If there is one character that has divided Star Wars fans for decades, it is Jar Jar Binks. Since his first appearance in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the Gungan became the subject of constant derision and hate, even decades after his debut. However, the one good thing about playing a CGI character is that it is possible to play another character without there being too many problems, which is exactly what Ahmed Best has done this week. In the latest episode of The Mandalorian, Best was given a shot at Star Wars redemption as he appeared as Jedi Kelleran Beq.
This time around, Best appeared without either CGI or practical prosthetics as the character he first played in the web series Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. In the episode entitled “The Foundling”, a flashback to Order 66 revealed how Grogu managed to escape capture when many others were killed by clone troopers. In the scene, Best’s Jedi ensured that Grogu escaped with some impressive lightsaber skills. The scene ends with Grogu and Kelleran flying off, allowing the character to appear again. When it comes to the surprise return, Best is more than grateful to have a second chance in the franchise. He wrote on his Instagram account:
“Gratitude! Good to be back. There is so much to say and share. It’s going to take a couple of days. But for now, I’ll just say thank you to all that have held me up and made me better.”
Related: Why The Mandalorian Has Gone on for Too Long
The Reaction To Jar Jar Binks Almost Broke Ahmed Best
20th Century Fox
While his appearance in The Mandalorian has given Ahmed Best a new chance within the Star Wars Universe, his previous appearance as Jar Jar Binks is one that Best has now exorcized even though it almost drove him to suicide due to the constant backlash. A few years ago, Best spoke about how the legacy of Jar Jar Binks had affected him. He said:
“It hit me. It came right for me. I was called every racial stereotype you can imagine. There was this criticism of being this Jamaican, broken dialect, which was offensive because I’m of West Indian descent — I’m not Jamaican. It was debilitating. I didn’t know how to respond. The depression hit me. Hard. I was just broken. The only thing I could think of to make me feel better was to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. But this time when I walked across the bridge, I didn’t see the lights of Manhattan. I didn’t see the towers [or] the potential of hard work and ingenuity. I didn’t see anything; I just saw a fog. I felt tired of having to explain myself. I felt tired of having to defend myself and defend my work. I felt tired of having to fight back against racism and the racial stereotypes. I just wanted to play a part. I was exhausted.”
Thankfully, that is all now very much in the past for Best, and with a bit of luck this will not be last we see of his new Jedi character as the story of Grogu and Din Djarin continues. New episodes of The Mandalorian come to Disney+ every Wednesday.
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