A multimedia franchise cannot exist near the very height of pop-cultural popularity for 45 years without accumulating some behind-the-scenes madness. Fans can be far too passionate, often lavishing overblown praise on those they like and wanton cruelty towards those they don’t. One victim of that treatment has been elevated to a new height in a recent episode ofThe Mandalorian.
The big stars of theStar Warsfranchise have a hard time escaping its pull. Mark Hamill has enjoyed a storied career, including another overwhelmingly popular role with his take on the Joker, but he’s stillgetting asked about Lukeat every turn. Being in a Star Wars film fundamentally impacts the public persona of a performer. Imagine that level of attention going to a role that people despise.
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Who Saved Grogu From Order 66?
As depicted in"Chapter 20: The Foundling,“Grogu was rescued from the attack on the Jedi Temple by Jedi Master Kelleran Beq. Beq completed the daring escape that got Grogu to safety, then escaped the attack with his life. Before the attack, Beq was known as an educator, tasked primarily with aiding young Padawans with their Jedi Trials. In an earlier episode, Ahsoka mentioned Grogu’s Jedi training by multiple instructors. Beq was most likely one of his tutors, but the swift and unexpected attack eliminated most of his students. Only Grogu survived, and Beq was the hero that put his life on the line to keep the last of his pupils safe.
Kelleran Beq was created to be the host of the children’s game showStar Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. That series, which is only available on the Star Wars Kids website, pits real younglings against one another in a series of physical challenges. It’s mostcomparable toNickelodeon GutswithStar Warsbranding. Beq was joined by two droid companions called AD-3 and LX-R5. As a trio, they hosted the show and led kids through their charming games. Beq was a teacher, in and out of the fictional universe. His return to the franchise came with some fanfare, but it also came with some interesting legacy. The character is most interesting for who portrays him.
Who is Ahmed Best?
Kelleran Beq is portrayed by Ahmed Best, who previously portrayed the widely despised Jar Jar Binks. In the pop-culture firestorm sparked by the 1999release ofThe Phantom Menace, a frankly absurd percentage of the blame fell to this unpleasant alien. The character was clearly designed as comic relief for the benefit of very young viewers, and that seemed to agitate the older viewers who desperately argued for their favorite franchise as an acceptable hobby for adults. While there’s a lot wrong with the film and Jar Jar’s role in it, the reaction was massively overblown. Ahmed Best got the wrong end of a lot of that treatment.
With the prequels becoming the go-to pariah in nerd culture and Jar Jar Binks living as the poster boy for its trespasses, Best was frequently sent horrible abuse from fans. People bothered him in public, sent him death threats through the mail, and accused him of ruining their childhood. It’s unacceptable behavior under any circumstances.Actors are frequently attackedfor the supposed misdeeds of their characters. Best would reprise the role in multiple comedies making fun of his previous character. His career continued with a variety of acting roles and music projects. However, Best also had an out-of-costume cameo inAttack of the Clonesas a Jedi named Achk Med-Beq. Decades later, Best would take on the role of a relative of his first Jedi character and finally appear in a role that the fanbase will appropriately love.
Ahmed Best went from one of the least loved members of the entire franchise’s massive cast to a hero of the story.Best’s open and honest reckoningwith his mostly terrible experience granted him a great deal of sympathy among the fanbase. No performer deserves the treatment he experienced, most of the problems were out of his control, and it was always unfair to pick one element of the prequels as the central problem. Ahmed Best dealt witha lot of strife from the fanbase, and that led him to be a bit reluctant to jump back into the franchise. The fact is, he’s always been a fan. The originalStar Warscame out when Best was 4, he joined the franchise at 25. It’s always been a part of the performer’s life, for better and for worse.
The story of Ahmed Best in the world of Star Wars finally has a happy ending. Beq survives the attackon the Jedi Temple, meaning that he’s still out there during the narrative of the original trilogy. He could still be out there after the fall of the Empire. There’s a possibility of seeing Kelleran Beq again, maybe even bringing Grogu back together with the man who saved him. Either way, it’s a joy to see Ahmed Best get the celebration he deserves.
