phantom menace defender til i die because not only does it have qui gon, padawan obi wan, darth maul, and the epic duel of the fates battle, but we also get to see padmé facing arguably the most challenging time of her life at only 14.
it kicks off this largely politically-driven trilogy by introducing the audience to the beautiful but far-from-thriving planet of naboo and its queen, a girl who conceals her youth by wearing the elaborate costumes and dramatic makeup of a naboo queen. even when her abilities and worth are brought into question, she keeps a remarkably level head and acts in the very best interest of her people. we also see her under the direct manipulation of palpatine, a character backstory that is often neglected in discussions of parallels between her and her love interest, anakin.
the phantom menace paints an intriguing and thought-provoking picture of the young leader before she steps into her role as a senator, showing her vulnerability in contrast with her authority right from the get-go. not only is it a beautiful film, but it’s also essential to knowing and understanding padmé’s nuances and later decisions in the series.