It's Time to Start Appreciating Jar Jar Binks 

One thing I like most about Qui-Gon is how he doesn't feel any differently about Jar Jar than most characters do - "The ability to speak does not make you intelligent" being the obvious example - but he steps in to save him in front of Boss Nass anyway, not because he likes him, but A - because it's the right thing to do, and B - because if the Force lead him to this strange creature, there must be a reason for that. Not liking someone and yet showing compassion feels both more realistic and more attainable than just being a generic all-loving hero.

It takes a lot of courage to make the first video of your channel about Jar Jar Binks. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

The fact his actor was bullied into almost commiting suicide makes me SO mad. The poor guy is still depressed about it.

So true. Never understood the hate of him. To me prequels are the true Star Wars, where Lucas did all he wanted to do.

One thing that I think you left out was Padme's response to Jar Jar. While even Qui Gon was occasionally annoyed by Jar Jar, Padme always treated him kindly and smiled at his antics.

Brilliant. I've said this for some time. There's a reason George Lucas has a Jar Jar in this movie and Anakin is a little slave kid and Qui- Gon talks about midicholorians and the Queen is a 14 year old girl. These elements represent the main theme of the film. Don't disregard anyone because we're all needed to make this thing called life work. The film is called the Phantom Menace. It doesn't just refer to the Sith. You see, the midicholorians are microscopic life forms you can't see. But even though we can't see them we need them to communicate to the Force. In the same way, we're introduced to these pathetic characters like Jar Jar and Anakin and to an extent Padme. And our characters think they need the Jedi and the Senate on Coruscant to help them but really all they needed were these seemingly insignificant friends they found along the way. Jar Jar finds the Gungans. Anakin is the Chosen One and he blows up the robot control ship. Padme the servant girl is really the Queen and she leads and organizes the assault on the Trade Federation. Even ObiWan, who lies on the fringes of this film for the most part is the one who defeats the Sith Lord Darth Maul. Everyone is important, even the people no one sees or acknowledges.

Never seen anyone defend his inclusion without using the Darth JarJar defense, nicely done! Hope this video and your channel get more attention.

Thats amazing; "Jar Jar DOES deserve a seat at the table, even if he's annoying. Because, when he's at the table, he reminds us that treating any person as if they have no value simply because they don't behave the way we expect them to, and they put their quirks on display for all of us to see is to risk the doom of our entire civilization." 👍

"Jar Jar is the key to all of this." - George Lucas

I was a little kid when this movie came out. Most of the people who hate on Jar Jar seem to have been adults at that time. But me and my brothers and our playground friends honestly loved Jar Jar. Adults can quote lines like “there’s always a bigger fish,” or “your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them” or “this is how democracy dies... with thunderous applause.” But little kids will quote “Ex-SQUEEZE me!” or “Okee-day!” etc.

"Some people don't like The Phantom Menace" We call those people jaded assholes. I always liked Jar Jar

“Jar jar is the key to all this”

Jar Jar is a a country bumpkin who joins the foreign wizards who try to help the Gungan's ancient surface enemy against a common enemy, goes to the Galactic Senate, helps the leader of his peoples ancient enemy by promising his peoples support, becomes a general in his peoples military, helps win the war, brings peace between the Gungans and the human Naboo, and then goes on to be a politician at the Galactic Senate. If that's not a heroes journey, I don't know what is.

I genuinely dont understand why people dislike prequels and JarJar

As a kid, I liked Jar Jar mainly because he looks like a dinosaur. Anything resembling to dinosaurs is an instant win for mesa.

Having a toddler in the house made me realized who Jar Jar is: a kid that never grew up. He's clumsy, irreverent, speaks his mind but never intentionally mean. I can understand his critics: he does take too much screentime but at least he has a purpose in the story.

