@LexYeen Thanks! Have I ever told you my version of how Ep III could have played out instead?

@LexYeen By the end of Ep II, Anakin has plenty of reasons to join the Dark Side. But the big one is that the end plays out differently; Ani and Obi-Wan come face to face with Count Dooku who beats them easily, and the only thing that saves them is *Padme* showing up, not Yoda. Possibly already preggers, just to up the ante.

@LexYeen So now Dooku knows *exactly* who Padme is and her relationship to Ani. He is a far more direct threat to her than the worst nightmare. Dooku's the big villain in III instead of Grievous (which gets this masterful actor and fencer more screen time!) and when Anakin overcomes him through sheer rage (as a callout to Eps I and VI, and possibly with Padme watching in horror) it's the final step of Ani becoming Palpatine's apprentice, not a first step.

@LexYeen I figure by this point, we've seen a lot of Anakin bashing through opposition through the force of his anger, with his relationship to the Jedi fraying as they try to get Obi-Wan to dial him back (and Obi-Wan interceding on his behalf again and again, so when Padme then Obi-Wan try to kill him it reads as a more personal betrayal). Maybe the slavery point would go well here; just a lot *more* on screen history of Anakin being justifiably frustrated with the order.

@LexYeen @Leucrotta imma read this

@starkatt @LexYeen @Leucrotta me tooooo

@LexYeen okay, I just got to the point where she tells Yoda he's being a dick, so yeah, I can see the appeal to this real easily.