LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga's affectionate depiction of Jar Jar Binks shows that it's much cooler to embrace the character in 2022 than it is to be a critic. Jar Jar first comes into LEGO's Skywalker Saga when playing The Phantom Menace, and largely performs the same role he did in the 1999 film of the same name, only turned up to a higher level. The affable Gungan gets into all kinds of slapstick-based scenarios, and is often the funniest part of the episode's cutscenes. It's also ultimately a kind-hearted interpretation, and one that - however unknowingly - reiterates that it's much more fun to be a Jar Jar lover than a Jar Jar hater.
Portrayed by Ahmed Best in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar Binks was the film's all-digital comic relief. Although obviously intended for children, Binks and Best himself were both met with a sizeable and toxic backlash from some older Star Wars viewers, who felt that the character was immature or otherwise too distracting. As younger fans who grew up with the prequels have gotten older, however, Jar Jar and Best have been met with a significant outpouring of affection, with the character having clearly resonated with his intended audience. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga feels like a fitting release within that context, due to its innocent portrayal of Jar Jar highlighting both his hilarious clumsiness and his more heroic nature.
As with the original LEGO Star Wars games, Jar Jar Binks is a playable character in The Skywalker Saga and joins Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi from the second level onward. Much of his dialogue from The Phantom Menace remains intact (albeit redubbed with a new voice actor), but with an added LEGO-y touch that turns Best's slapstick performance up to a whole other level. The game's presentation is immaculate, and Traveller's Tales has perfected its own unique brand of humor, with Jar Jar exemplifying that in multiple scenes. The character can frequently be seen getting into tricky situations in the background, as was the case in George Lucas' original prequel, only this time the results are even wackier, with Jar Jar's extendable tongue a recurring gag. However, as one of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga's playable characters, the game also finds time to spotlight Jar Jar as a clumsy yet loveable hero, dedicating an entire mission to him as he and Captain Tarpals fend off the Trade Federation's army of battle droids.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - Jar Jar Is The Key
Although he doesn't receive as much screentime as Qui-Gon Jinn or Obi-Wan Kenobi in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga's version of The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar still manages to steal the show. Every character gets their own humorous moment in the spotlight, but Binks is frequently at the center - usually due to him falling victim to something in the environment. Jar Jar also stands out when left idle during play, as he licks a boomba and proceeds to lose all sensation in his mouth, very much like he did in Episode I when he got stuck in between Anakin's podracer engines. It's little touches like that that add to the new LEGO Star Wars' movie-like charm, with every character's portrayal being funny, yet faithful.
Jar Jar Binks is a fairly pivotal character in the Star Wars films, and one who, despite being innocently intended, was met with a not-insignificant amount of hate following his debut. Positive depictions of Jar Jar like those seen in LEGO Star Wars are valuable, because they illustrate that there has always been love for the character and his portrayal in the prequels and animated series. As prequel fans have grown up and moved to reclaim them in their own unique ways, it's nice to see that he hasn't been ignored. Ultimately, LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga is a celebration of Star Wars as a whole, and its depiction of Jar Jar is a testament to that.