This movie has a lovely aura of innocence about it. And that bumbling Gungan fits into it perfectly! Plus, symbiosis is one of the main themes of the film. And the relationship between Gungans and the Naboo is a case in point (midichlorians being another). Thanks for the video!

To this day, I will never understand the hatred for the Phantom Menace. It’s a solid film with great characters and one of the most iconic bad guys in Star Wars itself.

I realized a while ago that Jar Jar Binks is a gosh darn hero and deserves to be recognized as such. So are the others, sure. Padme and Panaka fought heroically to save their planet. Qui Gon and Obi wan fought more Siths than any Jedi for a thousand years. Anakin and R2 flew an unfamiliar ship into a huge space battle to take on a gigantic battleship. All of these things are characters who risked their lives, risked everything they had, for others, for a cause greater than their own. Even Shmi was willing to give everything that meant anything to her, in order to do some good for another. And Jar Jar Binks? He put himself in the line of fire not once, not twice, but three times. He was banished from the Gungan society, and he went right back there anyway on two separate occasions, knowing that showing his face could get him executed, just because his friends needed help And then, he took on the challenge of leading the Gungan Grand Army into battle, something he had no experience in, but *he still lead the fight from the front lines!*. He got duped into suggesting the use of emergency powers in the Senate, yes. He got blamed by the entire galaxy for the rise of the Galactic Empire. So you know what he spent his elder years doing? Jar Jar Binks, outcast, General, Senator... spent his retirement entertaining street kids in Theed on Naboo. Just to do some more good for the world. Jar Jar Binks always did the thing he believed was the most good, because it was good. Not a single character in the Disney trilogy acts so selflessly.

One thing I liked about the The Phantom Menace PC game is this that in the Gungan city mission, Qui Gon tells Obi Wan to rescue Jar Jar because "He is still a life form and deserves to be free."

Rewatching the prequels last year made me think Jar-Jar didn't deserve the hate. Alot of us know what its like to be ignored, disregarded or feel like we don't belong.

Quigon is the main character Padme is the main focus Anakin is the future focus JarJar is for bringing naboo and everyone together

I do love how a lot of the SW fandom has sort of re-embraced Jar Jar.Wether it be through memes or videos like this that analyse and study the point of his character.It's refreshing to see compared to the way SW fans treated the character, George and the actor who portrayed Jar Jar when the Phantom Menace came out years ago.

When Phantom Menace came out and this original 1977 Star Wars kid desperately wanted to love it, my defense of Jar Jar was that he was, in fact, me, or anyone else in the audience if we found ourselves plunged into a space adventure. We'd like to imagine if Han Solo threw us a blaster we'd jump for cover and join the fight. But I'd probably drop the blaster, shoot my own leg, then get everyone's names wrong calling for help.

Exactly! The movie is very self-aware that Jar Jar can be annoying. But his connection ends up bringing the Gunguns and Naboo together. This summed it up perfectly!

I never in a million years thought that any video would convince me of the value of Jar-Jars character. You did the impossible

I've never hated jar jar..I think I quite like him..

I have been watching these movies obsessively for as long as I can remember but I never noticed Queen Amidala's slight reaction to Jar Jar's mention of an army in that scene. Have a feeling it's gonna be one of those tiny things that stands out to me forever now. Thank you for that

“Get the memo, Jar Jar. No one likes you!” Queenie Julia: “Am I a joke to you?”

Ever since I was a kid I loved Jar Jar's energy and I couldn't see why people hated him, let alone the prequels. The prequels sewed Star Wars together in a perfect way.

The question should actually be: Is Jar Jar Binks... A Sith Lord?

