Bombad Jedi

While on a mission involving diplomacy to Rodia, Padmé finds out that her old friend, Senator Onaconda Farr, who is also a Republic senator, has decided to side his planet with the Separatists. In return for crucial supplies like food, Onaconda takes Padmé prisoner, intending to hand her over to Nute Gunray. Sensing that Padmé is in danger, Jar Jar Binks decides to disguise himself as a Jedi. With the help of C-3PO, he bravely fights to save his friend and fellow senator.

Padmé Amidala makes a trip to Rodia in an attempt to convince Senator Onaconda Farr, whom she affectionately calls Uncle Ono, a nickname stemming from a past favor to her father, to remain loyal to the Galactic Republic. She is accompanied by C-3PO and Jar Jar Binks, even though Supreme Chancellor Palpatine suggested bringing a security detail instead. However, upon arriving, she discovers that Onaconda has already committed to the Separatists, with Viceroy Nute Gunray providing supplies due to the Republic's inability to do so. Battle droids are already present in the city. On Gunray's orders, the droids restrain Padmé by shackling her arms to a wall as a precaution before his personal arrival.

Jar Jar and Threepio encounter further difficulty when droids attempt to apprehend them. While Jar Jar's clumsy use of a magnetic crane destroys the droids, it also destroys their ship, eliminating their ability to call for assistance. He dons a Jedi robe that Padmé had stored in a back closet (likely belonging to Anakin Skywalker), but droids spot them, leading everyone to believe he is a Jedi. Jar Jar escapes into the water below, where he is immediately chased by a marine monster, while Threepio is captured to be scrapped. The news of a Jedi's presence gives Padmé an idea: she bluffs the droids into thinking the Jedi has already rescued her, then uses a key from her boot to unlock her shackles, performs a roundhouse kick on a droid, takes its blaster, and escapes.

Padmé saves Threepio but is disappointed to realize that Jar Jar is the supposed Jedi. She instructs Threepio to locate a communication station to request help. Meanwhile, Gunray arrives in his shuttle and informs Onaconda that the supplies will be delivered only after Padmé's execution. Onaconda objects, but Gunray insists, stating that Rodia is now under his protection. Onaconda then understands that he has made a grave error in aligning with the Separatists.

Jar Jar attempts to rescue Padmé, but he is spotted and shot at. He dives into the water again as droids throw thermal detonators and launch a rocket at him. While swimming away, he encounters the "boogie monster" from before, which swallows him just as the rockets are about to explode. Fortunately, the creature's thick hide protects him, and Jar Jar declares it his friend.

Threepio manages to send a message before being captured. Gunray orders three droidekas to prepare to execute Padmé and Threepio when Jar Jar and the boogie monster emerge from the swamp. In the ensuing chaos, Gunray tries to flee, but the monster pushes his shuttle into the swamp, and Padmé holds him at gunpoint. Onaconda appears behind Padmé, blaster in hand, and Gunray tells the Rodian to shoot "the Jedi" first, then Padmé. However, seeing Onaconda's expression, Padmé covers for him, suggesting he reveal their "little secret" to Gunray: that Onaconda had planned to trap Gunray all along. Onaconda, understanding Padmé's cue, agrees that he is with the Republic and arrests Gunray.

A Republic cruiser arrives with reinforcements to take Gunray into custody. Onaconda thanks Jar Jar (calling him "Master Bombad") for his help, but Jar Jar clarifies that he is just a Gungan. Via holoprojector, Palpatine promises supplies to Rodia. Onaconda asks Padmé for forgiveness, but she responds that it is the Republic that should seek his forgiveness, as they often forget that their most valuable allies are not always the most powerful.

Originally, Quinlan Vos was planned to be in an initial version of "Bombad Jedi." His role was to be undercover, using his Force powers to convincingly portray Jar Jar as a Jedi. However, he was ultimately removed because, at the early production stages, the studio lacked the capability to include many new characters due to the time required to create a digital model.

This episode stands alone in season 1 as the only one featuring Ahmed Best, the original voice actor for Jar Jar, in the role. BJ Hughes voices Jar Jar in "The Gungan General," "Blue Shadow Virus" and "Mystery of a Thousand Moons." However, Ahmed returns to the role in the season 3 episode "Supply Lines" and for the season 4 episodes "Gungan Attack," "Prisoners" and "Shadow Warrior" along with the season 6 episodes "The Disappeared" Part 1 and 2.

According to story editor Henry Gilroy, the scene where Jar Jar seemingly disappears, leaving the droids to find only Jedi robes, is an homage to the scene in A New Hope where Darth Vader defeats Obi-Wan.

Nute Gunray's arrival closely mirrors Darth Vader's visit to the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station in Episode VI. Both shuttles are accompanied by two fighters that separate as the shuttle enters a hangar. Both Vader and Gunray emerge from the shuttles to meet a subordinate and a group of soldiers.

The Kwazel Maw's design is based on an unused concept by Ralph McQuarrie for a swamp slug creature on Dagobah.

When Jar Jar is putting on the Jedi robe he says "Mesa eyeball stuck in da sleeve," yet the Jedi robe shown in the episode has no sleeves and looks more like Count Dooku's cape, minus the clasp. Also, when he emerges from the water, he puts it on quickly and easily.

When Jar Jar confronts Gunray and demands that Padmé be released, his ears clip through the back of his hood.