The most important scene in any Star Wars movie. And you never noticed it.
One of the most under-analyzed scenes in all of Star Wars is this one, in the Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon, Padme, and Jar Jar take refuge from a sand storm at the Skywalker home. Not only is it one of the most under-analyzed scenes, but I posit, without any hyperbole, that it is the single most important scene in any of the 9 movies (so far).
The scene: Qui-Gon takes a comm call from Obi-Wan Kenobi, to discuss Sio Bibble’s distress transmission.
But what isn’t important in this scene is what’s occurring in the foreground, but instead what’s happening in the background. Have you ever noticed? More than likely you haven’t. Jar Jar is clearly back there helping Schmi Skywalker with some sort of task in the kitchen, most likely helping her prepare food for the meal that the group is about to eat.
Nobody else in the group is so kind or thoughtful. Anakin and Padme are off playing with C-3PO and R2-D2 in Anakin’s room. Qui-Gon Jinn is having secret conversations out in the hallway, probably already plotting how he can kidnap this kind lady’s child.
Jar Jar is the only one helping the woman, who has taken them into her home, who has given them all shelter from a dangerous storm, with getting dinner ready. Not because he has to, but because he wants to, because he has a good heart and just wants to help out. Jar Jar teaches us the way that we should be, how we should act. It shows us why the galaxy is worth saving.
The Darth Jar Jar theorists never mention this scene. Why? Because it would blow their theory to pieces. The Jar Jar haters never mention this scene. Why? Because how can you hate someone who is doing something so nice?
So the next time you see someone complain about how “annoying” or “clumsy” Jar Jar Binks is, or how he’s secretly an evil mastermind behind all of the bad things that happen in the Star Wars Galaxy, remember how he, without being asked, was the only character with enough manners to help Schmi Skywalker with her household chores. Why? Because he’s a kind being. Because he’s a good house guest. Because he’s just a really nice guy. And maybe we can all learn a little something from our favorite Gungan.
Tags: jar jar, jar jar binks, qui-gon jinn, star wars, starwars