Evolution Star Wars-style (Part 2 of 3)

hostile environments

In Part 1 of this special 3 part mini-series exploring evolution in Star Wars we saw that the Empire and it’s machines of war represented a tragic loss of humanity. In this installment we’ll further investigate the rigid, sterile engine of oppression and mass destruction better known as the evil Empire and what it forebodes for Episode VII.

 

Part II: Adaptation

Although we are superficially looking at the influences of evolution on the Star Wars saga it is quite appropriate that we revisit the man who gave the world the evolutionary theory – Charles Darwin. Dr. Darwin realized a couple key components in his theory as they relate to humankind:

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”

The above quote establishes the theme of Part II nicely – Adaptation.

Sith

 

As we witnessed in the Prequel Trilogy, humanity, and peace along with it, was shattered by the shadowy machinations of an evil cult known as the “Sith.” Darth Sidious was the Phantom Menace who masterfully manipulated all of the sociopolitical puppets like a puppeteer to his stringed marionettes, beautifully orchestrating a measured and invisible coup d’etat of the once peaceful Old Republic, turning it into, as we all know, the first Galactic Empire. The catalyst of these manipulations came in the form of a technological terror – a vast and disposable army of mechanized warriors completely devoid of feelings, emotions, compassion, empathy, or even minds or wills of their own. A perfect army in theory if not reality – enter the battle droid.

 

Machines of War

 

While the battle droid posed a threat in its cold execution of orders it forever lacked the essences of humanity, not to mention other forms of sentient alien beings, in that these mechanical automatons would never evolve or adapt and therefore survive. They were victim of design never capable of defeating sentience, not even through their massive numbers presenting overwhelming odds. Sure, it is true that different versions of droids would be built, each with a specific function (specialization) as we see below:

 

 

Next generation

 

Stealth Droid

 

But a machine’s inability to think creatively or problem solve, its utter lack of humanity, ultimately dooms it in the end. This is predicted by evolution in the concept of adaptation wherein a sentient species, be it human or otherwise, has the ability to develop to such a technological extent that the evolutionary process slows or even stops. We read in this PMC article about this very concept:

“Adaptation, in the simplest sense, is a mechanism that allows organisms to mediate the stresses of their environment to ensure survival and reproduction. We often think that adaptation takes place through direct genetic modifications in response to environmental stress. However, many animal species are able to accommodate environmental stress simply by changing their behaviour in response to environmental conditions, without the need to resort to genetic adaptation. This could involve modifications as simple as moving to another area, changing annual or daily activities, or changing strategies for food procurement […]

 

How do humans fit into this two-tiered system of defence against environmental stress? Most importantly, we have developed an extensive dependence on culture and technology that has allowed us to populate the most extreme environments worldwide […] However, our dependence on technology can be seen as different to that of other species in our capacity for cumulative cultural change, which provides greater potential to remove humans from a direct relationship with the natural world.”

In other words, the sentient being has the intelligence to develop the technology necessary to survive in any environment no matter how harsh and unforgiving to biology it may be.

 

So then, you may be asking yourself, WHY would Sidious choose mechanical battle droids as the instrument of threat to the galaxy if they were so stilted and one-dimensional? That’s a fair question which first requires just a bit of setup . . .

 

Senator Palpatine, in reality the shadowy Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, pre-scribed to what we Earthlings would term “The Hegelian Dialectic.” This concept is actually a story unto itself which I won’t delve into here except to define it thusly:

1- Hypothesis = Create the problem

2- Antithesis = Await the reaction

3- Synthesis = Provide the solution

This is exactly what Darth Sidious does by providing the threat to Galactic Peace when he introduces, through his puppet Trade Federation, an army of clankers called “battle droids.” The battle droids pose a formidable enough force for any peace-loving world that refuses the criminally unfair taxation of trade routes, or refutes the threat to its sovereignty. The reaction is obvious — war — Star Wars! However, the last requirement of the dialectic hasn’t been met until Supreme Chancellor Palpatine introduces it in the form of a Grand Army of the Republic. Problem – Reaction – Solution . . . or as Master Yoda put it, “Begun the clone wars have.”

