Star Wars: 15 Show-Stealing Side Characters Who Shaped The Galaxy

Love him or hate, Jar Jar Binks is a major fixture within the context of the prequel trilogy. First introduced in The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar had a type of Chewbacca resemblance with his quickly delivered life debt to Qui-Gon Jinn. Most fans found Jar Jar to be quite annoying while others were able to take his comic relief for what it was.

At its simplest form, Jar Jar is the on screen comic relief in The Phantom Menace. Whether it was from fan backlash or the simple direction of the story, Jar Jar's role would be significantly reduced in Attack of the Clone and all but non-existent in Revenge of the Sith. Both episodes following The Phantom Menace took a much different tonal approach.

Shaping The Franchise

While Jar Jar Binks was a war hero at the end of The Phantom Menace, his biggest contribution to the franchise came in Attack of the Clones. Speaking on behalf of the planet Naboo during Padmé Amidala's absence, Jar Jar would be the voice within the Senate to give Chancellor Palpatine the powers required to build an army of the Republic; starting the Clone War.

For hardcore fans that fall on the side of hating Jar Jar, this is infuriating. How could such a character be the catalyst for a massive event in Star Wars lore? In reality, it's just another gaff for poor old Jar Jar in a long line of silly mistakes.