Even though Mother’s Day is one day of the year, there’s never a wrong time to celebrate amazing mothers, both in real life and in the world of pop culture. This is especially true for characters within the Marvel and Star Wars realms, so let’s explore some incredible characters who give fans a sense of motherly love, strength, and fearlessness.
All of these characters witnessed on the big or small screen have given epic performances in some way, but each and every one has their own special place in our hearts. If there are any characters you think should be on this list, make sure to sound off in the comments below. Okay, it’s time to celebrate amazing women in some of our favorite spaces.
“No, I am your [mother]”
Padmé Amidala
Children: Luke and Leia
It is safe to say that Queen-turned-Senator of Naboo is an almighty BA – Bad “You know what.” Her ability to defend the Republic from Separatists includes incredible judgment, while fully being capable of knocking out her opponents with sharp words or a plethora of blaster fire.
Padmé does not only excel during her appearances in the prequels and The Clone Wars animated series, she recognizes the good in Anakin despite all that he’s done after succumbing to the Dark Side. Even before dying, she foretells Darth Vader’s later actions to turn on the Emperor and save their child. “There is good in him. I know there is still…”
She races to confront Anakin while pregnant. Although she didn’t believe Obi-Wan when he told her the truth about Anakin’s turn, she went on a mission to save her children’s father – to have them run away together. Plus, she survived Anakin’s force choke to then be able to give birth to the characters we already know and love; there’s no doubt about how tough she truly is.
Despite Padmé being absent in their lives, her strength, charisma, and will to do good and what’s right were passed down to her children. Imagine if she’d lived and what that might’ve looked like. I would have loved to see Padmé having conversations with Luke and Leia, while showing them a variety of different activities to make them capable and independent. The thought of watching them grow as a family makes me smile.
Maarva Andor
Children: Cassian Andor
Maarva stands out as someone who is willing to care for another, even though her circumstances do not warrant the need to do such a thing. When she finds Cassian, she could have left him to whatever fate would’ve fallen upon him. Despite being in a rush, she took the time to bring him along and rescue him. Despite the unknown and such a chaotic beginning to their relationship, her impact on him throughout the years left an indelible mark where he would follow in her footsteps.
One of the greatest moments of Andor came in the form of Maarva leaving one final message to everyone, including viewers at home. In a bittersweet sendoff, her pre-recorded speech at her vigil gave everyone watching further understanding of what Star Wars means: to fight tyrannical oppressors and unite for a better world. In her last words, like a mother caring for her family, she humbly accepts her own mistakes in sleeping through the growing threat, but she invigorates those watching to realize the time is now.
“…I always wanted to be lifted. I was always eager, always waiting to be inspired. I remember every time it happened, every time the dead lifted me with their truth. And now I’m dead. And I yearn to lift you. Not because I want to shine or even be remembered. It’s because I want you to go on. I want Ferrix to continue. In my waning hours, that’s what comforts me most. But I fear for you. We’ve been sleeping.
“We’ve had each other, and Ferrix, our work, our days. We had each other and they left us alone. We kept the trade lanes open and they left us alone. We took their money and ignored them. We kept their engines churning and the moment they pulled away, we forgot them. Because we had each other. We had Ferrix. But we were sleeping.
“I’ve been sleeping. And I’ve been turning away from the truth I wanted not to face. There is a wound that won’t heal at the center of the galaxy. There is a darkness reaching like rust into everything around us. We let it grow and now it’s here. It’s here and it’s not visiting anymore. It wants to stay. The Empire is a disease that thrives in darkness. It is never more alive than when we sleep.
“It’s easy for the dead to tell you to fight, and maybe it’s true, maybe fighting is useless. Perhaps it’s too late. But I’ll tell you this, if I could do it again, I’d wake up early and be fighting these bastards from the start. Fight the Empire!”
Goosebumps. Legendary. Maarvalous.
Hera Syndulla
Children: Crew of the Ghost
Arguably the best pilot. Arguably the best leader. Despite not having any children, she takes care of the Ghost crew as if they were family. Although she and Kanan Jarrus were the mom and pop behind it all, Hera’s outlook and planning led this Rebel group – and many times offered advice one might expect to come from a parental guardian.