 

 

Clone Army

 

Mysteriously a massive clone army was commissioned at the behest of Jedi Syfo Dias. With the convenient death of Dias the investigation stops. With the coming war, the clone wars, all inquiry into the mysterious formation of the army ceases as well. In the end we have our army to oppose the droids.

 

At first we see the clone army as sterile and homogeneous, a very familiar trait, this loss of individual humanity, in the gears of this engine, the machinations of war. But as the three year clone war campaigns grind on we see what truly separates the clones from the droids – the ability to adapt and survive:

 

 

Clone_Troopers_Phase_II

 

As the clone wars end we see a vast array of specialization and adaptation. We see victory!

 

 

Evolution

 

But, of course, this victory is in reality a defeat for the Jedi – the true target of the Sith’s Revenge! The evil Empire is born. And from the ample diversity of the clone army we are re-set into the sterile, homogeneous uniformity of the Imperial Stormtrooper:

 

 

Formation

 

However, the most important evolutionary lesson is carried over from the clones as well as we see adaptation and specialization to survive any condition within the ranks:

 

 

Version 1

 

BikerScout

TIE and AT-AT Pilots

 

But while the stormtroopers are NOT clones but volunteers, their abilities or lack thereof have left them far from the cold, calculated, and elite reputation of the clone troopers and leave them more like bungling Keystone Kops as I documented in this article. It is my speculation, based on many reports about said stormtroopers, that they are going to be redeemed into a fierce and formidable enemy. Rumors suggest that we will be seeing the next evolution of stormtroopers in all their glory, a new version of the stormtrooper:

 

Next Evolution

 

A new iteration of the snowtrooper:

 

Next evolution

 

And even a specialized incendiary (flame-throwing) stormtrooper. But that’s not all! If these persistent rumors are to be believed, and, with the help of the leaked artwork they seem credible, we are about to see a whole new kind of stormtrooper – the chrome trooper! According to a MakingStarWars.com source:

“There are two designs for the Chrome Stormtrooper. The commander and the trooper. The design of the helmet is not unlike the standard Stormtrooper “cranium.” The mouth is a little longer, the face a little longer. The eyes are a single visor like the recent EPVII Stormtrooper helmet that is out there. But the eyes point up at the corner and down, almost like if the visor intersected with an X on both ends. x——x Unlike the classic Stormtrooper design, there is no black band above the eyes. The word is the Chrome Troopers are the personal guard of the new villain of EP VII.”

wpid-chrome_trooper_ir21

 

This new chrome trooper immediately struck a chord with this Blogger, inasmuch as this new revolutionary re-imagining reminded me of another of my beloved mythologies which, coincidentally, also featured Liam Neeson, John Boorman’s timeless classic Excalibur:


Lancelot

 

It should come as no surprise that JJ Abrams has a healthy penchant for mythology as has been expressed by this Blogger on several occasions, specifically his use of the legendary name “Nero” in his 2009 Star Trek reboot as well as the deep mythological themes and overtones of the book “S” (“Ship of Theseus.”) The shiny, chrome armor and the extended collar appear more than passing influences on our new stormies. This was similarly observed in reaction by fellow members of The Cantina forum, Dr. WhoCares:

“I would not be opposed to these guys having the shield and lightsaber combo like the old concept art.”

And DarthPilkington:

“… I like how in both of them the helmet looks great, as does the extended collar. The collar definitely speaks to melee combat, so maybe we will see troopers with sabers!”

 

RMSTCON

 

Of course referring to the original Ralph McQuarrie concept art for A New Hope. It certainly looks as though the rumors of lightsaber-wielding stormtroopers could very well prove to be excitingly true. Perhaps it is not that every stormtrooper wields a lightsaber except maybe these supposed chrome troopers? OR perhaps these chrome troopers are simply the stormtrooper commanders that we’ve also heard frequently rumored, especially in association with Gwendoline Christie’s character?

 

Then this brings up yet another question – Will we see an even more advanced form of the stormtrooper with “stealth” or “cloaking” technology? Perhaps a stormtrooper version in black — the shadowtrooper — similar to this action figure set from the Hasbro’s current Black Series?

 

Shadow squad

 

As we have reported in the past, there was a mandate to Hasbro NOT to produce any figures from the old and now extinct EU.

