1999 was a year that would be burned into the memories of Star Wars fans across the world. By May of that year, almost 16 years had gone by since a Star Wars movie had been in theatres (not counting the 20th anniversary re-releases in 1997). And so, in a theater far into the past, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace launched the prequel trilogy. For those that could recall, it was a stunning visual experience that pushed the boundaries of computer-generated images like no movie before, but ultimately a clash of dull, long, political droll against unusually childish cartoon characters and a thirty-minute “futuristic vroom-vroom” sequence.
Fans did not get what they expected and were outraged. To this day, the reaction of fans to the Phantom Menace is divided by the adults who saw it and hated it, and the children who regard it as the first Star Wars they ever really saw and had affection towards. All this opinion churns on one single platypus-like being named Jar Jar Binks. Curiously, there was a scene filmed where Jar Jar almost died after he, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi surfaced during the initial visit to Theed, capital of Naboo.
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George Lucas hedged his bets in a serious way on Jar Jar Binks in two ways. First, though Jar Jar was practically performed on set by Ahmed Best, his person was largely animated by computers for the big screen. Whether or not his movement and facial expressions would contrast smoothly with the real people next to him was a real gamble, regardless of the cost Lucas invested in CGI or the expertise reached by Lucasfilm. There was a chance that Jar Jar would not work on screen as a moving speaking and living character. If the technology of Jar Jar failed, the whole visual presentation of the movie would have a, dare it be said, jar-ring fault.
Second, Jar Jar as a character was designed to appeal to children. If one considers the palette of tone used in Phantom Menace, it ranges as dark and as serious as Darth Sidious’s manipulation of Queen Amidala and the Galaxy toward his own evil tyrannical ends, and as light and humorous as Jar Jar himself. The character was the furthest stake in the spectrum. The first bet succeeded. No one has ever complained about Jar Jar’s computer animation, so far as it has ever been expressed. The second bet demonstrably failed. Since the first showing of Phantom Menace, people have never stopped complaining about the character - ever.
In a deleted scene from the Phantom Menace, the watercraft Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar use to go through the planet core to get to Theed loses control and drifts over the waterfall cliff down a massive fall and smashes to pieces on a huge rock. In the official canon edit, Jar Jar slips off the craft before it drops and swims to the shore. In the fan edit, Jar Jar gets stuck in the craft as it drops to the rocks below. This edit is the one most people would remember, as it features the death of Jar Jar Binks.
What would happen if Jar Jar died in the fall? One could imagine a much more serious and, possibly, more awesome movie. For one thing, there would be no silly distractions from the main plot. The Jedi would go on the dangerous mission of protecting Queen Amidala while ending the illegal invasion by the Trade Federation without stepping in any poop, or any tongue-wagging, or tongue-numbing, or other such antics or shenanigans.
Second, Jar Jar would never be appointed General of the Gungan Grand Army by Boss Nass, one of the stupidest decisions a ruler could ever make. Maybe one of the Jedi could have led the army? Why not Qui-Gon Jinn? He was the most experienced person on the planet at that point. Instead of letting the most inexperienced bumbling fool of all the Gungans lead the entire army against their greatest foe yet, Boss Nass could have asked Qui-Gon to take command and fight for them. Then, instead of getting killed by Darth Maul, Qui-Gon could have lived and continued through the trilogy. Maybe the fall of Anakin to the dark side could have been climaxed with a duel against both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan? Or Qui-Gon fell in the battle with Count Dooku at the end of Attack of the Clones? How cool would that have been?
There are a couple of reasons why Jar Jar’s death would hurt the movie. The most obvious one is the logical side. Jar Jar is an amphibious creature. If he fell over the waterfall he could easily have landed in the water and swam his way out of danger. So long as he dodged the rocks, which he could have done with those spry frog legs of his, he could breathe underwater no problem.
Second, Jar Jar was the link between the human Naboo above ground and the Gungans below the water. Sure, Queen Amidala could have asked the Jedi to help locate Boss Nass and crew when they went to their secret Helm’s Deep forest hideaway, but it may not have gone down so well without a native Gungan smoothing over the initial contact. Boss Nass was already mistrustful of the Jedi and the Naboo (especially after Qui-Gon Force coerced him into giving them his personal watercraft).
The thing is, fans had to learn the hard way that Star Wars is a space fantasy made for children. If Jar Jar died, something else would have taken his place– like more droid escapades, or another version of the Ewoks. Even the Disney Trilogy is a testament to that. One way or the other, Star Wars must appeal to the younglings of each generation.
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