MovieChat Forums > Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) Discussion > The Jedi were fools to leave Shmi a slav...

The Jedi were fools to leave Shmi a slave on Tattooine.

posted 8 years ago by otter
22 replies | jump to latest

Because they told a little boy that he needed to leave his mother behind and ignore her welfare, she later died a horrible death on a backward planet, leaving her son with overwhelming guilt that turned to anger and was a major factor in his becoming a Sith.

So why DID those fools leave a woman who'd borne a Force prodigy in slavery? Why didn't they come back, buy her freedom, and settle her somewhere she'd be safe and comfortable (like Naboo), and where they could see if she was going to give birth to any more potential Jedi? Why didn't they tell Anakin that they'd made sure his mother was safe, because Jedi always rescue the innocent, and he didn't need to worry about her or feel guilty? Couldn't they spare a few minutes of Jedi time and a few credits out of their treasury, to do a good deed for someone who'd helped them?

And why oh why didn't they test the midichlorian count of a woman who'd given virgin birth to a Force prodigy? Sure, she was "too old to begin the training" if anyone was, but she may have had abilities that were of use to them, or to someone.

“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!

[–] broforcesquad 8 years ago

Definitely with you on this. When Obi Wan tells Qui Gon "not even master Yoda has a midichlorian count that high" Qui Gon should have immediately been like "Ok Schmi let's get a sample over here."

The Jedi's insistence on having no emotional connection to anyone was ultimately their downfall as by prying Anakin away from his mother it set him down the path of fear. Should've listened to Yoda. They done effed up.

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[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

I honestly think that Padme should have been obligated to intervene. Shmi took them in her home and fed them and allowed her 9 year old go with them. The act ultimately led to Anakin playing a major part in saving Naboo.

[–] otter 8 years ago

Agreed. If the Jedi weren't willing to help Shmi out of the goodness of their hearts and their interest in her genetic potential, Padme should have. What's the use of being queen of a whole planet, and a wealthy and lightly populated planet by the appearance of things, if you can't grant some land and a pension to the occasional deserving person?

Honestly, Shmi's story arc was just sloppy writing. Her only real function in the story was to be martyred, so the writers left it at that even though it meant making other characters be more negligent than they should.

“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!

[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

Yeah, very sloppy indeed. The Jedi do not look very caring or compassionate to just leave Shmi in slavery. No matter how dedicated an individual is, leaving a parent in slavery is taxing on the mind. He didn't have to visit her, but for a child they deemed as dangerous, giving him some peace of mind would not be too much to spare.

That is why the prequels did not work, we can't sympathize or relate to any of the characters be it a Jedi or a regular person. They don't act like humans so therefore their actions seem forced and illogical. Then to add insult to injury, theses supposedly brilliant characters are too stupid to see the obvious threats if and how they are actually enabling it.

[–] LostKiera 8 years ago

What's particularly odd is that Qui-Gon initially does seem interested in freeing Shmi but seems to give up after falling at the first hurdle.

[–] chriscougar7 8 years ago

What's particularly odd is that Qui-Gon initially does seem interested in freeing Shmi but seems to give up after falling at the first hurdle.

And by give up you mean die?

[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

He couldn't possibly mean that he didn't pursue any other options while on Tatooine.

[–] LostKiera 8 years ago

Well they had a few days back on Coruscant before returning to Naboo. It seems he would have had opportunity to start arranging Shmi's freedom. But I suppose it's possible he did, but these arrangements fell apart upon his death.

[–] upl2229 8 years ago

If the Jedi weren't willing to help Shmi out of the goodness of their hearts and their interest in her genetic potential, Padme should have.

I doubt Padmé is privy to Jedi affairs.

"Have to say, Jimmy - you turned into a real impressive fighter. If I was ol' Mengsk, I'd be runnin' scared from you, too."
"You really mean that, Tychus?"
"Nah. I was just kiddin'."

[–] otter 8 years ago

She wouldn't have to be privy to secret Jedi affairs to ask whether they intend to help Shmi, or if she should do so herself. That would have been a simple yes-or-no question that didn't involve any secrets, if she'd had the sense to ask it.

“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!

[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

I find it very curious the lengths people go to defend these films. Why is it hard to think that Padme, a woman who is staunchly against any forced labor and heavily involved with charities, can't decide to help Shmi without Jedi involvement.

[–] Fiery_Boycs 8 years ago

Lars (Jack Thompson) bought her freedom and married her. So why would she not send a message to her son letting him know that her situation had changed?

