TED Talks Daily

Sunday Pick: The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks

May 5, 2024

Ahmed Best, the actor behind Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars, shares his journey from a beloved CGI character to one of cinema's most controversial figures. He reflects on the intense fan culture that surrounded the release of The Phantom Menace and discusses the emotional toll of public backlash. Best humorously explores the charm and origins of Jar Jar while addressing crucial issues like online criticism and racial representation in film, shedding light on the evolving legacy of a character that polarized a generation.

31:55

Creator website

Episode guests

Ahmed Best

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

Camping for the Force: A Nostalgic Journey

9min

The Legacy of Jar Jar Binks

12min

Navigating Health Challenges: A Journey Towards Wellness

2min

Exploring the Legacy of Jar Jar Binks and 90s Star Wars Fandom

5min

Unpacking Jar Jar Binks: A Cultural Reflection

8min

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you … by us. Today: in celebration of Star Wars Day, we're sharing an episode from The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks, TED's first narrative show. It explores how Jar Jar Binks became one of the most polarizing figures in cinematic history when he made his debut in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.

It’s 1999, and sixteen years after its original release, a new Star Wars is finally coming. Fans have been camping out in front of theaters across the country just to be the first to see it. The beloved intergalactic saga is set to debut a slew of brand new characters, one of whom is a revolutionary CGI creation named Jar Jar Binks. Whispers begin to spread about big changes coming to the galaxy far, far away — and not everyone’s happy about it. Transcripts for The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks are available at go.ted.com/jarjar

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