Facts About Jar Jar Binks Only Die-Hard Fans Will Know
"I spake!"
-Jar-Jar Binks (The Phantom Menace)
Jar Jar Binks, the colorful male Gungan native from the planet Naboo, who was first introduced in The Phantom Menace, rose to become a famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) figure in galactic history during the prequel trilogy. Here is everything that any good fan, regardless of your feelings about him, should know.
1. Jar Jar was kicked out of Gungan society due to his clumsiness, which he shows off a lot in The Phantom Menace. At the time of the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo, he was swept up in the commotion and his life was saved by Qui-Gon Jinn, which earned the Jedi Knight a life debt from Jar Jar. Despite risking death, he escorted Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan back to the underwater Gungan city of Otoh Gunga. In return for his assistance, Qui-Gon successfully argued for Jar Jar's release due to Jar Jar's life debt to him, and so that Jar Jar could safely guide them through the planetary core and to Theed, the capitol city of the human inhabitants of Naboo.
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2. Through his experiences with the Jedi and Queen Amidala, Jar Jar helps bring the two sentient inhabitants of Naboo into a strategic alliance to drive the Trade Federation off their planet in The Phantom Menace. The Gungan Leader, Boss Nass, is so impressed by his ability to bring the two sides together that he makes Jar Jar a general in their army. However, despite their efforts, the Gungans are ultimately overwhelmed by the massive Trade Federation battle droids, and he quickly surrenders to them. Thankfully, Anakin destroys the Droid Control Ship, Padme captures Viceroy Gunray, and Obi-Wan defeats Darth Maul, saving the day and forcing the Trade Federation's surrender instead. During the Clone Wars, Jar Jar played a pivotal role in ensuring the continuation of this alliance.
3. Jar Jar is a key factor in the creation of the Empire. While standing in for Senator Padme Amidala as she is in hiding from multiple assassination attempts and Jar Jar proposes, with debate stalled in the Senate over the creation of a military to defend the Republic against the breakaway Separatists, that Chancellor Palpatine receive emergency powers to deal with the crisis. The Senate enthusiastically consents to Jar Jar's proposal. While Palpatine somberly accepts the power being given to him, as well as promises to give them up once the crisis is over, by the time of Revenge of the Sith, not only is he unwilling to give up his emergency powers, but he declares himself Emperor, once the Jedi and Separatists are eliminated. While this is not Jar Jar's intent, he, like so many others, are fooled and manipulated by Palpatine during his rise to ultimate power. In a deleted scene from Revenge of the Sith, however, he accompanies Senator Amidala and other senators to present Palpatine with a petition asking him to give up his emergency powers.
4. Jar Jar, despite his clumsiness, or maybe even thanks to it, does actually play an important role in several major events during the Clone Wars. Early in the war, while traveling with Senator Amidala to Rodia, he pretends to be a Jedi Knight and helps rescue her from a kidnapping plot by Viceroy Gunray. His efforts also result in the (temporary) capture of Viceroy Gunray by the Republic. Later, he also accompanies a Senate diplomatic mission to take custody of Count Dooku, who has been captured by Weequay pirates, along with Anakin and Obi-Wan. Jar Jar helps bring the Gungans to the aid of the Mon Cala resistance fighting against a Separatist invasion. Jar Jar also helps save Naboo from a dangerous virus the Separatists attempt to unleash upon the world. During another crisis on Naboo that threatens the alliance between the Gungans and humans, Jar Jar and the Gungans capture General Grevious, although they are ultimately forced to release him. Later in the war, he travels with Mace Windu to the planet Bardotta to help rescue their Queen and some native Force-users from Mother Talzin, who is attempting to drain and collect their Force energy.
5. According to Chuck Wendig's novel Aftermath: Empire's End, Jar Jar is still alive by the Battle of Jakku (5 ABY). However, he is disgraced by his earlier role in (unwittingly) aiding Palpatine's rise to power. As a result, he is once again banished from Otoh Gunga and winds up as a street performer on Theed, scorned by adults, but loved by the children. His fate beyond that currently remains unknown.
6. In the 2004 Special Edition DVD release of Return of the Jedi, George Lucas expanded the victory celebration scene at the end to include a shot of Theed on Naboo, as well as a Gungan shouting "Wesa free!" Although it was heavily speculated that this might have been Jar Jar, Star Wars sound designer Matthew Wood confirmed that it was not Jar Jar and, at least so far, neither Lucas nor anybody else has contradicted him to date.
7. Jar Jar was a highly disliked character following the release of The Phantom Menace, so much so that it negatively affected his actor, Ahmed Best. Due to the severe backlash, Lucas significantly cut Jar Jar's screen time in the following two movies. In Revenge of the Sith, he is barely seen or even heard from at all.
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