| DEC
8,9, 10:
Paul
Potiki (PP) wrote me his observations about the order of events in Episode
1 after going through the Virtual Edition. I've integrated my reactions
(RV) in the text, followed by another reaction from Paul Potiki. If you
have anything to add, please feel free to
write me your reactions!
PP:
"I have to disagree on your current idea of the order of events. You may
have access to more rumours and info than I do, however, so perhaps my
thoughts are way off. Please tell me if that's so. This is the order of
events as I would guess at it:
1)
Not Coruscant. I think the theory and rumour that the end of Jedi is the
beginning of Ep 1 has been taken to literally. I think it refers only to
the fact that Coruscant is in the prequels, and that the state of the spectacular
effect used in the Jedi closing sequence is an idea of what we'll be seeing
in the new movies. SO, I think the first shot will be just like the opening
shots of Ep. 4,5, & 6. A large ship (not a Star Destroyer, but a similarly
imposing spacecraft, perhaps shiny black in colour) will thunder into view,
and unleash hundreds of tiny craft down to the Water planet nearby: Naboo."
RV:
I think that we'll indeed see a spacecraft thunder into view and fighters
being launched to the surface of a planet. The reports of this planet being
Coruscant are pretty solid though, so I don't think it's going to be Naboo
(at one point, I changed the opening to a scroll down to Tatooine, but
many readers wrote me to confirm that the first scene will involve Coruscant).
And Lucas stated in a recent interview that he'll make the movies like
a musical composition, repeating certain 'themes' to give the movies a
harmonic framework. Starting Episode 1 with the same 'theme' as the ending
of the last Episode would illustrate this 'composition'.
PP:
"I'm glad you agree about the opening shot. I also agree that George
will be repeating themes throughout, which would include this one. It will
be fascinating to see what other themes he will copy. A revelation near
the end of Ep.2 probably, and of course the recurrence of Tatooine. (Interesting
that in ANH Luke says, "If there's a bright centre to the Universe, we're
on the planet it's furthest from" yet everything involving the future of
the Universe appears to stem from there!)
Anyway,
the reason I thought it wouldn't be Coruscant is because I figured we'd
be introduced to one of the main characters first, i.e. the Queen. But
I guess we could be introduced to Obi Wan on Coruscant..."
2) Introduction
of Naboo and the Royal Family, including Padme. Possibly a celebration,
maybe Padme's birthday.
RV:
I haven't got any indication that we'll see Padme's family, except
for her little sister Ellie.
PP:
In one of the images of the Caserta Palace I have, someone wrote that Padme
will be receiving some sad news while in her room. I figure it'll be that
her parents have been killed. After all, there definitely will be a coronation
scene, which would only happen after the old Queen had died. Oh, and I'm
pretty sure Ellie is Anakin's sister, as she is played by Jake Lloyd's
real sister...
3) Interrupted
by an aerial attack, and a fully fledged enormous battle, the water battle
we have all heard about, where the Royal Family are targeted by Darth Maul
and the Gungans. They are after Padme, because prophecy foretells she will
be the mother of the future saviour of the galaxy: the lad who will destroy
Palpatine, Luke Skywalker. But due to Captain Panaka, she manages to escape
death, though her family does not. After the battle clears she is crowned
Queen, and states that the Gungans (Nimoudians, dark Jedi) have lost, for
she proclaims that she will leave for Coruscant and enlist the help of
the Jedi Knights.
RV:
I currently think that the water battle, being the most spectacular
battle, will be saved for the end. The first invasion of Naboo shouldn't
take too much time, because the events on Tatooine, in which Padme is involved,
are situated in the first part of the movie, according to the information
I have.
PP:
Yes, I thought that of all my ideas, this would be the most likely
wrong one. The battle would probably be at the end. BUT in ESB the arguably
best battle scene (AT-AT walkers) happens at the start! And what if an
even HUGER scene is slated for the end of Ep 1, one we know nothing about
yet???? The mind boggles!!
4) Introduction
of Anakin, Qui-Gon Jinn, Artoo Detoo, Shmi Skywalker, on Tatooine, in the
town of Mos Espa. Artoo finds the first piece of Threepio in Watto's junkyard
while gathering pieces for Anakin's custom Pod.
RV:
I like the idea of the junkyard being the place where they gather pieces
for Anakin's pod!
PP:
I reckon Artoo is going to be building Threepio all the way through the
movie with bits and pieces he finds on his adventures, and it's only near
the end that he finally finds a vocoder, or a power source, and switches
him on. And it's pretty much a cert that Artoo belongs to Anakin. In the
latest SW Galaxy, it is mentioned that the doors to Anakin's home set had
to be widened to accomodate him!
