The Legend Of Darth Jar Jar

One of the most intriguing theories about Star Wars is that Jar Jar Binks was meant to be revealed as a big villain. On the small chance that you have no idea what that's about, check it out here. 
This article is going to be about his appearance in the Clone Wars series (spoiler alert), my thoughts on how this would have affected episode 2, and my opinion of the Gungan Menace.

In season 1, episode 8 in the Clone Wars, Jar Jar travels to Rodia with Padme Amidala, to help her on a diplomatic mission. Padme is detained and handed over her oldest enemy; Nute Gunray. the only one able to save her is Jar Jar Binks. To disguise himself, he grabs a black cloak from one of Padmé's dressers, giving him a Sith-like appearance. When the seperatists see him they mistake him for a Jedi, he lures them out by disappearing. Then he continues to do what Jar Jar does: saving the day by stumbling around. He defeats multiple guards clumsy Gungan-style, and even has a big watermonster helping him out.
This episode plays so well with the idea that Jar Jar was a Sith, appearing to be an idiot on purpose.

The other episode is the 8th episode in the 6th season, in which Bardotta's queen requests Jar Jar Binks by name, to help out with a crisis. The Bardottan are very Force-sensitive, but unlike the Jedi or Sith. The Jedi actually antagonized them in the past, when they took their children to raise them as Jedi. They think of the Jedi as kidnappers, a very interesting notion and perspective of the order. Their people are more intuitively linked to the Force. Despite their specific issue with Jedi, Mace Windu accompanies him because the council doesn't trust Jar Jar with such an important quest.
It's a shame that Jar Jar didn't actually kick more ass in the showdown of the episode, but it finishes with Mace Windu saying he now understands Jar Jar a lot better. Next to the Darth Jar Jar theory, which was never developed, that speaks volumes. He is a Force user on a very deep intuitive level.

If Lucas would have stuck by the plan to reveal Jar Jar as the big villain, how would that have affected Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith? Well, that depends on when he was to be exposed.  I think he would fully replace Dooku's part, so be revealed as a separist leader, when he takes Obi Wan prisoner on Geonosis. After that reveal, he sheds his Cloak of Moronity (+5 Deception), and be the same villain that Dooku is now with one difference: he would be Darth Plagueis. Then in Revenge of the Sith, near the end of the war, Palpatine betrays his master before he is exposed as Sith.

But, that's all theory and speculation. We didn't get to see Binks being a bombadass. However I feel, as you might have guessed, this would have totally saved his character. I can only imagine the public's shock, when it was revealed that he had us all fooled. It might have been even bigger than Vader revealed as Luke's father.
We did not get that story. We got a clumsy fool who gets him and everyone around him into trouble, but with his intuitive Force luck gets them out as well.
Watching the Phantom Menace again, he plays a key part in the story. Not only in the obvious way, but also with his subtle Force manipulations, although now they're unintentional. His mind control is absent-mindly, or perhaps not even mind control at all but simply knowing what people are going to say before they say it. Instead of the drunken fist fighting style being done on purpose, the Force guides him when he's panicking. I see his mocking of the Force as him genuinely underestimating it's power, and because of that he doesn't realize how much he affects things.
And honestly, in light of that, I find myself able to enjoy him.

Article by: Joel “Mith” Storms