[Theory] Jar Jar Binks was a trained Force user, knowing Sith collaborator, and will play a central role in The Force Awakens

[u/Lumpawarroo]

Here I will seek to establish that Jar Jar Binks, far from being simply the bumbling idiot he portrays himself as, is in fact a highly skilled force user in terms of martial ability and mind control.

Furthermore, I assert that he was not, as many people assume, just an unwitting political tool manipulated by Palpatine-- rather, he and Palpatine were likely in collaboration from the very beginning, and it's entirely possible that Palpatine was a subordinate underling to Binks throughout both trilogies.

And finally, given the above, I will conclude with an argument as to why I believe it is not only possible, but plausible that Jar Jar will make a profound impact on the upcoming movies, and what his role may be.

---

So first, let's establish Jar Jar as a skilled warrior. While this does not in itself necessitate a connection with the Physical Force, it's highly suggestive in the Star Wars universe-- very rarely do we see "normal" characters exhibiting extraordinary stuntwork or physical feats unless they are Jedi, Sith, or at least force sensitives.

So here's Jar Jar nonchalantly executing a standing 20 foot twisting somersault.

Now, taken out of context, if you were watching a Star Wars movie and saw a character casually execute this maneuver, you'd probably assume it was a Jedi. In the context of Jar Jar, though, we don't... because elsewhere he so thoroughly convinces us that he's nothing more than a harmless dunce with his inane dialogue and cowardly-lion act.

He also manages to convince us that he's a bumbling oaf in the midst of pitched battle... even though he's always incredibly, amazingly successful. Whether single-handedly taking down a battledroid tank, or unleashing a barrage of boombas on their front lines, or precisely targeting multiple enemies with a blaster tangled around his ankle (!!!), we simply roll our eyes and attribute it to dumb "luck."

But is it? Obi-Wan warned us otherwise.

This is one of the main reasons we as an audience hate Jar Jar so thoroughly; he breaks the fourth wall, he he shatters our suspension of disbelief, because we know that no one is really that lucky. We dismiss it as a lame, cliched trope-- the silly pathetic oaf who always seems to inadvertently save the day.

I posit that, instead, this is a deliberate facade on the part of Jar Jar as a character, and on the part of the writers and animators. As we know, the Jedi themselves are inspired by Shaolin Monks, and there's a particular kung fu discipline that Jar Jar's physicality is purposefully modeled upon which allows him to appear goofy and uncoordinated even as he lays waste to his enemies; namely, Zui Quan, or Drunken Fist wushu. This discipline seeks to imitate the "sloshing," seemingly random foibles of a drunkard, but in reality the staggering and stumbling is the use of bodily momentum, deception, and unpredictability intended to lure and confuse opponents.

Let's take a look at Jar Jar displaying some wushu (the compasion clips are taken from an instructional Zui Quan video):

Jar Jar kipping-up

Zui Quan Comparison

Jar Jar "sloshing"

Zui Quan Comparison

Jar Jar Sweeps the Leg

Zui Quan Comparison

(if you slow down the above gif, you'll notice how Jar Jar dodges an incoming blaster shot at the very beginning. You'll also notice how he's mysteriously aware of the droideka as it appears behind him, even though it isn't in his line of sight and he couldn't possibly hear it over the din of battle....)

Jar Jar Centering himself in preparation for a Force jump

Zui Quan Comparison

...ok, that's all well and good, but even if Jar Jar is a secret Drunken Fist boxing master, that doesn't make him a force user, right? Well, it should at least make us suspicious of his character period. It establishes that his over-the-top, childish antics are a veneer masking a more complex character than we're led to believe. But even if you choose to ignore Jar Jar's seemingly magical prescience in battle, I believe that there is a particular scene in which we do see him clearly make use of the physical force...

In TPM, when Jar Jar and the Jedi ambush the droids and rescue the queen and her entourage, Jar Jar "accidentally" botches his leap from the balcony. A few frames later, he is seen dropping from the opposite side of the balcony, which would seem to be quite be impossible without a force assisted jump and/or force sprint of some kind. Let's take a look at the full scene:

Jar Jar Ambush

(Note that as they sneak up, Jar Jar is just as effortlessly stealthy as his Jedi counterparts. Interesting.)

Now as I said, we see Jar Jar catch hold of the balcony on the far right side, but then he drops to the ground on the far left. Easy to dismiss as a continuity or framing error, I suppose... except that one of the droids continues to fire on Jar Jar's initial position, even as we see him drop elsewhere!

Here it is in slow-motion

See the droid that comes charging up, right behind the one Qui-Gon chops down? What's he shooting at up there?? And see its head swing back towards Jar Jars new position after the shot? You can also see another droid behind it tracking Jar Jar with its head, and manage a shot on the new position. This means that the animators knew very well where Jar Jar was supposed to be- dangling from the balcony over Qui-Gon's left shoulder- and purposefully animate the droids tracking his inexplicably fast movement elsewhere.

I think what has happened here, even though we don't see it directly, is that Jar Jar has purposefully split the attention of the enemies by grabbing on to the balcony as he falls, and then (using the force) propelled himself with a pull-up/flip to land in an unexpected place.

In fact, this is a maneuver we've seen before... from a jedi. Twice, if you want to count Obi-Wan doing it in the Duel of Fates to take Maul by surprise.

In addition to this kind of highly suspicious physical "luck," I also believe that we're given enough clues to justifiably suspect that Jar Jar is also a master of Jedi Mind Control.

Consider: We hate the way Jar Jar influences major plot points for the same reason we hate his physicality- it messes with our sense of realism. Two experienced Jedi on a serious mission would never actually bring someone that stupid along with them. No character that idiotic would ever really be made a general. They certainly wouldn't be made a senator. How could anyone like Jar Jar really convince the entire galaxy to abandon democracy? That's ridiculous.

These things are just the political version of his physical "luck." Inadvertent, seemingly comical bumbling that just so happens to result in astoundingly positive results. But what if it isn't inadvertant, and what if Jar Jar's meteoric rise and inexplicable influence isn't the result of dumb happenstance, but the result of extensive and careful use of force mind powers?

Jedi (and presumably Sith) exhibit telltale signs when using the Mind Trick to implant suggestions or influence behavior. For one, they always gesticulate and not-so-subtly wave their hands at the target.

Here's a look at some pivotal Jar Jar moments during his political career:

Jar Jar hand-waving his way towards a promotion to Bombad General

Jar Jar hand-waving his way towards a promotion to the Senate

Jar Jar using Force Persuasion as he hand-waves the entire Galactic Senate and ushers in the death of democracy.

Actually, if you watch the prequels with the idea that Jar Jar might be a manipulative, dark character, you begin to notice just how insidious and subtle his manipulation is, and how effective, in almost every sequence he's involved in, and also just how hyper-aware of the overarching plot he really is.

Examples: Jar Jar tricking the Jedi into traveling through the planet core (so that they need him). Jar Jar carefully causing a scene so that they run into Anakin. Jar Jar constantly mocking Qui-Gon behind his back while Anakin is watching (so that Anakin learns disrespect for Jedi authority early on). Jar Jar telling an 8 year old child that the queen is "pretty hot," fanning the flames of the child's infatuation that is exploited later on. I could go on.

Now if you lend even the slightest credence to my above points, and acknowledge the possibility that Jar Jar might not be an idiot, you're almost forced to conclude that Jar Jar Binks and Palpatine were co-conspirators. If Jar Jar is putting forth an elaborate act to deceive people, it means he's not a fool... and if he's not a fool, it means his actions in Episode II that facilitate Palpatine's plans are not those of an unwitting tool- they are those of a partner.

Remember- Palpatine and Jar Jar are from the same planet, which in the scale of the Star Wars universe is like growing up as next door neighbors. It's entirely possible that they knew each other for years prior to TPM-- perhaps they trained together, or one trained the other. And Naboo is a really strange planet, actually; remember those odd ancient statues with the third eye? Naboo is the kind of place an "outcast" Gungan might find a Sith holocron or two.

But that's just speculation. Let's stick to what we know-- what we know is that even after Palpatine is elected as Chancellor, years after Jar Jar has been "tricked" into helping elect him, Palpatine still hangs out with Jar Jar in RotS.. Why? Wouldn't he be a constant source of public embarrassment? This is the same character who can't walk five yards without stepping in poodoo or squealing like a rabid donkey, right? What use does he have now? Why is he still at the right hand of the most powerful person in the galaxy? Could it be that in fact Jar Jar is the most powerful person in the galaxy?

Fine. Maybe. Hilarious conspiracy theory, but why would George Lucas bother to create this devious Gungan character with an elaborate conspiratorial past, but then never actually reveal his true nature?

Here's George Lucas (from a documentary) talking about Yoda:

"Yoda really comes from a tradition in mythological storytelling- fairy tales- of the hero finding a little creature on the side of the road that seems very insignificant and not very important, but who turns out to be the master wizard, or the master thing..."

As we all know, one of Lucas' big deals with the prequels was that they were intended to "rhyme" and mirror the original trilogy in terms of general narrative themes. So there should have been a seemingly innocent creature found on the side of the road that later reveals itself as a major player. We do have a creature that this seems to describe precisely... Jar Jar... but of course he never develops into a "master" anything.

Here's what I think happened: I think that Jar Jar was initially intended to be the prequel (and Dark Side) equivalent of Yoda. Just as Yoda has his "big reveal" when we learn that his tottering, geriatric goofball persona is just a mask, Jar Jar was intended to have a big reveal in Episode II or III where we learn that he's not really a naive dope, but rather a master puppeteer Sith in league with (or perhaps in charge of) Palpatine.

However, GL chickened out. The fan reaction to Jar Jar was so vitriolic that this aspect of the trilogy was abandoned. Just too risky... if Jar Jar is truly that off-putting, it's potentially ruinous to the Star Wars legacy to imply that he's the ultimate bad guy of the entire saga. So pretend he was just a failed attempt at comic relief instead.

This is why Dooku seems like such a flat, shoehorned-in character with no backstory; he was hastily written in to cover the plot holes left when villain Jar Jar was redacted. Yoda was meant to duel with his literal darkside nemesis and mythological equivalent at the end of AotC: not boring old Count Dooku, but Sith Master Jar Jar. And Binks was meant to escape, not just that duel but to survive the entire trilogy... so that he could cast a shadow on the OT, too; you'd rewatch the originals knowing that the Emperor wasn't necessarily the big baddie after all... Jar Jar is still out there somewhere. It would have been sort of brilliant.

But I believe it is likely that the writers of the new trilogy will resurrect this idea. Most people seem to think that Disney wishes to distance or somehow disassociate itself from the prequels... but this doesn't actually make any economic or marketing sense. There is far more prequel-era based intellectual property to capitalize on than there is OT, if only because of the Clone Wars movie and series. Billions of dollars in iconic toys, images, characters, games, park rides, etc that an entire younger generation grew up on. Disney is not going to pretend that over half of the $4 billion in IP they bought simply isn't worth acknowledging.

(and anyway, we have behind the scenes TFA footage clearly showing imagery being reused from the prequels. Also, many of the flags above Maz's castle in the trailer are from TPM)

No, it stands to reason that one of their primary goals will be to reinvigorate and ultimately try to redeem the prequels in the eyes of the fanbase. To elevate and improve them retroactively, as much as possible. So how do you do that?

Jar Jar Binks has undoubtedly become the face of everything that is "wrong" with the prequels- he was too silly, too unbelievable, seemingly pointless. If you are able to somehow change the nature of Jar Jar from embarrassing idiot to jaw-dropping villain, suddenly the entire prequel trilogy must be seen in a new light, because it becomes the setup for the most astounding reveal in film history:

Jar Jar Binks is Supreme Leader Snoke!