Screw the backlash, he was the whole reason I paid attention to the prequels as a 6 year old kid Wish I could meet the actor who played him and give him my thanks for that

Jar jar needs some love… he’s so * a w e s o m e! *

In retrospect, I wasted years of my life not appreciating the prequels and I’m ashamed

Jar Jar in episode I: *saves the day* Jar Jar in other episodes: WHY NOT WE GIVE ALL EMERGENCY POWERS TO DARTH SIDIOUS

i think getting to know jar jar as the silly buffoon for 2 movies -- even if you dont like it -- is fully worth it because of his melancholy appearance at padme's funeral. for some reason seeing jar jar like that makes it hit harder. idk its either obvious or its just me but i just thought id share

There was also an episode of Clone Wars where Kit Fisto, Anakin, Padme and others caught off guard in a sea-world Mon Calamari IIRC. They got between a whole Civil War. In that time Republic doesn't have enough army to fight underwater. So they couldn't help. Then Jar Jar went out and got help from Gungans. Jar Jar and Gungans are important. Not just because of he give the emergency power to Palpatine also in a huge extent.

Jar Jar is basically the hobbits from Lord of the Rings. What I mean is, he embodies Galadrial's line: "even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Jar Jar is a country bumpkin, the village idiot and outcast no less, who gets hurled head-first into galactic events and inadvertently plays a small but significant role in shaping said galactic events.

One of the things I love about Jar Jar is how hes used for a whole bunch of foreshadowing 1. Jar Jar mucking around with droids in wattos shop and anakin telling him how to shut it off by poking it in the nose foreshadows anakin destroying the control ship later on shutting off all the droids when the entire gungan army rejoices pushing over the droids on the battlefield 2. When Jar Jar gets his hand caught in the podracer the one person who immediately opts to help him was Padme (disguised queen of naboo) and foreshadows the gungans coming to the queens aid in the final battle of naboo If this was a film by anyone other than George Lucas I would never even consider those things were related but foreshadowing is a staple of his movie style and always has been

When I was a kid, my mom took me to see the phantom menace on opening weekend. Our favorite scene was padme trying to galvanize the senate to action. But we both loved Jar Jar binks, someone who tries so hard to help but everyone sees him as a liability even though he cares so much. We could really relate to that

I did not expect that quality when i cliked on this vid. Subscribed

I already love jar jar binks

Jar jar is my favorite, my daughter was rolling around laughing everytime jar jar was there. He put a big smile on her face, I thank Lucas for that.

Phantom Menace is the movie that introduced me to Star Wars, to the prequels and to everything. I was a kid. So the exolanation of Jar Jar being a character for children when Anakin is not on screen made perfect sense. I watched this movie nonstop and enjoyed it all. I understand my younger self more now.

For me it's the reverse to what many people feel. As I grow older, I like Jar Jar more and more. Maybe it's because now I'm thinking about having kids soon and I see him as an inoccent child, but I even laughed at loud when you showed the clip of that mechanical robot kicking him. The comedic timing is so good in that one!

these videos are great, I have binged them alot

A Goofy Movie is one of the best movies of Disney Animations, by the way

Jar Jar definitely worked as an audience stand-in for me as a kid. I wasn't aware of how many people hated him until I got older

This video and this channel are a gift.

I've always loved the phantom menace it's just very entertaining

I love that the ending is commenting on George Lucas as well as Jar Jar Binks

Good to see some people appreciate Jar Jar as I do. I've always liked that little eyebrow raise Padmé has when he says 'army'. It's like a light bulb just came on in her head. After-all, Naboo's biggest problem, as Panaka mentions, is that it lacks one. Only now she realizes that it has had one all along.

Really well put together. Love how you brush off the "Is Jar Jar racist" question; it's such a silly notion and didn't deserve more attention than you gave it. And I don't trust anyone who hasn't stepped in poop at least once.

I gotta admit, I'm impressed. You delved into things I never would have considered and made the most hated character... not as hated before I guess. Kudos mate

2:05 Getting a little ahead of yourself there, guy. Imperial Senate is still Republic in Phantom menace. Looks like someone's been looking into the Galactic Civil war.

I recently watched ep 1 again, and if you assume Jar Jar is actually Palpatine's most secret apprentice; then it all makes sense. Jar Jar was placed there to manipulate Qui-Gon and then Queen! Jar Jar moves the story forward in many cases, and he's always making Palpatine look good.

I've always been in the side of rooting the Phantom Menace, but I've learned so much things I've never new before watching this video. Thank you full hearted. It feels like I sould call you the wise Master.

I never would have imagined that anything would change my mind about Jar Jar, a character whom I've hated for almost 20 years. However. This take on jjb is was compelling that I'm a complete convert now. In under 7 minutes you caused me to change my mind completely. Excellent points put together eloquently.

you.. you changed my mind. that’s not easy to do.

I would have liked to see the Gungans do more in episode II and episode III. Jar Jar could have been tasked at retraining their army in a drunken boxing style or the Gungans been inspired by his “mistakes” on the battlefield to become an elite force. Maybe they fight for the republic, maybe they become part of the empire.

I had a weird experience a few months back I decided to go back and watch the entire series from the beginning and not only did I enjoy the hell out of The Phantom Menace but it was my favorite of the prequels aside from some of the scenes in Revenge of the Sith. I remember when it first came out I didn't hate it but I was among those disappointed but looking back on it I guess now we could just say they were masterpieces

I love that you referenced Rick Worley. His Star Wars essays are works of art. Thank you for your work so far, it's wonderful.

I had to come back and watch this amazing essay after screaming of joy during THAT Mandalorian episode, I'm so glad it was thousands of us who felt this way

I loved that idiot gungan from the get go, because he reminded me of myself.

“Phantom Menace is a more of kids film.” *Darth Maul kills Qui-Gon*

This is an elegant channel for a more civilized age.

Regarding the "Jar Jar is racist" complaints, just imagine looking at a klutzy amphibian imbecile and going "that's a person whose race is xyz". For the people who think Jar Jar's a racist charicature, that says more about them than it does about George Lucas.

Finally a competent explanation of the most underrated character in all of cinema. In under seven minutes no less! I saw Phantom Menace twice on opening day. Jar Jar seemed a bit off but it's STAR WARS people, that's to be expected. The same movie gave us pod races, Jedi and Sith going at it full speed, huge battle scenes with thousands of characters, Naboo, and Coruscant, etc. The visuals were amazing and yet people seemed so distracted by one character they let it all pass them by and hated the movie. I did not understand the rancor then, I still do not understand it today. Later on I asked by nephew, and niece ( both still single digit ages) which character they liked the most. Both responded rather quickly, and with a big grin, Jar Jar. The kids loved him. That was the whole reason George dreamt him up. It saddens me that the man who gave us so many memorable characters is still maligned today for daring to challenge us with something new. I am genuinely sorry so many missed out. Perhaps this video helped clear matters up for you? We can hope. MTFBWY

It's something i always thought was obvious: That Jar Jar is MEANT to be annoying to demonstrate how the Jedi treat even such a creature with respect, highlighting their ethics and morals. And with this showing why it is important to do so.

I'm afraid you may be hitting the nail right on the head. This reminds me of how in LOTR Sauron didn't see hobbits as a threat, and they were the ones that brought his downfall

I LOVED Jar Jar as a kid. I drew pictures of him constantly

I much prefer content that reinforces a series rather than tears it down. And that's exactly what you do. You defend and bring Star Wars to life on this channel. You analyze it with respect. It's greatly appreciated.

I'm glad that Jar Jar being reference point for kids watching the movie was recognized. I didn't even realize that myself, but it makes so much sense because I watched the first 6 Star Wars movies when I was 10. I really didn't understand how to follow the plot, especially the politics and I barely even watched the lightsaber battles because I was scared of them. I remember latching onto Jar Jar more than any other character. He was funny to me and I really couldn't understand why people disliked him.