In a galaxy full of pilots, leaders, fighters, strategists, and parents, Hera puts all of these characteristics together and does what’s best for the team and the overall mission. She tries to lead by example, while making sure her crew understands what’s important at the end of the day.
Spoiler alert for Star Wars: Rebels Season 4:
Even when the ultimate disaster strikes the Rebel crew, she does what’s best for them: focus on moving forward. Processing grief is not some singular, identifiable path, but a journey each person much must deal with on their own. Hera defines the will to move forward after Kanan’s death; she represents strength and resolve, and quite possibly, one of her earlier quotes helps to identify how she’s able to persevere amongst such tragedy.
After believing in someone who betrayed them, Ezra asks, “What’s wrong with us?” Her response in season 1, episode 12, “Visions of Hope,” carries through the entire series: “We have hope – hope that things can get better. And they will.”
In great loss, hope holds Hera and the crew together. Even in a Hera bio, one the creators describes Hera’s role succinctly that she’s “kind of the heart of the group. Keeps everybody together when they would otherwise fall apart.”
Powerfully Emotional
Queen Ramonda
Children: T’Challa and Shuri
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever did so much to honor Chadwick Boseman and his role as T’Challa. This heartfelt, painful tribute presented grief from many characters who loved both the character who died offscreen in the film, and the actor who died from cancer in 2020. Angela Bassett’s portrayal as Ramonda, T’Challa and Shuri’s mother, was dignified, loving, and epitomized strength through the darkest of times.
“I am Queen of the most powerful nation in the world. And my entire family is gone. Have I not given everything?”
This quote from Ramonda not only highlights her profound loss, but validates the persistence of her, her people, and what they’re willing to do to achieve greatness. She tries to aid her daughter’s processing of grief by sharing what might help Shuri move forward in life. Even though T’Challa isn’t present in their lives any longer, it’s an opportunity to start “the beginning of a new relationship with our loved ones that have passed on.”
The ability to see any semblance of solace, while trying to comfort her child and lead a nation, is truly astonishing. The symbol of her love for T’Challa is carried on in her own way, and perhaps allowing her to preserve the memories she has while continuing a life without her beloved son.
Frigga
Children: Thor and Loki
Frigga died protecting Jane Foster in Thor: The Dark World (Uh, spoiler alert?), but her thoughtfulness to do what’s right for those she loved did not stop there. Spoiler alert for Endgame: As Thor time traveled to the future to collect infinity stones to ultimately reverse the snap, he encountered his mother. In this moment of Thor’s life, he’s struggling to cope with the realization that he could’ve prevented half of the universe’s population from being extinguished.
Not only does she see her son’s suffering, she doesn’t try to gain anything for herself or undermine his plans. She sees Thor in a traumatized state and only wants what a mother wants. She wants to help heal him. Although the grief from seeing his mother again would be understandably overwhelming, knowing this moment with her won’t last long, it does seem to brighten his spirits in a way that only Frigga knows how to.
“Everyone fails at who they’re supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero, is how they succeed at being who they are.”
Wanda Maximoff
Children: Billy and Tommy
Fictional characters can provide meaningful bonds, and the fictional worlds they live in do not make grief any easier to deal with. Wanda lives in a fictional town on a make-believe show with the love of her life and two amazing kids she gets to call her own.
Wanda’s grief is palpable and difficult to watch, even if it’s impossible to look away. Her pain, this suffering, does not wash away by the brush of her hand like casting a magical spell. She’s completely devoted to her children, wanting to create a wonderful place for them to thrive, while outside forces attempt to circumvent everything she’s built.
WandaVision gives us wonderfully meaningful moments; laughter, crying, and heartbreaking agony. The creation of her home in Westview, Vision, her kids, it doesn’t matter that they were magically created from a broken heart. She found meaning in life by discovering joy in parenting – and the loss of her kids and the love of her life were devastating like it would be for any parent.
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What amazing characters from Marvel or Star Wars would you put on this list? Do you have any favorites from those mentioned here? Do you want to see more lists on the GPG? Share your thoughts in the comments below or show us some love over on Facebook and Twitter by liking and sharing with all your geeky friends.
Until next time, friends, happy parenting and happy geeking.
