Andorseason 2 fundamentally changed one of George Lucas' early visions forStar Wars, and as shocking as it is, it makes perfect sense.Andordidn’t have direct ties tothe Skywalker familyand isn’t part of the Skywalker Saga, yet its impact onStar Warsmovies and TV showshas proven to be massive. Arguably, of all the recentStar Warsshows,Andorseason 2 had the biggest influence on the franchise, as it provided so much more insight into the Rebellion, this era intheStar Warstimeline, and key events likethe Ghorman Massacre.
However, these insights and innovations also meant some significant updates and even changes to what has come before inStar Wars. One perhaps surprising example was the wedding of Mon Mothma’s teenage daughter, Leida, in the first three-episode arc ofAndorseason 2. Although it may seem as though this wedding was inconsequential in the grander scheme,the decision to make Leida a 14-year-old child bride inAndorseason 2 actually directly undermined George Lucas' earlier vision forStar Wars, and this decision was ultimately for the better.
Leida Is The Same Age As Padmé In The Phantom Menace
Both Characters Are 14 During These Critical Periods In Their Stories
Leida’s wedding in the first three-episode arc ofAndorseason 2 was one of the most unsettling plot points in the entire show. Although the wedding itself was clearly tied to Chandrilan culture and tradition, it was still incredibly uncomfortable to see a 14-year-old child bride inStar Wars. Adding to this discomfort was the fact that Leida had seemed anxious and nervous (and even distressed, in one scene) leading up to the wedding and Mon Mothma’s dismay at this decision for her daughter.
Yes, the marriage was a choice Leida was making, but it was also a choice that was heavily driven by archaic traditions, andthis traditionalist marriage was ultimately something that stripped Leida of her power. That is in part why Mon Mothma was so concerned about this path forward for Leida; she recognized that this would push Leida into a traditional role and ultimately limit her. This is the polar opposite of the story we see for Padmé Amidala when she is 14 years old inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
This is the polar opposite of the story we see for Padmé Amidala when she is 14 years old inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
Unlike Leida’s story,inThe Phantom Menace, Padmé is depicted as immensely empowered. This is obviously in part because she was Queen of Naboo at that time, but even outside that role, Padmé’s personality was fierce, brave, headstrong, and selfless. She consistently made her own decisions, even when influential, powerful people like Palpatine were attempting to sway her in one direction or another, and she went toe-to-toe with Qui-Gon Jinn, one ofStar Wars’most powerful Jedi. Throughout the movie, she proved that she wasn’t going to let anyone determine her fate or back down.
There’s A Reason For These Two Different Portrayals
These Differences Weren’t Decided Upon At Random
While this difference between Padmé and Leida’s stories may feel like a step backward forStar Wars, there’s actually something much more profound happening here.BothThe Phantom MenaceandAndorseason 2 had entirely unique aims in their intentions for these 14-year-old characters, and both are valid and understandable.The Phantom Menacewas aStar Warsmovie geared towards children, as George Lucas has long said, and as was clear with characters like Jar Jar Binks.
Because of that target audience, Padmé was a teenage queen because she was meant to invite kids to imagine themselves in such incredible roles, in the same way they could see themselves in Anakin Skywalker. In a sense, Padmé was wish fulfillment for the young audience.Andorwas worlds away from that intention, though;Andorwas instead meant to show the brutal realities of oppression under the Empire and the sacrifices it took to gain freedom.
Padmé was a teenage queen because she was meant to invite kids to imagine themselves in such incredible roles.
Leida, in contrast, therefore showed how fascist oppression impacts the younger generation and revealed how traditionalist values are a tool weaponized by such regimes that specifically target women. Whereas Padmé had the ability to make her own decisions, defend her people, and win the day, Leida was relegated to the role of a child bride. This isn’t to say that a domestic life is an inherently worse or harmful one, but, in this context, it’s clear that Leida’s story is meant to be a disturbing one—and it was.
Star Wars Has Always Been About The Next Generation
Ultimately, Both Stories Drive That Home
WhileAndormight not be for children,Star Warsis always going to be about the next generation, and, for better or worse, that is true of both Leida and Padmé’s stories. Each era has its own implications for the generation to come, and, for Padmé’s story, that began by revealing her power and strength inThe Phantom Menaceand ended with her tragic death, but also the influence she had on what would eventually become the Rebel Alliance (which was especially clear inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith’sdeleted scenes).
Leida was sadly an example of the much darker side of this. She represented the damage regimes like the Empire do to younger generations to maintain control. Even more heartbreaking was the revelation that, in fighting for future generations, Mon Mothma actually had to abandon her daughter. She recognized that her daughter had (at least temporarily, although it may be permanent) been lost to traditionalism, and Mon needed to focus on the future of the galaxy.Andorseason 2’s subtle connection between these two 14-year-olds thus sheds a fascinating light upon just how important younger characters are inStar Wars.
