Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (1999–2005) — III: Narrative Adjustments

3 min readDec 27, 2022

*SPOILERS*

Given how critical I was in the previous segment, it seems fair to include things I would have rather seen instead. After all, it’s easy to be critical and harder to create. Harder to affirm what specific things that would have made you happy.

My Favorite Rewrite

Working Dooku into the Trade Federation dynamic in Episode I (by swapping out the somewhat racist Chinese-coded frog aliens for Dooku, or by making them answer to him) means that when we see him as the Separatist leader in Episode II, the connection between the Trade Federation and Separatist movement is more meaningful. In other words, use character arcs as a vehicle to tell the stories of the institutions you want to comment on.

Additionally, being more intentional writing the conversation between Dooku (both a Force user and a political separatist) and Kenobi in Episode II, means you get a two-level metaphorical dialogue. On one level a dialogue between The Jedi Order as a religious institution and a former Jedi as a Force gray area. On a second level a dialogue between The Jedi Order as a peace keeping institution and a Separatist representing those in the galaxy that the peace keepers have failed. This would’ve been an awesome metaphor to add while retaining both characters’ screen time and plot beats, only requiring more efficient writing.

Then, mainintaining screen time of Qui-Gon in Episode I but taking a pointed direction when writing his character, as one that embraces the Jedi philosophy while being skeptical of the Jedi Order. We already know he’ll bet on a 9-year old that has never won a pod race and will push the Jedi Council out of their comfort zone by advocating for a kid with dark side inclinations, but really take a stance with his character; he’s got a roguish streak, probably resulting from his tutelage under Dooku, a Jedi that found great fault with the Jedi Order. Emphasize these fascinating character traits and give us something to react to. Really define his personality in relation to both his master’s and his padawan’s. This point can be taken as a microcosm of a larger point to be thoughtful and intentional when crafting interactions between any two in the core master-padawan lineage of the trilogy (Dooku, Qui-Gon, Kenobi, Anakin).

A great way to illustrate Qui-Gon’s character might even be to give screen time to Anakin’s core traumas after shortening the pod racing build-up in Episode I. Adding a scene where we see Anakin being mistreated and yearning for freedom before talking to Qui-Gon could be more effective than using that interaction to give us exposition about midi-chlorians. Giving us a dialogue between Anakin and Qui-Gon could simultaneously develop Anakin’s backstory, illustrate Qui-Gon’s own complex views, and also give Qui-Gon a chance to characterize the Jedi Council as imperfect. Three narrative birds with one stone and only requiring small screen time changes — more efficient writing.

Finally, if you add a segment where Qui-Gon interacts with Dooku in Episode I in the Trade Federation sequence (having already incorporated Dooku into the Trade Federation), you get the chance to reveal this poetic and tragic and complex intergenerational dialogue over the course of the trilogy between a strained lineage of masters and padawans representing a spectrum of views (reiterating Dooku, Qui-Gon, Kenobi, Anakin) while making Dooku’s beheading at the hands of Anakin in Episode III carry more impact.

Oh yeah and maybe replace Grievous with Maul. Way cooler and a second Kenobi-Maul fight would’ve meant more. Not to mention Maul is sick, dope, and just all around tight.

In short: