Question about Padme as handmaiden

I know this has been discussed a thousand times by now, but I forgot the original ideas that some of you presented 3 or 4 years ago. Anyway if you want to lock it or direct me to the appropriate thread please do so.

Okay, here goes:

1. The Queen of Naboo name is in actuality Padme Naberrie, right? Then why does she use her birth name with in "handmaiden disguise". If the Trade Federation wanted to kill her or capture and found out her first name was "Padme" don't you think they would connect the dots. They wouldn't know the name of leader of the planet they are invading is called Padme, oh and it just happens that one of her "handmaidens" just happens to have the same name as the Queen. It's like if George Bush disguised himself as a secret service agent called "George". Wouldn't it have made more sense for her to make up a name like Tane or Vane? Why take the unnecessary risk. It's kinda like why give luke the last name Skywalker and risk the Empire or Vader finding him (Of course you would have to be from the school of thought that believes Anakin thinks Luke died in episode III like I do, but that's another story. I know some people feel Vader would never return to Tatooine so there was no risk, but WHY take the chance anyway? Why not name him Luke Lars or something just to be safe LOL)

2. I understand there were always five handmaidens who attended the Queen (except when they left for Coruscant. They were Eirtae, Rabe, Sabe, Sache, & Yane). So, when Sabe was the Queen, Padme was the "handmaiden" Padme, right? So theoretically there were always five handmaidens, but what did Padme think the Jedi and Anakin thought happened to the "handmaiden Padme" when she went back to being the Queen (I know the Jedi weren't fooled, but just for the sake of argument just pretend they were fooled). The "handmaiden Padme" always magically disappeared when Padme was the Queen, just like clark kent always disappeared when superman was around. What kind of nonsensical disguise was that? And what did they think happened to sabe? She disappeared as well, only to be replaced by padme the long lost handmaiden. I can see it now Obi, "Captain Panaka I will have a word with Sabe about trying to sell some of the Queen's wardrobe to raise the money to buy parts to fix the ship, what she's not here! Oh, don't tell me we left her on Tatooine". I''m just joking I know the answer would be the handmaidens wouldn't be important enough to learn their names, after all they are just servants. So, I guess they wouldn't even know Sabe was gone. But in the novelization didn't Anakin wonder what happened to padme?

 

just like clark kent always disappeared when superman was around. What kind of nonsensical disguise was that?

Well, since it always worked for Superman, I think you answered your own question



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

My understanding is that Padme Naberrie is the real name of Queen Amidala. When we saw Padme as a handmaiden it was Keira Knightley who was the Queen. I do not know if the jedi knew she was using a decoy or not. I had assumed they did not know until Padme revealed it to the Gungan leader. And when Padme and her guards re-took the palace the Trade Federation Viceroy did not know the real queen from the decoy. I doubt that he knew the name Padme Naberrie in the first place. He only knew the queen was named Amidala. And if you noticed the Trade Federation leaders did not seem to be really bright.

 

I get the impression that Qui-Gon knew Padme was the queen before the revelation scene at the (unimaginatively named) "Sacred Place". This is based upon the look Qui-Gon exchanges with Obi-Wan right after the revelation, and also some dialog earlier, like on Tatooine where Padme says "the Queen does not approve..." and Qui-Gon says with a knowing look, "the Queen does not have to know..."

Also in reference to the initial post - as I have argued in other threads, the reason Luke needed to keep the name Skywalker is because Obi-Wan and Yoda's plan depended on Vader being confronted by not just anybody, but by his own flesh and blood. And if Luke went by any name other than Skywalker, the fact of their relationship would not be known to Vader when he encountered Luke.

 

THe only people who knew the handmaidens last name were her friends!

Anyway I can always tell them apart. I always know when it is Natalie, I can just tell from the face.

 

1. The Queen's name was Padme Naberrie, but her official name is Amidala. Or Amidala is her middle name. One of the two. Anyhow, I think she's called Amidala because it's a safety precaution of sorts. Of course, some would know her real name, but since she's called Queen Amidala, most only know her as Amidala. Why does she use Padme in the disguise? You used the example of George Bush going undercover as a Secret Service agent named George. Geroge is a common name. How do we know that Padme isn't a common name on Naboo? It might be, and then it makes perfect sense for the handmaiden disguise to have that name. If the name is common, then people won't pay attention to it. I agree with you on the Luke/Vader thing. I find it hard to believe that Anakin would turn to the Dark Side if he had kids that he knows are alive.

2. Handmaiden thing: There are only five handmaiden in the beginning of the movie and at the end. Eirtae and Rabe go with Padme and Sabe to Coruscant, whereas Sache and Yane remain behind. Sabe acts as Queen on the ship, when they're being captured by the Trade Federation, on Tatooine, and during the battle at the Palace. Padme only is Queen at the beginning and end of the movie and on Coruscant. Padme's disappearance is covered up by the fact that she was 'sent on an errand,' as she tells Anakin when he comes to say good bye. Erm, if you can see three handmaidens in that scene, then I'm assuming that Anakin doesn't notice. I think that the Jedi had their suspicions that Padme was the Queen, but they weren't confirmed until they met with the Gungans at the Sacred Place.

 

There should have been a Spatacus moment with all the handmaidens going "I'm Padme!", "No, I'm Padme Amidala!".

 

It is possible Qui Gon and Obi Wan knew she was the Queen all along. I had never considered that before.

 

TheFury: That would've been great! It reminds me of the scene in Zorro when all the prisoners are like "I am Zorro!" "Nay, me! I am Zorro!"

I'm almost positive that it mentions in one of the novelizations that Qui-Gon has his suspicions about Padme really being the Queen. If not that, then I know it mentions that he's curious about how the Queen defers to the handmaiden Padme.

 

Yes I believe it says that Qui Gon did wonder why the Queen deferred to Padme so much in the hardcover novelisation of the movie.