This Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith decision was a major mistake—and now Star Wars can never fix it. Revenge of the Sith is a crucial point in the Star Wars timeline because so many key events take place in the movie and because it had to bridge everything that happened in the prequels and the original Star Wars trilogy. It executed many of these events brilliantly, which is among the reasons it’s considered one of Star Wars’ best movies.

Yet, not everything done in Revenge of the Sith was the right call. One mistake in particular was not only disappointing in Revenge of the Sith but also created a major plot hole in the original trilogy. Unfortunately, it’s too late for Star Wars to ever fix this misstep, and it’s one of my biggest complaints about Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Padmé Almost Outlived The End Of Revenge Of The Sith

George Lucas Considered A Different End For Padmé

In early plans, George Lucas was going to have Padmé Amidala remain alive for a few years after giving birth to the twins. In this version of the story, Padmé would have given birth to Luke and Leia, as she did in Revenge of the Sith, but she would have survived childbirth and gone to live with Leia and Bail on Alderaan for a few years. The twins therefore would still have been separated, with Luke still going to Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen on Tatooine for the original trilogy to make sense.

This version of the story would still have made perfect sense—in fact, it would have made much more sense than the actual Revenge of the Sith ending. Obi-Wan taking Luke to Tatooine would still have been logical, as he would have been the only person Padmé trusted with her son. Padmé also could have been the one to recommend that Beru and Owen take Luke because she knew them from Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. It arguably would have made much more sense for Beru and Owen to be chosen by Padmé in this scenario.

Padmé Living Would Have Explained So Much

Instead, It Created Brand-New (Confusing) Plot Holes

Had George Lucas kept this original plan in Revenge of the Sith, not only would this have made the prequel trilogy better, but it also would have avoided some truly confusing plot holes the real ending caused. One of the biggest Star Wars plot holes created by Padmé’s death in Revenge of the Sith was the fact that Leia claimed she remembered her mother in Return of the Jedi. Yes, Leia only remembered minor details, like her mother being beautiful but sad, but that is still odd considering Leia was just minutes old when Padmé died.

Many have argued that Leia was able to remember these details about Padmé through the Force, but that doesn’t really explain this plot hole either, given Luke had no memory of Padmé but was much more in tune with the Force. Perhaps the oddest part of this plot hole is that it didn’t have to exist in the first place—Lucas had options, including his original plan for Padmé, that could have quickly explained why Leia remembered her but Luke didn’t. In that sense, Lucas’ change of heart about the Revenge of the Sith ending actually created the plot hole.

This ending would have addressed other issues with Revenge of the Sith as well. In fact, this storyline would have resolved yet another confusing aspect of Leia’s upbringing. Had Padmé gone with Leia and Bail at the end of Revenge of the Sith and died a few years later, it would have made sense for Bail and Breha Organa to then adopt Leia. In the real ending, it’s always felt a bit odd that Bail quickly agrees to adopt Leia without even speaking to Breha about it first.

Had George Lucas Kept This Story, It Would Have Fixed His Biggest Padmé Mistake

Padmé’s Death Was So Disappointing, But It Didn’t Have To Be

Had Padmé survived childbirth and gone on to live with Leia on Alderaan for a few years, this would also have fixed how thoroughly disappointing her death was, which remains one of my biggest complaints about Star Wars. Padmé was one of the bravest and most intelligent characters in the prequel trilogy, and it makes no sense that, after giving birth to her children, she would simply lose her will to live. This has also led to speculation that Padmé ‘died of a broken heart,’ which, although Star Wars has never confirmed this, is such a disservice to her character.

This alternate ending could have given her some other cause of death, perhaps even a heroic one related to her work with the Rebellion, and it still would have made perfect sense—more sense, even, than her canon death. This could have tied together Leia’s comments about remembering her mother, Bail’s decision to adopt Leia, and Padmé’s role in the Rebellion brilliantly. Sadly, it’s too late for Star Wars to change the ending of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and there’s really no realistic way for this story to be retconned now.