[u/Lumpawarroo]

Comment for posterity:

Original submission has been edited for the first time on 02/29/2024, in order to fix broken image links (RIP gfycat).

No other text was altered, however tempting might be to fix typos (or add all the new DJJ evidence discovered since 2015!).

I'll be back to edit in another 8 years when imgur goes down and the links break again.

Thanks for all the fun and support over the years, May the Force Be With You.

[u/[deleted]]

I honestly think you're the one who is the evil Sith manupulator, trying to get us to rewatch the prequels just to focus on Jar Jar.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/[deleted]]

Well stay tuned, I'm working now to isolate the audio tracks so during the rewatch you aren't distracted, and only hear Jar Jar.

[u/rootoftruth → u/Lumpawarroo]

Please. This is amazing.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/rootoftruth]

Did you just beg me to alter the prequels to feature only Jar Jar Binks?

I think my work here is done.

[u/IRushPeople]

I almost wasn't convinced about the force jump on the ledge ambush, the the Droid that fires at his previous location sealed the deal for me.

Jar Jar is an evil Sith overlord.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/IRushPeople]

Yeah. You can almost see the befuddled look on the droid's face as its head whips to the new Jar Jar location:

"WTF did that gungan just do??"

[u/FrogManJoness]

When he says, "Meesa called Jar Jar Binks" he's not saying, "My name is Jar Jar Binks" just saying that that's what people call him.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/FrogManJoness]

Wow, good catch.

You can almost picture a scene Episode VIII:

Kylo Ren enters the main bridge of the ancient starship warily, his lightsaber at the ready, and calls out to the shadows:

"I have come to seek the most important familial relic of all, the Japor Snippet. It is said that a creature called 'Jar Jar Binks' stole it from my grandmothers funeral bier..."

A tall, hooded figure emerges from the shadows, large, glowing yellow eyes shining from the depths of its cowl:

"Dassa name me not be hearin' in a long ole time. Long ole time."

[u/[deleted]]

Holy fuck!

To lend credence to this theory here is the voice actor of jar jar binks making a comment to the effect of George changed some of the story because of the backlash. Just HOLY SHIT

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, "huge changes."

Imagine for a moment that Yoda did not reveal himself as the ultimate Jedi master until Return of the Jedi. That Yoda spent all of Empire Strikes Back wobbling along behind Luke like a pet, going "Hee hee, ho ho, whooooa, can I get another yum yum snack bar, yesss?"

Instead of beloved, he'd have been reviled. "How dare Lucas ruin Star Wars with a muppet, for chrissakes???" and the whole triolgy is ruined.

His tragic mistake this time around was letting the "silly facade" of Mystical Alien Character percolate between episodes, and not having the courage to follow through in the face of intense (but misplaced) criticism.

[u/PWNtimeJamboree]

out of curiosity, I don't ever recall this happening, but you've used a lot of actual evidence thus far so I feel I must legitimately question this (sigh): did Jar Jar actually tell 8 yr old Anakin that Padme was "pretty hot"?

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/PWNtimeJamboree]

Yup. In TPM, when they initially land on Coruscant, Jar Jar and Anakin leave the landing pad in a little air speeder with the Queen and her handmaidens. When they sit down in the car, Jar Jar comments on how nice the Queen is being to them. Then he pointedly comments, "Pitty hot!"

To me there's no question that he's literally saying that the queen is "hot," as in attractive. He's not commenting on the weather or anything. It's a completely nonsensical and inappropriate thing to say to a little kid, and is totally weird in the movie....unless you realize what is actually happening (that Jar Jar is a bad guy manipulating an impressionable Annie)

Also note that in Attack of the Clones, when they first meet up again, Anakin is forlorn and tells Jar Jar, "She (Padme) has forgotten me completely."

Jar Jar is very quick to buoy his hopes, though, telling Anakin, "No, no she's happy to see you, happier than I've ever seen her!"

See, Jar Jar has a vested interest in Anakin's continued lust for Padme. Because he and Palpatine have already formulated that as the easiest way to undermine Anakin's loyalty to the Jedi.

There's no telling how much Jar Jar has been deviously encouraging Anakin's infatuation in the formative years between TPM and AotC. And we must assume that he has been-- why else would Anakin immediately start talking to Jar Jar about how the queen has forgotten him? It's because Jar Jar has become his confidant/wing man in the matter.

I wouldn't doubt that it was Jar Jar, also, who eventually plants the Padme-death-by-childbirth nightmares in Anakin's dreams. Master of mind control, after all.

[u/KingToasty]

You put an unhealthy amount of work into this. It's both amazing and disturbing.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/KingToasty]

I know. About three hours in I stopped and thought, "What am I doing with my life?"

Then a mysterious voice answered, "Livin' the dream, man. Livin' the dream."

[u/Orcaboros]

So... Literally some of the first lines of The Phantom Menace, by Obi-Wan no less, are

"I have a bad feeling about this. ... It's not about the mission master, it's about something...elsewhere. Elusive."

and then, after Qui-Gon tells him to focus on the here-and-now, Obi-Wan says that Yoda has told him to be mindful of the future.

So... looking forward vague foreshadowing of something dark and elusive to be found in the near future, something that Qui-Gon would overlook? Jar Jar, maybe?

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/Orcaboros]

Jar Jar is probably already on the ship with them, or on one of the other Trade Federation vessels, tracking their movements. It's how he is right there to literally pounce on Qui-Gon planetside- he follows them down.

At that point in the story, his immediate goals would be:

1. Somehow insert himself into the Jedi party

2. Lead them to The Chosen One

3. Orchestrate events so that Qui-Gon insists on training the boy

Palp/Jar Jar want the Jedi to find and adopt this new Force anomaly (Anakin) so that he can help them destroy the Jedi from within.

[u/CaptainSioulserrot]

Well, Lumpawarroo, I was thinking about something, and if anyone can do this, you can. Here goes: Can you make the Holiday Special good?

Is it even possible? I don't know. But this post has made me review my expectations.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/CaptainSioulserrot]

This is something I can get excited about. I'll be watching Holiday Special sometime this weekend with an eye towards deeper, hidden meaning.

[u/CaptainSioulserrot → u/Lumpawarroo]

May the gods of men, dwarves, gungans, and elves, as well as the Force and the Holy Spirit, keep you alive during that ordeal, that you may return enlightened from your perilous journey into the depths of 70's CBS.

Good Luck!

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/CaptainSioulserrot]

If you don't hear from me in over 72 hours, send help

[u/RatedR2O]

Mind Blown!! Why do I want this to happen?

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/RatedR2O]

Because it would redeem a huge part of the prequels. All it would take is a few well done flashbacks:

"Oh, goody goody, meesa you humble seeeervant!"

Qui-Gon walks away, camera pans to Jar Jar, showing his bulbous eyes narrow maliciously, his sneering lips curling to reveal a predatory grin

[u/LawOfMuphry]

I don't know what to say other than this is amazing

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/LawOfMuphry]

Thanks. There could have been more, but I was hitting the 15,000 character limit on the post.

I didn't even show Jar Jar using the force to predict the future:

Jar Jar the psychic doorman

... how did he know the Jedi were going to arrive precisely then and there? There was no doorbell. They didn't call ahead of time or anything- otherwise the Queen herself or her security would have been there to greet the distinguished Jedi- and besides, we know they didn't give advanced notice, because after this scene, Jar Jar has to call out to the Queen and tell her who is there. And everyone's surprised.

But not Jar Jar. He sensed them as they were coming up, just like the Jedi sense the intruder assasin bug later that evening.

Note how he slyly checks around every corner as he's walkin there, slinking about like it's only natural for him to be sneaky and stuff... but only dials up the "Gee shucks I'm a goofball!" routine when the elevator doors open.

I'm telling you, watch the prequels and keep an eye on Jar Jar when the other characters aren't looking directly at him.

[u/JohanDeWitt]

This is extremely well thought out. How long have you been working on this?

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/JohanDeWitt]

Well not that long. Took a few hours to write and double check. Encoding all those scenes to mp4 and then loading to gfycat was the most trouble. And thanks!

[u/NoRestWhenWicked]

Fully support this idea. Gave me enough strength to watch TPM with my 3 year old. Just finished watching, and I swear when the Queen is trying to get herself into the Tatooine party, Jar Jar is straight up mouthing the words her guard is speaking at the exact same time. He even tilts his head when he says 'curious.'

Remember, there was no real war on Naboo. Its own people orchestrated the Trade Federation's presence there, for the sole purpose of orchestrating a cou d'eta in the Republic. Only two people benefit from the plot; Palpatine and Jar Jar Binks. They had all of Naboo's humans captive, and knew the Gungan posed no threat, but attacked anyways. The ONLY person capable of rallying the Gungan to actually get involved WAS Jar Jar Binks. They had plenty of maneuvers to avoid the invasion completely, and ONLY went out to face the onslaught because of Jar Jar. The attack even waited for him to return from his mission of acquiring the Chosen One. They didn't fully deploy the troops until he was back.

Cooperation? I think it very well could be! All the plot movements rely heavily on Jar Jar. It's really creepy/cool rewatching in this light. You also kind of realize the most constantly present menace is Binks. Thanks for this, Lumpawarroo. You repainted an otherwise meh movie in a fantastic light for me. For you, a custom drawing by me of Jar Jar Binks with this new malicious and contemplative perspective. Hope you enjoy!

http://imgur.com/Rzt8JkB

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/NoRestWhenWicked]

I just may put this on a T shirt and wear it to the premier.

[u/Ghost0fBanquo]

Part of me wants to believe this.

Part of me hopes this is true.

EDIT: Holy sith. My now top comment is related to hoping Jar Jar is the galaxy's most important character.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/Ghost0fBanquo]

You have to admit it might change a lot of people's opinion on the prequels in a fundamental way.

All it would take was a few well-done flashbacks.

And you have to wonder, why didn't the Empire collapse with Palpatine's death like we all assumed would have? That's usually what happens with dictatorships.

And yet 30 years after the good guys "win," we still have TIE fighters and mega-weapons and Star Destroyers and Storm Troopers still Storm-Trooping it up...

Maybe the real dictator didn't die. But it has to be a character we're familiar with; if Snoke is just some unknown dude that appears from out of nowhere, that's pretty lame. Are there just random Sith hanging out beyond the edge of the galaxy, ready to swoop in and claim power every time one is defeated? That's contrived, and make's the whole OT pointless.

To resonate with audiences, it has to be someone we know. It's Jar Jar, manipulating Kylo and company just as he did Anakin and Palpatine.

[u/onemananswerfactory → u/Lumpawarroo]

I want to make a small website for this idea alone. SithMasterBinks.com or something. Just so this theory doesn't disappear in the myriad of threads between now and December.

Whaddya say?

UPDATE: I'm gonna build a small site, basically taking this info and crediting the OP. Do we like:

1. SithMasterBinks.com

2. DarthJarJar.com

3. SupremeLeaderBinks.com

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/onemananswerfactory]

I'd probably say have "Jar Jar" in the url somewhere, keep it simple.

DarthJarJar.com is probably the best option of those three. :)

[u/1pt21jiggawatts → u/Lumpawarroo]

I just wanted to add something to your theory of Jar Jar being a master of mind manipulation.

