Star Wars secretly dropped a huge clue to Darth Jar Jar five years ago. “Darth Jar Jar” is one of the most charming fan theories of the previous era; the idea that Jar Jar Binks is too clumsy and lucky to believe. According to this theory, it seems to amuse actor Ahmed Best himself, he is actually the real “Phantom Menace” – a Sith Lord operating in secret to help Palpatine rise to power.
The Darth Jar Jar theory is popular enough to even reach the LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxywhich brought Best back to happily declare that Jar Jar was the Phantom Menace all along. There are, surprisingly, some details that support the Darth Jar Jar theory – from moments where Jar Jar has literally destroyed enemies through his apparent clumsiness, to jumps and dives that actually seem a little Force-assisted. Surprisingly, though, Star Wars has been hiding other evidence in plain sight for five years; a scene where Jar Jar uses a lightsaber.
Jar Jar secretly used a lightsaber surprisingly well
Published in 2019, Marvel’s Era of the Republic special featured three delightful tales featuring different characters from the Clone Wars. One, “501 Plus One” by Marc Guggenheim and Caspter Wijngaard, is a team-up between Captain Rex and Jar Jar Binks during the Battle of Mimban. During the battle, Jedi General Laan Tik is killed; the clones retreat, trying to protect Senator Jar Jar Binks, who accompanied them.
Captain Rex finally goes on what promises to be a suicide mission, and he would be right if not for Jar Jar Binks’ intervention. The senator somehow escaped the clones protecting him, armed with Laan Tik’s lightsaber, and used it to take down several battle droids and save Rex’s life. The attack is skillfuleven more notable because Jar Jar drops his lightsaber and claims to Rex that he almost killed himself five times.
Could Jar Jar secretly be much more powerful than he seems?
All of this is delightfully in line with the Darth Jar Jar theory – the idea that Jar Jar is secretly a powerful Force-sensitive who is hiding his true potential. Here, he uses the lightsaber to rescue Captain Rex, before feigning incompetence once again. Rex was a close associate of Anakin Skywalker, and it would make sense for the Sith to want him alive at this point in the Clone Wars.
It’s important to remember that there’s a reason why lightsabers are Jedi weapons, when technically anyone can use them. Like the recently published Star Wars: The High Republic – Lightsaber Collection explains:
“Jedi can use the Force to perform incredible feats, and the lightsaber is an extension of that ability. While its blade can cut through most materials with ease, its frictionless design makes it difficult to wield without supernatural precision. One user only of the Force can use a lightsaber to its full potential.”
Jar Jar’s attack is skillful, destroying several battle droids with a single blow. It’s the kind of thing only an experienced Force-sensitive should be able to do with a lightsaber, and one of the strongest pieces of evidence for it. Star Wars theory to this day.