The Bad Batch has reached its halfway point, and it has done so with a big episode which has strong consequences for the future.
At the start of the episode, there is a strong conversation between Hunter and Echo. Hunter wants to use the arms in the Venator to pay of their debt to Cid in order to survive, and Echo questions why instead the group didn’t go off with Rex instead. Hunter argues that Rex is on a different path than Rex, however he has also been shown to be unsure with mercenary work. It is good to see that the group is having divisions other their direction, as this is bound to come back in future. No doubt Echo’s wishes are influenced by his relationship to Rex as well.
The Kaminoan subplot returns briefly as well. When the Empire find the Bad Batch on Bracca, the Kaminoan prime minister requests that they be brought back alive, however he is quickly overruled by Admiral Rampart. This leads the prime minister to send another bounty hunter after the batch, showing again the tensions between the Kaminoans and the Empire still remain. I cannot wait until these tensions inevitably come to a head.
On Bracca, the Empire arrive in full force against our heroes. However, the Bad Batch use the clone’s predictability against them, which is a clever nod to the fact that the clones have become more like droids. However, the Batch are soon caught by Crosshair, who explains their predictability is what led them to being caught. This makes perfect sense, as he has spent significant time with the group, and would know their every move. This makes a confrontation between the two inevitable.
And, for an animated show, it is extremely brutal (which is a strong plus). Wrecker throws an unarmed proton torpedo at someone’s face, knocking them out, and pushes two clones out of a high artillery deck window, with screams fully audible. This is the same window moments prior he exclaimed terror at the height of it. A side note, when the artillery guns fired the same sound effect used in Revenge of Sith was used to denote the cartridge ejecting, and it was brilliant to here.
Crosshair doesn’t go easy on our group either, firstly by calling his clones to fire on Omega before the Bad Batch, and then when they escape, he switches to even more terrifying tactics. As the Bad Batch now have to leave through the engine of the Venator class Star Destroyer, Crosshair takes position up top of the engine with his sniper.
When the Batch try and find a different way out, Crosshair orders that the engine be turned on, in order to either flush the group out or incinerate them. This is actually quite scary, it created terror of how the Batch would escape.
Thankfully, they do, as they blow up the section of the engine they are in, and thus roll to safety. Crosshair, however, isn’t so lucky. He gets his comeuppance for being so brutal by having the engine now fire on him, burning his face extremely badly, and leaving him with bandages on his face. This and his breathing are an obvious nod to Darth Vader, as it is likely Crosshair will now need augmentation to survive.
This fits the theme of fighting for evil and using dark methods will take a physical toll on your body. It tracks with the fact that Crosshair might become the first Death Trooper, as his armour is a similar style, and those troopers are also augmented.
Finally, as if this episode hadn’t pulled it out the bag already, there is one reveal at the end that made me gasp. Cad Bane is back.
This clone wars bounty hunter is pulled back, and immediately shows off why fans love him.
The western style music that plays in his entrance is amazing, a hint what is about to come, which is a duel between him and Hunter. The editing on this is amazing, quickly cutting between Cad and Hunter, before Cad fires first and wins, taking Omega captive. This is amazing.
This immediately ups the stakes for the group, something that a mid-season episode should do. After the duel, fans are treated to a first person perspective shot through Hunter’s helmet as he is dragged onto his ship, highly reminiscent of the game Republic Commandos. Dave Filoni knows his audience.
Overall, this episode is a stellar display of action and tension, while also building on the moral questions of being mercenaries. It ups the tension on Kamino as well and proves a meaningful cameo in Cad Bane who pushes the narrative forwards.
This is all achieved in a short 23 minutes, proving that episodes don’t have to be long to achieve goals. It also provides thrust to the rest of the series, which was lacking in previous episodes of the show, and builds excitement for the next episode.
The Bad Batch is available to stream on Disney+
By Kieran Burt
Feature image: Disney