Jar Jar Binks

"He's probably going to get himself killed.''" "''Don't worry. He's smarter than he looks."

- A clone trooper and Commander Stone on Jar Jar Binks

Jar Jar Binks was a Gungan military officer and politician during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. His clumsy behavior had, at one point in his life, led to his exile from Gungan society, but he was welcomed back by his people following his efforts during the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo. Binks aided Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in their rescue of Naboo's queen, Padmé Amidala and, with Amidala and the Jedi, traveled off-world to Tatooine and Coruscant, before returning to liberate his planet from the Federation. Upon his return, Binks helped to forge an alliance between the Gungans and the Naboo, ending years of mistrust. For his efforts, he was promoted to Bombad General and served in the Gungan Grand Army during the battle for Naboo.

In the years that followed, Binks became a Senior Representative for his people in the Galactic Senate, serving alongside Amidala when she became Senator of Naboo. The emerging political crisis between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems saw Amidala, an outspoken critic of a military build-up, become a target for assassination. Amidala went into hiding, leaving Binks to speak for Naboo in the Senate. The Gungan was manipulated by Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, who was secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, into proposing that the Senate give the Chancellor emergency powers that would allow him to create an army to combat the Separatists. This act led to the creation of the army deployed by the Republic during the Clone Wars, a war engineered by Palpatine himself to amass total control over the Republic.

During the war, Binks served in diplomatic roles, such as in the mission to recruit Toydaria as a supply staging base to aid the Twi'leks on Ryloth. He later helped rescue Queen Julia of Bardotta, with whom he had a romantic relationship. By the end of the Clone Wars, Binks was present in the Senate when Palpatine transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, thereby refashioning the Galactic Senate into an Imperial Senate. Shortly afterward, Binks attended Padmé Amidala's funeral in Theed.

Meeting the Jedi
"You were banished because you were clumsy?"

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Due to his clumsiness, Jar Jar Binks was banished from his home of Otoh Gunga, an underwater city that lay beneath the Mid Rim planet of Naboo's Lake Paonga. During the time of the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo, Binks was out foraging for food when he stumbled across OOM-9's invasion force. Panicking, he bumped into the Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn, an ambassador who had been sent to resolve the crisis between the Naboo and the Federation. Jinn saved the Gungan from being run over by a passing Multi Troop Transport. As a result of this life-saving act, Binks believed that he owed Jinn a life debt and insisted on following Jinn, much to the Jedi's annoyance. Both Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, needed to contact Queen Amidala in the capital Theed, but had no way of reaching her. Despite fearing for his life, Binks reluctantly agreed to take them there.

Upon reaching Otoh Gunga, Binks was arrested by his old friend, Tarpals, and brought before Otah Gunga's ruler Boss Nass. Master Qui-Gon bartered with Nass, and persuaded him to provide them with transportation to Theed. Following that, Nass sentenced Binks to death, but Jinn quickly interceded, citing that Binks's life belonged to him, due to the Gungan life debt system. Nass had Binks freed and sent along with the Jedi to Theed. After reaching the Federation-occupied Theed, Binks watched as the Jedi rescued the Queen and her entourage. Jinn convinced the Queen to go to the galactic capital Coruscant, to plead her case to the Galactic Senate, a choice that would result in Binks leaving the planet for the very first time. While the Queen's ship got past the Federation blockade of the planet, it sustained mild damage, and lost its hyperdrive capacity, leaving it only enough power to reach Tatooine, the only planet in the area devoid of Federation presence.

Beyond Naboo
"This sun doin' murder to mesa skin&hellip;"

- Jar Jar Binks

Upon landing on Tatooine, Jinn, Binks, Amidala (disguised as a handmaiden), and R2-D2 ventured into the city of Mos Espa in search of new parts for the ship. They came across a shop owned by the Toydarian junk dealer Watto, which had the parts they needed. However, they had no way of purchasing them, due to the Republic Credit's lack of use in backwater planets like Tatooine. At Watto's shop, they encountered a young boy, Anakin Skywalker. After leaving the shop, Binks crossed paths with Sebulba, a Dug thug who threatened to beat Binks to a pulp after an incident where Binks accidentally ruined his meal by spitting out a Gorg that he attempted to eat before learning from Gragra that the Gorg cost seven wupiupi. Only the timely intervention of Skywalker saved him. Skywalker was but a poor slave, nonetheless, he offered the group shelter and hospitality when they were caught in a sandstorm. At his home, they discovered that he had a talent for podracing/Canon, which Skywalker thought would be a good way for Jinn and Amidala to get the money required for the new hyperdrive.

