9. Padme & Anakin
All we really knew about Padme Skywalker was from Leias description in Episode VI: She was very beautiful. Kind, but.. sad." Really thats all Lucas had to aim towards as the prequels came to an end and, of course, he did. Anakin, youre breaking my heart is still one of the strongest moments in the prequels trilogy and - for me at least - that image of a close to tears Padme shell shocked at her husbands changing outlook sums up exactly what Leia described to me as a child. Of course, Padme is very much Palpatines key to bringing down Anakin. Anakins feelings for Padme and the fear that he might lose her like he did his mother is all that Palpatine needs to manipulate Anakin into doing everything he requires to finally bring his masterplan to an end. Ill delve into that a bit later on, but for now we know that Anakin himself broke Padmes heart so completely that she lost the will to live (something that sits well with romantics, but not so well with fans who like their fantasy movies to be set in reality). Because of this, that small, sad scene between Luke and Leia as they talk of their memory of their mother feels a little more poignant as we now know Padme and what she meant to Anakin Skywalker. Oh, and lets not forget, as soon as Anakin realised that he himself was responsible for Padmes death, he fully embraced his dark side and became the cold hearted empty shell of a Sith lord that we met in Episode IV.