PT Mirrored relationships: Anakin and Padme vs. Han and Lea and why I prefer the first one

No, no you missunderstand me. He didn't console her. He just is the less bad option. Lea's choice is staying close to the bad or to the ugly. The good one is missing of the picture. She is more scared of Tarkin and it couldn't be if Vader tortured her literally. If Vader has used his Force abitilies why he needed the mind probe? Also when I said twisted knighthood, Iron lord, I think you missunderstood me. Is knighthood but is indeed twisted (he has his respect on her loyalty to the Rebel, but it doesn't mean he would let her go or something like that. Also, I know that Lea is strong. She survived the destruction of her own planet without give up. This is absolute shock (almost everybody who she knew in her life was gone in a second). She has an unusual strenght, still she look completely perfect after the interrogation, even her hair was perfect. That means for me that it wasn't physical torture. But again, don't get me wrong, he wasn't nice to her.

 

The EU portrayed him as pretty casual about it - more "Palpatine should have been told first" than "It's counterproductive":


Death Star
"I think it's time we demonstrated the full power of this station," Tarkin said. He looked back at his officer. "Set your course for Alderaan."
The man mumbled something and left, but Tarkin was already thinking ahead. If Princess Leia was a thorn in the Empire's side, then Alderaan was a forest of thorns.
Well, it was time to purge that forest. With fire.
Tagge started to say something but apparently thought better of it. Tarkin smiled almost benignly and said, "I understand your concerns, General. Rest assured I've spoken with Emperor Palpatine recently about demonstrating his battle station's range and strength. He has assured me that I have full rein to do so." He looked at Vader. "You disapprove, Lord Vader?"
"Not at all, Governor."

The Rise & Fall of Darth Vader:

"I think it's time we demonstrated the full power of this station," Tarkin said. Turning to Motti, he commanded, "Set your course for Alderaan."
"With pleasure," Motti replied with an evil smile.
Realizing what Tarkin intended, Vader surveyed the man with new respect. The Dark Lord had done many horrendous and unpardonable things, but it seemed that Tarkin- at least in this situation- was even more diabolically inventive. However, Vader had one problem with Tarkin's scheme. "Alderaan is one of the foremost of the inner systems," Vader said. "The Emperor should be consulted."
"Do not think to challenge me!" Tarkin snapped. "You are not confronting Tagge or Motti now! The Emperor has placed me in charge of this affair with a free hand, and the decision is mine! And you will have your information that much sooner."
Vader had long suspected that Grand Moff Tarkin was insane, but it was not until Tarkin had addressed him just then, without a trace of fear, that Vader was left without a doubt. Vader said "If your plan serves our purpose, it will justify itself."
"The stability of the Empire is at stake," Tarkin said. "A planet is a small price to pay."


Released from her cell and brought to Grand Moff Tarkin in the Death Star control room, Princess Leia stood against Darth Vader's chest with her eyes fixed on a wide viewscreen that displayed the planet Alderaan. After Tarkin threatened to destroy her homeworld unless she revealed the location of the Rebel base, she told them that the Rebels were on Dantooine. However, Tarkin was determined to prove that the Empire was prepared to use the Death Star without the slightest provocation.
There were billions of people on Alderaan, including Bail Organa, and they were all about to die. As the battle station's superlaser powered up, Vader felt the Princess quivering with fear.
You brought this upon yourself, he thought.
The green-beamed superlaser fired at Alderaan, blowing the entire world to oblivion.


ANH novelization


Vader stared at the motley array of stars displayed on the conference-room map while Tarkin and Admiral Motti conferred nearby. Interestingly, the first use of the most powerful destructive machine ever constructed had seemingly had no influence at all on that map, which in itself represented only a tiny fraction of this section of one modest-sized galaxy.
It would take a microbreakdown of a portion of this map to reveal a slight reduction in spatial mass, caused by the disappearance of Alderaan. Alderaan, with its many cities, farms, factories, and towns -- and traitors, Vader reminded himself.
Despite his advances and intricate technological methods of annihilation, the actions of mankind remained unnoticeable to an uncaring, unimaginably vast universe. If Vader's grandest plans ever came to pass, all that would change.
He was well aware that despite all their intelligence and drive, the vastness and wonder were lost on the two men who continued to chatter, monkeylike behind him. Tarkin and Motti were talented and ambitious, but they saw things only on the scale of human pettiness. It was a pity, Vader thought, that they did not possess the scope to match their abilities.
Still, neither man was a Dark Lord. As such, little more could be expected of them. These two were useful now, and dangerous, but someday they, like Alderaan, would have to be swept aside. For now, he could not afford to ignore them. And while he would have preferred the company of equals, he had to admit reluctantly that at this point, he had no equals.

Or she was "cleaned up afterward" by a medic, so that Tarkin wouldn't be disturbed by a badly marked Leia.

Death Star novel:


"And now, Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base." Vader told her.
As the interrogator droid floated in behind him, Vader saw her defiant expression falter. He felt her fear as the machine approached her.
Good ...
He heard the door slam down behind them.

But, after half an hour, despite the truth drugs, electrical shocks, and other inducements he had administered, it was evident that her resistance had not been lowered enough for him to probe her mind. That was surprising.
She was physically weakened and in considerable pain, but her mind remained shielded. She had revealed nothing.
Most unusual for anyone except a Jedi to have such control, he mused.
He kept his anger and frustration under tight rein, letting none of it show. He had other matters that required his attention — for now.
"We are not done here," he told her. To one of the technicians he said "Have a medic tend to her."
The technician said, "But isn't she sentenced to die?"
"When I decide it is time," Vader said. "If she is not alive and well until that moment, I will hold you personally responsible."
The tech grew visibly paler. Vader swept by him and out of the cell.

 

With the purpose to not derail the thread more althogout the discussion is indeed pretty interesting I suggest to make a different thread about father-daugther connection in the Saga. I'll make it think it would pretty interesting, also is very underestimated. It is a pitty because I see so much Anakin in Lea. Also, I see that maybe is explored even in the old books of EU and you guys would help, I have a good feeling about that.
Now back to the knighthood. As poetical concept, the knighthood is something wonderful: The knight is all for honor, his heart knows only virtue, his sword protects the helpless, his mouth speaks only true. This quote is from another fantasy movie but still represent what a Jedi knight should be. Paradoxically, Padme has the same values. It is one of the main reasons that she and Anakin match if I can say so.
But I have big difficulties to say the same thing about Han and Lea. Not because she is raised as princess and he is from the populace (nerf hearder ) Lea is focussed on her cause and ideas, Han is pragmatic guy, even in ROTJ where he already is changed a lot (he refuses to lead the space attack because is not mad ) He is driven by individualism, she is all by being with the people. I just see less common things in them as characters and ideals (I'm not talking about flaws, everybody has it).

 

I've always preferred the Ani-Padme romance. It has always struck me as the more romantic of the two, and made more sense too me. A small part of it may be that I've never liked solo's character, but in the end I genuinely find Ani and Padme's romance to just be more believable. Its sweet, deep, and passionate. It just works for me.

 

An unusual and interesting opinon. Why you dislike the Han Solo character? Is it related to his attitude to Lea?

 

Somewhat yes. I just feel his character development wasn't very believable. He's a jerk throughout IV, and V, but magically turns to an upstanding freedom fighter in VI. Then there is that bizzar turn in VII that he's effectively a criminal again. Plus his advances on Leia have always creeped me out more than anything Anakin has done. Perhaps it all comes down to perspective, but to me he's just never come off as a likeable character.

 

As I discussed before, it shocks me every time why so may people insist that Ani is creepy with Padme in Episode 2 (I will not stop to prove that this is not true at all ) and in the same time they are just fine with Han's attitude to Lea. (Hers to Han is fine, the girl just need to defend her own dignity ) I'm sorry to say it, but I have the strong feeling that as is considered that Han is DA cool guy , it is 'allowed' to him to act like that and as Anakin is weird one (I like that), every line or look or gesture than look unusual (no matter that I don't see such but anyway) is considered as inappropriate. Is unfair, but I'm afraid is true. It also has to do a lot with the totally unjustified complain:’ why a girl like Padme ends up with guy like Anakin. He should be the quarterback of the block as she is the princess of the neighborhood’. Neither is true, I think.

