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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 8 Review

It goes without saying that Dave Filoni’s just as big a fanboy about Star Wars as the rest of the fans. He wears his love for the franchise on his sleeve in everything he works on. However, as seen in The Mandalorian, Filoni’s also a big fan of old western movies. So, with The Bad Batch reaching the turning point in the series, it makes sense that Filoni pays homage to his other great love. And he does it in by bringing back another character from The Clone Wars. A character that may rightfully be considered the Clint Eastwood of the franchise.

We’ve Got Incoming!

At the end of the last episode, the Scrapper’s Guild spotted the Bad Batch on Bracca and called it in to the Empire. As a result, the Empire sends in Crosshair and a squad of Clone/Stormtroopers to eliminate them. Not capture; eliminate.

This episode marks the first time that Crosshair and his former squad have crossed paths since the premiere, and despite everything, the Bad Batch still cares about Crosshair. They know that he’s only doing this because of the inhibitor chip messing with his mind. However, even if the chip gets removed, will that be enough to salvage Crosshair’s relationship with his brothers at this point?

Think about it. Crosshair has always been the most abrasive of the squad, even before Order 66. How much of his actions are because of the chip and how much are his own choices. It’s an interesting quandary, and if the show’s smart, it will dive more into this.

In the meantime, though, Crosshair and the Bad Batch are enemies, and that leads to him nearly killing them using their own tactics against them. They outsmart him, but it just highlights how much of a threat he is. But not as great a threat as the Clint Eastwood type that comes in during the episode’s final act.

Cad Bane, the Clint Eastwood of the Galaxy, Returns.

I still remember the moment when we were first introduced to Cad Bane in the Season One finale to Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He was smart, deadly, and capable of holding his own against the Jedi. In other words, a total badass straight out of spaghetti westerns. Which makes sense, since he was inspired by the villain from the Clint Eastwood film The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And until Boba Fett builds up his rep, he’s the best bounty hunter in the Galaxy. Which is why the Kaminoan’s call him in to capture Omega for them.

I won’t lie to you: when I saw Cad Bane standing at the Bad Batch’s ship waiting for them, I almost squealed in excitement. It had been years since we last saw him, and now he just shows up like this? And true to his western inspirations, he maintains the same menace as always. And when he and Hunter have their standoff, it felt like it was something straight out of one of the movies that Dave Filoni loves so much. The suspense, the closeups, the focus on their weapons, it’s a perfect send up to those classic films!

Sadly, Cad Bane wins the standoff and captures Omega, leaving Hunter to be found by his team as they barely escape with their lives. In other words, things are bad.

How Will the Bad Batch Beat Bane

With Cad Bane poised to take Omega back to Kamino, the Bad Batch’s next priority should be to rescue her. But how will they go up against Cad Bane? He’s the Clint Eastwood of the franchise. The only ones who could stop him were the Jedi, and they’re either dead or in hiding.

This episode marks the halfway point in this series, and it does so by ratcheting things up to the highest level of tension possible. From here on out, we can expect the show to get increasingly dark at the Bad Batch is put to the test. I wouldn’t be surprised if not all of them make it out of this before things are done. However, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out. This is Star Wars at its finest, and I love it.

I Give “Reunion” a 3.5/5

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The Owl House Season Two, Episode 2 Review

Remember the Season One episode “Understanding Willow,” and how it confirmed that Amity Blight has the worst parents on the Boiling Isles? It was at that moment that the fandom wanted nothing more than to tell Mr. and Mrs. Blight where to shove it. Then everyone went bonkers over Lumity, and the thing with Emperor Belos, and Amity’s awful parents were forgotten. However, that changes this week as Mr. and Mrs. Blight threaten to tear Amity away from her friends forever.

Amity’s Mom’s a Bitch

Ever since Amity started hanging out with Willow, Gus, and Luz, she’s been letting her grades slip. At least from her Mom’s perspective More importantly, though, she’s starting to resist her parents. And for a sociopathic control freak like Mrs. Blight, that’s unacceptable. So she does something drastic: she uses her clout to get Luz, Gus, and Willow expelled from Hexside.

We already knew that Amity’s parents were terrible people, but this episode is what cements who they are as characters. Despite prior evidence, it’s revealed that Amity’s Dad isn’t directly abusive. Rather, he’s merely so focused on his work developing Abominations that he neglects his children. In addition, he goes with whatever his wife says.

Amity’s Mom is an Alpha Bitch and she makes no attempts to hide it. From pressuring Hexside into expelling Luz and the others on grounds that even Bump finds flimsy to intimidating Amity into not standing up for her friends, it’s made clear that she’s a horrible woman. What makes things worse is the fact that she manipulates Luz into becoming a test dummy with the false promise of letting her friends back in Hexside.

This does not go well.

Amity Blight Defies Her Mom

Amity Blight is likely the most dynamic character in The Owl House. When we first met her, she was a miniature version of her mom. However, thanks to repeated encounters with Luz, Amity managed to grow as a person and learn that she doesn’t have to act tough all the time. And, I’m the moment that set the Internet ablaze with love, she fell for Luz. In other words, she’s come a long way, but she still has one more step to take. Amity has to stand up to her abusive Mom.

And the moment that Amity does, she does it in the best way possible. Coming in to save Luz (who she doesn’t hesitate to call “My Luz”) from an overpowered Abomination, Amity makes it clear to her Mom that she can’t control her anymore. It’s a truly empowering moment for her character, and it also doubles as a touching Lumity moment. Faced with the prospect of public humiliation, Mrs. Blight has no choice but to allow Luz, Willow and Gus back in Hexside. However, given how much of a control freak Mrs. Blight is, this won’t be the end of things. She may very well continue to try to find ways to get rid of Luz.

The Clawthorne Sisters Learn Some Valuable Lessons

As all of this is going on, Eda and Lilith begin their study of glyph magic in earnest. Lilith takes to it effortlessly, while the more free-spirited Eda struggles. As a result, this episode sees Eda’s pride dealt a heavy blow.

Eda has never been one to follow rules. It’s part of the reason why she became the most powerful Witch in the Boiling Isles. However, as her rebellious attempts to prove her way is still right backfire, it only serves to embarrass her even more.

One of the themes of this season seems to be the fallout of Eda and Lilith’s shared curse and how it affects both of them. It’s much like a person now coping with a disability trying to find a new sense of self-worth. But thanks to some encouragement from Lilith, Eda manages to get past this stumbling block. And in the process, the two make some interesting discoveries.

Firstly, they discover that by combining glyphs together, they get different results. For example, multiple glyphs of the same type, they become stronger. Combine different glyphs in certain ways, they create new, original magic. In other words, this opens the door for the Owl House residents to unlock even more powerful spells. With the Emperor’s Coven tightening it’s grip on the Boiling Isles, they will need all the power they can get.

A Great Episode for Amity

Amity Blight has consistently proven to be my favorite character in The Owl House, and this episode caps off just how much she’s developed. First she was a rival, then a reluctant friend, and now, she and Luz are closer to becoming a couple than ever! As the second season of the show gets underway, I’m hoping for even more Lumity. And I want to see Mrs. Blight get knocked down a few more pegs.

I Give “Escaping Expulsion” a 4/5

Stray Observations

• Notice how Gus’ voice sounds deeper?
• Principal Bump misses Luz, Gus, and Willow being around to discipline! How sweet!!
• Notice the Amphibia Reference?

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