Star Wars' New Stormtrooper Fix Delivers On Canceled Obi-Wan Kenobi Plan

The original Star Wars trilogy debut and most of their Legends continuity appearances, Stormtroopers are elite Imperial military units whose training and equipment make them among the galaxy’s deadliest soldiers, despite their inferiority to their more noble predecessors, the Republic’s Clone Troopers. However, due to their seemingly poor marksmanship when fighting protagonists (a common trope in cinema nicknamed “plot armor”), Stormtroopers have become a joke among viewers, and this running gag has become canonized in the current Star Wars timeline, though recent properties have, thankfully, started to mitigate it – improving the troopers in the process.

Animated shows like Star Wars Rebels and live-action properties like The Mandalorian, despite their positive reception, exaggerate the negative perception of Stormtroopers to the point where they no longer seem like a credible threat to any trained combatant, let alone the shows’ respective protagonists. This not only does a disservice to both shows’ storytelling, but it also does not coincide with the elite status of Imperial Stormtroopers in-universe. While Andor has helped to improve the image of Stormtroopers in canon (without centering the armored troops themselves), Obi-Wan Kenobi nearly utilized Clone Troopers as elite soldiers instead of the often-mocked Stormtroopers. In this way, the combination of Andor's more respectful treatment of the Empire's most feared fighters coupled with the canceled Obi-Wan Kenobi plan proves that Star Wars is finally recognizing that the Empire's need to be seen as a legitimate threat once again.

Obi-Wan's Stormtrooper Marshals Would Have Been A Credible Threat To Obi-Wan

Purge Troopers and Clones from Attack of the Clones

The antagonists of Obi-Wan Kenobi initially consisted of only one Inquisitor, Reva, who is backed up by a posse of Clone Troopers whose active control chip implants brainwash them into Imperial service. These Clone Marshals, fittingly, would have been impeccable marksmen and completely ruthless killers, due to their brainwashing. This would have granted the Obi-Wan series a functional equivalent to the Stormtroopers’ original portrayals, only the Clone Marshals would be far deadlier than their recruited successors. The Clone Marshals, who would have been led by the minor Star Wars: The Clone Wars character Commander Jet, were set to be gradually killed off as the series progressed, but they would nevertheless be a significant threat to even the formidable Kenobi.

The Clone Marshals would have been more than a physical threat to Kenobi. While the Jedi General kills many mind-controlled Clone Troopers in self-defense in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, he shows kindness to a homeless Clone Trooper veteran in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 2. The show’s original plan would have had Kenobi work alongside an older Commander Cody, whose control chip has been removed, so he would be fully aware that his Clone Marshal assailants are good men whose free will has been removed. This would, understandably, likely make Kenobi extremely hesitant to use lethal force against them, making Reva’s posse an even greater threat to Obi-Wan, highlighting the original intent to improve the soldiers.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Could Have Better Explained What Happens To Imperial Clones

While brainwashed Clone Troopers were the Galactic Empire’s first elite fighting force, Star Wars: The Bad Batch reveals that the Empire ended clone production and began training their recruited Stormtrooper replacements within a year of Palpatine’s successful coup. Despite this, the Empire still had young clones to utilize in its military, and while Imperial clones generally became the first wave of Purge Troopers (an anti-Jedi death squad), Obi-Wan’s Clone Marshal plan would have delved further into the fates of clones who grew up in the age of the Galactic Empire. The Clone Marshals seemingly serve the same purpose as Purge Troopers, but their leadership under Commander Jet implies a key difference between the two types of Imperial clones.

Imperial Purge Troopers are said to be comprised of the last batches of Jango Fett clones, raised and trained in the age of the Empire and brainwashed to remain loyal to the fascist regime. The descriptions of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s planned Clone Marshals imply that the squad is comprised of Clone Wars veterans, which would have provided additional insight into the Empire’s use of clones. Rebels and The Bad Batch show or imply older clones being used as training instructors for Stormtroopers but Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Clone Marshals would have shown them being used as some of the Empire’s most elite forces, not unlike the younger batches becoming the first Purge Troopers. This role, although never officially seen, represents a significant improvement for Stormtroopers and other imperial soldiers.

Kenobi's Marshal Plan Would Have Made Better Use Of Commander Cody

Commander Cody, whose long-awaited return to the Star Wars franchise will be in the forthcoming Bad Batch season 2, nearly returned earlier in Obi-Wan Kenobi. While his Bad Batch return is welcome, having him become an ally of his old friend once again would have been a tasteful bit of fan service. The Bad Batch’s season 2 trailers show Cody wearing Imperial gray trim on his armor and working alongside Crosshair, strongly implying that he is either still affected by his brainwashing implant or, even worse, is willfully serving the Empire like Crosshair. Whether or not Cody ultimately leaves the Empire in Bad Batch, his planned role in Obi-Wan Kenobi would have refreshingly reunited him with his Clone Wars-era friend and colleague.

The planned inclusion of Cody would have also led to potentially tragic scenarios in which the former Clone Commander is faced with a choice to either kill his brainwashed brothers or die. Cody would no doubt refuse to kill his fellow clones, even if they are brainwashed, but he would also do everything possible to protect Obi-Wan. This could lead to Cody sacrificing himself to protect his Jedi friend, serving as a heartbreaking and tasteful sendoff to one of The Clone Wars’ more prominent protagonists and one of Star Wars’ most famous named clone characters. By initially planning to further personalize a trooper like Cody, Star Wars has once again indicated a subtle shift towards rehabilitating and redeeming the reputation of its Stormtroopers.

Andor Is Fixing Star Wars' Stormtroopers After Obi-Wan Didn't

Obi-Wan Kenobi ultimately portrayed Stormtroopers as easily defeated cannon fodder, but other canon Star Wars materials have, thankfully, helped fix their image. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, particularly in act 3, makes Stormtroopers credible threats to well-trained Rebel soldiers, and Solo: A Star Wars Story depicts Imperial Army Troopers in live-action for the first time since Return of the Jedi, reminding viewers that of the Empire’s more common and less elite fighting force. Andor takes a different approach, predominantly showing Imperial Army Troopers and including a former Stormtrooper as one of its most disciplined and deadly Rebel characters. While the Star Wars canon continuity has a long way to go as far as repairing the Stormtroopers’ image, Andor makes up for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s potentially helpful unused plans and in the process highlights a subtle shift in Star Wars' approach.