Wow. I fully went into this video prepared to disagree with everything you were going to say, because (like most people) I really hated Jar Jar. But in under 7 minutes you convinced me to change my entire perspective on the prequel movies. Well done.

i like how people say hes just annoying character and doesnt do anything ok if thats ur logic people than ig C-3PO is also a bad character, hes clearly just comic relief and meant to be annoying but hey ig people just hate wat they want to

Once again I've found someone online who can say what I've been thinking far better than I could ever say it. Not just for Jar Jar, but Quai Gon too

I wish I could like this more than once

I like him because his high jumps in Lego Star Wars are really helpful

I still laugh every time Qui-Gon says "we're leaving" Jar-Jar trips, screams, and that metal bong sound effect happens. Adults can laugh at slapstick too.

So we just gonna ignore Darth Jar Jar?

Bold: Start a youtube career defending Jar Jar. Excellent work! ;)

I love channels that break down characters, themes, philosophies etc of the movies I love. My star wars experiences have always been heightened by break downs like this. I've never looked at this character in that light before, or how the other characters really view him. This was fantastic. Thank you for this!

This is a nice refresher from all the Darth Jar Jar theories

I was 10 when I first watched episode 1 at the theaters... as a kid, I really liked Jar Jar Binks

Just finished watching all your videos. As a huge star wars fan and a filmstudent I feel like the prequels are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Hope more people see this. Keep up the good work, I’ll always be back for more!

As a kid - yeah, i now understand that he was a character for myself and others. I just didn't understand what events are happening, only that they did and he was not far away.

This. You've summed up why I've always taken Jar Jar seriously in about 6 minutes. Meanwhile my dad still thinks Jar Jar is a stain on the franchise.

I love Jar Jar. He’s always been entertaining to me as a kid, and as I got older I see jar jar as a representation of one of the greater themes in the phantom menace. That being, two opposing societies, coming together. You see it between the Naboo and gungans, between a queen and a slave, a Jedi and a slave owner. It’s a really beautiful narrative that episode 1 shows the viewer and Jar Jar is a prime example of this. To qui Gon and Kenobi he seems like a bumbling idiot who they keep around as a guide at first, but then they get to know him and they see that he can be more than that. It’s a reflection of the greater theme that Padmé as the queen makes her people do. They look past their one dimensional view of the gungans and join forces with them to defend their home against a common enemy. The celebration at the end isn’t just a celebration of the droids defeat, but it’s a celebration of unity and peace. The phantom menace is so great, especially cuz it puts this nice large scale twist on the classic Star Wars themes of good vs evil.

"Jar Jar speaks up." That is beautiful. When the clown stopped saying stupid stuff, even the queen listens.

I've been saying this for more than 10 years.

I feel like Jar Jar gets WAY too much hate. He's okay, in my opinion. Sure he is no Darth Vader, but he is enjoyable!

I want more jar jar Binks

I was a kid when this movie came out. Jar Jar never annoyed me, even though I watched this movie dozens of times. I've never met a kid who didn't like Jar Jar. My peers and friends all liked him. When you're little, this character is just funny. When you grow up, you see that this character is not as simple as you thought as a child. And this generally applies to the entire film.

I loved JarJar. Yes, he was a hero. I could not watch the movie without his humor

I avoided the phantom menace because of what people said about Jar Jar and I finally watched it and I literally don't think he's that bad I don't get it

That was shockingly deep.

I've noticed that the only people who hate Jar Jar are diehard Star Wars fans or people who parrot the criticisms of the prequels. Everyone else I know loves him or at least genuinely find him funny

This is amazing; I've grown to dislike Jar Jar more for each time I've seen Episode 1, but you just made me realize his purpose and more or less flip me around. After reading some of these comments here as well, I came to appreciate him even more. I may not like his personality very much, but it helps to understand his place in the story. Awesome work!

You made me like Jar Jar??? This is MADNESS!!!!

taxation of trade routes is mentioned in the novelization of the A New Hope. I don't understand people complaining about it.