Jar Jar Binks is one of the most notorious characters in the Star Wars universe, known for his clumsiness and silly antics in the galaxy. Binks went from being exiled from his home city to becoming a representative of Naboo. To find out who Jar Jar Binks really is, let’s embark on this extraordinary journey to look at his character on a deeper level.
The Invasion of Naboo
Jar Jar Binks, played by Ahmed Best, is first introduced in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.” His character belongs to Otoh Gunga City, an underwater city of Naboo, but he gets banished after crashing his personal heyblibber submarine. Sometime after Binks is banished, he crosses paths with Qui-Gon Jinn, who saves him from being run over by a passing Multi-Troop Transport. As a result of Jinn’s kind act, the Gungan believes he owes a life debt to him and starts following the Jedi around. This annoys Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, who are trying to find a way to contact Queen Amidala on Theed. Binks, despite fearing for his life, agrees to help them.
Jar Jar takes the Jedi to Otoh Gunga, where he is captured for returning to the city after being banished and is presented in front of Boss Nass, the city’s ruler. Boss Nass sees this as an opportunity, and he decides to punish Binks. But Qui-Gon, seeking passage to Theed, convinces Nass to let the Gungan go with him as he owes him a life debt. Boss Nass reluctantly agrees and also gives the Jedi a bongo submarine so they can travel to Theed. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar Binks reach Theed after traveling underwater, only to discover that the Trade Federation has already invaded Naboo. However, the Jedi are able to free Queen Amidala and her companions, and they all escape Naboo in the Royal Naboo Starship.
An Unlikely Alliance
Queen Amidala, along with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Jar Jar, Panaka, and her entourage, returns to Naboo after being disappointed by the Senate. They send Jar Jar Binks to seek out the Gungans to ask for their help. When Binks reaches Otoh Gunga, he finds out that everyone has fled to the Sacred Place. With the help of the Gungan, everyone reaches the Sacred Place and Queen Amidala pleads with Boss Nass to help, and he agrees but only after everyone kneels in front of him.
After this, Boss Nass promotes Binks to Bombad General, and he leads the Battle of Naboo. The Trade Federation’s droid army gets overwhelmed by Binks’ army, and surrenders, leading to the Trade Federation ending the blockade.
Representing Naboo
In the years after the Naboo Crisis, Jar Jar Binks ascends to the position of Junior Representative of Naboo in the Galactic Senate. After Senator Amidala is forced to leave Coruscant to save herself from the assassins, Binks agrees to stand in for her. In Amidala’s absence, Binks gets easily manipulated by other politicians who prey on his innocence. Using his innocence, they are able to convince him to support the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic by telling him Amidala would have been in favor of this, but Amidala was never in favor. Due to Binks’ support, Sheev Palpatine rises to power and forms a Galactic Empire.
Life after the Rise of the Empire
Not much is known about Binks’ life after the rise of the Empire. According to the novel Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire’s End, Jar Jar Binks is once again hated by his people for his role in the Senate that helped the Emperor rise to power. After which he becomes a street performer, entertaining children with silly antics, but he is shunned by the adults who blame him for the rise of the Galactic Empire. This period of Jar Jar Binks’ life is marked by isolation and regret as a result of his unwitting action.
The story of Jar Jar Binks is a reminder that even well-intentioned acts can sometimes lead to unintended and far-reaching consequences.
