The folks at Retrozap may have just fixed one of the goofiest moments in the Star Wars prequels. We all remember when Padme dies — seemingly of "a broken heart" — while giving birth to the twins in Revenge of the Sith, right? Well, this theory states something else killed her... namely the Emperor.
You can read the lengthy but fascinating argument here, but I can boil it down as follows: 1) The medical droids never say Padme is dying of a broken heart, they're just baffled. 2) There was all that talk earlier in the movie about Jedi and Sith who could prevent death. 3) Padme dies of an unknown reason just as Palpatine is resurrecting Anakin as Darth Vader. 4) Most damningly, when Vader wakes up, Palpatine tells him Padme is dead — something he absolutely should not know unless he somehow had a hand in that death. Could Palptine have somehow siphoned Padme's lifeforce to resurrect Anakin?
Obviously, the evidence is mostly circumstantial, but it is compelling. And by god is it infinitely less embarrassing than the alternative, so I want to believe, as the kids say. Anyways, definitely check out the whole thing here!
[Via Jedi News]