 

One more detail about the mirrored relationships that came to me of a post of 2K-D2 about Lea and Padme and their costumes as mirroring of their feelings. In both cases the clothes are not just fashion, they say something without words.
In ANH Lea is princess and as such is wearing a very lady-like dress, yet simple and comfortable. In TESB Lea changes, she is already a rebellion leader, she is wearing a military uniform and even in Cloud City she wears trousers (i.e. “masculine“ outfit). And indeed in this military tough outfits she confesses/reveals her feelings to Han. For me this is deliberate, because as I said in my first post the fight for domination is essential part of her relationship with Han. In Endor is the most interesting part: when Lea learns the true about her family is in very femenine, “domestic-like“ clothes, something that she would wear at home, in peacefull times; yet when she declares eventually her feelings to Han (and he almost did the same) she is hurt and still in her military costume. Funny, isn‘t it? It tells a lot about her feelings to Han and the way she feels about that love.
What about her mother? Well, where should I begin? The costumes of Padme deserve their own thread, actually I have always wonder why their designer is not the famous one in Hollywood, she is fantastic! Here we could discuss with hours (favorite theme of mine, I think tо Sepra and Deliveranze also ) but I‘ll take as example only the costumes in AOTC because they are crucial to show her feelings to Anakin.
In the beginning Padme is wearing beautiful, yet very conservative, even literally heavy costumes. They look more like artistically made armor than a real dress (that in her apartment, during the meeting in Chancellor‘s office, etc.) The reason is simple: Padme is hiding her true self behind the senator title, she looks reserved, even cold. (Anakin noticed that she looks like that but he didn‘t understand the reason why). In Naboo (even in the deleted scenes) she looks completelly different: astonishing dresses, very sensual, very femenine but with one exception they made her feel free. It is because she is alone with Anakin and she feels free to be Padme. Is not that she feels comfortable about her feelings to him, but she feels comfortable to express her emotions in general: she can laugh, she can share stories from the past, she can share wonderful moments and places with him.. and Ani is the reason behind all this. No matter how seducing looks the lake dress, it also has wings. Padme looks like beautiful bird that wants to fly. Again in the meadow her pastoral dress looks the same way. The only exception is the fireplace outfit. It is her passionate dress of course, a difference from the diner she looks defenseless because she is without the top that covered her on the table. I think in this way she allowed to Anakin to come closer, but the streched dress also shows the tension and her inner conflict between her sense and her sensiblity (speaking of classics). She confessed her love in a white simple ‘travel‘ costume: is because she already had decided what she wants, everything is clear and simple: she also cannot live (or die) without him. I can discuss more on her dresses, of course, but my general point here is that her OUTfit reveals her internal feelings ( and surprisingly in a totally different way it is also true in the case of Lea).
I‘m not so good in the visual presentations as HevyDevy makes them, but I‘ll try to find some pictures in a while.

 

My Gosh. Bravo! Fantastic post.

 

I think I promised some visual comparisons between mother and daughter and their respective confessions of their feelings.
Here is Padme in AOTC, first in her armor-like senator's outfit (even her hair is armored here):



Then with Anakin on Naboo in her famous lake dress, when she shares a kiss with Ani. A difference from her daughter, Padme chooses to be with this free, unprotected dress when she is alone with Anakin.


And here, when she ultimately confesses her feelings, in her simple innocent white costume. When Padme finally accepts her feelongs, there are no shadows in her outfits or dark colors or any other distinctive details. All is simple and clear:



Now, Leia. Beginning of the Empire, Lea in her military costume (the outfit she wears whe shares a kiss with Han):


Leia in the Could city, when she confesses her feelings (a little more elegant, even official costume, but still cannot be compared with her princess outfit in ANH)


And in the end credits, when she is with her brother, she looks more like princess again (well, her princess dress looks a little bit like pijamas, but I will not discuss the quality of the dress design here).When she is with Han she looks more military and here she looks vulnerable. Ironic, isn't it?


Conclusion: both daughter and mother 'express' their feelings trough their outfits. But this is one of the few similarities between them. Leia shares a kiss in her military costume and confesses her love when her beloved one is in danger. Also she did that in front of.. well, anyone, even her enemies, a difference from her mother. Padme wears very brave, even seductive dress when she shares a kiss with the love of her life then confesses her feelings when is unfairly sentenced to death.
The colors are also interesting: Lea is wearing white always, except in Cloud city, Endor and of course her humilliating slave outfit. Padme wears dark colors in her public places, with Anakin she wears blue and other light colors with one exception , the fireplace scene.

 

When I watched some moments of the movies I noticed also one big differences between both mentioned couples: Anakin and Padme rhymes in term of dialogue (and not only) a difference form Han and Lea.
Let's take a short look on such moments, first for Anakin and Padme.

