Jar Jar Binksis one of the most despised characters inStar Warshistory, and it’s not because he’s a despicable, irredeemable villain, but because many fans simply find him insufferably annoying. But, if one moment from the comics made it into the film, it’s likelyStar Warsfans wouldn’t hate Jar Jar Binks so much.
InStar Wars: The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Specialby Greg Pak and Will Sliney, fans are shown the events ofEpisode Ijust as they played out in the original movie, but with a few extra scenes added to more fully flesh out those events. Among the many added scenes were a vision Anakin had of becoming a Jedi before even meeting Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan, a scene whereAnakin saves the life of a Tusken Raider, and a tender moment between Anakin and Jar Jar Binks right after Anakin stood before the Jedi Council for the first time.
In that scene, Anakin Skywalker is sitting alone in the Jedi Temple, saddened by the news that theJedi Council would not permit Qui-Gon Jinn to train Anakin as a Jedi. Anakin is then approached by Jar Jar Binks, and rather than being a chaotic mess for the sake of a cheap laugh, Jar Jar actually comes off as a strong and kind character. Jar Jar relates to Anakin’s experience of being denied and dismissed, before telling Anakin that he has a good heart, and that everything will be fine.
Star Wars Fans Need to See Jar Jar Binks in a More Serious Light
Jar Jar Binks Clearly Doesn’t Work as a Comedic Character
When Jar Jar Binks was introduced, he was meant to be funny, but instead he came off as incredibly annoying - and it’s easy to see how. Jar Jar bumbled through every scene he was in, breaking things left and right, and just creating chaos wherever he went. Even during high-stakes scenes in the film, Jar Jar’s unyielding buffoonery persisted, making the viewing experience frustrating for fans.
Obviously, comedy isn’t working for Jar Jar Binks. This scene in theAnniversary Specialcomic confirms that Jar Jar can actually be a serious character - or, at least have more serious moments. All the annoying antics he got into in The Phantom Menace could have been forgiven if this scene made it into the original film. It would have shown that there is more to Jar Jar than his absurd ‘comedic’ moments, and it would have made his relationship with Anakin much more significant.
1 Scene May Not Be Enough to Redeem Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars
Some Star Wars Fans Hate Jar Jar Binks for Another Reason
While Jar Jar Binks’ moment with Anakin in this comic is a nice addition to his character that serves to offshoot his more annoying qualities, it might not be enough to redeem him. As theStar Warsprequels went on, Jar Jar became a political figure representing the Gungans on Naboo, meaning he had political influence in the galaxy. In fact, it was Jar Jar who convinced the senate to extend the Emergency Powers Act inEpisode III, effectively paving the way forSupreme Chancellor Palpatine to become Emperor Palpatine.
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Jar Jar Binks literally played a role in the rise of the Empire, and while he wasn’t the sole cause, his stupidity helped throw the galaxy into a Sith-ruled dictatorship. A tender moment with Anakin Skywalker may fix one aspect of why Jar Jar Binks is despised, but nothing can fix the pain and suffering he helped cause across the galaxy. But, his politics aren’t the reasonStar Warsfans hateJar Jar Binks, they hate him because they find him annoying, which is something that’s fixed with this one added scene.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
