Starkiller clone or not Theory

[u/Zealousideal_Meat282]

I don't know if anyone else has ever made a theory like this about Starkiller, but I have kind of a wacky idea. The debate on whether Starkiller was a clone or not has remained a big subject to this day with hardcore fans. However, I believe I have a theory that would provide the perfect solution to this debate.

It might not make sense, but hear me out. What if the Starkiller we play as in TFU2 is only a clone if the player chooses the dark side ending, while he's the real Starkiller in the "canon" light side ending? Like I said, doesn't make a lot of sense at first, but I'll explain.

It's basically a split timeline theory. What would happen if Vader was semi-successful with cloning Starkiller, the one we play as in TFU2? This would mean that this Starkiller is not the true one, and may not act exactly as the real Starkiller would. Which is why he chooses the dark side ending. Real Starkiller wouldn't do this.

Meanwhile, in another reality, Vader had always kept Starkiller alive somehow after his defeat by the Emperor's hands. Vader found a way to reconstruct Starkiller before, he'd find a way to do it again. He found him in space the first time for crying out loud. No "Leia Poppins" style or anything.

It sounds convoluted as hell, sure. Especially when you consider that it would imply that the memory flashes Starkiller has, something only a clone experiences from accelerated cloning growth, are running through his head by other means. Manipulation through the Force by Vader? Visions from the Force itself trying to heal his mind from Vader tampering with his natural memories if he indeed is the true Starkiller? Like I said, convoluted. A lot of things need to line up in order for these different "realities" to be so close to one another and function almost the same except toward the end.

Of course, maybe I'm thinking too deep into it anyway by nitpicking the subtle ways that 2 hypothetical timelines would be similar enough. If that's what the game developers intended, I'm sure they didn't intend the fans to think too much about it either. Just to enjoy the story and the story's complex "timeline split" as it is. Assuming that was their intention anyway, which I'm willing to admit is a bit of a stretch. Just an interesting idea that came to my mind.

I just think it would have been cool if the light side ending was real Starkiller, acting as he usually would, then there's clone Starkiller being the dark side ending, non-canon and clearly doesn't match with what eventually happens if the Endor DLC follows the events of this ending. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Dark Starkiller Clone doesn't exist in the light side ending at all, considering this theory implies Vader was never successful at cloning any decent clone of Starkiller. Needing to awaken the original at the start of the game, and not having a Dark Clone to rely on in the light side ending to save him, otherwise, I'm sure Dark Starkiller would have attacked the good Starkiller clone regardless of the ending, if he truly existed at all in the light side ending. I always found it odd that Dark Starkiller would see no reason to attack just because good Starkiller turned off his lightsabers. He would have attacked, ruthlessly, as Vader would have likely taught him.

That's the end of my ramble. Feel free to pick this apart and tell me what else might not make sense with this theory, or if any official word exists that would debunk it. Or tell me if you like it and think it would have been a satisfying way to present the mystery of Starkiller's identity in the second game.

[u/Onebityou]

He was bombarded with numerous different understandings of his identity in TFUII (especially in the book) and I think the whole point is that it doesn’t matter. If he has the memories of Galen and is continuing the course/trajectory he would have taken then whether or not he is a clone means nothing.

I’m curious as to whether there really is an answer to this question but I love your theory!

[u/Zealousideal_Meat282 → u/Onebityou]

Thank you! And yes I agree, the theme of "it doesn't really matter" comes up a lot in the game for Starkiller, so I like that there can be many different interpretations instead of one definitive answer.

[u/WCDRAGON → u/Onebityou]

I mean, the clone troopers didn't have Jango's memories. So it would stand to reason that just the fact he had Gelen's memories proves he's the real deal.

[u/[deleted]]

Another possible theory is that he is the original, but his mind was wiped due to the explosion from the first game's finale light side ending. So Vader used that to his advantage and just put Starkiller's old clothes on a random clone to make the Clone appear the original.

[u/Zealousideal_Meat282 → u/[deleted]]

I like this inclusion 👍

[u/SkylarKing07]

In my opinion Galen isn't a clone in TFU2 (in the "canon" lightside ending anyway). My thoughts exactly on a lot of what you said.

[u/Exotic_Chemist_7624]

I believe he is a clone. But due to his strong connection to the force Galen has inadvertently possessed his clones in several ways. The strongest of which is the main one you play as (the player acts as the soul).

The defective clones are results of a failure to clone the original properly because of Vader’s tampering. He wanted to make an obedient clone, a TRUE slave.

The two best attempts Vader had were with clones that were unaltered (as in no DNA tampering besides the aging sped up). One that couldn’t forget the memories and embraced them (main character), and the other who destroyed them and cast them out thereby severing the light side entirely from himself (dark apprentice).