Opening a Can of Clones: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
In [[Speculative Fiction]], [[Shape Shifter|Shape Shifters]], [[Robot Me|robot duplicates]] and [[Cloning Blues|clones]] are exciting and can add a layer of [[Ambiguous Clone Ending|ambiguity]] and [[They Look Like Us Now|suspense]] to a story. It will fill characters and viewers with paranoia and make for great [[The Reveal|shocking revelations]]. However, they can also completely derail said story and kill all drama when fans get lost in the forest of [[Epileptic Trees]]. The problem stems from the possibility that if clones, shape shifters, time travelers or body hopping aliens can make and unmake plot points at whim, how can viewers be sure that a given story element is "real?"<ref> by real, we mean in the story. Please don't make us go existentialist.</ref>
In [[Speculative Fiction]], [[Shape Shifter]]s, [[Robot Me|robot duplicates]] and [[Cloning Blues|clones]] are exciting and can add a layer of [[Ambiguous Clone Ending|ambiguity]] and [[They Look Like Us Now|suspense]] to a story. It will fill characters and viewers with paranoia and make for great [[The Reveal|shocking revelations]]. However, they can also completely derail said story and kill all drama when fans get lost in the forest of [[Epileptic Trees]]. The problem stems from the possibility that if clones, shape shifters, time travelers or body hopping aliens can make and unmake plot points at whim, how can viewers be sure that a given story element is "real?"<ref>by real, we mean in the story. Please don't make us go existentialist.</ref>


The reasoning here is similar to how a setting where [[Death Is Cheap]] takes away dramatic punch from future character deaths. By allowing for the existence of these duplicates the author basically has a huge [[Reset Button]] with giant neon lettering spelling out ''"Wanna bet this dramatic [[The Reveal|revelation]], death or plot twist is here to stay?"'' These fears can be confirmed if an author starts [[Retcon|Ret Conning]] events or [[Reset Button|casually]] [[Status Quo Is God|undoing]] changes using these tropes.
The reasoning here is similar to how a setting where [[Death Is Cheap]] takes away dramatic punch from future character deaths. By allowing for the existence of these duplicates the author basically has a huge [[Reset Button]] with giant neon lettering spelling out ''"Wanna bet this dramatic [[The Reveal|revelation]], death or plot twist is here to stay?"'' These fears can be confirmed if an author starts [[Retcon|Ret Conning]] events or [[Reset Button|casually]] [[Status Quo Is God|undoing]] changes using these tropes.
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A few things that may cause this reaction:
A few things that may cause this reaction:
* [[Death Is Cheap]] via [[Expendable Clone|Expendable Clones]].
* [[Death Is Cheap]] via [[Expendable Clone]]s.
* Overuse of the [[First Law of Resurrection]] inevitably makes any death suspect.
* Overuse of the [[First Law of Resurrection]] inevitably makes any death suspect.
* Poor use of the [[Cloning Gambit]].
* Poor use of the [[Cloning Gambit]].
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A few ways to avoid this reaction:
A few ways to avoid this reaction:
* [[Ambiguous Clone Ending]] -- Here the [[They Plotted a Perfectly Good Waste|intention]] is to [[Schrodinger's Butterfly|keep the audience guessing]], rather than a side effect.
* [[Ambiguous Clone Ending]]—Here the [[They Plotted a Perfectly Good Waste|intention]] is to [[Schrodinger's Butterfly|keep the audience guessing]], rather than a side effect.
* [[This Was His True Form]] -- If the shape shifter reverts to their default form, then reviving a dead character this way is impossible.
* [[This Was His True Form]]—If the shape shifter reverts to their default form, then reviving a dead character this way is impossible.


Also related to [[All the Myriad Ways]] and the [[Second Law of Metafictional Thermodynamics]].
Also related to [[All the Myriad Ways]] and the [[Second Law of Metafictional Thermodynamics]].
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== Comic Books ==
== Comic Books ==
* An ''[[Astro City]]'' story has a defense lawyer get a gangster acquitted for murder by invoking this trope, citing incidents involving [[Evil Twin|Evil Twins]] from parallel universes and shapeshifting supervillains.
* An ''[[Astro City]]'' story has a defense lawyer get a gangster acquitted for murder by invoking this trope, citing incidents involving [[Evil Twin]]s from parallel universes and shapeshifting supervillains.
* From the ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]:''
* From the ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]:''
** Professor X apparently dies during a battle against Grotesk. Later it's revealed that the Changeling had been masquerading as Professor X at Xavier's request.
** Professor X apparently dies during a battle against Grotesk. Later it's revealed that the Changeling had been masquerading as Professor X at Xavier's request.
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== Live Action TV ==
== Live Action TV ==


* ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' introduced cloning in the form of "Project Helix", a process by which identical [[Doppelganger|Doppelgangers]] of people could be produced. The first double was a one-off character, but the [[Title Drop|second double]] was a complete shocker: {{spoiler|it was Sydney's [[Black Best Friend|best friend]] [[The Scrappy|Francie]].}} The double was a very unique twist . . . at first. Then, they brought back the double-switch when {{spoiler|someone cloned Arvin Sloane - and the double was, of course, promptly [[Fan Nickname|nicknamed]] "Arvin Cloane"}}, again later in season four when it was revealed that {{spoiler|the woman Jack killed in Vienna wasn't Irina Derevko, it was a double of her}} and ''again'' in season five when {{spoiler|Anna Espinosa became a double of ''Sydney''}}. It got to the point where a common saying in regards to the show was "they're not dead even if we've seen a body - it's probably a clone".
* ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' introduced cloning in the form of "Project Helix", a process by which identical [[Doppelganger]]s of people could be produced. The first double was a one-off character, but the [[Title Drop|second double]] was a complete shocker: {{spoiler|it was Sydney's [[Black Best Friend|best friend]] [[The Scrappy|Francie]].}} The double was a very unique twist . . . at first. Then, they brought back the double-switch when {{spoiler|someone cloned Arvin Sloane - and the double was, of course, promptly [[Fan Nickname|nicknamed]] "Arvin Cloane"}}, again later in season four when it was revealed that {{spoiler|the woman Jack killed in Vienna wasn't Irina Derevko, it was a double of her}} and ''again'' in season five when {{spoiler|Anna Espinosa became a double of ''Sydney''}}. It got to the point where a common saying in regards to the show was "they're not dead even if we've seen a body - it's probably a clone".
* ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|Battlestar Galactica]]'' got hit with this right from the bat. Even though there were only 12 Cylon models, you could never be quite sure which version of the model you were talking to. ''Especially'' the Sixes and Eights:
* ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|Battlestar Galactica]]'' got hit with this right from the bat. Even though there were only 12 Cylon models, you could never be quite sure which version of the model you were talking to. ''Especially'' the Sixes and Eights:
** Number Six: Caprica Six, Head!Six, Gina Inviere, Natalie Faust, Shelly Godfrey, the Six on the Armistice Station, LabCoat!Six, the Six who headed "The Farm", the dying Six on the basestar, Lida, Sonja, and Prostitute!Six from "The Plan".
** Number Six: Caprica Six, Head!Six, Gina Inviere, Natalie Faust, Shelly Godfrey, the Six on the Armistice Station, LabCoat!Six, the Six who headed "The Farm", the dying Six on the basestar, Lida, Sonja, and Prostitute!Six from "The Plan".
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