Welcome to Part 2.
As mentioned before, part 2 is about all the problems with Episode III and, more importantly, the possible solutions. Before we start, there are are few minor things that need to be addressed/added to the previous post.
The execution of Anakin's arc, while a big problem, is definitely not the only problem. This other big problem can be summed up in one tasteless sentence: ROTS is one big gigantic jerk-off fest. Just look at the last act of the film, wherein a good 20 minutes of run-time is devoted to intercutting between a battle between The Emperor and Yoda and one between Obi-Wan and Anakin, four characters who we know survive in one form or the other. Why be so concerned about this? Because it is important to prioritize substance over flashiness and fan-service. Sure it's every fan's wet dream to see the Emperor and Yoda duke it out, but unless there is a point or theme attached to it. All I get from ROTS is that a battle between the greatest warriors on either side is inevitable and cool. Not enough, Lucas.
So with that in mind, take another look at Belated Media's (BM's) "What if Episode II were good?" video. Now, allow me to make a couple minor changes to the ending. I will get to the "why" afterwards.
At some point Anakin needs to have a conversation with the Chancellor (who in BM's version is the intermediary between the Senate and the Jedi Council) concerning Count Dooku. Remember, in BM's version Count Dooku is a good guy who has fled the Jedi Council because of his suspicions that it has been infiltrated by the Sith. So this conversation should consist of Palpatine telling Anakin that Dooku is evil and needs to be stopped at all costs. When Anakin counters with the fact that Obi-Wan is clearly not of this opinion, Palpatine persuades him to think for himself and not just trust his master's word.
During this exchange, Palpatine also reveals the Senate's plan to send a bunch of clone troopers to blow up Dooku's hideout on Geonosis. Here is where things get tricky. Obi-Wan can't have told Anakin about his plans to contact Dooku on his own. Why? Because if Anakin knew Obi-Wan was going to be there he wouldn't readily agree to sending clones in to bomb the place. And we need him to side with Palpatine and the Senate. Why does it make sense that Obi-Wan would keep his lone mission from him? Because at this point Anakin is recovering from having his hand chopped off, and Obi-Wan doesn't want Anakin to play the hero (like he always does) and put himself in jeopardy. However, Obi-Wan does tell Padme of his plans, for sole reason that if something went wrong on Geonosis she could tell Anakin and Anakin could come help him out. This in turn shows us Obi-Wan's implicit trust in Padme, and hints at his feelings for her.
Then, when Padme comes to visit Anakin in the sick-bay, Anakin tells her about the Senate's plan to send in clones in to bomb Geonosis, thinking that Padme already knows, and expresses that he is in favor of it. Having had no prior knowledge of this, Padme reveals to Anakin that Obi-Wan has gone there alone, and therefore may be in grave danger (see she's been left out of the plans, which further hints that something is not right). Anakin, of course, rushes off to Obi-Wan's rescue against Padme's protests (still harboring an intense hatred toward Dooku, but now a confused mixture of worry and distrust for Obi-Wan). Meanwhile, Dooku is informing Obi-Wan that there is a Sith mole within the Senate but he doesn't know exactly who it is.
When Anakin arrives on Geonosis, he immediately attacks Dooku, ignoring Obi-Wan's pleads for him to stop. His hatred gets the best of him. In his mind Dooku is a terrorist, and terrorists need to be taken out, no questions asked (Bush's pre-emptive strike policy parallel: check). We get a brief battle wherein Anakin injures Dooku before Obi-Wan steps in and clashes lightsabers with him (foreshadowing: check) just once to prevent him from striking the death blow, which snaps Anakin out of his rage. Before Obi-Wan can explain the situation fully, the clone trooper ships arrive. Dooku elects to stay behind to send a much greater message to the Republic, and Obi-Wan and Anakin high-tail it out of there before the whole place blows. The film ends with them watching the destruction from Anakin's ship. It's surprisingly dark and more uncertain than ever in terms of both character and plot.