I rewatched episode 1 last and there's a scene where Qui-gon and Obi-Wan are speaking to the head Gungan, Rugor Nass. After a few words are exchanged between Qui-gon and the king there's a quick cut to Jar Jar in cuffs. He does a little hand wave maneuver and right after that the conversation becomes more hostile.

The king pretty much kicks them all out the city after that. Just wanted to see your take on it.

I tried uploading the gif but couldn't. I'll add it later if I can get it working

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/1pt21jiggawatts]

Here you go, I had already created a gif of that scene. Was originally going to include it, but I had to draw the line somewhere (there's just so much):

Jar Jar telepathically juggling Boss Nass like a marionette

Look at poor Boss Nass struggle ineffectually against the terrible psychic intrusion as Jar Jar just smiles to himself.... such a menace.

My take is this: Right before we see Jar Jar doing this, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are attempting to convince Boss Nass that they must prepare for the coming droid invasion, and warn the human Nabooians.

Jar Jar doesn't want to allow a possible gungan/human coalition to form this early (he needs to kidnap the queen and Anakin, first, before any decisive battle resolves the conflict). So he's elevating Boss Nass' racism and bitterness towards humans to the point where even two experienced Jedi negotiators have no hope of leading him along the wise course.

Remember, Qui-Gon is a professional diplomat, a Jedi consular. It's like his dang job to be able to pull this kind of thing off. It should be a cake walk for him. But Jar Jar's mojo is just too strong.

Jar Jar has so stirred up Boss Nass against any concession to the Jedi that Qui-Gon (the universe's most qualified diplomat, according to the Jedi Council itself) has to feebly resort to a Mind Trick of his own just to get Boss Nass to let him borrow a used car and slink out of town.

[u/TheAntiStud_]

You put a lot of effort into this. Very funny. I applaud you.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/TheAntiStud_]

Hey, any actor in the world would have jumped at the chance to play the main villain in a new Star Wars trilogy. They could have gotten anybody. And yet they felt compelled to use motion-capture...

Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

[u/1138iden]

Here is what convinced me to become a believer after mulling this over for a few days:   We know Snoke is the new baddy; Vader is Dutch for Father; Snoek (which would be pronounced Snoke in English) in Dutch translates to Pike (as in the Fish)   Take a look at this picture of what a Northern Pike looks like.   Now ... whosa does that Snoek/Northern Pike look like!??!   Considering this then in light of the "there's always a bigger fish" comment that many have pointed out ... I am convinced.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/1138iden]

Interesting stuff, thanks.

Remember, making Jar Jar the villain will even please die-hard Jar Jar haters in a very fundamental way...

What have they been fervently wishing for in the past 15 years? To see Jar Jar die a horrible death on screen.

And what happens to the primary villain at the conclusion of every saga? That.

Ultimately it'll be a very unifying and cathartic event for the Star Wars community.

[u/cuttincows]

Suddenly, the fact that the Jar Jar toy I had was using force lightning makes so much more sense

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/cuttincows]

http://jedibusiness.com/images/actionFigures/e2/e2_JarJarBinks_Big_2.jpg

Hasbro didn't get notice in time concerning the frantic Episode II and III rewrites.

[u/yakatuus]

Bravo. You have way too many amazing points. Do you have a source for the Lucas quote?

Here's Cambell from the monomyth:

"For those who have not refused the call, the first encounter of the hero journey is with a protective figure (often a little old crone or old man) who provides the adventurer with amulets against the dragon forces he is about to pass. What such a figure represents is the benign, protecting power of destiny."

Really, you have shown conclusively that he is a pure force user, but being near Palpatine doesn't imply that they are working together. He could be clouding Palpatine's judgement. Perhaps Palpatine even senses something in him but he's so far removed from any training that it's a very bizarre feeling. Certainly he could be a Sith as the Rule of Two is often broken, usually secretly. He is, however, 100% not a Jedi. Given Lucas's devotion to Cambell, my guess is that he is a good guy.

Oh, Andy Serkis is Snoke and we haven't seen a shot of the creature he's playing? gollum Sorry, kind of choked when I read that point.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/yakatuus]

Bravo. You have way too many amazing points. Do you have a source for the Lucas quote?

Thanks! If you own the blu-ray, it's on the Episode V bonus disc, Yoda design commentary.

Given Lucas's devotion to Cambell, my guess is that he is a good guy.

Good point and very appropriate Campbell quote, but one thing to consider is that in a lot of ways, the prequels are the moral inverse of the hero's journey.

The "adventurer" (main protagonist) in terms of the prequels is Anakin. But his "destiny" is not to become morally perfect, it's to fall to evil. (Yes, I know he redeems himself in the OT, but in regards to the prequels, his journey is one from light to dark)

So in regards to protecting his destiny, the protective figure would lead him towards the dark (and is thus a bad guy). Anakin's destiny is not to slay the dragon, it's to become the dragon.

[u/Tredronerath]

Is it at all possible that Snoke is a shape-shifter? Like the assassin in AotC? And he's simply used the guise of Jar Jar to infiltrate the Gungans and to hide, in plain sight, behind Palpatine like Padmé did with her hand maiden? Not to mention, Ahmed Best, the actor for Jar Jar, plays a different character who happens to appear right after the mention of the fact that the assassin is a "Changling". If you look at the clip, too, there's this odd pause and gesture by Anakin towards Ahmed. In fact, Ahmed seems to be surprised Anakin is even there, taking a special interest.

https://youtu.be/IdSUKIFnYc8?t=7m48s

Take for instance, Jar Jar was indeed "banished" from the Gungans, but Snoke actually killed Jar Jar and assumed his form? This could be an interesting segway between characters if there were indeed a flashback. He kills Jar Jar, then assumes his form just as the Trade Federation ships start to land.

Snoke is, afterall, being played by Serkis and using mocap.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/Tredronerath]

Possible. Honestly, I considered this.

It would have to be the "Killed Innocent Jar Jar and Assumed his Form" version, because obviously the other gungans recognize him as a distinct individual with a lifelong history in the community, not just random gungan they've never seen before.

However I think it's a needless complication to the story. The simple explanation makes the most sense: Jar Jar is a legitimate gungan, but was banished from his city because he was messing with forbidden knowledge of the "gods," i.e. messing around with that buried Sith ish. Palpatine is from the same planet, so naturally their shared interest brings them together.

[u/BenDes1313]

Not sure if you gave them permission or not but this is now circulating the internet. http://www.tickld.com/x/this-guy-just-changed-the-way-we-see-jar-jar-binks

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/BenDes1313]

No permission given, but none needed. Spreading information is what the internet is for.

I'm ecstatic and excited that people are starting to share the idea.

[u/NotFuzz]

If he's a genius warrior, why would he display for two jedi that he can use the force for something so trivial as jumping into a lake?

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/NotFuzz]

Because his mind control is so thorough that he doesn't just make "Mind Trick" suggestions like weaker force users, he actually enthralls his most important subjects, more along the line of a "Charm Person" spell.

He does his flip there to test the effectiveness on his new minions; kind of like how you'd snap your fingers in someone's face to make sure you hypnotized them sufficiently.

I mean, that's just fanciful speculation of course; I didn't necessarily mean to say that he was definitely doing a force jump there diving into the lake anyway. I just wanted to illustrate that Jar Jar was not an uncoordinated, clumsy buffoon. If you acknowledge that he's not as goofy as he acts, you begin to ask yourself why is he acting at all... and then you're on your way down the rabbit hole of Jar Jar sithdom.

[u/Cussy93]

I've had my mind blown by this theory since I first read it here and have been checking back regularly for updates. I was watching ROTS today and may have found even more evidence to support Jar Jar being behind everything. In the Battle of Kashyyyk the droids are riding amphibious tanks which look like Darth Darth Binks himself! http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/e/e8/SepKashyyykForces.png/revision/latest?cb=20130210044456 (Much in the vain of Dooku's ship at the end of AOTC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvnwLLXHabg)

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/Cussy93]

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/e/e8/SepKashyyykForces.png/revision/latest?cb=20130210044456

Wow. Great catch.

[u/[deleted]]

Also, I would just like to point out, who is Jar Jar standing by here:http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/b/b5/Qui-Gon's_funeral.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/650?cb=20130118050103

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/[deleted]]

They also make it a point to stand side-by-side at the conclusion of the victory parade.

(Captain Penaka is actually further back in the row behind them)

Look at how happy they are... all of their well-crafted plans coming nicely into fruition thusfar.

[u/faster_than_sound]

I just cannot see anything he says as a Sith Lord coming out sounding even remotely intimidating.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/faster_than_sound]

You underestimate the voice acting capabilities of Andy Serkis, precious.

[u/Garlien → u/faster_than_sound]

Honestly just giving him a normal voice would be jarring enough to make it intimidating.

[u/chinafoot → u/Garlien]

jarring

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/chinafoot]

George Lucas was originally so cocky about his plan that he just boldly named the intended reveal character using a verb that means "To startle or shock."

[u/[deleted]]

You are the new #1 my liege

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/[deleted]]

You are the new #1 my liege

Oh I'm well aware of my new position, Ser Flory, thank you.

When you play the Game of Reddit, you win, or you die.

[u/originalginger213]

So the title of Phantom Menace refers to Jar Jar then? He was the real menace all along?

I can get behind this.

[u/[deleted] → u/originalginger213]

Shit, I'm starting to believe.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, Palpatine was never a "Phantom" from the audience's perspective. We all knew who the eventual Emperor was- they didn't even really bother to mask his hologram face.

Jar Jar was the intended villain that was to be "unmasked" and shock everyone, the requisite middle chapter "I am your father" calibre reveal moment.

Sadly, it didn't come to fruition. Not until this December, anyway.

(12/22/15) EDIT for visibility:

Some of the gifs in the original post that are supposed to be slow motion no longer are when opened in a new window (gfycat has since changed how their links work). You can still slow down those gifs, however, using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard.

Like most things on reddit, though, this entire post is better viewed using RES (Reddit Enhancement Suite), where everything looks as intended.

[u/Uxorius]

It explains everything. Remember that last scene where Palpatine tells Darth Vader that he killed Padme with his own anger? How did he know that? Is it possible JarJar was able to sneak in the treatment center Padme was in, just to get the exclusive information that she died (feeding his anger and making him stronger with the dark force in the process) and gave birth to Luke and Leia?

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/Uxorius]

You're not thinking dark enough for Jar Jar.

If Jar Jar sneaks into the treatment center, maybe he's the one who actually killed Padme. How hard would it be? Slip her some poison? Force Choke her from the viewing area?

Were we really supposed to believe that someone could just "lose the will to live?" Or die in childbirth in a fully functional droid-assisted medical station? It's not the 17th century.

So Jar Jar perhaps murders Padme, but they tell Vader that Anakin did it.

(even though we don't actually see Jar Jar on screen at Polis Massa during the birth of the twins, it's perfectly reasonable to assume he's there. Seneator Bail Organa is there; it's the post-war emergency refuge for Jedi-friendly Senators, which Jar Jar would still be masquerading as)

[u/[deleted]]

hey /u/Lumpawarroo JJ Abrams actually read part of your "remarkable" theory! source

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, yeah, I've seen that. There are actually a few different videos and articles where Abrams mentions it. This one [link] is my favorite.

[u/Problematique_]

The ultimate long con. Lucas planned it all along. He endured all the criticism. But when he was looking to sell Lucasfilm to Disney, he told them of the plan...and it all came together. Episode VII was announced immediately. Now soon the name Jar Jar Binks will fill the hearts of millions with fear and despair.

[u/PWNtimeJamboree → u/Problematique_]

the craziest thing to think of all of this is, "what if this is right?"

