Hi everyone. I’ve not posted much on here before but thought I’d give my thoughts on the saga and what I would’ve done differently if I’d been allowed to.
I’m a huge fan of the originals and actually the prequels too. I saw TPM at the cinema when I was 11 and it blew my mind. I was there for the next two on opening day and loved both of them. Over the years my appreciation for the originals has grown beyond that of the prequels but I still love them. Empire has always been my favourite of the saga though.
As much as I enjoy the prequels, I do acknowledge there are a few problems and a few quite stupid plot holes. I’ve spent a bit of time thinking about how to fix these holes and marry the story up more with the OT. This is my idea for The Phantom Menace. I’ve tried to keep the overall plot the same but there are several big changes. Not sure if anyone will be at all interested but let me know what you think.
STAR WARS
THE PHANTOM MENACE
The Clone Wars are already raging and the seperatists are invading Alderaan (same as Naboo just with a different name). Count Dooku takes the place of Darth Sidious to preserve the surprise for later, though he does talk about his master to add threat to his words when talking to the nemoidians. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon go to The planet as in the original after the Nemoidian army invades to try and peacefully resolve the matter. They are not master and apprentice, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Knight in his 30s already having trained with Yoda years ago and he and Qui-Gon are close friends. Their costumes would look more like Luke’s in ROTJ too.
Alderaan is ruled by the King Bail and Queen Amidala Organa. She is older in my version and he basically takes the place of Sio Bibble in the story.
They meet Jar Jar who is a Gungan, but he’s not a slapstick character. He is a noble everyman, though still comedic, and completely out of his depth. The Gungans and the Alderaan people have been feuding for decades. Jar Jar is a lone voice of reason in the conflict and has become and outcast from his own kind because of his fraternising with humans. He helps the two Jedi anyway and takes them back to the Gungan city.
The scene with Boss Nass goes more or less as it does in the film, until the end when Boss Nass banishes Jar Jar for good for bringing humans to the Gungan city. The Gungan’s speech is more like an ancient Nobel tribe and Boss Nass insists that there will never be an alliance between them and the humans. He does however, believe in the force and has some respect for the Jedi. He agrees to give them a ship that will take them back to the main city and the royal palace. He then warns them never to return to his kingdom.
They make it through the planet core and rescue the Queen but not Bail. We meet Padme, who is a handmaiden to the queen and not the queen in disguise. They end up having to land on Tatooine after the hyperdrive is damaged, and land on the Lars moisture farm. Anakin is about 18 and Shmi is his mother. She married Cliegg Lars when Anakin was a Toddler but then Cliegg died a couple of years later. Owen is Anakin’s older step brother. Obi-Wan is the one who notices him first, and can sense the force in him. They still go to Mos Espa and end up betting with Watto on the pod race.
Anakin races pods for fun and offers to help them win money for the parts they need. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon can sense the force is incredibly strong with him. Obi-Wan and Anakin get on really well and quickly become friends. Owen doesn’t like the Jedi and is uneasy with them sizing up Anakin. Once Anakin wins the pod race Obi-Wan is convinced he should be trained and offers Anakin the chance to go with him to the republic capital. Qui-Gon agrees that Anakin should be trained but reminds his friend that he is older than most Jedi apprentices. He also cautions Obi-Wan against training Anakin himself. Owen clearly doesn’t like the Jedi for trying to take Anakin away. Like the film, Anakin hesitates to leave his mother but she persuades him to go.
Darth Maul has still been tracking them all this time and there’s a duel in the desert between him and Qui-Gon as in the film.
The Coruscant scenes can all play out as they are. The only difference being Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon both make a case for Anakin being trained but the council is still hesitant. Yoda is not part of the council. He is still the order’s grand master and wisest teacher. He is almost mythical. A legend amongst the Jedi and almost unheard of outside the order. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Mace Windu are the only Jedi who have been taught directly by Yoda in the modern age of the Jedi.
Mace thinks it unwise to train Anakin and chastises Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon for bringing him with them without informing the council.
The senate won’t allow Alderaan to use republic clones until they have validated the claims that the Seperatists have invaded the planet. Palpatine is still manoeuvring things to suit his ends.
Amidala goes back to Alderaan and with the help of Jar Jar Binks they go back to the Gungan city. We actually see the city has been destroyed and there are a few bodies too. Jar Jar is devastated by the scene. They then hunt out the remaining Gungans and confront Boss Nass. He is a shadow of his former self. At first he is angered by the sight of humans, and attacks the queen. The Jedi stand ready to defend her, but then Padme, the hand maiden speaks up! She does manage to talk the Gungans round and display amazing skills for diplomacy and fellow feeling for the Gungans who have lost everything. She is clearly Leia’s mother!
The climax is the same as the original. Except Anakin is actually drafted into the Naboo navy and, rather than “oops”in his way through the battle, is a superb pilot. Going inside the droid control ship is a reckless move he makes against his commander’s orders, but it pays off. This mirrors more what his son will do years later. Also, as well as Amidala and Panaka capturing the viceroy in the throne room, they rescue Bail.
Qui-Gon dies and Darth Maul is beaten by Obi-Wan, though he doesn’t cut him in half at the waist. Obi-Wan cuts off his legs and he falls into the pit presumably dead.
The Jedi council still doesn’t think Anakin should be trained, but Obi-Wan takes it on himself to train him anyway. Bail Organa offers Obi-Wan sanctuary if he ever needs it in gratitude for helping free his people. Padme is offered the position of the new representative of Alderaan in the senate now Palpatine has become the new chancellor.
Finale is the same with the Naboo and Gungans declaring peace and celebrating freedom from separatist rule.