone Wars Series, it is actually amazing. While there are obviously some very very kids friendly episodes focusing on Jar Jar or a young band of droids on a wacky adventure, the amount of surprisingly mature and genuinely epic episodes far out way these not so often filler episodes. The series delves deep both into the political side of war and just how damaging war is on the galaxy and the people in it and gives characters great context and emotional growth. This is especially true for Anakin who here isn’t the whinny brat seen in the films, but a well skilled Jedi who is both charming but hardened by war. Here also his anger and obsessive tendencies in his relationship with Padme are more realistically and logically explored showing you that while he is devoted to the Republic’s cause, the way he lets his emotions take over exemplifies why he could just as easily flip to the dark side. And while the six season stretch is a bit much to ask people to dive into I would heavily recommend it for any Star Wars fan.

Following the events of the Clone Wars comes the third and final chapter of the prequels. We meet Anakin and Obi in the heat of battle much like in Revenge of the Sith, however instead of attempting to save Palpatine they are simply just trying to take down Grevious. Grevious escapes due to Anakin’s unfiltered rage in the heat of battle, he is ordered to return to Coruscant while Obi continues the chase for Grevious.

Anakin returns home to a much needed break with his secret wife and now 3 year old children, Luke and Leia. Anakin’s deep mistrust of the Jedi and their ways (a theme heavily explored in the Clone Wars series) grows because of his ordered isolation from battle, a conversation he can only have with his old friend the Chancellor, but things are good and happy family moments ensue.

Padme is requested for a peace negotiation on another planet and must leave. But while on-route her ship is attacked and captured by Dooku. Learning of this Anakin pleas with the counsel to allow him to go on a rescue mission but is denied due to his earlier outbursts in battle. At home helpless Anakin receives a transmission from Padme (one Sidious orchestrates to happen) where she says her goodbyes to him fearing the worst. The message is abruptly cut short by Dooku’s droids taking her to Dooku for what would become a galaxy transmitted execution that would stop any other peace talks from ever happening in fear of the same end as Padme’s. She is killed and a clone squad and Jedi invade the facility too late but take Dooku into custody.

Meanwhile Obi Wan has hunted down Grevious and a final duel takes place with Grevious dying, much like in the film.

Anakin goes to the counsel expecting them to kill Dooku but he is to be kept alive for the information he has on the Separatists. Angered and with all faith lost in the Jedi he turns to the Chancellor for any help. While he can’t give any officially there is another way. The Chancellor reveals himself to be Sidious. At first Anakin goes to kill the traitor but after much persuasion Sidious convinces Anakin that Dooku has gone too far and has gone out of his control (all lies obviously), and that the dark side has been twisted by the Jedi into this scape goat and villains like Dooku only feed this mis-interpretation. He promises Anakin a society where he and Anakin can do what the Jedi are scared to do, to do what it takes to keep everyone safe, end the war and finally achieve a peace through their rule. Anakin agrees and as his first task as Darth Vadar he must kill the man that killed his love, Dooku. He breaks into the prison and does so. But on leaving the prison he is surrounded by Jedi’s ready to take him into custody for the action. Here Palpatine reveals himself to the rest of the order to being Sidious and him and Anakin slaughter the Jedi. Order 66 is initiated and the really well done montage from Return of the Jedi ensues where most are killed but Obi Wan and Yoda. However Yoda here will escape Coruscant, but at every turn he sees his fellow Jedi slain where they stand in sacrifice to his survival, he gets on a ship and goes out searching for any other surviving Jedi.

Yoda and Obi Wan meet. Learning of Anakin’s betrayal he is broken but knows what he must do. Yoda’s prophecy seen in the final episode of the Clone Wars series tells him of “another Skywalker”. On telling Obi Wan of this he admits his suspicions of Padme and Anakin’s relationship and the question of any children arises. So they hatch a plan, Yoda will face the Sidious and Obi Wan with a few still loyal men will go to Anakin’s home, search for any children and save them and then Obi Wan must face and defeat Anakin.

While a fight between Yoda and Sidious takes place Obi Wan finds Luke and Leia and the two droids looking after them, R2 D2 and C3PO, and while trying to put them onto his ship is interrupted when Anakin finds him trying to take is kids. Obi Wan orders the other men to take the children to safety and stays to face Anakin. Obi Wan pleads with his old friend to stop this but Anakin, misguided by promises of a safer future and fuelled by a rage towards the failings of the Jedi order that allowed his wife to die, stays true to his allegiance to the dark side. An epic fight takes place across Coruscant between the two divided brothers ending in the industrial sector of Coruscant. Obi Wan attempts one final plea as their lightsabers are locked but nothing gets through to Anakin and Obi Wan is forced to cut off both of Anakin’s and his legs (as he did to Maul). Anakin falls into the huge pit that is bubbling with the lava created as a by-product of the industrial work. Obi sees his former friend fall into the raging flames, screaming until he is engulfed in the burning hot liquid, he takes Anakin’s lightsaber and goes to find Yoda.

Sidious sense the ‘death’ of Anakin and ends the fight between him and Yoda, escaping to find his fallen apprentice. Yoda meets back up with Obi Wan, having failed his mission the two flee before a clone armada can kill them. In the industrial sector Sidious searches for Anakin with some clones. Anakin was able to create a force bubble around himself and survive the fall into the pit of lava but is still badly burned and in critical condition. Sidious senses Anakin’s presence and retrieves him from the burning depths with the force and takes him back to Coruscant. Anakin is saved by being but in the iconic Darth Vadar suit and with his children lost to him he has lost anything that was good of him through his unstoppable rage and devotes himself Sidious.

Meanwhile Obi Wan and Yoda decide to separate the siblings for their safety so Vadar cannot find them, Luke goes to Tatooine under the protection of Obi Wan and Leia goes with a senator still loyal to the Jedi order. C3PO and R2 D2, not fully understanding or believing that their maker could have done such horrible things, have their minds wiped but are kept with Leia due to their proven usefulness in times of great need. Yoda’s prophecy journey in the ending of the Clone Wars also lead him to Dagobah, a planet that is highly in-tune with the force and it was told that for him to achieve some type of peace in the galaxy he must go there and become even stronger with the force. And so after facing defeat at the hands of Sidious, he does, waiting for this prophecy of peace to be realised.

And it’s from here that the Rebels TV show and rest of the Star Wars films go on to continue the epic, galaxy spanning space-opera. I hope that even if you didn’t agree with my choices for how the story should go you at least enjoyed reading this alternate history telling. Obviously some aspects aren’t fully realised, or detailed and seem abit vague but this was just a summary of how things could (and maybe should) have gone and if I really got into the granular details, we’d be here all day. And with that all that is left to say is, thanks for reading and let the force be with you…always.

Why not check out my YouTube channel, BurtonReviews, where I upload awesome gaming montages put to badass songs or scores every Sunday. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!