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The latestStar Warstie - in , E.K. Johnston’sQueen ’s Peril , retconsStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menaceto make the Naboo impertinent . The Naboo were introduced as the victim in George Lucas ' prequel trilogy , with their domain invaded by the Trade Federation . Queen Padmé Amidala ’s arc inStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menacewas essentially the tale of a victim attempting to find out agency . She was also a pawn , because Palpatine had orchestrate affair to control she call a right to vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum , giving him the perfect stab to become the raw Chancellor of the Republic . With that done , the next Emperor misplace all interest in Padmé ; she had function her purpose .
Disney has been using its various sleeper - Indiana to improveThe Phantom Menace . They ’ve done this by flesh out Qui - Gon Jinn as a character , uncover him as the only Jedi who really endanger Palpatine ’s plans ; they’vedefined the choose One prophecyat last , and explained how Qui - Gon came to have a bun in the oven the one born of the Force ; and they ’ve research the Republic ’s battle against slavery . The former novel , E.K. Johnston’sQueen ’s Shadow , explores the buildup to the Trade Federation encroachment and restate the film from the perspective of Padmé and her handmaidens . Johnston ’s priority is to give Padmé some much - needed agency , to make her more unnerving as a reference .
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In cosmopolitan , Johnston achieve her goal through subtle rewrites . But the most crying retcon involves a crucial message sent by Sio Bibble , a infection received by Padmé on Tatooine . Only part of the message was see in the film : " … cut off all food supply until you fall … the decease toll is catastrophic … we must defer to their wishes , Your Highness … Please tell us what to do ! If you could hear us , Your Highness , you must contact me . " Johnston reveals this message contain a secret code - phrase from the handmaidens who had been captured on Naboo . When Sio Bibble tell " destruction toll , " it told Padmé the handmaidens were still alive and were still doing their bit to oppose the Trade Federation ; thus , without the Trade Federation ’s noesis , Sio Bibble had actually told Padmé to proceed on her mission .
ThisStar Warsretcon is hardly an organic one , because it essentially turn the scenery upside - down ; there ’s no hint of this kind of deception inStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace . Indeed , Obi - Wan Kenobi sensed Padmé ’s anxiousness and rightly cautioned her it was a ambuscade ; Johnston rewrite that assembly line as an unintentional expression of Kenobi ’s ignorance , as he , too , underrate Padmé and her handmaidens , who were the first to suffer in the way of the Trade Federation , in the end conduct to the Clone Wars .
After he has left the room , the handmaidens erupt in fierceness , asking if he think they were stupid . Of course , the irony is that both Padmé and Obi - Wan fall for the substantial maw . They had compromised themselves just by opening the message , allowingDarth Maulto track them to Tatooine . Padmé may have been smart , but the lamentable verity is that Palpatine was far more intelligent still .
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