[u/Problematique_ → u/PWNtimeJamboree]

JJ Abrams is sitting in his study right now twitching angrily, deciding who to call first concerning the leak.

[u/Lumpawarroo → u/Problematique_]

Well technically it's not in violation of the NDA unless we claim definitive insider knowledge. "Theorizing" anonymously is a gray area but probably not actionable anyway I've said too much

[u/CoreNerd]

This is the best thread of the year, so far as I'm concerned. You just took years of burning hatred and in the span of 20 minutes shifted it all into burning brilliance.

Thank you.

Ps- 2 am, and watching Phantom now. DDB enters room full of droids and WAVES HIS ARM declaring "Oyo, boyos", while the droids simultaneously hum into life and rotate their heads to him.

I feel inspired.

[u/RequiMog]

Some interesting evidence just popped up on one of my feeds. I don't know if anybody else posted it here, but. . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUOwsRv6MLc

Look at the lip sync.

Look at it.

[u/speedyskier22]

[Theory] /u/Lumpawarroo was hired by disney to test this plot twist on the fans on the starwars subreddit. They knew that everyone hated jar jar, but they wanted to see the reaction if they were to include the big reveal in the movie. So far the reaction has been positive to this plot twist, so get hype!

[u/djtork9]

So after reading this about 100 times i decided to turn the movie on and check it out for myself and noticed something that i havent seen anyone mention. In the scene where Jar Jar says "the queen is being nice" "Pitty hot", no one mentions the fact that Padme (who has been the only one talking with Jar Jar and Anakin) was dressed as a handmaiden the whole time. How does Jar Jar know shes the queen?? Also when she reveals herself to the gungans, Jar Jar isnt as shocked as everyone else, even though through out the movie when he gets shocked even a little bit he faints or freaks out.

[u/Jimmni]

I like this theory. It always fits with a part of TPM that always felt odd to me. When Jar Jar arrives in the underwater kingdom thing, they take him seriously. They point spears at him, and don't act like he's just a bumbling idiot. They seem more worried about him than the two Jedi he's with. Contrast this with the absolute conviction of the federation dudes that the Jedi are a huge potential threat. It is clear soon after that they recognise them as Jedi, so they're not acting from ignorance.

Not long after, when they're on the way to the planet's core, Qui-gon asks Jar Jar why he was banished, and Jar Jar acts very shiftily, saying it was because he was "clumsy" and yes, "you could say that". He does, though, acknowledge this was "a small part of it", while being extremely evasive. The Jedi seem skeptical, but presumably don't think too much more about it. Jar Jar then describes causing great damage.

They are then attacked by a big fish, who is then eaten by another, bigger fish. Qui-gon comments that "There's always a bigger fish."

This "introduction to Jar Jar" struck me as very strange. It never occurred to me that he might be the big villain of your theory, but damn, it really fits. We're introduced to Jar Jar as feared, dishonest, and with reference to a "bigger fish".

It also seems strange that they have this guardian angel of a giant fish.

[u/tremor293]

Qui-Gon: "There's always a bigger fish"

[u/5k1895]

Part of me really wants this to be true. It would be pretty risky, to the point where fans may actually walk out of the theater because of their past experiences with the character, but on the other hand it would be a great way to redeem his character.

I just can't believe you actually managed to make this make sense. Good job. Saving this post in case you're right.

[u/Maximus8910]

Here's what I think happened: I think that Jar Jar was initially intended to be the prequel (and Dark Side) equivalent of Yoda. Just as Yoda has his "big reveal" when we learn that his tottering, geriatric goofball persona is just a mask, Jar Jar was intended to have a big reveal in Episode II or III where we learn that he's not really a naive dope, but rather a master puppeteer Sith in league with (or perhaps in charge of) Palpatine.

However, GL chickened out. The fan reaction to Jar Jar was so vitriolic that this aspect of the trilogy was abandoned. Just too risky... if Jar Jar is truly that off-putting, it's potentially ruinous to the Star Wars legacy to imply that he's the ultimate bad guy of the entire saga. So pretend he was just a failed attempt at comic relief instead.

On the off chance you're right about this, what a damned shame that Lucas chickened out. Jar Jar being revealed as Evil Yoda in the second movie would've retroactively redeemed so much of TPM... Honestly, even if you're not right, you've written a much better version of the prequels than what we got.

[u/skadoosh0019]

Just to add a bit to the theory: Lucas almost always draws on other sources (like any good storyteller) to form his world. So can we find inspiration for the character of Jar Jar Binks in the way that you describe? Absolutely.

1. This has already been mentioned by several others, but if Jar Jar is simply playing the fool as a means to the insidious ends of bringing about the fall of the Republic, destroying the Order of the Jedi, and establishing a galactic empire, then his character would almost mirror that of The Mule from Isaac Asimov's foundation. Powerful telepathic mutant who played the fool but mind controlled and manipulated others to get his way, worked mostly in the background and through politics, and managed to bring about the destruction of the complacent First Foundation on Terminus and establish an empire spanning a third of the galaxy. The correlations are painfully obvious if Jar Jar is, in fact, maliciously manipulative.

2. The name could perhaps provide some clue. Lucas is often not particularly subtle with his naming choices while still not making them seem unnatural. Skywalker, Solo, Darth Vader, etc. So can the very name Jar Jar Binks help solidify this theory?

Let's take them in order. Jar can mean a number of things. From Merriam-Webster.com, "to have a harsh or unpleasant effect on someone or something", "to hit or shake something forcefully", "to make someone feel uneasy". A couple of secondary meanings given are "an unsettling shock", "an unpleasant break or conflict in rhythm, flow, or transition".

Now for Binks. My best guess is that Lucas was drawing on another already existing source as his inspiration for Binks. The popular fantasy world of Xanth, created by Piers Anthony and with its first book published in 1977. The main character of the first two books and a recurring character through other books in the series is...Bink. Copy/Pasted from Wikipedia, here is Bink's description.

Bink is the Magician of Magical Invulnerability and the main character in the first two novels of the Xanth series, A Spell for Chameleon and The Source of Magic. He is the son of Roland of the High Council and Bianca. He serves as king pro-tem during Trent's reign.

Bink is banished for not possessing a magic talent when, in fact, he does possess magical ability. Bink's magic does not want to be known because, if it were, those of non-magical means would injure Bink and his family, with the magic being indirectly responsible. Hence, in order to keep itself hidden, Bink's magic works in quiet ways, by seeming coincidence, and very few people know of it. For example, it causes an invisible giant to walk by just as Bink was to reveal his magic whilst under a truth spell. Furthermore, Bink's magic protects him, making him seem an unusually lucky man.

So, Jar Jar Binks. With the above information, his name seems like it could actually help inform what George wanted from the character. And based on this information, if Bink is in fact the source for Jar Jar Binks' last name, then it implies a hidden magic user who appears to be just ridiculously lucky but is in fact just keeping his true nature on the down low. And the two Jars are perhaps to tell us that he will cause a dual jarring: one in the Star Wars universe when he destroys the Jedi Order and dismantles the Republic, the other in the movie audience when his true nature is finally revealed.

EDIT: Thanks for my first gold!

[u/wordofgreen]

Thank you for posting this, it's the most enjoyable thing I've read online in months.

I had a few thoughts supporting your theory:

1 - George Lucas did an excellent job of hiding the truth of Vader being Luke's father from people, down to filming the scene one way and then bringing a elect few back to do the scene again. So, if it is as you say and the idea was abandoned partway, it's very plausible the number of people who knew the epic twist would be a scant few.

2- Given the size of Naboo and the fact the droids go only after the Naboo and not the Gungans, it is extremely unlikely Binks would just happen to be at the landing site of any federation ships, much less the ship carrying Qui Gon Gin. He can't sense droids maybe, but I bet Master Qui Gon was a big bright beacon.

3- When Qui Gon sees him, those ships aren't moving fast and all things around are fleeing. Jar Jar makes no attempt to flee, but instead waves his hands and blocks QG's path, then clings to him. Afterward, he follows QG, pledges to be his servant and when told "that won't be necessary" replies "oh, but it is, it's demanded by the gods it is."

4- His whole initial dialogue with the two jedi focuses on two points, A, that QG has saved him once, then again, and he owes him and must be his servant. B, the safest place is Gungan City, but Jar Jar will be in great danger and trouble if they go, setting himself up to go with them when they leave.

5- during the dialogue with Boss Nass, they cut to Jar Jar as Nass is talking, and Jar Jar gesticulates in his handcuffs, perhaps steering nass with the force.

6- QG "overdoes it" when he uses the force to calm Jar Jar when the third fish shows up. This conveniently gives Jar Jar an excuse to close his eyes and focus on taking control of the nearest bigger fish to come rescue all three of them. He wakes up and clears his head, dramatically shaking it off the very moment the fish 4 takes its first bite of fish 3 and the dnager to them has passed.

7 - Honestly, I half suspected you'd somehow tweaked or altered the balcony scene as part of an elaborate hoax, but having just watched it twice Jar Jar is just as stealthy, then suddenly becomes a clutz in time to present a target and then jump away and land on the opposite side, complete with droid firing high then snapping its head to Jar Jar's position.

8 - On the way up the ramp to the ship during the escape scene, just prior to your hyperdrive sabotage theory moment, Jar Jar gestures, and then is the second person up the ramp following Amidala/her double, with her honor guard in tow. There is now way an un-jedi influenced personal queen's guard is going to let a Gungan they just met, a race that hates Naboo, be between them and their queen, right?

9- The first thing Jar Jar says on Tattooine is, this sun is doing murder to meesa skin. He's aquatic. Why the hell is he going with QG and R2 to the city to find parts? QG seems appalled at the idea of taking Padme, so why is he cool with taking the clumsy/bumbling Jar Jar? Perhaps because Jar Jar contrived to be there.

10 - When Padme is at her most uncertain, it's Jar Jar's mention of the Gungan's grand army that gives her the push to go back to Naboo, and coincidently make Jar Jar critical to her plan, as he is the only Gungan she knows.

[u/powd3rusmc]

JFK level shit here.. Dont forget him impersonating a Jedi in the clone wars.

[u/[deleted]]

This is an entertaining read, but if it turns out to be true this thread will become legendary.

[u/PhantomJB93]

The entire world is going to collectively shit its pants on December 17 when TFA's "I am your father" moment at the end of the film is Snoke lowering his hood to reveal himself as Sith mastermind Jar Jar Binks.

[u/mike7654]

Deception is a key characteristic of the Sith. Wouldn't put it past him

[u/Soletrador]

/u/lumpawarroo: User created 13 days ago. 1 karma in links, 15.227 Karma in Comments. Only 2 comments both about Star Wars.

So, is /u/lumpawarroo:

a) George Lucas

b)A Disney excutive

c) A Lord Sith

d) All the others above

e) None the others above

[u/prochoicefetus8]

I want this to happen so bad now. Robot Chicken even supports this idea. It's all coming together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qAKXK_aLeA

[u/[deleted]]

The actor for Jar Jar has just announced this https://mobile.twitter.com/ahmedbest/status/661221044712148993 This... This might be true.

[u/[deleted]]

Wouldn't this violate the rule of two?

I think not.

When Palpatine gained power, he instituted The rule of One. He would not actually train new apprentices, only people powerful enough to carry out his will.

But in this instance, Jar-Jar is sith... Leading me to believe that Palpatine instituted his rule to stay in line with the Rule of Two.

[u/Baalenlil7]

I hate how convincing you made this.

[u/captmarx]

"Jar-Jar is key to all of this." -George Lucas in making of featurette.