Binks was more than willing to help in the enterprise, offering to perform maintenance on Skywalker's podracer. Despite his clumsiness, Skywalker appreciated the assistance. On the day of the Boonta Eve Classic Race, Binks continued to assist, and observed the race from a special platform reserved for the racer's family and friends. Binks was thrilled when Skywalker won, mostly at the prospect of being able to leave the inhospitable Tatooine.

If Binks was taken aback by Tatooine, nothing could prepare him for Coruscant. A sprawling city-covered planet, Binks was out of his depth in the capital, and understandably retreated to the sidelines of the political action taking place. He stayed at Senator Palpatine's apartments in the 500 Republica, eagerly awaiting the chance to return home. The chance came when Amidala was refused aid in the Senate, and decided to take matters into her own hands. She formulated a plan, based on Binks's mention of a Gungan Grand Army, and decided to take the fight to the Federation.

General
"So, wesa make you 'Bombad General'.''" "''General?! (faints)"

- Boss Nass and Jar Jar Binks

Upon returning to Naboo, Binks discovered that Otoh Gunga had been evacuated due to the invasion. He knew of the Gungan sacred place however, and took the Queen there. Upon meeting Nass, she made an alliance with him, unifying the Gungan and the Naboo people after years of bitter hatred and isolation. Nass was most pleased with the new alliance, and attributed it all to Binks, much to the latter's embarrassment. As a "reward," Nass appointed Binks as joint commander of the Gungan Grand Army, giving him the rank of Bombad General – a decision that made him faint with shock. Shortly after the promotion, Amidala revealed her plan: The Gungan Grand Army would draw the Trade Federation's droid army out of Theed, leaving the capital relatively unprotected. This would allow her task force and the Jedi to liberate the Theed Royal Palace, allowing pilots to take their starfighters and attack the Droid Control Ship, hopefully deactivating all of the droids in the Federation droid army. Then, her task force would enter the Palace and capture the Federation Viceroy's Nute Gunray.

Binks led the army out to the Great Grass Plains, where they would wait for the droid army. The Trade Federation did not disappoint and sent an army to attack the Gungans. They held up a solid defense against the mechanized army, but sheer numbers overwhelmed them, forcing the Gungans to retreat. During the chaos, Binks accidentally sent a cascading wave of energy balls into a pack of B1 battle droids and Armored Assault Tanks, which slowed the Federation advance for a while and allowed some Gungans to escape. However, Binks and his old friend, Tarpals, were rounded up and captured. Shortly after their capture, however, young Anakin Skywalker, who had accompanied them from Tatooine, destroyed the Droid Control Ship, deactivating the droids and turning the tide of the battle. The Gungans rejoced, knocking over the limp droids and celebrating.

However, the victory was not without bitter loss. Jinn, Binks's savior and friend, had died at the hands of the Sith Lord Darth Maul, releasing Binks from his life debt. Many Gungans also died in the Grassy Plains but their deaths were not in vain. Amidala had succeeded in her mission and had re-taken Naboo. After attending Jinn's funeral, Binks joined in the victory celebrations and looked forward to a new era of peace.

