Role of Bail Organa

[JediBendu]

As much as I still saw the old NYPD cop in Jimmy Smits, I'm hoping we get to see a lot more of him for Ep3.
Bail has a important role to play in the next flick, namely the start of the opposition to Palpatine.
They'll probably go right in to the political machinations of the Senate, a lot more than what they have thus far. Have it as one of the myriad of sub plots running along with Anakin's demise.
Hopefully we'll see a lot more of Alderaan, it's set up as a planet of resistence would make it's destruction that much more devastating.

[NelsonCoressel]

And of course he's the guy who apparently adopts Leia, or at least somehow gets his last name at some point.

[darthwicker]

Do you think at any point he might have a relationship or even get married to Padme?
Maybe a marriage of political convenience.
Probably not, but you never know.
Hmmm....time to ponder I think.

[darthwicker]

Leia talks about Alderaan being a peaceful planet, it will be interesting to see why.
I wonder what influence the developing empire will have on it.
I like the original SW radio drama for some of the insights it gives into Alderaan's political stance in the grand scheme of things.
I know it's not pure Lucas, but I can live with that.

[JediBendu]

ya
there's also the RMcQ Star Wars Universe, which has a lot of good shots of Alderaan - all peace luv and mung beans stuff but it would rival Naboo in terms of vistas.

Bail marrying Padme - intriguing. Could be another triggering factor for Anakin's demise.
It could easily be a political marriage. I would tend to side with Padme dying and Bail adopting Leia after her death though.

[Wolfe_13]

The adoption thing would be good, but what would happen to luke? Would Obi have already taken him to Uncle Lars?

[Polunis]

This may be impertinent, but I find Padme marrying Bail to be far-fetched considering the fact that Anakin and Padme are already married; at least that was my interpretation of the conclusion. Personally, I find Bail Organa to be an insignificant character. From our current perspective, he strove in vain.

I am certain someone would interject that the Alliance won the war; I can simply reply that its "victory" was exceedingly unrealistic. I take exception to these "victories" flying in the face of good sense. How can a band of chumps overcome the Empire? I would prefer the "good" side to have considerable power of its own to match that of the "bad" side. In too many movies, the bad guys are seemingly invincible with all of the aces, but the good guys with a stroke of luck manage to topple them. I would appreciate some more realism, for one cannot live life expecting constant miracles to overcome obstacles.

I am sorry for my pseudo-rant, but I needed to clear the air. I was disappointed with Bail Organa's lack of lines, but I reminded myself of the minute role he played in the epic. GL would be advised to make him more important in the next movie if Bail is intended to be a great leader; we need to see the evidence. I will, of course, reserve my final assessment of his character until the epic concludes.

[JediBendu]

ya
but Obi's role is substantial anyway 'Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars, now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire'
Obi's knowledge of Luke and Leia (or lack there of) is a subject of another thread. But given that line, perhaps Bail instructs Obi to take Luke to Tatooine after Padme dies. Maybe as part of a final duty type thing.
Now that I think about it, the birth of the twins could have taken place on Alderaan, Yoda arrives first and is convinced by Bail to seperate the children. Kind a politician thing to do actually, rather than the decision being Yoda's. Obi arrives, takes both Yoda and Luke to Dagobah first then on to Tatooine none the wiser that Leia does exist, only that his last duty in service to the Republic was on Bail's orders.
mmm

[darthwicker]

JediBendu, after reading through the revised rough draft version of the Revenge of the Jedi script on your website (I presume it's your site, sorry if I'm wrong).
I thought it was interesting when Yoda tells Luke that Leia was taken to Alderaan by her mother.
So maybe the twins are born on Dagobah, Padme takes Leia to Alderaan and while Ben and Yoda discuss Luke's destiny we may once and for all learn the secret of the dark tree and cave. Could this be linked with the dissapearing Jedi mystery.
During some kind of confrontation with a sith (I don't know who) Ben may escape and take Luke to Tatooine.
It could be possible that Bail marries Padme so he can legally adopt Leia and maybe they tell everyone it's their child.
If Anakin was to find out I don't think he'd be too happy.

[JediBendu]

nah - not my site but I've liked the name ever since I first read The Star Wars, about 11 years ago. *My cat's even called JediBendu *style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif *I love all the old stuff and was most pleased when I found that site.

Hey, maybe marrying Bail is what kills Padme? *I'd be a little disappointed if I married Jimmy Smits myself style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

[darthwicker]

I suppose what I last posted is useless if we go with the assumption the Ben didn't know Leia was Luke's sister after what he says in TESB.
It's certainly possible he knew of her existence but not how she fits into the Skywalker bloodline.
Unless, if the twins are born on Dagobah, Ben may only get there after Padme has left with Leia for Alderaan and not learn of her for some time.

[JediBendu]

There seems to be a merging of threads here
I'm going for a trinity pact with Yoda, Padme and Bail. I'm betting Bail initiated and got Yoda to convince Padme that separating her children was for the best.
I'm no chic, but I'm pretty sure I just would not let that happen, Jedi or not.
Somehow Obi comes on the scene later, probably at Dogabah after Yoda travels there with Luke. He could know that Padme was pregnant but knew nothing of the birth itself.
I'm betting Bail immediately marries Padme after Yoda leaves and sets up the necessary fake ID to pass her and Leia off has his own.

[tunafishman]

I have a question unrelated to the current discussion but related to Bail Organa:

When the heck does he become royalty? ??? I mean, the name is Princess Leia Organa, so I would assume that means that Bail is royalty also, but we had no mention of that in AOTC. Now, it could be like in TPM where Padme is the queen, but she's an elected official, so that maybe on Alderaan, a female elected representative is called princess.