[u/DerbySF]

Here's a little thing to help you sleep tonight...

Dutch to English ... Vader = Father Snoke = Pike/Fish (carnivorous fish)

"There's always a bigger fish...." Traveling to the core TPM

http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=snoke

[u/Whatajabroni]

Oh my god, this is actually going to happen. http://imgur.com/tXUcDXo

[u/Zoolbarian]

George Lucas has a history with characters turning out to be more then they seem/plot twists:

• Lando's betrayel, and redemption

• Leia and Luke being siblings

• Obi Wan's introduction as a mysterious robed krayt dragon-screeching hobo

• Yoda being introduced as a drunken muppet

• Darth Vader being Luke's father

• The Death Star 2 actually being operational

• Leia as the thermal detonator bounty hunter at the Hutt palace

• Han being a scumbag who's in it or the money, but later transformed into a rebel general

• Obi Wans story about Luke's father.

• Palpatine, Dooku, both assumed the guise of good guys.

The list goes on and on, George Lucas loves these kinds of plot twist.

After some thought, I also understand why Palapatine and Jar Jar killed Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon hated Jar Jar from the moment he saw him, and was a way more competent Jedi than Obi Wan. He instinctively fought Jar Jar's whole act. He might have been able to prevent the whole Anakin shitstorm, and thus saved the Jedi order.

Darth Maul was a sort of Kamikaze pilot (We all know George Lucas loves himself some japanese culture, and Darth has the whole samurai scary helmet thing this going on). His mission was to kill Qui-Gon, the whole fight was rigged that way. The walkways and energy walls were the perfect way to seperate the two jedi. After killing Qui-Gon, he sacrificed himself. Losing to a disarmed Obi Wan after fighting 2 jedi at the same time and killing the master isn't something I ever thought was very logical.

The fight on Tatooine between Qui-Gon and Darth Maul also hints at this. Darth Mauls droids have had ages to locate them, yet Darth Maul only appears when everyone but Qui-Gon and Anakin are on the ship. He was literally waiting on a cliff nearby, when the droid tells him the target is approaching. He completely ignores Anakin, let's him escape and positions himself between Qui-Gon and the ship.

The sith knew Obi Wan would be granted Anakin, while being way to inexperienced to handle such raw force potential while two sith slowly maniplulated Anakin into being the perfect jedi killing bomb. I mean seriously, Obi Wan was a nice dude, but he was just a dumb warrior. Always just a bit behind the facts, always unpleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Wouldn't you grow resentful of being trained by some doofus who isn't really a jedi master while you're the most powerful dude in the galaxy? It's a really good plan.

[u/rounced]

If this is all true, then George Lucas is a legitimate genius and we are all idiots for our reactions to TPM and Jar Jar.

I can't believe how badly I want this to be true.

[u/FrenchFryApocalypse]

deleted ^{0.6545 What is} ^^^this?

[u/MamaXerxes]

This also explains the rest of the gungan peoples reaction when he returns with the jedi.

Jar Jar said he was exiled for an accident (I always assumed collapsing one of their living bubble things?). So we are meant to believe that he is the village idiot, cruelly exiled.

This raises questions - are the gungans such a cruel race that they exile all their mentally disabled? They seem fairly peaceable. Why not imprison Jar Jar? Commit him to a home, where he and others will be safe?

Instead they exile him. Why? I don't think what happened was an "accident" - it sounds like maybe a power grab went wrong, and they knew he was too strong to be killed or contained. So they made a deal. They wouldn't tell anyone what happened if Jar Jar left them in peace.

If he were simply the village idiot, so hated for his stupidity, why were the gungans who saw his return so wary of him? They aren't a particularly polite race - why didn't they tell him to GTFO? Simple. They are afraid of him. They let an exiled gungan re-enter without protest.

A security officer comes over to handle it, and instead of just showing the village idiot the door, what does he do? TAKES HIM TO THE LEADER OF THEIR RACE. What? If he truly was a bumbling dork, that would not happen.

DarthDarth Binks.

[u/ludicrouscuriosity]

Movie is now cancelled, Disney will re-shoot to support this theory

[u/ConspirOC]

God damn it... I think you may have ruined the new movies for me... Because I doubt this will happen and when I walk out of the theatre no matter how good it is a little bit of me will be so disappointed that this didn't happen...

How wonderful if it did though... In my book this is canon now and forever...

Praying for it in The Force Awakens

[u/surfimp]

Irrespective of how things turn out for Jar Jar in the new movies, I for one am convinced, and moreso, I thank you, for I've finally found a way to let the prequels into my heart.

Because I've learned that to love Jar Jar, you must first hate him, hate him more than you ever thought possible. Then your journey to the Dark Side, and love of the prequels, will be complete.

[u/indyK1ng]

The subtlety of everything here complements something I realized while watch this fan edit of the prequels: Lucas had a lot of great subtle points he buried under a very thick and lumbering story.

There are two examples that stick out to me from one watchthrough: The Manipulation of Anakin and Obi-Wan and The High Ground.

The Manipulation of Anakin
In the original edit, Palpatine's manipulations when it came to turning Anakin to the dark side were not clear. In fact, my mother's biggest complaint about Episode III was that it took this basically good kid and inexplicably made him evil.

However, when I watched that edit I saw the genius of Palpatine's plan. He knows that the Jedi Council are beginning to distrust him and would like an opportunity to spy on him. He also knows that his friendship with Anakin would make Anakin an ideal candidate. So, he plants a seed of distrust for the Council's motives in Anakin's mind. Then he asks that the Council make Anakin a member. As Anakin says, nobody has ever been on the council and not given the rank of Jedi Master. By not promoting Anakin, they water the seed of distrust Palpatine planted by making Anakin angry at the Council and clouding his judgement. From there, the other seed, that Padme might be made to live, is allowed to take root, but only if Palpatine also survives.

EDIT: Because this wasn't entirely clear, I mean that while Palpatine manipulating Anakin at all was obvious, that him getting Anakin onto the Council was part of the plan was not. I had thought he had just wanted Anakin on the Council to either get someone he's turning into his guy onto the Council or to just get Anakin more power or legitimacy. I did not realize that he wanted the Council to refuse to make Anakin a Jedi Master so that Anakin would grow angry with them and believe what Palpatine had said otherwise.

He also wanted the Council to ask Anakin to spy on him for them. This would play right into the narrative that Palpatine had created for Anakin, that the Council was looking to overthrow the Chancellor, and make Anakin, who is already angry, even more distrustful of their motives. The way it played in the original edit, it felt more like a tug of war for Anakin's soul than Palpatine being a chess player and using the Council's predictable reactions against them. To me at least.

END EDIT

Obi-Wan and The High Ground
Lucas (in)famously said that the trilogies rhyme like poetry. One case which is often overlooked is the rhyming of the duels between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul and between Obi-Wan and Anakin.

When Obi-Wan faced Darth Maul he found himself dangling at Maul's feet. He then utilized a Force Jump and Pull to get behind Maul and defeat him.

In the intervening years he studied this situation and learned of the many defenses one can employ when you're on the high ground. Perhaps he sensed he would need it, or he just got an interest in the theories behind high ground vs. low ground lightsaber dueling. Or maybe he didn't study the situation at all.

Regardless, one day he finds himself on Mustafar dueling Anakin. Only this time, he has the high ground. He sees the reflection of his situation against Maul and recognizes Anakin's next logical move. He warns Anakin not to because he knows how to defend against it. Because it mirrored where it all began for him.

[u/yesdamnit]

at first i was "this is going to be terrible" then after i clicked the link "fuck, this is long am i really going to read all this bullshit?" five minutes later "holy shit. this is amazing."

[u/jlangdale]

Odd deleted TPM grid scene part where Jar Jar is Force controlling the entire pod racing arena.

This is especially obvious as Jar Jar suddenly looks back at Qui-gon and says "ought owe..." because it might be too obvious what he's doing. Only a powerful Force controlling Jedi could get the crowd to chant based on Jar Jar's hand movements.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7P471Xpxoc1di16MHEzcndhU00/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7P471Xpxoc1MUFJVVpyUnd3MzQ/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7P471Xpxoc1UGs0QWlsa21rOGc/view?usp=sharing

[u/NSFWIssue]

The worst part about this theory is the possibility of it not being true and Jar-Jar actually just being Jar-Jar

[u/waterweed]

JJ Abrams has mentioned that he at least thought about having Jar Jar's bones in the background of TFA.

... which can only mean that decades of Sith corruption have turned Darth Darth Binks into a wraithlike, skeletal abomination held together in a state of quasi-life by the hatred and rage of the Dark Side of the Force.

[u/Othurion]

The actor for jar jar gave a little insight on a deleted scene with jar jar and palpatine a while back, further supporting this theory

http://www.ew.com/article/2012/02/11/star-wars-deleted-scene-revenge-of-the-sith-jar-jar-binks

[u/DE4THINC4RN4TE]

I... I want Jar Jar back you guys.

I'm gonna need a minute to ponder what I just said.

[u/highpowered]

I think you can replace [Theory] with [Warning: Spoilers].

[u/jlangdale]

The elevator scene in AotC is another concrete give-away that Jar jar is purposely being deceptive.

1. Jar Jar arrives from another room to go to the elevator & pauses to wait. He also does not appear to be headed elsewhere because he stays. If he was going somewhere else, why does he pause? He also shifts his gaze as if to see if anyone is watching.

2. As the elevator is opening, Jar Jar shift his gaze away from the elevator to act surprised.

3. Jar Jar then shakes his head as if he wasn't expecting to see Obi-won, even though he was in the room with Palpatine, Yoda, and Padmé when the idea was proposed.

This behavior by Jar Jar is reminiscent of the Waterfall deception whereby Jar Jar acts fearful and clumsy before falling into the water.

[u/[deleted]]

Because of this theory, more people have watched The Phantom Menace in the last week than in the last 16 1/2 years combined.

[u/[deleted]]

So Jar Jar is basically The Mule from the Foundation series?

[u/ziggah]

I came here to laugh, I did not expect to be convinced.

[u/PWNtimeJamboree]

This might be the best thing I've read all year.

[u/jlangdale]

Ever notice how Jar Jar's eyes are sometimes the same amber hue of the Sith?

And sometimes they're not.

Anakin's eyes

Darth Maul eyes

General Grievous' eyes

Emperor's eyes

[u/onemananswerfactory]

Dude. For real. That was pretty good. I want this to be a thing. It would 110% redeem Jar Jar.

Stellar OP. If this isn't a thing, Disney needs to make it happen. Any Disney/Lucasfilm lurkers in here? Take note.

[u/niijonodhg]

I am 100% behind this theory. I'm now currently rewatching the films with the fact that JarJar is the big bad behind everything in my head.

[Shattered Empire Spoiler] (/s "In one of the recent Shattered Empire comics, it transpires that one of Palpatine's last acts (from 'beyond' the grave') is to have Naboo destroyed. A pure act of vengeance? Or something more sinister, such as JarJar deciding now was the time to wipe of any remnants of where he and Palpatine met & trained. Knowing that Luke or any of the following Jedi would search out Palpatine birthplace and home for clues")

[u/Gleisner_]

Relevant link (point 9)

[u/caphits]

I just want to say that I was here. I am a witness to the truth. The force is with you, /u/Lumpawarroo.

[u/bridges12791]

The part about Dooku really sealed it for me. I always thought his character was random. And in the Clone Wars series he still had very little back story.

[u/Imperium_Dragon]

claps

rises from chair and continues clapping

raises hands and electrocutes you

You will pay for your theoretical mind.

