15 greatest Star Wars rivalries of all time

14. Padme Amadala and Anakin Skywalker

Anakin and Padme spent most of their relationship being young and in love, but their time together seemed to always be plagued by Anakin’s tormented nightmares and premonitions of either his mother’s death or Padme’s.

But before Episode III, Padme and Anakin’s biggest conflict was about whether or not the two should be together, since Jedi are supposed to put aside romantic attachments as it not only goes against the rules to have relationships of such kind, but they can also prove to be a hindrance. Regardless, Padme and Anakin get married in secret and she also helps him in his efforts to find his mother, against Obi-Wan’s instructions.

Padme seems to always be on Anakin’s side, but in Episode III, things begin to change as Padme starts to confine in Obi-Wan about her concerns over Anakin’s mental and emotional well-being, even telling him about the marriage and pregnancy. Believing that Padme and Obi-Wan are conspiring against him, especially when Padme shows up to plead for Anakin to stop his Dark Side ways with Obi-Wan in tow, Anakin almost chokes Padme to death and believes her and Obi-Wan have been lying to him.

Anakin and Padme’s one-sided rivalry is a slow burning one, only stoked more by the pair’s passionate devotion to each other. Padme’s decision not to join Anakin must have felt like a slap in the face, since everything he did he thought he was doing for her. But really, Anakin’s evil was born out of fear of his own limitations. In a way, this is the worst rivalry of the series because it proves Anakin has made his choice and cannot be saved.