Although if that's the case, I've got one word for you: lame, L-A-M-E, lame

[Brian]

Good point tunafishman. I always wondered that myself. I think Bail makes himself king of Alderran. Obi-Wan 'served' under him which makes me think royalty. Leia is princess by default because she is Bail's adoptive daughter. My obvious comment of the day.

[JediBendu]

Bail isn't a name - it's a title
from PM - 'who else has been nominated?' 'Bail Antilles of Alderaan...'

Bail could be the equivalent of a King, with a few Baildoms :D on Alderaan.
They could all take turns at representation in the Senate.

[Darth Jesus]

Is it just me, or did no one actually call Bail by name in Ep? If I hadn't known who Smits was playing, I wouldn't have had any idea who the guy in the gaudy jester's outfit was.

Lucas and Smits have both said, though, that Bail is going to have a much larger role in Ep. III. What that role will be, or if anyone will finally say his name, I have no idea.

And re: what is Bail's title, etc., this is from the official site: "Senator Bail Organa was the First Chairman and Viceroy of Alderaan, a hero of the Clone Wars, and the head of the Royal Family of Alderaan. An influential politician, he was a loyal Senator who commanded the ear of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself."

And this concerns Obi-Wan/Bail/Padme: "During the Clone Wars, Organa befriended General Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the revered Jedi Knight served him well in that terrible conflict. When Kenobi's apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, succumbed to the dark side, Kenobi sent Skywalker's lover, Padmé Amidala, to Organa for hiding. Amidala hid one of her twin offspring in the high court of Alderaan, and this child, Leia Organa, was adopted into the Royal Family."

And finally, this excerpt from Bail's "Expanded Universe" section pretty much discounts the idea of him marrying Padme: "Organa and his wife, Alderaan's Minister of Education, raised their adoptive daughter as if she were their biological child. Leia learned the nature of political life from her adoptive parents..." Twice, they refer to the Mr. and Mrs. Organa as Leia's adoptive parents. True, Amidala could change her name, accept the position of Alderaan's Minister of Education (despite having no background as a teacher), and some kind of backdating could be done on a marriage certificate to make it seem like Bail and his "wife" had already been married before Leia came into the picture. But I find that hard to swallow, and the passage says, "as if she were their biological daughter," implying that they -- specifically she -- aren't. I could, however, see Padme going into hiding as part of the Organa's staff (she's been known to disguise herself as a servant before), and dying (of what I have no idea) early in Leia's childhood.

It's amazing how far a short visit to the official site can go towards clearing up questions.

As far as Bail Antilles goes, I've always wondered what if any connection he has to Wedge Antilles, and if he's the Captain Antilles mentioned in Star Wars.

[JediBendu]

Wedge maybe his brother, and son of Bail.
Wasn't Captain Antilles the one Vader choked 'We're on a di..plo..matic...mission'

[Handothrawn]

What Jesus said about Padme hiding as one of Bail's staff, what if she became Leia's nanny, a motherly figure, as close to a mother-daughter relationship Padme and Leia would ever have.

[Brian]

DarthJesus (well, the official site) cleared this thread up quite nicely. :p

[Darth Jesus]

I live to serve (and cut and paste).

[Darth Jesus]

Originally posted by handothrawn@June 21 2002 - 11:14
What Jesus said about Padme hiding as one of Bail's staff, what if she became Leia's nanny, a motherly figure, as close to *a mother-daughter relationship Padme and Leia would ever have.
That's basically what I was implying, handothrawn, though I didn't come right out and say it. It would certainly tie in to what we know about the characters. For some reason, I really don't think Ami dies in Ep. III (after all, Leia remembered her biological mother being around at least a little while, and L&L aren't going to be born till the end of Ep. III).

[JediBendu]

actually it's made it even more open
'a hero of the Clone War' - the war's going to end at the start so he'll have to be involved in ep3 right from word go. Perhaps he's responsible for ending the war - some decisive battle which he commanded, with General Kenobi at the front line. Pretty sure Anakin would be there too, but in a star fighter. Anakin has yet to establish himself as 'the best star pilot in the galaxy'.
'sent Padme to Organa for hiding' - so he's on Alderaan which means he either forced to or voluntarily left the senate. More than likely this would be about 3/4 way through the flick, assuming that he's left in protest of the Emperor.
'commanded the ear of Palpatine' - maybe Palpatine is innocent and it's Bail who's been the villian all along.

ok I made that one up style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Ani's Girl]

hey - Bail's the only good guy in EpiII he's no villian! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

if Obi-Wan sends Padme to Bail how come he forgets about Leia in Empire...or maybe he doesn't realize Leia is that baby and thinks Luke's twin blew up on Alderaan...?? then Yoda tells him where she is? it gets confusing!!

whatever, i really want to see more Bail in EpiIII - he makes me cry at the end if II!!

[Brian]

bump, bump, bump!

[Das_Funked]

I don't think that Obi-Wan had any idea that Leia was Luke's sister. In TESB he says, "That boy is our last hope." and Yoda says, "No, there is another." So he obiously didn't know. So I think that they sperated them before anyone knew, except Padme, Yoda and whoever helped her give birth, and then Yoda gave Luke to Obi-Wan who took him to Tatooine, and Yoda and Padme took Leia to Alderaan under the care of Bail Organa. Then Yoda went to Dagobah, and Padme vanished to where ever she went to.

I'm pretty sure that the threepio says that he was the property of Capt. Antilles when he was talking to Luke in ANH, so maybe Antilles is Wedge's brother, and Bail Antilles might be their Father. Maybe Bail is a popular name, so there is also a Bail Organa, who we haven't met.

[conron_montyn23]

Leia talks about Alderaan being a peaceful planet, it will be interesting to see why.

Alderaan is peacful, because no blasters or weapons are allowed on the planet.