Ep.1 is the only exception, but to a degree (as Padme expresses some doubts in the beginning but they are not against Anakin but against te risk that Qui Gon is taking). Yet, I could say here they don't rhyme exactly, is more like they harmonize here. We first see Anakin in Padme's presence, moreover, Padme shows up as Padme (not as handmaiden in uniform, and not as queen ) exactly when they go to the shop where is Anakin. Both of them accept Jar Jar as he is (Padme is more polite with him, but Anakin also notice his presence without being annoyed, just a little bit surprised in the beginning ) and this says a lot. Padme and Anakin help to the others without seeking any reward. Is not strange that in Anakin and Shmi's house they form an inmediate, natural child bond. After all, they are still children.
In the ship of course it can be seen that Padme will always understand Ani more than anyone (except maybe his mother). She noticed that he is not well, offered him something to cover and immediately guessed what's wrong (he misses his mother). I wish the Jedi could be so sensitive. Of course everybody likes the smiles that they share in the end and they say " I know you, but who you really are and I like you". So what we see here is not exactly rhyming, is more like harmony.

In AOTC I saw some moments of rhyming.
First, duty vs. people. Padme is put on this 'trial" still on the beginning of the movie when Corde dies for her and she feels guilty captain Typho should remind her that this is question of duty and the senator must complete it. Anakin faces this in the clone gunship when Anakin concluded that Padme would do her duty. When I first saw the movie I thought " Are you sure, Anakin? I think she'd better would come for you as actually she did after a while.
Growing up. First Padme explains what is to grown up then tell to Ani "don't grow too fast". He said that is grown up, acting in a very childish way
The sand scene: (surprise) Anakin is expressing how is thirsty for water and rejects the sand. In the same time, Padme, also loving the water is making her confession in the dry Geonosian planet .
The love confession itself: I'm in agony/I was dying everyday since you come back in my life.
In Geonosis, Padme goes from diplomatic solutions to aggressive negotiations. Actually Anakin pass trough the same in Geonosis, first obeying to Padme's advice for dimplomacy and then, fighting with the locals. Of course, they are catch almost simultaneously by the Geonosians.
In the hangar Anakin is choked unconscious and wake up when Padme wakes up.
Of course, the moment of the wedding when they took they hands: first the real one, then Padme accept also his mechanical hand what means that she would love him even when he is half mechanical (as it happens).
Maybe there are more, but it is what comes to my mind right now.

ROTS:
Their full rhyming comes here because their relationship is strongest but unfortunately it is the moment when it ends. They are so many scenes about that, but I would say that the exceptional are: the ruminations and death-birth scene in the end. The ruminations are a scene in complete harmony when the two beloved ones watch one to another as they are in the same room. Words are not needed at all, they say all that is needed with their eyes. The ruminations scene is interrupted by Palpatine's voice (interesting, isn't it) who lures Anakin to dark places, using this moment.
Actually after this, even when he is acting by his Vader persona, Padme senses him. She cries during the temple massacre because she knows that something terrible is happening to him. And of course after the duel, the first words of Padme are "Is Anakin all right" and his first words after that are: "is Padme all right" , Here he is still Anakin.
The death-birth scene itself should be analyzed apart, but I think it is already done million times. Here I just wanted to emphasize how Anakin and Padme sre connected.
The relationship between Lea and Han is all but not rhymed, I'll write latter about it.
I'll tag here HevyDevy and MarcJordan because I know that they are fans of rhyming and I'm curious to hear their opinion (and of course, of everybody else).

 

I've been noticing that Leia & Padme both confessed their love when they thought they were never going to see their man again. Both wearing white and in bonds. They only let their love show when all else is lost. They both put on the exterior of tough diplomats, otherwise.

Han & Leia allowed each other to tap into their soft, vulnerable sides, which normally remain concealed. Much like Padme. Whereas Anakin wore his passions on his sleeve. He lost that arm/sleeve shortly after his mother died and his love with Padme was reciprocated, and thus Padme lost her sleeve as well. (Everything that happens to Anakin also happens to Padme, albeit usually on a symbolic level).

 

That for arm/sleeve was brilliant! I have never thought about it!

 

Seagoat, I think the time has come. Let‘s move the thread to the Saga forum and let‘s see if there will be more opinions shared.

 

You got it

Back to bed for me....

 

Actually, the fabula of “we dislike each other and after that become close mates and fall in love“ is not so new. It appears even in Pride and Prejudice. But of course, that is not enough to call the relationship modern/old fashioned and that of Han and Lea is not old fashioned at all.

