It’s interesting because this spacebat (clone) actually shows us yet another horrifying reality of the clones: they are actually unique and individual. Each one is different. They all would’ve reacted differently in that scenario (refusing to talk, screaming for help, yapping) because as much as Prime tries, they aren’t all the same. He cannot take away the small changes between them because they are organic creatures (I’ve stated my opinion on this topic before) and that isn’t physically possible. So he does the next best thing: forbid them from showing it. The clones can tell that they aren’t exactly the same as the brothers beside them. They have small, unique thoughts and personalities. Some are grumpier, some are more sensitive, some are leaders, some are shy, some are talkative, etc. A clone knows what they have the urges to act like, but they also know the consequence for following those urges. So they can only find small ways to express those bits of personality in a way that Prime can forgive. Being shy? That’s expressing yourself, bad. Stepping back and letting other clones do the talking? Well, you’re just following orders so that’s fine. Feel like a loner? No, you have to stand in line. Offer to take a patrol by yourself? Good initiative and bravery in Prime’s name! Want to be talkative and annoying? Definitely no. Want to name all of Prime’s titles to annoy the heck out of someone? Well, surely Prime can’t fault that, it’s loyalty. This one got a chance—maybe the only one in his whole life—to have an excuse to show individuality and took it. Of course he did. I mean sure, he’s using it to be annoying, but that’s also the only bit of freedom he’s ever had. That he’ll ever have. It’s one of the reasons he seems so giddy while doing it. That’s the only bit of personhood he knows he’ll ever be able to afford, so he’s soaking it up.
For context, the above was a text I sent to my best friend who is currently watching SPOP with me for the first time and in S5 and she argued that if she had to experience the horror of watching this with me and recieving texts like that before bed, Tumblr deserved the angst as well. So. Bon appétit.