It's no secret that Jar Jar Binks is one of the most unpopular characters in the Star Wars universe. Even Emperor Palpatine, an old evil dude who committed genocide across the galaxy has a higher approval rating than the dopey Gungan.
One Reddit thread in particular delivers an epic Jar Jar Binks fan theory on par with the best tales from the Star Wars canon. This "Darth Jar Jar" theory suggests that the Gungan has been the mastermind behind the Sith all along, and that it will be revealed that Supreme Leader Snoke is actually the bumbling alien from the prequels.
Sound crazy to you? Well, Redditor "Lumpawarroo" actually makes a pretty convincing argument! Ranker breaks it down for you:
Although the official story places Sheev Palpatine (AKA Darth Sidious) at the center of the Sith's plot to destroy the Jedi and take over the galaxy, the Darth Jar Jar theory suggests that Jar Jar Binks is the real threat, and that Palpatine is just one of his followers.
At the end of The Phantom Menace, Mace Windu asks Yoda whether Darth Maul was the master or the apprentice. In the moment, it seems pretty clear that Darth Sidious is the one pulling the strings from the shadows. However, we now know that Sidious is breaking the Rule of Two, since he is still Darth Plagueis's apprentice during that film, but takes on an apprentice of his own anyway.
So, what if Sidious was serving another master all along? It would explain why Jar Jar later helps Palpatine rise to the top of the Galactic Senate.
The Darth Jar Jar theory also notes that the clumsy alien is actually capable of amazing physical feats that are usually reserved for those knowledgeable in the ways of the Force.
Take the scene early in The Phantom Menace where he dives into the water by performing a 20-foot twisting somersault. We've certainly seen Jedi jump that high, but Jar Jar is the only "non-Force user" who can move like that.
Of course, you wouldn't be out of line for arguing that Gungans might just be capable of jumping higher than humans...
Although he often comes off as clumsy, Jar Jar Binks is actually a great warrior who can hold his own in a fight. Well, that's what the Reddit theory posits, anyway.
The prime example of Jar Jar's viciousness can be seen during the Battle of Naboo in the first film. Jar Jar takes down several enemy tanks, "accidentally" unleashes a mass of boomas that annihilate a brigade of battle droids, and shoots down bad guys with a blaster that is wrapped around his leg.
Basically, Jar Jar is putting up a facade in order to appear dumb and clumsy. Secretly, he's actually an amazing soldier.
Although he often comes off as an idiot and a coward, Jar Jar continually finds ways to slide into positions of power, both in the military and the government. How is it possible that someone like Jar Jar – who often has trouble staying upright – is promoted to the rank of general during the Battle of Naboo?
Jedi mind tricks are featured in almost every one of the series's installments. Could Jar Jar be a master of mind control? This would explain why Padmé Amidala makes him one of her aides in the Senate, then later her direct representative. She could have picked anyone she wanted for the job, yet chooses the dimwitted Jar Jar.
The Darth Jar Jar theory suggests that all of these promotions are actually orchestrated by the calculating Gungan Sith Lord to further his plan for galactic domination.
George Lucas Likes To Make "Little Creatures" Important
One of the Reddit theory's stronger arguments has to do with George Lucas himself. We know that Lucas likes to surprise audiences with big character reveals (e.g. Darth Vader is actually Luke's father, Leia is actually Luke's sister), and there's one hero in particular whose character progression might be analogous to Jar Jar's: Master Yoda.
As George Lucas said in a making-of documentary (via Redditor "Lumpawarroo"), "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..."
Jar Jar Binks could have been created with the same trope in mind, only rather than becoming a Jedi Master, the bumbling alien matures into a Sith Lord.
Lucas Had Bigger Plans For Jar Jar But Chickened Out
The Darth Jar Jar theory suggests that George Lucas had at one time planned to reveal that the Gungan was a powerful Sith Lord. According to Redditor "Lumpawarroo," Jar Jar would have expressed his true intentions in Attack of the Clones and faced off against Yoda in the film's climactic duel scene.
However, due to the unpopularity of the character among fans and critics, Lucas chickened out and replaced Jar Jar with Count Dooku.