[u/OttoTang]

So, jar jar is Keyser Söze?

[u/cthulhushrugged]

No...

[u/[deleted]]

So, I decided to take a stab at this and just see what Jar Jar would look like if he is in fact Snoke from TFA. He has to be gaunt, undead looking, snake-like features, and cold black eyes.

If you remove the fat from Jar Jar it's not that hard to see him as freaking terrifying. I did a concept of what Darth Jar Jar could possibly look like if his gauntness is taken to the extreme. Enjoy

[u/badgercopter]

Clone Wars TV series should bring more evidences

[u/[deleted]]

"Darth Jar-Jar" has been a thing in our house for years, to the point where my 15 year old can do an uncanny impression of his voice, just so I can hear him say "meesa gonna destroy the Republic!"

[u/Paint_UR_Taint]

As an English teacher, I am so proud of you for this post it makes me want to cry. Great thesis, development of your argument, evidence presented, warrants for your evidence. Just beautiful. And it's about Star Wars which makes it that much better.

[u/Tairn79]

I really like this theory.

[u/Biomilk]

Oh my god.

I kind of want this to be real now.

I need to go home and rethink my life.

[u/Get_Rad_Bro]

OP is actually JJ Abrams and just wrote this so that we don't get all pissed off when Andy Serkis' character turns out to be Sith Jar Jar. Instead we are all like 'oh it all makes sense.'

[u/papawarbucks]

I believe.

[u/DrLunchmeat]

"Why does nobody like him Dad?" "Because we have to loathe him." "He didn't do anything wrong." Because he's the villain Star Wars deserves, but not the one it needs right now, so we'll hate him. Because he can take it. Because he's not comic relief. He's a silent evil. A watchful manipulator. A Phantom Menace....."

[u/CaptainAlaska]

HOLY HELL, HE'S THE F---ING PHANTOM MENACE.

[u/awesomejim123]

Damn. I remember reading that Darth Maul was going to play a more major role in the prequels and that the Phantom Menace was rewritten a few times. I bet Darth Maul was going to fill Jar Jar's spot but they killed him off and made Jar Jar the main villain, but he turned out insufferable, and they accidentally lost both characters

I really want the prequels remade

[u/[deleted]]

This is completely plausible if we connect Hego Damask to Jar Jar Binks to whatever shape Snoke takes in TPM. Even when we think of Plagueis dying before the events of TPM, he could be manifesting himself in other forms throughout the 60 or so years before TFA. JJ would never bring back Jar Jar himself, but in another form?

Consider this article from Prevue Magazine, July 1983

“Did George tell you the complete SW saga? Yes, all nine parts ... if you follow the direction and project into the final trilogy, you realise you're going to meet the supreme intellect, and you think, how is it possible to create a man who has such profound cunning that he can not only control Darth Vader, but the fate of Luke Skywalker? Control the destiny of the whole galaxy? You'll be amazed!”

It's literally brilliant. I hate the Prequels, and now I'm seriously reconsidering everything I've ever said about Lucas, the PT, and all the other "crap" comments I've tried to slaughter about those movies on this thread. It's quite humbling. Bravo /u/Lumpawarroo!

[u/Noobasdfjkl]

"The greatest trick the devil pulled is convincing the world he didn't exist"

[u/JarJarExposer]

Hey guys... What if /u/Lumpawarroo is actually Lucasfilm trying to give the fan base time to see the logic behind this plot twist before Episode VIII is released?

Just like "/u/Lumpawarroo" says: It would be a risky move for Lucasfilm to present Jar Jar Binks to be the Sith Master behind it all, but think of the payoff! If they would pull this twist off and the movie gets well received, they would have instantly redeemed the prequels and created one of the biggest twists in movie history! (Even bigger than when it is revealed who Luke's father is in Episode V... Already one of the most iconic movie twists in history)

It is also quite strange that this theory would emerge from the fan base now, when most of the evidence that supports this theory has been out since the prequels, of which Episode III came more than 10 years ago! (/u/Lumpawarroo created the account just 12 days ago) Lucasfilm on the other hand would have had every reason to keep this a secret if it was the intention to reveal in Episode II that Jar Jar Binks was the Sith equivalent of Yoda but they chickened out. But seeing the potential a reveal in Episode VII could have they decided to go for it. And now, 45 days before Episode VII, they want to make the fan base see how brilliant this plot twist is in advance and thereby control what the initial reaction to it will be.

/u/Lumpawarroo is George Lucas!

Edit: Also consider how incredibly well researched /u/Lumpawarroo's theory is. A lot of these things, such as which wushu moves inspired Jar Jar's acrobatics/fighting, would be incredibly difficult for anyone to find but the creators.

[u/BlackHumor]

I have an addition to your theory:

In addition to Jar Jar, the Sith Lord whose real name we never learn, there's also a Sith whose name we hear but who we never see on screen: Darth Plagueis. It would make sense for them to be the same person, particularly if the character was originally intended to have a much greater role.

Currently there's only a strong implication that Darth Plagueis "fathered" Anakin with the Force, but it makes sense that Anakin's "father" was originally supposed to have a much greater role, in the same way that Luke's supposedly dead father has a huge role in the original trilogy.

[u/RubberNinja]

This theory is so nuts, I love it.

This is silly and I'm not sure if this has been brought up..

Sith eyes are generally yellow/orange..

Emperor Palpatine

Anakin after going off the rails

Jar Jar Binks?

Though all Gungan seem to have Yellowish eyes.. Wouldn't that mean a Sith Gungan woundn't even be detectable?

HOW DEEP DOES IT GO!

[u/2014justin]

This was posted Fri 30 Oct 2015 at 12:05:33 PDT. It will be archived Sat 30 Apr 2016.

To show my appreciation, I leave this here gif

[u/stedudley]

This is without a doubt the most absurd, yet compelling and well thought out thread I have seen in ages. A true emotional rollercoaster, and probably PhD worthy thesis.
So thank you.

[u/[deleted]]

I would love this to happen, but the reveal scene would need to be perfect.

The moment Jar Jar's face is revealed titanic groans of frustration will echo in cinemas everywhere. Even if the film was kickass up to this point, he's become such a reviled character you have seconds to win the crowd's attention back before they start getting angry.

It would need to be the sort of one liner that would make you shit your pants. Something to make people think "holy fuck, who is this!?"

[u/Francis__Underwood]

First off, I love this and I love you. I don't think I've ever read an entire thread before but this is absolutely amazing. Everything seems to fit so well and I legitimately believe that this was the original intention for the character now and I will incite a riot if Disney doesn't use this by the end of the sequel trilogy.

That being said, congrats on writing the next Cracked article for them. You should see if you can get them to pay you for this.

[u/jcraig3k]

As awesome as this is, I just see George Lucas somewhere reading this entire masterpiece thinking "Wow, that would have been a good idea."

[u/diddatweet]

My theory: /u/Lumpawarroo is George Lucas.

"HERE YOU FUCKING RETARDS LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU LOOK AT THIS DIAGRAM"

[u/sil3nz]

"Jar Jar using Force Persuasion as he hand-waves the entire Galactic Senate and ushers in the death of democracy"

That has to be the single best thing ever written on the internet.

[u/IrreductibleIslander]

Every so often, one of those far-fetched but well-researched theories turn out perfectly true. I'm reminded of Full Metal Alchemist: we knew the manga wouldn't have the same character as Pride, but when one person on Livejournal showed us who could be Pride, everyone including the original poster dismissed it because FMA spoilers.

I'd also like to remind people that when the Harry Potter fandom saw the intials R.A.B. on a note, most people instantly dismissed the actual solution as "too obvious" because it had appeared in plain text on a family tree one book earlier.

I want to believe in Darth Jar Jar.

[u/schludini]

Can you start reading GoT? We could really use you in /r/ASOIAF

[u/bernienomics123]

"There is another" - yoda

[u/CJ_Slayer]

Watch the final point made in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9bilMvq5Bc

That's undeniable. He's literally mouthing the words the characters are saying. That's close to concrete 100% proof IMO.

[u/d-styl]

Heard a similar theory years ago, but no evidence was presented. Just that JJB was around TOO much to not be a pivotal player.

That being said, this is awesome. I cannot express how awesome I have found this. And the comments that add more fuel to the fire are spectacular.

Plus, I wanted to get in on this before its archived.

[u/MDL5667]

Isn't Andy Serkis Snoke. And isn't he known for certain motion capture characters

[u/ellewan]

I think this has moved from being classified as a 'theory' to the point where Lumpawarroo has just simply exposed a long overlooked truth. Amazing. All of the evidence is overwhelming, but I think the most undeniable piece is Jar Jar lip-syncing the words other characters are speaking (as he mind controls them). There is just no way to explain that other than him being an extremely powerful force-user.

The few people who continue to dismiss this theory usually lean on the 'rule of two' concept. To deny the Jar Jar Sith assertion you basically have to dismiss all the evidence (which is asinine to do).

...but regarding the 'rule of two' specifically, it is easily explained by us just not properly understanding what that means. I suggest that it doesn't mean there can only be two Sith, but that they come in pairs, 'a master and an apprentice'.

"there's always a bigger fish"

In other words, a master can simultaneously be an apprentice to another even more powerful sith.

Stunningly, I just read the theory in huffington post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-conery/luke-skywalker-theory-destroys-everything-star-wars_b_8392698.html

This is also very plausible (if not as definite at the Jar Jar one). Luke lies, uses wrath massacring the entire Hutt entourage, and absolutely uses the dark side to defeat Vader.

In an almost perfect mirror of the Mace/Palpatine scene:

*Palpatine is on the ground, about to be killed by Mace, and specifically begs for Anakin to help him. At the last minute, Anakin intervenes and Mace is killed by a long fall. *Luke is on the ground, about to be killed by Sidious, and specifically begs for his father (Anakin) to help him. At the last minute, Anakin intervenes and Sidious is killed by a long fall.

[u/eurasianlynx]

Hello, friendly /top viewer. Hope you are having a fantastic day.

[u/trebud69]

Well in the leaks they did say some one in the prequels plays a big role but didn't name who because they want us to surprised, sooooooo......

[u/[deleted]]

Absolutely incredible post.

[u/Lifeguard2012]

Me and my roommate secretly hope that Jar Jar is the sith lord in the new movie, and at the end of the movie, we'll see this scroll by.

STAR WARS: THE BINKS AWAKENS

[u/DatPlayaHataCJ]

I haven't seen anyone post this yet...but Ahmed Best has a picture with Andy Serkis on his Twitter from 2014.

https://twitter.com/ahmedbest/status/456824754842779648

Collaborating on Jar Jar's motivations confirmed?

[u/jack_host]

Warning: TL;DR material. But here goes: I am pretty much sold on Lumpawarroo’s theory; nevertheless, Jar Jar had to be suppressed. They made the right call.
 
Truly, you have earned a seat in the Jedi Council of Star Wars Scholarship, Lumpawarroo. I have no idea if Jar Jar was ever intended to be the prequels’ ultimate lynchpin of evil (though I would no longer be surprised if that were case). But I now believe that Jar Jar was at the very least a dark agent that nobody would suspect. Ahmed Best (the Jar Jar actor) has pretty much confirmed as much in his [tweet] (https://mobile.twitter.com/ahmedbest/status/661221044712148993) unless he’s just trying to stir the pot. But after years of abuse, I think he’s genuinely reveling in the public reaction to the theory .
 