And wasn't it always supposed to be the case that Palps was manipulating Anakin the whole time? Putting the dreams into his head and such?

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[–] upl2229 8 years ago

So why DID those fools leave a woman who'd borne a Force prodigy in slavery? Why didn't they come back, buy her freedom, and settle her somewhere she'd be safe and comfortable (like Naboo), and where they could see if she was going to give birth to any more potential Jedi? Why didn't they tell Anakin that they'd made sure his mother was safe, because Jedi always rescue the innocent, and he didn't need to worry about her or feel guilty? Couldn't they spare a few minutes of Jedi time and a few credits out of their treasury, to do a good deed for someone who'd helped them?

Their allegiance is to the Republic, which Tatooine isn't in.

And why oh why didn't they test the midichlorian count of a woman who'd given virgin birth to a Force prodigy?

Because Qui-Gon checking Shmi's blood only to find out that her midi-chlorian count isn't high would've been a waste of screentime.

"Have to say, Jimmy - you turned into a real impressive fighter. If I was ol' Mengsk, I'd be runnin' scared from you, too."
"You really mean that, Tychus?"
"Nah. I was just kiddin'."

[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

So,because Tatooine isn't part of th republic, screw Shmi. Leave the mother of a padawan they deem dangerous in forced labor.

[–] Aticusfinch 8 years ago

For 10 years Annakin himself didn´t invest a lot to go back to Tatooine to rescue his mother, so I don´t know why the Jedi should have invested more.

[–] upl2229 8 years ago

For 10 years Annakin himself didn´t invest a lot to go back to Tatooine to rescue his mother,

He couldn't. Anakin was attached to Obi-Wan's hip. Obi-Wan was all about doing exactly as the Jedi Council instructed, not running off to the Tatooine to indulge in something forbidden.

"Have to say, Jimmy - you turned into a real impressive fighter. If I was ol' Mengsk, I'd be runnin' scared from you, too."
"You really mean that, Tychus?"
"Nah. I was just kiddin'."

[–] Aticusfinch 8 years ago

I´m talking about the character and his attitude;not about excuses.

[–] otter 8 years ago

Basically, the Jedi told him that if he wanted to be a Jedi himself, he'd have to detach himself from worldly cares and forget about his mother. Which is a sick thing to tell a little kid with no alternatives but to go back to Tattooine and risk poverty and re-enslavement (as far as he knew), as far as he knew he had a choice between living a wretchedblife with his mother, or being a Jedi with the power to set the whole galaxy aright. That's a horrible choice to force on a little kid, and the Jedi would have been wise to remove some of his burden by freeing the poor gal, in addition to all the other reasons for doing so.

Really, the Jedi's disdain for normal human feeling was very much part of their downfall, and I wonder how many other mistakes they made because of that.

“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!

[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

That's a horrible choice to force on a little kid, and the Jedi would have been wise to remove some of his burden by freeing the poor gal, in addition to all the other reasons for doing so.

Exactly, for a boy they called dangerous they didn't have any qualms ignoring what their actions or lack of action would affect him. He did not need to see her ever, just know she is free. I also like how they flat out reject him and call him a danger to his face, that shows how much consideration these supposed keepers of the peace had.Lets bad mouth the dangerous boy to his face, he surely wont have a grudge.

[–] Volley2020 8 years ago

Padme should have travelled to Tatooine after the events of Episode I and bought Shmi from Watto, and then Shmi could have come to Naboo to live in peace.

Instead no one cares for Shmi for 10 years and they manage to catch up with her seconds before she dies... it's pathetic.

[–] Conan-1982 8 years ago

The thing is that being a "slave" on Tatooine is not that bad, actually it's pretty sweet : they have a big house, food and water aplenty and also a lot of money to buy equipment that they can use to build your own droids that work for you (then if they are stupid and build a useless "protocol droid" that's another matter).

They have a job with what seem to be normal 9 to 5 working-hours (slaves usually work 16 hours per day until they die of exhaustion) and they are not physically or verbally abused by their masters (Watto even let little Anakin go home before regular work-hours were over, what a nice guy ! My boss never does that, and I'm supposedly working in a FREE country !).

So all in all being a slave in Tattoine is better than being a free man in our society so the Jedi didn't need to worry about anyone and didn't care about freeing the slaves: they are all pretty happy to be there.

[–] Conan-1982 7 years ago

"So why DID those fools leave a woman who'd borne a Force prodigy in slavery?"

Because just like Lucas they didn't give a sh!t.