“Hasbro has been directed by Lucasfilm, Ltd. to avoid the Expanded Universe like the plague. Not only is it next to impossible that we’ll see a brand new Expanded Universe figure in the near future, older and hard to find figures will NEVER see re-release either.

Hasbro said, and I quote, to “not expect to ever see Jaina Solo or Jacen Solo or any other older Comic Packs figure re-released in any way to get out to collectors.”

However a figure was produced for Mara Jade and now we see that there is a set produced for the EU Shadow Squad. Could it be that we will see this special group of stormtrooper? Could it be that they exclusively pilot black X-Wing fighters?

 

In Part I of this series I quoted director JJ Abrams and his enthusiasm for bringing something NEW to the Star Wars universe and it would seem that the next evolution of war machines and stormtroopers are merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. In fact, what these signs strongly point to is a new evolution of villain in the form of Sith or Dark Force user . . . as well as the next generation of Jedi, which we shall examine in Part III. Don’t miss it!

 

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38 thoughts on “Evolution Star Wars-style (Part 2 of 3)

  • October 5, 2014 at 10:56 pm
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    I see a steady stream of evolution in design starting from Episode I all the way to Episode VI….

    …then all of a sudden everything de-evolves back to the Episode IV era for VII. (at least from what I’ve seen and heard thus far.)

    • October 5, 2014 at 11:08 pm
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      Is that the best you can do, PT fanboy? At least bitch about how there won’t be any more Jar Jar.

      • October 5, 2014 at 11:38 pm
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        Hahahaha,

        Is that the best YOU can do, OT moron? The usual mentioning and insulting of Jar Jar Binks.

        • October 6, 2014 at 1:04 am
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          You seriously think I can’t do better? PLEASE… I wasn’t even trying.

          1) The Jedi Council looked dumb for allowing Anakin to be trained when they had all foreseen problems in his future.

          2) Qui-Gon insisting on Anakin’s training indirectly doomed the Jedi Order. Whoops.

          3) Obi-Wan should’ve fallen to the dark side for killing Maul out of revenge for fatally wounding Qui-Gon. Clearly you could see the rage, passion and attachment on his face.

          4) Anakin and Padme forgot about the whole assassination subplot as soon as they reach that hiding place on Naboo. They make no attempt to guard themselves from snipers, etc.

          5) Yoda, Ben and the other good guys were dumb as rocks for using an army somebody else had created under HIGHLY suspicious circumstances. Order 66, anyone? -_-

          6) The Senate was a gigantic group of brainless idiots who believed everything they were told, ran with whoever voted once for something and mindlessly applauded bad ideas without engaging in critical thought. So… the Jedi Order wanted to take over the galaxy after Grievous was killed, which necessitated Palps murdering them all, including the CHILDREN, without any evidence or trials?! SERIOUSLY?!!! 0_o

          7) Anakin wasn’t tempted by the dark side – he was tricked! *face palm*

          Shall I continue? I’m on a roll! xD

          • October 6, 2014 at 1:16 am
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            Mr. Plinkett is that you?

          • October 6, 2014 at 1:23 am
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            Nope. Just one of his fans! xD

          • October 6, 2014 at 7:24 am
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            Yeah your right….the Jedi council did look stupid in episodes 4-6. A puppet that looks like a puppet………

            Hating on the PT proves one thing (hopefully you can bare with me here, let me know if it needs to be dumbed down for you)………

            You wont like episode 7 cuz no matter who makes it, how they make it, and what they do to it, it still wont be what you want it to be! jeez…….what a lame-o!

          • October 6, 2014 at 9:30 am
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            Wow… you actually call that a response? No wonder the Prequels are so perfect for you.

          • October 6, 2014 at 4:21 pm
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            “This bickering is pointless…”

    • October 6, 2014 at 12:39 am
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      You surely have to be a complete and utter moron to think that a IV-influenced production is bad idea.

      Viral Hide can we please get a demographic on these prequels fanboys so they can finally shut the hell up? Jesus, you’re worse than bronies..

      No offense bronies but you know what I mean..

      I hate those fucking prequels.

      • October 6, 2014 at 7:37 am
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        Just like you will hate the Sequels.

        “OMG… Did you see that, those Storm troopers look totally cheesy cuz they didn’t make’em the way I envisioned them being. Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah. The film makers stole my childhood cuz these films are not what I wanted them to be.”