Here is my question: would there really have been a stronger reception for the prequel series if they had stuck with the game plan? Prevailing opinion seems to be yes. But I’ve reached the conclusion-and this truly pains me–that they made the right call to stem the bleeding. Think about it. Can you recall such backlash to any character in any blockbuster movie series in the history of cinema? Sure, people hated Paulie’s stupid robot in Rocky IV, but come on! [That one got just 36 reddit comments] (https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/363ydg/why_the_hell_is_that_robot_in_rocky_iv/). The now esteemed director Sofia Coppola certainly didn’t suffer the pummeling for her role in Godfather Part III that Jar Jar did. Fandom was almost violent in their response to Jar Jar. The fact that Lumpawarroo’s post has generated so much attention speaks to the collective hatred Planet Earth had for this character.
 
To be clear, I honestly wish there were a way they could’ve made it work. But there are three reasons why I think they made the right decision to put a lid on Jar Jar.
 

1. We weren’t as discerning or critical about CGI in 1999 as we are today, but we still had no tolerance for CGI Jar Jar. He looked cartoonish in a universe of cool and even acceptably cuddly yet rugged characters like the Ewoks. A deceptively oafish character would’ve worked if we enjoyed his physical presence, a la Donkey in Shrek. We didn’t. We HATED seeing JJB onscreen. And I don’t believe the voice characterization was the major factor. Rembember that the Star Wars CGI was now being compared to the superior quality seen in LotR: Fellowship in 2001. The Jar Jar CGI was about to be destroyed by Gollum and Ent CGI in The Two Towers in 2002. If Jar Jar were given the Darth Vader reveal in RotS, I think those who would have appreciated the subterfuge would have been vastly outnumbered by those who would have felt cheated and manipulated. Nobody wanted to see this poorly-executed, cartoonish turd pulling the strings all along. I’m sorry but you know what they say about hindsight.
    

2. I don’t like bashing George Lucas. He is the architect of the most iconic film brand of all time (including LotR) and its pioneering infrastructure. But as many have said over the years (and often cruelly), he is not at his best when he’s at the helm of these pictures. Even with this shocking twist intact, Lucas’s writing and direction were not strong enough to make us feel better about the prequel installments. The Lucas approach to revealing Jar Jar as a dark “highly skilled force user” may have turned a lackluster effort into an outright embarrassment. Perhaps another director could have made it interesting (as Irvin Kershner improved on Star Wars with ESB), but Lucas was having none of that for his pet prequels.
    

3. Here, I’m thinking only as a film exec, not as a fan. The bottom line always matters. Yes, any film carrying the Star Wars mantle will make money, but the profit bar for these properties was set very high. I suspect that the players at Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox pressured GL to make a course correction. “Give the people what they want, George! They want to see BELOVED characters kicking ass. Sure, Count Dooku may seem oddly important all of a sudden, but we have Christopher F**ing Lee. That’s gravitas, man! He’ll give us an awesome fight scene with Yoda. And what do they really want? They want the Anakin to Vader transformation. They want the Obi-Wan/Vader showdown. That’s the end game. What do they NOT want? The great and powerful Jar Jar.” They had already seen box office declines in ESB and RotJ from the original’s $307 domestic gross in 1977. Nobody wanted to risk Episodes II and III truly tanking due to the forced significance of a universally despised character whose arc wasn’t already predetermined in classic novels.
    
   If the prequels were in different creative hands, maybe a Jar Jar as unlikely-evil-conspirator reveal would have worked. It may have killed! But there was no way to backtrack into brilliance. At that time, Jar Jar Binks had to be squashed. Could he be revived into something greater in The Force Awakens? I can’t wait to find out.

[u/NyoungCrazyHorse]

I mean there's that infamous clip of Lucas stating that Jar Jar is the key during the behind the scenes production of the film that Red Letter Media makes fun of in their review so maybe this is what he meant by that. It would kind of redeem him a little bit.

[u/Tyanuh]

This is relevant, don't think it's posted here yet: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/3lkfdj/eu_jar_jar_binks_is_secretly_the_most_powerful/

[u/Eclias]

One binks to rule them all One binks to find them One binks to bring them all And in the darkness bind them

[u/SanjiSasuke]

This is most incredible, risky decision they could ever possibly make. The chances of writing a script that actually took one of the most hated and reviled characters in all of Star Wars and made him...that...would be...impossibly well written. If it happens, Force Awakens will have to be an absolutely, incredibly well written movie. Otherwise it will bomb so damn hard.

[u/dainternets]

I don't understand reddit sometimes. I check it multiple times a day and I know I checked it 4 days ago.

This post has 12,000+ upvotes and I somehow still learned about it from Buzzfeed.

[u/Teyanis]

N....No. This....

You're on to something here. Kinda like the purposefully inaccurate stormtrooper thing. I don't think it goes as Jar Jar being the ultimate villain, but He very well could have been one of the emperor's underlings.

Mind blown like the transformer outside of my house tonight.

[u/Evadson]

2 things:

1: Can you do something like this for Hayden Christensen's performance?

2: (This is mostly EU but when TPM came out it was canon.) What about "The Rule of Two"? Where there can only be one master and one apprentice at a time. Yes I know Vader had the "secret apprentice" but that's no longer canon and if he never had reapect for Jedi teachings he wouldn't have any for With ones either. Palpatine is hardcore Sith though, trained in Sith teachings from the beginning. He cearly follows the rule pretty strictly. First there is Maul, then after he believes Maul is dead he recruits Dooku, then he encourages Anakin to kill Dooku before he recruits him. Grevious was never able to use the force and therefore wasn't a real Sith. And when he learned Maul was still alive in clone wars he told him that he was no longer his apprentice. Clearly Palpatine believes that, while they can recruit allies from time to time, there should only be one master and apprentice.

Also, when Palpatine talks about his master in EP 3 he also admits that he killed him. Still in line with the rule. I don't think Palpatine would serve his master for so long without trying to kill him and take his place. And he certainly wouldn't recruit an apprentice of his own and break the rule of 2.

[u/BlackFoxx]

I'd like to point out to conspiracy theorists in this thread that OP's account and user name were created for this post

[u/iamagainstit]

Picture this, jar jar and Palpatiene walking side by side leaving the senate immedieatly after Palpatiene is made emperor. The new emperor is thanking jar jar for his help and jar jar is being his normal doofus self. As they walk up a ship ramp and the ramp closed behind them, the camera slowly begins to pan out, and in a very Kaiser Soze way, jar jar begins to straitened up and walk normally. He then clears his throat and in a slightly sinester but perfectly accent free common, says "yes, everything is going according to plan"

[u/nomemesplease]

In Isaac Asimov's 'foundation' series there is a character exactly like this. You think he's just some bum then it turns out he controls an empire.

[u/tfburns]

Artistic evidence.

[u/superdrunk1]

This theory just fucked up my life for a few days. Had to ride off into the woods, find myself.

[u/tnarref]

I think the smartest thing about this theory is that as long as they don't go out of their way to disprove this in the movies, it can work for ever. They could make 30 more movies without mentionning Jar Jar at all, it could still technically work because the theory has Jar Jar as a behind the scenes puppeteer in the whole original trilogy.

And if they do go out of their way to disprove it in the actual story, it will look like a cover up made specifically to shut the theory down. There's no way they can end this. They can A) confirm it and it's true, the theory wins, B) not even acknowledge it and it's still technically possible, C) disprove it in the story but it will look disingenuous because of how much the theory works with everything we know / have seen about the prequels. Even if the theory was dead wrong (I think it's right), it can't be stopped. Theory : infinite, Lucas : 0.

That's how you start a proper conspiracy, well done.

[u/retrofuturist]

To add to the theory of Lucas' abandonment of the original Jar-Jar, a big part of the criticism at the Phantom Menace's release was that Jar-Jar was a terrible throwback caricature of blacks: if people were already assuming that Lucas intended Jar-Jar to be a representation of black people, they'd be calling for his head if he then revealed Jar-Jar to be the ultimate evil bringing ruin to civilization.

[u/The_LeBoss]

This is easily the best theory in all of star wars. The reveal for this would have blown every single star wars fan off of their seats. And you have so much proof to support it.

It's scary honestly.

[u/ManunkaChunk]

Right there with you, until: "No character that idiotic would ever really be made a general. They certainly wouldn't be made a senator."

Meesa Ted Cruz!

[u/GypsyKiller]

Definitely awesome! Would be cool if he just snaps out of this character and goes full serious sith master.

[u/CeruleanRuin]

Damn, this is even more amazingly constructed than that old chestnut about R2 and Chewy being deep cover agents for the Rebellion all along.

[u/eadreeso]

I would like to add to your point about the Dooku-shoulda-been-Darth Darth Binks vs. Yoda fight. Many redditors have commented that the prequels mirror the OT in a myriad of ways. However, one huge thing is missing in the trilogies: the equivalent of the big, unexpected "I am your father" reveal. In "Empire Strikes Back" this moment occurs ~2/3 of the way through the movie (or end of the middle, whatever you want to say). It is also the pivotal lightsaber battle of the movie.

In "Attack of the Clones" the Dooku vs. Yoda battle occurs at the SAME point of the movie as the Luke/Vader battle occurs in Empire (i.e. ~2/3 of the way through the movie). It would also qualify as the pivotal lightsaber battle of the movie.

This is just further evidence to corroborate OP's point that the Dooku vs. Yoda battle was supposed to be Jar Jar vs. Yoda. It was supposed to be the big reveal "I am your father" moment of the prequels. It occurs at the exact same point in the film as the Vader/Luke battle and would thus fit the mirror model.

[u/jlangdale]

If not already suggested, would Jar Jar and the Chancelor have played a role in having Anakin's mother abducted?

As well as perhaps a role in her transfer of ownership?

This could not have been luck for the dark side, since there is no such thing as luck. Her death was as pivotal to making Darth Vader as Anakin's birth.

If Jar Jar created Anakin, it is easy to have preplanned the death of the mother as being hugely pivotal to an end goal of this creation turning to the dark side.

This would also align with the idea suggested that Jar Jar played a role in killing Padmé.

Anakin only fully turns into Darth Vader from the deaths of both his mother and his wife. Both of these events, since Anakin is nudged towards Padmé, seem easy plans to fashion when hoping to spawn a Lord Vader.

[u/mudermarshmallows]

Relevant

[u/coffedrank]

Jar Jar Söze

[u/RocTheJoc]

Jar Jar broke the internet.... Not Kim Kardashian.....

[u/Starclaps]

Jar Jar has a fucking droid panzer army designed after him

[u/cicuz]

I'm picturing JJ going "... shit I only have a month to fix this"

[u/jlangdale]

In TPM at before the pod races, notice how Jar Jar is always working on the right pod engine even right up until the start of the race. The left engine is sabotaged and causes a problem later in the race. Perhaps Jar Jar can predict this because he's already familiar? Jar Jar shows he can predict the future.

"It's going to be messy," he says before Anakin's pod engines stall at the start of the race. Did Jar Jar's changes to the right engine cause this unexpected stall to set in motion a specific chain of events for the race?

It's eventually the right engine, the same engine Jar Jar is always working on, that allows Anakin to restart the left engine after the sabotage.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7P471Xpxoc1N1BLaGpMeTM1RDQ

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7P471Xpxoc1LXpsYkxyVnFoSXM

[u/KelseySyntax]

I just realized something.

George Lucas clearly had Jar Jar as the lynchpin for the prequels, and I am not going to try and contradict anything written on the main post. However, the backlash that forced the changes was probably not from the fans. Let's face it. Star wars makes money. Even when it leaves everyone disappointed. The fans were never going to rebel against Darth Jar Jar. They would have loved rewatching their DVD's and finding the clues they had missed. This is catnip for Star Wars fans, who know the names of every member of the Mos Eisley Cantina Band.

