Star Wars question about the cloned stormtroopers (spoilers welcome)

[NewJeffCT]

In Star Wars episodes 2 and 3, and the Cartoon Channel Clone Wars series, the clones seem to be pretty competent soldiers, especially when compared to the droids they are fighting.

However, in the original movies – episodes 4, 5 and 6 – the clones basically suck. They seemingly have trouble hitting anything smaller than the Death Star, and by the time episode 6 rolls around, these guys are being taken out by 2 foot tall ewoks armed with sticks and rocks.

Was there a massive degeneration in the quality of the clones after episode 3 and before episode 4? You know, the old copy of a copy of a copy of a copy type of thing? Was this ever explained? Maybe rebel sabotage of the cloning process?

Thanks

[Blue_Tires]

1. that theory fits...

[Orrex]

2. The copy-of-a-copy thing is a relic of older science fiction

Any technological race sufficiently advanced to be known throughout the galaxy as "cloners" would certainly have overcome this minor difficulty. Given the amazing data storage capabilities of even one astromech, it's unthinkable to me that they wouldn't do a full scan of the donated DNA and then check it against each force-grown clone thereafter.

IMO it's more likely that the Stormtrooper-era clones suffer not from genetic deficiencies but from inadequate training. Perhaps the tight-fisted Emperor decided to skimp on the target practice and instead spent too much on armor polishing and Dewback handling.

[Archae]

3. What if the 4, 5, and 6 troopers aren't clones?

I had the impression they were recruits or draftees.

[NewJeffCT]

9. In Episode 4 - when Luke rescues Leia

she said to him that he looked a little short to be a stormtrooper - to me, that meant, they were all taller and probably around the same height?

[DS1]

4. There's no explanation

Lucas wasn't thinking things through with the useless stormtroopers. Yet, he had to explain them somehow, and came up with these clones.

In fact, the most logical and sensible explanation is that Albert Schindler himself came back from the dead, before he was born, in a galaxy far far away, become the head of the clone factory, and started producing shitty clones which would never work for the fascist army.

[mainegreen]

5. Not enough oxygen in those helmets.

Slow brain damage ensued. Note how quiet their helmets are and how noisy Darth's helmet is. Darth got more oxygen. Storm troopers not so much.

[curse of greyface]

6. I always felt that myself. It was a flaw in the program that perfectly explained

how awful they were. (It might also explain why they were different sizes in Star Wars and Empire.)

[Aristus]

7. IIRC, Wookieepedia explains it by stating that by the end the Clone Wars, the cloners

were using a "fast grow" technique for rapidly developing clones that made them poor quality. So they reverted to conscripting human troopers from subjugated worlds. Conscripts with sketchy training, poor morale and no sense of purpose will never, ever outfight volunteer warriors fighting passionately for an important cause, and most importantly, fighting on the defensive; that's when you can pick your battles or choose to lay low until the odds are in your favor.

[IndianaJones]

8. the books state that the original clones were prone to mental collapse...

and the later troopers were conscripts from the outer rim.

if examined from the context of the films only, Lucas himself, in the 70's, stated the the stormtroopers were clones.

[sasquatch]

10. Actually the clones were kicking Ewok ass until Chewie and Han Solo got involved

My question is why did the imperial star-fighters suck so much ass in combat compared to rebel star-fighhters?

[arcadian]

11. I thought they were robots the first time I saw Episode IV

I was 7.

[4_Legs_Good]

12. There are no Episodes I, II and III

which pretty much explains away any inconsistencies.

The Troopers in the one and only Star Wars Trilogy were normal, non-cloned human beings forced to wear silly battle armor, which made them defenseless against teddy bears.

David

[petronius]

20. That is the most logical solution

Gotta cut them some slack on the teddy bears, though - you'd have to be really super-evil to shoot a teddy bear. Anyone would hesitate for a minute...

[texanwitch]

13. I thought the clones were from all from one guy.

I think that came from either the last or next to the last Star War movies.

[Beer Snob-50]

14. weren't they all cloned from the bounty hunter

who was boba fetes father?

[texanwitch]

15. That's the guy.

I couldn't remember his name.

[NewJeffCT]

16. Jango Fett, I think?

or something like that

[texanwitch]

17. I think you are right.

I think a remember scenes with a little boy.

[chemenger]

18. The only thing that saved Lucas' Star Wars franchise

was Carrie Fisher in her metal bikini (and there were precious little scenes of her in her bikini).

Other wise, Star Wars sucked (Ewoks, Jar-Jar Binks ... my gods, what was George Lucas thinking)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. They're good guys in the prequels, bad guys in the real movies.

There.

That's the honest explanation.

[DarkTirade]

21. The clones get phased out over the years

they're no longer using clones by the time the original series comes around. It's hinted at in the extended universe that clones grown too quickly end up going insane, which leads to some messiness after the prequels but before the original series. But of course, since Lucas himself didn't come up with that idea, I'm sure he'll completely ignore it.