The Separatist Crisis
"It's a clear desa Separatists made a pact witha desa Federation du Trade. Senators! Dellow felegates! In response to this direct threat to the Republic, mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor! ''[sic]"

- Representative Jar Jar Binks



Ten years after the Naboo crisis, Jar Jar Binks had ascended to the position of Representative in the Naboo delegation to the Galactic Senate. He rose to prominence after the-now Senator Padme Amidala was forced to go into hiding after a series of assassination attempts on Coruscant. At the request of Amidala, Representative Binks agreed to stand in for her in the Senate. In her absence, however, Binks was easily manipulated by more experienced politicians, and as they preyed on his innocence, they convinced him that the creation of a Grand Army of the Republic was a course of action that Amidala would have taken. In fact, the creation of an army was exactly what Amidala had been fighting against. Feeling that it was his duty to act in her stead, he suggested that the Senate give the-now Supreme Chancellor Palpatine the emergency powers required to create the Grand Army of the Republic. The motion passed, and soon afterwards, with the Battle of Geonosis, the Clone Wars began.

Negotiations on Rodia
"I think Jar Jar's dead, Threepio.''" "''Oh, not again."

- Padmé Amidala and C-3PO believing Jar Jar to be dead



Later, Jar Jar Binks accompanied Senator Amidala and C-3PO on a mission to Rodia to visit Senator Onaconda Farr and to ensure the planet's allegiance to the Republic. While Amidala met up with Senator Farr, Binks tried to communicate with jungle natives, and in response, a fruit was flung at C-3PO. However, Amidala was captured by the Separatist leader Nute Gunray. Still holding a grudge against Padme due to the Invasion of Naboo, Gunary had offered to help Farr if Amidala was captured.



War on Dac
Following the assassination of the Mon Calamari King Yos Kolina, tensions broke out between the Mon Calamari and Quarren species, the two dominant species of the ocean world of Mon Cala. The Quarrens regarded Kolina's successor, Prince Lee-Char, as too inexperienced to rule. The Separatist Ambassador, the Karkarodon Riff Tamson, stirred up trouble between the Mon Calamari and Quarren. In response, the Republic sent Senator Amidala and the two Jedi Skywalker and Kit Fisto to mediate between the two parties. With Separatist backing, the Quarren overthrew the Mon Cala Government and waged war against the Mon Calamari and their Clone SCUBA trooper allies.

In response to the outbreak of fighting on Mon Cala, the Republic sent the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to seek the help of Gungan reinforcements since the Gungans were an amphibious species. Binks successfully convinced the Gungan Rep Council to send the Gungan Grand Army to relieve Mon Cala. Binks and the Gungan reinforcements arrived just in time to render valuable aid to Skywalker, Amidala, and Lee Char. However, the Separatist Commander Tamson counter-attacked by using his Trident ships to create artificial whirlpools which disoriented the Gungan forces. During the fighting, Binks and the Gungan reinforcements were captured by Tamson's Separatist forces.

Following their defeat, Representative Binks along with Skywalker, Amidala, and Kit Fisto were brought before Commander Tamson, who interrogated them about the whereabouts of Prince Lee Char. During the interrogation, Tamson cracked Amidala's faceplate but Binks was able to seal it with slime generated by his Gungan physiology. Meanwhile, Prince Lee Char and Anakin's Padawn Ahsoka succeeded in freeing the Mon Calamari prisoners and convincing the Mon Calamari and Quarrens to work together to drive out the Separatist invaders. During the ensuing battle, Binks and the other prisoners were rescued while Tamson was killed by Lee Char. Following the end of the fighting, Lee Char was recognised as the new King of Mon Cala by both the Mon Calamari and Quarren species.

Non-canon history
"These men have prejudice deep within their hearts, For looking upon me, they see savagery. A 'native,' 'local,' 'piteous,' 'buffoon'; With such dark slurs they slander my whole race."

- Jar Jar Binks

In William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First, Jar Jar Binks was portrayed as a wise character who played the role of the clown publicly to those such as the Jedi to mask his cunning insights regarding culture and politics. He was cast out from Gungan society for his radical opinions regarding uniting the Gungan culture with that of the Humans of Naboo, but maintained to Qui-Gon Jinn that he was ejected due to being "clumsy." While he played the role of the fool, his frequent asides revealed his true nature, and his contempt for those who would to his face refer to him using terms such as "native" or "buffoon." Despite this, he joined with the Jedi in the hopes of obtaining the greater understanding between the two cultures which he sought.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

Non-canon appearances

 * William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First
 * Disney Infinity 3.0