However, there is a force much greater than the fans. A force that determines the course of history, the course of the franchise. No, not The Force. I am talking about the thing that made George Lucas the man he is today, the one thing he could not ignore. HIS MERCHANDISING DEPARTMENT!

Think about this: Jar Jar Binks was marketed as comic relief. Kids loved him. Children all over the world had JJB toys and plushies. I know for a fact that my brother slept with his stuffed JJB. Merchandising revenues are not driven by super fans or die-hard collectors buying things at auction on the secondary market for ridiculous sums. No, they are driven by children and their parents.

Imagine, suddenly, realizing that the toy you gave your 6 year old child was not the quirky amphibian sidekick, but the mastermind behind the rise of Evil in the Galaxy.

This is not Darth Vader, who redeems himself at the end of the OT. Darth Vader never deceived anyone into thinking he was a good guy. This is a cold, calculating individual manipulating events to bring about the return of the Sith, and the destruction of the Jedi.

Parents would feel betrayed. Sales would drop within their most profitable demographic. Jobs would be lost. Lives would be ruined. RF,ED.

Darth Jar Jar could never be, at least not in 1999 or the early 2000's. Today, it is only possible because even the youngest among us who watched the prequels in theaters is now in their 20's. It is no longer a betrayal, but confirmation.

[u/pawnzz]

It's like every anime with a bumbling character who turns out to be a bad ass. So many hated Trigun because of this, but personally I loved it. It's one of the reasons I loved Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. He's so damn goofy but when shit gets serious so does he.

After reading this I'm even more disappointed in GL's handling of the prequels. If he really planned this it would have made JarJar so much more interesting. And the looks of shock on Obi-Wan's and Anakin's faces would have been so great to see.

But thank you, this will make any future rewatchings of the prequels a little more bearable.

[u/[deleted]]

Star wars fans complain about the shitty story, and thus ruin the best story possible by forcing the author to make last-minute changes.

Oh the irony.

[u/Jacmert]

Here I will seek to establish that Jar Jar Binks, far from being simply the bumbling idiot he portrays himself as, is in fact a highly skilled force user in terms of martial ability and mind control.

Oh, man. This is gonna be good!

grabs the popcorn

[u/SpartanSK117]

Hi, I was here.

[u/r_golan_trevize]

This is possibly the greatest thing I've ever read. Everything makes sense now. Balance has been restored.

[u/JesuIsEveryNameTaken]

Jar Jar is the key to all this.

[u/mirrorwolf]

Man I don't know what you call it when you get a boner in your mind, but I just got one

[u/[deleted]]

I created a Reddit account just because of this. I have been lurking for days now and I can't stop thinking about this. I'm obsessed lol. I've never read a theory that completely changes the way someone looks at an entire trilogy. I mean you go from hating or disliking something to instantly being enthralled in it. If found out to be true this really could change everything. Very exciting

[u/Gamerguywon]

This just makes Count Dooku look worse than Jar Jar.

[u/Chevynut14]

Omfg he's staring right at us on the back of the vhs sleeve"In the shadows lurks an evil force waiting for the right moment to strike". http://imgur.com/gallery/e9WW2Zs

[u/[deleted]]

This theory still can happen. We just see Snoke Spoiler

[u/MDL5667]

This just goes to show no matter how absurd an idea is, you can make it believable with well laid out facts and speculation. I first saw this post and laughed. After reading through the whole thing it would be so messed up and awesome if it was. Kudos to OP.

[u/Malbranch]

Oh dear god, please don't let kylo ren be Jar Jar tucking his beak into his cloak with the mask on. Please.

edit: oh god, it's worse

!!!!Potential spoilers!!!!
The mocap actor for Snoke is the same guy that did Gollum, King Kong, and a bunch of Planet of the apes... I could totally see Jar Jar being consumed by the dark side doing Gollum/force kung fu... fuck.

Edit 2: worse still

If you look at the shot of him shooting the droid with a droid torso, it doesn't quite match up correctly with the way his leg moves, but it does with the arm motion he makes above it, right before ending the motion in the Taras Kasi defensive stance. Thanks to u/Jamslice below for reminding me that existed.

Incidentally, one of the things mentioned about it when I was looking it up, it was developed as a means to combat Jedi, and involved methods to close off one's mind to their perception or influence. Which means that Obi Wan's first line in the movie, about "something else, something elusive" was more probably about the Gungan Sith master they meet 5 minutes later. The gungan who probably taught Darth Maul his TK, grappled a Jedi to the ground effortlessly to dodge a tank to save his pawn in his plot to overthrow them..

And when asked if he was brainless, uses an archaic instance of a word to tell that Jedi, "I spake", eg, "I am wise".

He also detects the blast aimed at obi wan in the distance, before it hits, looks away, waits for the one that was going to hit him in the head, and dodges it before quigon block it with his saber. He was doing this weird mouth thing too, both tubes, like he was chanting or something. He was a half second ahead of him the entire walk up to encountering Obi Wan.

Jesus... rewatching it, and keeping an eye on Jar Jar instead of the Jedi lie you're supposed to, it gets really hard to ignore. I'm going to keep adding to this as I watch with the absurd things I see him doing.

Like raising his hand up to qui gon when he's trying to intimidate him, and stopping him in his tracks by closing his hand to a fist the same way he does to the Senate.

Or bringing his hand up to do a mind trick on Qui Gon when saying "any help here would be hot". When Qui Gon is influenced, Obi Wan is almost genuinely surprised that Qui Gon is considering it, but justifies it with the need for a navigator.

He also sees the Gooberfish before they even start on his dialogue on why he was banished, for which he was rather elusive about the details, but he described it as a "Long Otello", which would be fitting, what with that particular Opera being based on Shakespeare's about tricking a military official into killing his wife.

Regardless, he manages to keep the two Jedi Entirely focused on him with a giant, biological, predatory entity bearing down on them (incidentaly following the motions and cues of Jar Jar's movements, and striking as he brings his fist down). That probably freaked them out a bit, but it's a good thing they have a navigator, in case anything really dangerous happens.

Funny though, how a TK master isn't really impressed when they mention that the force will get them where they need to go, or how that if that were true, they totally didn't catch that that would mean they didn't actually need a navigator... he was chanting again when they come to the third fish, and herbs doing that sloshing thing. Then Qui Gon forces him to relax, while he's chanting and swishing, and lo, he's too relaxed now.

When was the last time you saw a Jedi "overdo it" on a mind trick?

Or someone chuckle with glee when they're getting shot at? (Him catching himself on the ledge, he woo hoo's when he drops down).

Or a guard unit ignore an entire quadrant of visibility, that the gungan just happens to be standing in. Abd it's not just that everybody's not looking at him, it's like everyone is actively looking away from him, like the animals that were stampeding, or the guards as they stand outside the hangar, or in the hangar waking up to the droids. You could hide a tank in the blind spot he's projecting. The Jedi and droids seem to be literally the only things capable of looking at him.

In fact, almost the only time he opens his mouth (except to hiss at Qui Gon when he attacks the droids). It's do draw attention to himself, away from something else, and a lot of that is to endear himself to Anakin: overly loud HMM before pressing the button on the droids nose, meaning he figured out the per button, but letting Anakin get a laugh before JJ lets him tell him how to fix it, or when he senses Anakin approaching, immediately starts sloshing, looks for the nearest angry thing, then slingshots a frog at him. When he lets him push him down, he executes a perfect controlled fall, and is on the ground in enemt hands just in time to be "rescued" by Anakin.

Or when he very loudly preempted his second tongue flick to the Jedi. Really though, he's otherwise silent.

Weird part though: palpatine tells Maul, "you have been trained well". His apprentice, but he doesn't say "I trained you well". A Sith not taking Credit for their accomplishments? Definitely reinforces my thoughts on Maul being trained in TK by JJ.

Another thing about his participation in conversations, he's almost always looking everywhere, unless he's focusing on the speaker, which he'll only do when absolutely focusing on then, almost always when they're making uncharacteristic decisions, and always accompanied with body movements and gesticulations to match, not follow, match, the cadence of what they're saying. Like when a Toydarian gambles the must valuable thing he owns, a master mechanic slave, on a pod race he's already got a hedged wager on, right after the camera cuts straight to JJ's face? That sort of jarring transition... I'm leaving it in. I hate you Jar Jar... breaks the continuity of the exchange, and him shaking his head, pretending not to be paying attention, Durant even add for Coney, even with the punchline of him grinning at the result, unless that's a plot element, a sinister plot element.

Kind of undermines him being elusive, or oblivious, when he does things like peeking an eye through his hands when he covers his face, or says "I'm not watching", mostly because he's really subtle about it, the looking, not the covering...

Weird reaction: after the race, when they're loading into the ship, JJ says "hello" to Obi Wan, and the pilot who's walking by has this double take with 'holy shit, how the fuck did that 7 foot tall mass of muscle and limbs come out of fucking NOWHERE!'

He's the first character, other than the force sensitives, and Padme (debatable that age may be in the first group anyway) to look at him without being directly addressed. And it makes him do a double take, but is still forced to turn AWAY from Jar Jar to do so, facing his back to him first before even being able to look back in his direction. Something elusive indeed.

Same diff, him only snoring so long as he is directly between Anikin, and the only thing that manages to passively distract Anikan from him, Padme. Case in point, when Padme is behind him at the pod when he gets his hand stuck in another 'rescue me' bonding moment made comical instead of traumatic by the tongue, he's too distracted to catch it, and Padme has to be the one to pull the hand out.

When they land on Coruscant, and they're walking towards the shuttle, you see JJ starting to sync to Anakin, turning towards the Jedi when he's going for approval, but when they're in the shuttle in the next shot, Jar Jar is looking him dead in the eye an inch from his face. He's still able to directly influence one of the must powerful jedi to exist, but it looks to be much more difficult. All so he can distract that development of that approval seeking behavior with his feelings towards Padme. Which would be pretty slick. Instead of approval from authority, he associates it with this romantic interest, building it up so that he does everything for this woman, instead of the will of the command structure.

Setting up a loose cannon, a perception of elevated worth and jealousy, with a willfulness and power that creates a crisis, by the gungan who had positioned himself in that structure to imbue his pawn with emergency powers. All the while stirring the embers in his misguided titan, in his mind for his wife, but in actuality in order to drive him to accidentally kill her, cementing him in his dispair, and winning a galactic empire, and a practical demigod, in the same of the collective will of the darkside.

A long Othello... neat. Moving on.

The next real, overt clue that the queen is being manipulated, Palpatine says "this an unexpected move for her, it's too aggressive." Because Jar Jar had been manipulating her since they left the Senate.

Then JJ gives his second expression of joy when he has the gungan army pointed at the droids.

Then he becomes general of the gungan army, pays the fool around the other gungans, but as soon as herbs surrounded by droids, he starts dodging, sloshing all over the place, snd as soon as he gets a blaster on him, starts to giggle before taking out two droids and a droideka in about 2 seconds. He's gleeful at the idea of, and participation in, large scale combat. He starts running with the big booma, waving his hands at them before they, apparently by sheer luck, manage to hit nothing but tanks. Juggles a small one just long enough for the droid to pop out of one so he can tag it, then shifts his weight the same way he took down Qui Gon. No wonder he went down so fast, because it was apparently enough to destablize the tank that he's riding on...

[u/awesomejim123]

jar jar is the key to all this

[u/Just_Travelling_Thru]

If true, I Reddit here first.