 

Personally, I think that establishing that Anakin and Padme had zero interactions between TMP and AOTC was a major problem. It really made it sound like he was obsessing over a girl he'd known for a few days for a decade. I could see that coming across as a little creepy, or at least a very unstable foundation for a marriage. (For what it's worth, while I think the stiffer acting of the leads made it hard to get into the love story, Padme's confession scene at Geonosis did ring sincere to me, and the "Artoo" joke, picnic scene, and most of the ROTS material also worked.)

Actually, as far as relationship parallels go, I think the most interesting isn't with Han and Leia and Anakin and Padme, but with Han and Leia's relationship compared to Finn and Rey's bond from TFA; Both ESB and TFA have a scene where the guy intends to leave the team for his own reasons, probably never to return. The gal doesn't take the news very well and tries to talk him out of it, citing responsibility to the cause while the real reason being that they don't want to lose the guy in question. Same setup, but the differences in the characters mean that they dynamics of the scene are vastly different. For example, Leia doesn't want to admit her feelings and refuses to confess that, to the point of undermining her attempts to get Han to change his mind. Conversely, Rey has no problem making it clear that Finn staying means a lot to her personally and doesn't even bother hiding how his leaving (or coming back, for that matter) makes her feel.

To get things back on track a bit, I wonder if, for all it's love for the original trilogy, if the sequels kind of took a page from the prequels, in regards to the main characters' relationship. While we don't know yet if Finn and Rey are being set up to fall in love or not, the dynamics they were given in TFA was of two people hit it off right away, instead of getting on each other's nerves before getting to know each other better. In TMP, Anakin and Padme seemed to befriend each other right off the bat and liked hanging out from what little they had time for, which is a lot closer to Finn and Rey than Han and Leia.

 

Oh, I certainly agree that the whole dynamic between Han Solo and Princess Leia is nothing new. It’s basically a 1930s screwball comedy in space. Watch a film like Frank Capra’s IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and you’ll see what I mean. But it works. Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher both have alot of presence and charisma, and I’m not sure any modern screenwriter is as good at writing 1930s/1940s Old Hollywood-style witty banter as Lawrence Kasdan is. Seriously, watch a movie like CASABLANCA. About 80% of that movie’s dialogue consists of snarky one-liners (particularly any scene with Captain Louis Renault).

With the prequels, meh. They constantly talk about how much they love each other and they’re placed within these grand romantic vistas (I guess I’ll give those scenes some credit for featuring actual location shooting rather than being done in front of a green screen), but there’s just no heat or intensity or passion behind any of it. Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman have zero chemistry with each other. They don’t act like two people caught in throes of an uncontrollable passion for each other. It feels more like an awkward date where both parties are trying to be polite to each other, but you can just tell that they’re really not hitting it off and they’re both just sort of impatiently waiting for the cheque to arrive so they can get outta there. Even some of the corny cheesy love dialogue would work alot better if there was some real emotion behind it. Let’s look at this scene:



It just feels kinda awkward. There should be a smoldering passion, an intensity that the two of them are desperately trying to contain. But we don’t get that at all. The music is telling us that they’re in love, as does the romantic villa, but it’s just not there in the interactions. If anything, they look bored. I’m half-expecting to just start playing on their phones during this scene. Hell, Portman had better chemistry with Jake Lloyd. Now, let’s compare this to a scene from another Frank Capra movie- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE:



Yeah, George Bailey is acting like a bit of an idiot in this scene, and I can definitely see why some people find this line to be incredibly corny, “What is it you want, Mary? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” But just look at how Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed interact in this scene. There’s really no doubt that these two are into each other. You can just tell via their body language and the way they look at each other. Honestly, it’s arguably the best example of onscreen chemistry that I’ve ever seen in any movie. And even Capra realizes just how silly and corny this is, as he has George suddenly stop himself and say, “Am I talking too much?” To which an annoyed eavesdropper responds, “YES! Why don’t ya kiss her instead of talking her to death!”