        That is what you will say on Dec 19th 2015.
        If you can’t see the good the Prequels bring to Star Wars, then you surely won’t see the good in the Sequels!!! !!! !!!

        • October 6, 2014 at 9:53 am
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          Sounds more like a PT fan to me. Must be discouraging to realize Disney is intelligent enough to distance themselves from those god awful movies and putting the focusing back on the story, characters, screenplay and tangible practical effects.

          Or what you kids like to call “Going old school”.

  • October 5, 2014 at 11:02 pm
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    “Darth Sidious was the Phantom Menace who masterfully manipulated all of the sociopolitical puppets like a puppeteer to his stringed marionettes, beautifully orchestrating a measured and invisible coup d’etat of the once peaceful Old Republic, turning it into, as we all know, the first Galactic Empire.”

    I wish….

  • October 5, 2014 at 11:22 pm
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    It’s INSANE how Star Wars fans keep praising the clone troopers over the droids because they can think creatively in battle. So what? I’d much rather use machines that aren’t alive and can EASILY be replaced in minutes or a few hours tops than clones who need YEARS of accelerated human development and intense training before suiting up.

    Plus, using droids is by far more ethical, and the droids themselves can evolve alongside Star Wars’ other technology.

    Have none of you seen the clear advantages of machines from the Terminator movies or the Geth from the Mass Effect games? ^_-

  • October 5, 2014 at 11:27 pm
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    The only real reason Palpatine got rid of the battle droids was because they weren’t in the OT. Otherwise, why have droids or troopers when you can have both?

    • October 5, 2014 at 11:41 pm
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      Actually, the trade federation army was an artificially- created problem created by Palpatine to vote out Chancellor Vallorium and make himself Chancellor and later, Emperor. The droid army was then disposed of afterwards.

      • October 6, 2014 at 12:36 am
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        Yeah, I know that. But you guys must see the clear advantage in having two armies serving you vs. one. Palps got rid of an entire army for no real reason other to fit in better with OT.

        • October 6, 2014 at 7:42 am
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          I figure someone in the sequels will come across warehouses full of battle droids and use them as a force to attack the new republic.

  • October 5, 2014 at 11:55 pm
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    i don’t like the idea of chrome troopers with shields and laser swords.

    • October 6, 2014 at 12:15 am
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      Ralph did.

      • October 6, 2014 at 2:51 am
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        I do too.

  • October 6, 2014 at 12:49 am
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    I’m so glad Lucas gave the responsibility of VII onwards over to Disney, and I thank the force ghosts every night for making sure Zac Efron wasn’t involved in the films.

    • October 6, 2014 at 1:19 am
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      You never know. He just might show up in one someday…

    • October 6, 2014 at 2:25 am
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      I don’t think Lucas is bad at directing, i think he’s just lazy doing it. We all know how creative he is with his mythology, but i think the prequels were slow because he becoame to lazy and relied too much on GCI. I think had he put the same energy in it as he did with episode 4, or would have done a better job finding a director instead of hoping Speilberg were do it, then i think the prequles would have been alot better. The prequles had great ideas and directions, but i agree, Lucas got to lazy directing and he has paid the price for it. Of course im sure 2 billion in cash and 2 billion in stock can make it more easy for him. lol

      • October 6, 2014 at 2:26 am
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        dam sorry for my bad spelling. I need Jar Jar to help…

        • October 6, 2014 at 9:42 am
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          Jar Jar spellchecks now? You sure you’re not better off just winging it?

  • October 6, 2014 at 1:18 am
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    LMAO at these debates…. I’m just waiting to see in Episode 7 if the Sith are back in it or not. Lucas already had story treatments ready for new trilogy and in 2011 was in the begining stages to make part 7 but decide to sell it to Disney because i think he didnt have the juice anymore to continue. So JJ Abrams and Kasdan,etc added the holes to complete the story and if Lucas himself puts more Sith in part 7, then what does this say ?….yep u know it…..

    • October 6, 2014 at 2:20 am
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      Well if the Sith are in it, it would mean that Anakin wasn’t the one we thought he was. If that comes to be true, i just hope the story fully explains in detail, and connects the whole saga in a complete form. I just don’t want it to have any holes in it when the new trilogy is
      ( what Vader would say )
      COM-PLETE….