Why does all this need to happen? Foreshadowing for one, but it's also the most visual and visceral expression of Anakin's dissent from the Jedi way. And it all stems from a very personal and relatable feeling: a growing distrust of his master and friend. He does not execute Dooku like he does in Episode III, but his actions get the point across. It also takes that same-ish climactic beat and places it where it belongs: at the end of Episode II rather than the beginning of the next film. It is so important for the audience to leave Episode II with a real sense of uneasiness about Anakin's character - a sensation that will deepen and fester between then and the release of the next film. I cannot express how vital this is to the success of our hypothetical Episode III. It is a crucial beat in Anakin's arc.
Phew! So now, without any further ado, let's dive into our hypothetical Episode III.
The most influential change is that Anakin and Obi-Wan are now aware that there may be a mole within the Senate. However, Anakin is more skeptical than Obi-Wan, and suspects that Dooku may have fabricated the entire story in order to shift blame away from him. This is important: Anakin still believes, deep down, that Dooku was the traitor to the Republic.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan informs the Jedi Order that there may be a traitor in their midst, and Windu and Yoda, among others, agree that they have sensed a dark disturbance nearby. Anakin pleads for them to reconsider, but he is largely ignored. Before Anakin knows it, the Jedi begin to make plans to separate themselves from the Republic. In Anakin's mind, the Jedi are becoming Separatists themselves. After all, from his point of view, Palpatine is the only person who has insisted that he think for himself, while the Jedi Council simply urges him to remain loyal to them.
This brings us to the first real plot point: the Jedi Council orders Anakin to use his friendship with Palpatine (the intermediary) to keep a watchful eye over the Senate. Anakin reluctantly accepts. He then goes to Palpatine and informs him that he is to be his and the Senate's personal bodyguard, as the war with the Separatists is looking ever-more desperate and the Senate may be in danger. It kills Anakin to keep this large a secret from someone he trusts so deeply, but, Palpatine surprises Anakin by guessing his real intent and agreeing to go along with the ruse. This only strengthens Anakin's trust in him.
This leads us to his first interaction with Padme in the film. Remember, in this hypothetical storyline, Anakin and Padme's relationship is still mostly professional. We're dealing with a more subdued romantic subplot here, one which more closely parallels Han and Leia's romance in ESB and ROTJ. Honestly, if I could change one thing about the prequels, it would be this. Audiences love a good push and pull when it comes to onscreen romances. Because story is all about conflict! A deep unwavering romance spells dramatic disaster.
So here we are dealing with a Padme who finds herself stuck between her very different feelings for Obi-Wan and Anakin. Remember, Obi-Wan is our real main character here, and the previous hypothetical films have subtly hinted at his feelings for Padme. This makes the showdown at the end all the more dramatic, and Obi-Wan's sense of responsibility for Anakin's turn to the dark side not so cut-and-dry.
We also have the Han Solo-esque character of Owen Lars and the recurring villain Darth Maul to deal with. So let's have that same opening space battle over Coruscant we have in ROTS, but now instead of Obi-Wan and Anakin flying in to capture General Grievous, we have Obi-Wan and Owen flying in while Anakin sits on the sideline down on Coruscant to protect/spy on the Senate (which of course includes Padme).
Anakin isn't happy with this. He and Grievous have a history and he is itching for revenge (get it, revenge?). So Owen and Obi-Wan, on the same ship this time, pilot their way toward Grievous's ship, with Owen manning the guns with the help of R2D2 to take out enemy fighters while Obi-Wan flies. After a fun space battle (!!!) they dock and Obi-Wan enters the ship alone while Owen hangs back and R2 takes control of the ship to guide Obi-Wan through.
Meanwhile, Anakin takes Padme aside and tells her about his mission. His trust in her comes as a pleasant surprise, but she is taken aback when he contemplates abandoning his position because he senses Obi-Wan is heading into a trap. See, instead of criticizing his selfishness like Leia does to Han, she criticizes his tendency to play the hero and avoid his duties. It reminds us of that similar conflict but feels fresh because it's true to character.
