PT Missed Opportunity for a love Triangle?

I'm not against love triangles in principle (yes, they can be very badly done, but I can also think of examples I like, a la Guinevere & Lancelot), and in fact part of me likes to think about some type of Anakin-Obi-Padme triangle just because the fangirl in me loves Ewan's Obi so much...



^

...That being said, while it's fun to think about , I'm glad it wasn't done, because I really think it would fundamentally violate Obi-Wan's character (his integrity, his devotion to duty, etc.) and, for that matter, Padme's as well. I agree with Samnz that the deleted parts about Palpatine trying to plant suspicion about Obi and Padme in Anakin's mind is the only way it should've/could've been "done" (at least done well).

 

It would make an interesting what if scenario perhaps.

 

Yes, I definitely appreciate the possibility in that sense. And I don't read fanfic, but from what I understand from some passing references I have read to it around here ("Obidala" etc.), that scenario has definitely been "entertained" more than a few times!

 

I am fine with any notions of a love triangle being only in Anakin's mind. I do not see Obi-Wan going there for a few reasons, but mainly because he follows the Jedi Code rather strictly. Padme's character was already watered down post TPM, a love triangle would have done further damage to her character.

but, I am generally not a shipper if it's not canon so...

 

There was subtle hints of it, but I'm glad there was nothing overt left in the films. Obi-Wan cares about Padme, but more like an older sibling would.

They planned to have Obi-Wan entertain some kind of romantic interest with Padme in the Phantom Menace, but they decided it would be too weird. Correct judgment. Meanwhile, the idea is once again brought back in Revenge of the Sith, but this time, it's more of an idea planted in the mind of a paranoid Anakin.

 

Yeah, I'm glad they didn't go for an actual love triangle. It wouldn't have made sense with either Obi-Wan or Padme's characters under the circumstances, and there aren't a lot of love triangles out there that don't end up creating forced drama.

But like others have said, I wouldn't have minded Palpatine planting suspicions in Anakin's mind about that - it would have been another way to showcase Palpatine's manipulations and Anakin's growing paranoia and fear of loss. Plus, any distrust he had of Obi-Wan could have helped justify why he was so adamantly against going to him for advice.