5) The
Pod Race, during which Anakin proves his ability as a top pilot, but does
not finish the race. Back at his home a Light Sabre duel is being fought
between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn. Darth Maul is after the boy who will
one day father the above saviour of the galaxy etc etc... Anakin arrives
just in time to witness the death of.... (not sure here. Your suggestion
it may be Shmi could be more likely, as if Ellie is a princess at some
point, this may be during Episode 2 or 3 when she will be married to a
prince. And she'll probably live long enough to fight as a Jedi in the
Clone Wars and be killed maybe by her brother Anakin himself) he abandons
the Pod race, and then helps fend off Maul. But it's too late...
RV:
Another good suggestion. Shmi could be killed during the fight with
Darth Maul, similar to the first draft of Star Wars in which Anakin's brother
was killed by a Dark Warrior. The Podrace is won by Anakin as far as I
know, even though his pod is sabotaged by Sebulba...
PP:
I agree totally here. I only had Anakin not finishing the race because
I know he witnesses the duel, so had to find a way of getting him there.
Maybe it happens after the race. Certainly I think they need a reason for
leaving Tatooine. I would guess they won't be returning again in the prequels.
(Probably. Unless the Mandalorians use the Slave quarters there...)
6) The
Skywalkers leave Tatooine forever and go to the Jedi Council on Coruscant.
7)The
Jedi Council may be made up of: Qui-Gon, Yoda, Mace Windu, Jar-Jar, and
a ton of others we don't know much about yet. ObiWan may be introduced
at this point by Yoda. This could be the scene where Mace says "May the
Force be with you", but for some reason most people picture a swamp planet,
probably Dagobah. Yoda may not be a member of the Council, though. And
Obi-Wan will possibly be introduced earlier, because he's meant to fight
Darth Maul on Naboo. He might be Padme's personal bodyguard. Palpatine
may be a member of the Jedi Council also, and he would be the one guiding
Darth Maul. Perhaps Darth Sideous is Palpatine under a code name in the
script.
RV:
The jedi council has 10 members (count the chairs in the pre-production
sketches). Among them are Yaddle, Yoda and Mace Windu. Qui-Gon and Jar-Jar
are not part of the council. It's possible they decide something that will
have it's impact on the rest of the story.
PP:
I'm not so sure about this Yaddle guy. It all seems rather silly to me.
Maybe people just got confused and it was another alien altogether. It's
definitely a stupid name! However, according to Rick McCallum, Obi-Wan
discovers Jar Jar early on, and Jar Jar is a major player... and a Jedi
too. Hmmm.
It's
cool to read in SW Galaxy that Yoda will play a really active part in the
next two! (In the Air and Space Exhibit article) I wonder if he actually
will wield a light sabre and take part in the Clone Wars?
8) The
Jedi Council decide what they are going to do about the dark Jedi scourge,
and whatever they decide on is the adventure that Anakin, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan,
Jar-Jar, Padme, Artoo, etc. have.
That's
about half the movie there. I don't know what would happen next, but I
think it's more realistic sounding, more George Lucas, more Mythically
based than your structure. Prophecies, betrayal, suspicion, mysterious
goings on that won't be fully answered until the other movies, large dramatic
set-pieces, a touch of romance, incredible tragedy. All things not a good
happy way to start a trilogy, which is what George Lucas has been warning
us will be happening.
But
as I say, it's just my theory. Please argue your points! I look forward
to them.
Oh
yes. Though I like your Threepio picture, I reckon he's more likely to
be in patchwork pieces than just a transparent version of the Threepio
we know. Sort of with limbs missing, and exposed wires and machinery. A
mix of Terminator and Threepio, only not much in the way of gold colours.
Except I reckon his head will be... And maybe he was a Protocol droid before
Artoo finds him, perhaps belonging to the Naboo Royal family????"
RV:
C-3PO could indeed be a Royal protocol droid. This would explain his
good manners.... :)
PP:
Here's an interesting thing. A lot of people wondered at one point
how come Threepio mentions the princess in the first scene of ANH (the
first line!) yet doesn't recognise her in the hologram Artoo projects.
Well, as a protocol droid, it is a part of his programming to keep governmental
secrets. He lies all the time! And also, it is written canonically (?)
that Threepio is 112 years old, and Luke is his forty-third master (Skywalking,
page 167) so that means he technically existed before Episode 1 anyway.
|