      • October 6, 2014 at 7:53 am
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        To bring balance to the force you still need evil, sith. Anakin brought balance to the force. he evened the whole good and evil thing. Which means that in ep 7 it will be revealed that Palpatine had another apprentice. Watch Disney bring back Darth Maul.

      • October 6, 2014 at 10:00 am
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        The PT gave us plenty of swiss and inconsistencies as is. I say the ST just cuts its losses and focuses on telling a good story that’s at least reasonable consistent with the OT.

  • October 6, 2014 at 1:45 am
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    Supposedly Shadowtrooper armor is resistant to lightsabers. So I can see why the collars are so high, to protect the unarmored neck from decapitation.

  • October 6, 2014 at 3:11 am
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    Echo7, thanks for this series, make it a five parter while your at it, doing a great job by the way!
    And a very huge thank you for mentioning John Boorman’s Excalibur. I so would love to see an homage of design and style of that film Juxtaposed with Star Wars, I grew up with both of these having discovered Empire and Excalibur and many times viewed on cable.

    Viewing the two films at a young age taught me story structure and how stores are similar and barrowed from, inspired there of as well.
    I feel your series is very reminiscent of The Myth of Star Wars book and the Star Wars Origins site that I love. Your article is standalone and unique. Good info and thanks again.

  • October 6, 2014 at 4:45 am
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    By being mono-lithic the Clones were a character that could be made very alienish & intimidating in a sequel trilogy with abit of ‘evolution’.

    No prequels (some creaky story telling & immense galactic backgrounding), no sequel trilogy. A sequel trilogy directly after the OT would have killed SW on the other hand.

    Which brings me to ‘fate’ & ‘destiny’, something very dear to the OT….

    Midi-chloreans are vehicles of the super-natural. Everyone has midi-chlorians.
    Fate- born with them (the measureable kind).
    Destiny – attract them while living.

    Core Ethos of Sith is Fate, do not separate Fate & Destiny, this is why they are in darkness.

    Midi are demi-gods, govern the star Zodiac systems.

    Balance of the force is not about the supremacy of the light or dark side – there is no issue there. The balance of the force is about the flow of the light & dark in the universe. This is the story connection between the Midi; midi-chlorians, & the Skywalkers – Annakin to Luke to Leia to the Star Spirits.

    The Midi enforce the fates from their realm but serve destiny in the galaxy.

    The evolution of the sequel trilogy is that it ends with the establishment of the Midis & the star spirits over the galaxy; in a Star Wars parallel of the Greek & Roman myths of demi-gods & gods, in the establishment of the new republic…. 🙂

    • October 6, 2014 at 7:52 am
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      See I figured Lucas came up with Midichlorians as:
      Midi. As in Media Intergrated Digital Interface in which files and devices “communicate with each other”
      Chlor. Chlorophyll a basic microscopic lifeform = “living cells”
      ians. suffix for beings of.

      I figure they are a binder like what scientist see as dark matter. Kinda like Eggs and bread crumbs in meatballs. It holds and bindes the meat together.

      The word forming is just like Nute Gunray is a cobbeling of Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan
      All kinds of subliminal messages in the Lucas verse!

  • October 6, 2014 at 8:06 am
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    Midichloreans are like the ying yang as a whole held together by the circle, dark and light. Or everything was formed out of the cosmic crap shoot. I think it is best left for self interpretation.

  • October 6, 2014 at 4:52 pm
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    My take on Midi-Chloreans

    George Lucas wakes up one morning to write the script for Phantom Menace but first makes the mistake of re-reading the script to A New Hope.
    He comes to the part where Ben talks about the force and suddenly looks up in realization.
    “Shit! did I really write a 90-minute debate on Buddhism?!” he decides that the turn-o’da-century American public wouldn’t be much into a religious movie… so he opts for the Scientology route — smooth move.

    • October 6, 2014 at 10:12 pm
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      Midi-Chlorians are based on Mitochondria, which are a real thing.

      • October 8, 2014 at 12:54 pm
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        Cynobacteria is another example, in which is the first evidence of life found on the planet dating back 3.5 billon years. But I really think Lucas saw them as the intithisis of energy it self. The force of atoms, what controls protons and electrons. But mitochondria is an excellent example.

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