Or look at the scene where Natalie Portman confesses her “love” for Anakin Skywalker:



You’re really selling me on just how deeply and passionately with your emotionless vacant stare and your bored monotone. It actually says alot to me about George Lucas’s abilities (or lack thereof) as a director that this take ended up in the movie. I mean, this is where is supposed to jump in and say, “Hey, Natalie. Could we have a bit more passion and intensity here? I mean, your character has spent the entire movie bottling up these emotions for the entire movie. She’s finally pouring her heart out to this man. This is a big moment for her. Believing that she will die, she discards all of the fears that have held her back from admitting this and finally decides to throw all caution to the wind. So let’s do that again.” Directors are supposed to guide and support their actors. This is Filmmaking 101. It’s not rocket science. Compare it to this scene in CASABLANCA, where Ilsa Lund finally breaks down and admits that she still loves Rick Blaine:



Passion. Intensity. Actual human emotion. Old Hollywood melodrama at its finest. I actually buy Ilsa’s turmoil and her conflict between her duty and her love for Rick. Like nearly everything else in the prequels, it objectively exists as a plot point but the audience is never allowed to sense it or feel it for themselves. We’re just sorta dispassionately told that it’s a thing, and thus, the audience is never really invested into it. Throughout, characters are given plot points to enact, rather than being allowed to possess personalities, quirks, tics, shadings and nuance. With stuff like the original trilogy, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, CASABLANCA, and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, I feel involved in the story. There’s an emotional connection to the characters. With the prequels, I feel like I’m just sorta passively observing the machinations of the plot, and, as a result, I quickly get bored.

 

The whole point is that this story should be awkward. I actually find the TESB kiss scene pretty uncomfortable for Lea, not for Han and that is the worst thing. For Han is like his usual favorite game, for Lea is new and not so comfortable experience, I would say she is pushed to answer the kiss. Rather macho scene and that‘s why I totally dislike it. I love you/ I know just makes me cringe on Han, because this is more cheesy and coward even if he stayed silenced or throwed some stupid phrase as “Don‘t worry about me“, I‘ll be fine or something like that. The only way that Lea could survive in this relation or even communication with Han, is playing a prey that is always running because he is the hunter. As Samnz said, primary relation, just I don‘t like it, even in real life, no matter that it has this animalistic, i.e. natural vibe in it. Now, “truly, madly deeply“... should we even discuss in how many love songs and novels we see this dialogue? Yes, the dialogue in PT is pretentious, stilted, non realiistic as it should be a dialogue from a long ago fairytale in a galaxy far away. If it was realistic, it would be false, because after all this is pretenting to be only a metaphor of a far away times.

 

You don't think this development happens when he returns to save the day at the end of ANH?

I agree he is kind of a jerk in IV but to me the character development begins in that film. Going from helping rescue Leia for a reward, to having second thoughts on his path when Luke chews him out - (to Chewie): "What are you looking at? I know what I'm doing."
Then he surprises us by showing up at the end of the trench run and allowing Luke to make the shot.
In ESB (personally my favourite incarnation of the character) he still has some motivation related to his smuggler arc, to leave the Rebellion he has been serving and pay off his debts. Fate and circumstance (namely getting Leia of Hoth safely) means he ends up drawn into the struggle against the Empire again, and by the time he is unfrozen from carbonite in ROTJ, it seems the natural option to continue helping Leia and his friends in the Rebellion.
It makes sense to me at least.

 

Wow old post....

Its a personal preference. He randomly saves the day at the end of IV but is still a jerk at the beginning of V.

And that's all I'm gonna say about it.

 

Fair enough.

There is just more to him for me. He risks his own life to save Luke at the beginning of ESB for example.

I like elements of the Anakin/Padme romance. Being brought out into the Geonosis arena to be "executed" is a moving moment, the metaphor for an audience to their tragic situation is very intentional. I really enjoy the tragic element, it's important.
But tbh I think Han and Leia is easier to relate to as presented onscreen.

 

While the question is not to me, I would make a note that what I don‘t like in Han is not his attitude to his male friends, but to women in general. He liked Luke and befriended him during ANH and between them grew up enough loyalty that made Han come back and save the day. In TESB we see a real warrior and loyal friend and the only trace of his smuggler days is his attitude to Lea. Yes, Han understand love as conquering a woman and of course, it fits well in his smuggler‘s way of life, but I just don‘t like this, I mean generally. In his behaviour Han look more like nerf herder and Luke was always more romantic and knight-y like, no matter that he grew up in a farm. Maybe this lack of more fine vibe in Han make more people like him but I dislike that. Anyway, what I dislike more is his ambition to conquer Lea, to defeat her resistance instead of trying to win her feelings with what he is. I like him in ROTJ: he steps back, he is ready to love her, not to make her love him. This is his real development and maturity for me. That‘s why it made me cringe so much that in TFA they made this new Han dissapear .