On the ship, Obi-Wan sneaks his way to the bridge but finds Grievous waiting for him with several MagnaGuards by his side (the ones with the dual sided purple electric staffs). After a heroic but brief battle, he is subdued. During this time, several droids attempt to board Owen's ship. After a brief phaser battle and thrilling rescue of R2D2, he is forced to undock and head back to the Star Destroyer. On his way out, his ship is damaged. He informs R2 of the need to make repairs once they have docked. Back on Coruscant, Grievous contacts the Senate, telling them he has captured Obi-Wan and demanding their surrender. Anakin is furious, and takes it upon himself to rescue Obi-Wan.
As Anakin flies up to Grievous's ship, Darth Maul looks on from his own personal fighter. The implication: this was all an elaborate ruse to get Anakin alone and vulnerable (in this version, the Emperor's plan regarding Anakin is more fluid. His goal is to get Anakin to be as reckless and angry as possible, to test him, to make chaos). Anakin arrives on the ship and slashes and kills his way up to the bridge. When he arrives, he fights Grievous. Grievous tries to flee, but Anakin manages to stop and disable him. During this fight, Anakin channels his rage, and we can see how his force powers suddenly step it up a notch. Grievous pleads for mercy, but Anakin executes him.
Anakin then heads back to the bridge to rescue Obi-Wan, who is dazed and mutters something about a trap just before passing out. When Anakin turns to leave, he sees DARTH MAUL, standing between them and escape.
Again, it is ON. As they fight, Maul tells him (yes, he speaks in this, but is terse) that the Jedi are breaking away from the Republic and joining the Separatists, and that the Sith are eradicating them to protect the Republic. This sudden confirmation of Anakin's suspicions takes him off guard, but he continues to fight. Maul is the better warrior and is able to corner him, but just as he's about to strike the killing blow...
Obi-Wan steps in.
The three battle ferociously, and we see Obi-Wan share a worried glance with Anakin. The last time he fought alongside a Jedi against Maul it was Qui-Gon and he was killed. He fears the same thing may happen.
But Maul is overwhelmed. He gives up and manages to escape.
As the Jedi head back to Coruscant after their bittersweet victory, Anakin confides in Obi-Wan that he executed Grievous, and expresses worry that it was not for the right reason. Obi-Wan suggests that his real reason for doing so, be it revenge, mercy, or for the greater good, is not always so cut and dry. He warns him, however, that a Jedi should not act on revenge, and urges him to meditate on his feelings. Anakin agrees, although (we know) revenge definitely had something to do with his actions.
Later Anakin talks with the Council. They reprimand him for leaving his assignment. Anakin expresses frustration, citing their partial success, but the council orders him, strictly, to stay with the Council. Anakin swallows his pride and agrees.
Obi-Wan's mission is now to find Maul. Before he leaves, he has a brief conversation with Anakin, wherein he reveals he is secretly grateful for Anakin's actions and has his own differences with the Council's decision to keep Anakin grounded, but that Anakin should consider this mission not as a demotion and as a great show of trust in him. After all, it is perhaps the most important mission of all. Not to mention, he adds, a perfect opportunity to practice patience.
After Obi-Wan leaves, Anakin meditates with Yoda, who suggests he re-visualize the incident and search his feelings. After doing so, Anakin reveals that a need for revenge may have been a factor, and Yoda warns him that that feeling will lead to anger, hate, etc, and eventually the dark side. As Yoda urges him to find inner piece, Anakin has a vision of the future: of Obi-Wan standing over Padme as she dies giving birth. It's important to understand how his perspective of this vision is different here. He loves Padme, but is not with her, so he assumes that Obi-Wan is the father. Yoda sense this jealousy and tells him to let go of attachments, and that the future is always in a fluidic state.
Let's take an intermission here. This has turned out quite long for a blog post, so I guess this is now a four-part post! Don't worry, I promise there's a point to it all.
No 1. out-->
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