The Clone Wars Fixes Jar Jar Binks’ Star Wars Prequel Portrayal
Though not the most beloved character in the Star Wars universe, Jar Jar Binks was far better suited for The Clone Wars animated kids series
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars fixed Jar Jar Binks’ portrayal in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Though their status has improved with age, the Star Wars prequel trilogy films missed the mark for many. Both in terms of story content and over-reliance on modern technology, the prequel movies didn’t resonate with original trilogy fans. Not the most fondly remembered character by any means, Jar Jar Binks was the centerpiece of this prequel hate, which becomes more and more unjustified when taking a look at his representation in The Clone Wars.
Brought in via 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar Binks was included as some measure of comic relief in a series of films focusing on war, politics, and fictional religion. Ahmed Best provided both the motion capture for the character as well as the iconic voice, which he would also lend to The Clone Wars animated series. The goofy, cartoonish nature of the character did not sit well with audiences, leading to him becoming one of the most hated in the series. Not too dissimilar to Rose in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, his role was diminished as the trilogy progressed, in order to appease those who did not enjoy the character.
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Though not featured too heavily, Jar Jar Binks was a much better fit in The Clone Wars as far as the world he was supposed to be in. The serious tone of the prequels did not mesh well with a character like Jar Jar, despite the outlandish premise of the saga as a whole. In order for the character to work and appear genuine was through a more relatable medium, which the kids series provided. He appeared more in line with what the show was going for tonally, which gave the character a nice setting to find its footing and become far more nuanced than anyone would have anticipated otherwise.
The Clone Wars took Jar Jar Binks’ story to new levels, by having him save the people of Naboo for a second time and truly coming into his own as a representative in the Galactic Republic. Although his humor wasn’t any different than what was shown in the prequel movies, it was more natural in The Clone Wars. And above all, Jar Jar Binks became a character as nuanced as people like Bail Organa and Captain Rex.
On the surface it appeared simply a matter of taste, but when looking at the world Jar Jar Binks inhabited, it became clearer why the character did not resonate as well in the movies. He appeared a caricature in a world that took itself far too seriously. Comic relief was never before in Star Wars presented in such a slapstick, childish way. It was a tonal difference that made the character seem out of place. He was written for children in a franchise where the most vocal viewers were the adults. In hindsight, context was everything, as his role in the prequel films was jarring to a point, but his work on the small screen was far more believable.
Love or hate the Jar Jar Binks character, at the end of the day he does forever have a niche in the Star Wars universe. He was a much better fit in The Clone Wars because of the more light-hearted tone it offered up as well as the younger demographic it was catered toward. It isn’t that the character was any worse than any others who had come before or since that existed solely for laughs, it was a simple case of a personality not gelling with the universe it inhabited. Jar Jar Binks may never appear on-screen again, but at the very least, The Clone Wars did Jar Jar justice and in turn allowed the character to find his true place in Star Wars.
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Shane started at Screen Rant in late 2019. From blockbusters to indie ventures, he’s there on opening night. He is currently attending the University At Buffalo for a Bachelor’s in Film Studies and has been studying film independently for years. He has also delved into the tedious world of stop-motion animation, putting together a handful of short films. When he’s away from movies, he can often be found in the gym. Of course, when he needs to wind down his Xbox controller is never far away. He can be found on all social media platforms @sheamus_oneill.
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