One line inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerhas completely changed how I view the Jedi’s role in the Clone Wars.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s contentious decision to resurrect Emperor Palpatine has had a long-lasting effect onStar Wars’storytelling. Not only did it change our perception ofStar Warsas a franchise, but it also altered our understanding of the Sith’s powers, Palpatine’s Imperial interests after the fall of the Jedi Order, and the extent to which the Force can be manipulated.
The Rise of Skywalker,The Mandalorian,Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and otherStar Warsstories have endeavored to explainPalpatine’s zombie-like resurrection.Cloning became an even more important aspect ofStar Wars’storytelling than ever before, linked not only to the creation of the Republic’s clone trooper army but also to Supreme Leader Snoke’s existence,Grogu’s tortured past inThe Mandalorian, and Palpatine’s return as the galaxy’s ruling Sith Lord. YetStar Warshas never answered a simple question: why weren’t the Jedi more wary of the clones’ existence during the prequel era?
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The Rise Of Skywalker Secretly Hinted Cloning Is Of The Dark Side
In the now infamous“Somehow, Palpatine returned”scene, Beaumont Kin, a Resistance fighter and galactic historian, vaguely alludes to howPalpatine might have orchestrated his resurrection with Project Necromancer, saying,“Dark science, cloning, secrets only the Sith knew…”Of course, the Sith are famously obsessed with the concept of immortality.Above all, the Sith wanted to cheat death, and clearly, Palpatine succeeded – to an extent.
To ensure his resurrection, Palpatine needed one thing: a clone body that was capable of accessing and using the Force. This was no easy feat – it’s part of the reason Grogu was kidnapped in the first place inThe Mandalorian– but he did (sort of) manage it, needing only the power of Kylo Ren and Rey’s Force Dyad to regain his full strength.
If cloning is a “dark science”and a secret only the Sith should have reasonably known about, why weren’t the Jedi more shocked about the creation of the clone army?
Until Kin’s brief explanation, though, cloning inStar Warscanon was purported to be relatively harmless. Sure, there were ethical questions regarding the clone troopers’ accelerated aging and their being bred solely to fight, but their actual creation was never truly in question, not even by the Jedi. Kin’s words change all that though – if cloning is a “dark science”and a secret only the Sith should have reasonably known about, why weren’t the Jedi more shocked about the creation of the clone army?
In Star Wars Legends, The Jedi Code Forbade Cloning
Interestingly enough, in the oldStar WarsExpanded Universe – now known as Legends – the Jedi forbade cloning. This policy makes sense when you think about the Jedi’s core ideologies. Cloning is essentially the process of creating life artificially. In an abstract sense, this means thatthose involved in the cloning process impose their will on the Force, altering the natural balance of life and death.The Jedi do not manipulate or control the Force; they commune with it, listen to it, and follow its will. They are agents and messengers, nothing more.
The Sith Have Always Been Associated With Cloning & Genetic Engineering
The Sith, on the other hand, have always had a hand in scientific manipulation, cloning, and genetic engineering, both in canon and Legends. Darth Plagueis, for instance, experimented with his life span, and the Sith Order once createdcreatures known as Sithspawnusing alchemy, a combination of scientific methodology and dark side knowledge. The results were fearsome abominations with enhanced power and intelligence – some were even capable of dark-side Force powers. These creatures were bred to be nearly unkillable weapons.
Star Wars' Cloning Explained: Clone Army, Project Necromancer, & Palpatine’s Resurrection
Beginning in Attack of the Clones, cloning has been an essential part of Star Wars history ever since, going all the way up to Emperor Palpatine.
As such, Palpatine’s obsessive interest in cloning is no surprise. Of course, he was going to use the clone army for his gain; of course, he was going to extend his life and prevent his death by creating Force-sensitive clones. Why wouldn’t he? The Jedi, however, should have known better. They should have known that the clones were part of a larger plot, steeped in the dark side somehow, somewhere. They should have known someone was pulling the strings.
Why Did The Jedi Accept An Army Of Clones?
On some level, I understand why the Jedi accepted an army of clones during the Clone Wars era. They had been unwittingly backed into a corner. The Jedi Order could not stop the Separatists alone, and there was not enough time to create their version of a droid army. The clone troopers were there, ripe for the picking, a perfectly timed solution to all their problems. Logically, it makes sense. Morally speaking, though, the Jedi should have been more worried.
When Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas first told the council of his fearsome vision for the future and the need to breed an army for war, the Jedi, to their credit, shut him down, feeling his ideas were too extreme. Now, however, I’m questioning whether they truly abhorred the idea of creating a genetically manipulated army or if they were simply unwilling to believe that another great war was coming. After all, we know the Jedi were blinded by their hubris, reluctant to admit that the darkness of the Sith could still be lingering in the shadows.
If you want to learn more about Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas' history, watchStar Wars: The Clone Warsseason 6, episodes 2, 3, 10, 11, and 13.
George Lucas wasn’t exactly subtle. He’d even originallyintended for Sifo-Dyas to be a secret Sith, which would have easily explained his desire to create an army of clones rather than droids. Famously, of course, Sifo-Dyas ignored the Council’s orders and instructed the Kaminoans to proceed with the clone army, leaving him vulnerable to the Sith, essentially kickstarting the war he feared was coming.
So why, if even a galactic historian during the First Order’s era knew that cloning was a skill practiced and revered by the Sith, didn’t the Jedi Order see the warning signs earlier? Yes, they treated the clones better than the Separatists would ever have done; they offered them friendship, dignity, and purpose. That doesn’t excuse their willful ignorance, however.
The Jedi were far from infallible. They kept secrets, refused to believe the darkness could return, and let themselves be guided by politics and power rather than the Force and their beliefs.
The Jedi were blinded by their power, by the relative peace they’d built since the end of the High Republic era. AsStar Wars: The Clone Wars, theStar Warssequel trilogy, andStar Wars: The High Republichave all exposed, the Jedi were far from infallible. They kept secrets, refused to believe the darkness could return, and let themselves be guided by politics and power rather than the Force and their beliefs.
Palpatine’s resurrection inThe Rise of Skywalkerwas understandably controversial. It changed the canon completely and made the franchise too reliant on nostalgia. On the plus side, however, this one line and plot point inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkeralso changed my understanding of one of the galaxy’s most pivotal, terrifying, and ethically questionable scientific achievements, highlighting that, at the height of their power, the Jedi truly had reached the point of no return.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Cast
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, released in December 2019, follows the surviving Resistance as they confront the First Order. The film continues the journey of Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron as they harness the power of past generations to engage in a climactic battle against the forces of tyranny.
