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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 16 Review

Well, everyone, we’re finally here. Season one of Star Wars: The Bad Batch has officially come to an end. Fittingly, the finale takes place entirely on Kamino, where the show, and the Clone Troopers, first began. Rather than go out with a massive bang, though, The Bad Batch chooses to end on a somber, bittersweet note as everyone, both in-universe and in the real world, realizes that things can’t go back to the way they once were. No matter how hard we may want them to.

A Surprise Disaster Survival Scenario

At the end of the last episode, the Empire made the decision to tie up loose ends on Kamino by destroying their major cities and cloning facilities, condemning them to life back under the sea. In more immediate concerns, though, the Bad Batch find themselves trapped on the sea floor in the ruins of Tipoca City with very little chance for survival. As a result, the team and their former squad mate Crosshair have to work together to escape to the surface.

This episode has all the hallmarks for a disaster film. A group of people trapped in a desperate situation. Rising tensions between group members. And most of all, things continually go from bad to worse as the team tries to beat the odds. The Bad Batch has been in tough scrapes before, but this pushed their survival skills to their limit. It’s a really good premise, and the show does a fairly good job of showing it.

However, it’s not the impending death that’s the big draw. It’s the characters themselves.

Crosshair’s Uncertain Future

Crosshair has been the black sheep of the Bad Batch since the series first began. Following Order 66, we saw him ultimately remain loyal to the Empire while his brothers and Omega deserted. At the time, many of us thought that his decision was not of his own free will; that it was the inhibitor chip forcing him to act like that. However, last episode dropped a bombshell by revealing that Crosshair got his chip removed some time ago. This called into question just how much of Crosshair’s choices were of his own accord and which were because of the Empire’s manipulation. Unfortunately, the season finale offers few in the way of answers.

In a particularly somber moment, Omega tries to talk to Crosshair about his decisions. She admits that she wanted to believe that it was the chips that turned him into what he is, but now thinks that it may have just been him the whole time. In other words, it’s the nature vs. nurture debate in full force, and Crosshair may be on the nature side.

Then, just when we think that Crosshair’s not going to change, he ends up saving Omega’s life. But when the time comes for the others to leave, he chooses to remain loyal to the Empire, despite seeing how they’ll just use him. It’s a very mixed message about Crosshair’s future, much like it was for Ben Solo, and while it leaves the door open for him, I’m not sure how many fans will appreciate it.

Tie-In to The Mandalorian and Sidious’ Ressurection

The final moments of the episode, though, are when things start to get interesting again. Having been taken off-world by the Empire, Nala Se’s relocated to a new world to continue her working in cloning technology. If the Empire’s phasing out Clone Troopers, though, why do they still need to work with the technology. Those who have seen The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker may have figured it out.

In The Rise of Skywalker, we learn that Darth Sidious continued using cloning technology decades after the Clone Wars. Firstly, it’s stated that he created Snoke using that tech. More importantly, though, he used it to create a new body to possess after Anakin killed him. While it’s not said on-screen, it’s all but implied that he was using the Kaminoan’s technology to do all of this. Now, we may see the beginning to that project. If it is, then The Bad Batch may have just started to fix the flaws of The Rise of Skywalker.

No Idea On Season 2

While it was nice to get a continuation of The Clone Wars, I have to admit that, in hindsight, the first season of The Bad Batch has been a mixed bag. It’s had some pretty great moments and gave us some franchise-altering information. On the other hand, the plot of the season had little cohesion between episodes. Worse, the season finale does little to hint at what Season 2 might be about.

Despite these misgivings, though, I still think that The Bad Batch has potential when it comes to bridging the gap between the prequels and original trilogy. If we’re lucky, then maybe season two will give us the prototypes to the TIE Fighters, something I’ve always wanted to see in Star Wars. Here’s hoping!

I Give “Kamino Lost” a 3/5

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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 13 Review

Well, it’s official: the Bad Batch finally had an episode that I don’t give two cents about. Last week, it looked like The Bad Batch was getting ready for its endgame. Crosshair was sanctioned to hunt down his former team, so it looked like things were about to get crazy. Instead, this week sees us deal with a filler episode that just reiterates a lesson that the cast has already learned: that they need to be more open to helping people. As of now, “Infested” is my least favorite episode of the show.

Taking Back Cid’s Bar

Despite Omega paying off the team’s debt to Cid, the Bad Batch continues to work for her with no explanation as to why. More than likely, it’s to pay for gear and keep the Empire off their back. However, there’s a snag to this. Out of nowhere, this upcoming crime boss takes the bar and drives Cid out. The Bad Batch doesn’t take this lying down, though, and they team up with Cid to get her bar back.

After that, the rest of the episode follows the standard formula we’ve come to expect. The Bad Batch has a mission to fulfill, Omega’s empathy powers help her connect with the guy who should be their enemy. Like I said, there’s not a lot of substance to this episode. Not even the infestation that gives the episode it’s name, “Infested”. Apparently, they have to go through a cave that’s infested with these giant moth monsters that I could barely see.

Infested Was Not Very Interesting

I will completely upfront and honest: this episode was one that I could barely pay attention to. There are only three episodes left in a show that has no confirmed second season. Now should be the time when the show ramps things up and gets ready for the big finale. We should see the Empire starting to put the squeeze on the Bad Batch and Kamino, not this filler episode.

The only possible explanation I can think of is that this is the calm before the storm. After this week, we should expect the rest of the show to be a rollercoaster until the end. If that’s the case, then I might look back on this episode better. Until then, this was a very forgettable episode.

I Give “Infested” a 2/5

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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 2 Review

Even though The Clone Wars show ended last year, The Bad Batch makes us feel like it never did. As we saw in the hour long premiere, The Bad Batch went out of its way to make it seem like a continuation of The Clone Wars. Some fans have even jokingly called it “The Clone Wars, Season 8.” I don’t think they’re wrong, either. Case in point, the second episode to The Bad Batch brings back a character that only longtime fans of The Clone Wars may remember.

Cut Lawquane Knows the Bad Batch

After deserting the Empire and their brainwashed buddy, the Bad Batch has to lay low and figure out their next move. Thus, they seek out the help of an old friend on Saleucami: Cut Lawquane.

For those who don’t know or remember, Cut Lawquane is a Clone Trooper who deserted after his entire unit was killed. Ever since, he’s been living in peace with his wife and step-children, with Rex even covering him. However, it turns out Rex wasn’t the only one who knew about Cut. The Bad Batch not only knows about him, but they’re close with his family. Cut’s kids even call Wrecker “Uncle Wrecker.”

If the show expected us to enjoy this reunion, it might have failed. Firstly, we’ve only seen Cut once before today, so any emotional investment in him is going to be limited. Secondly, the fact that the Bad Batch knows him comes out of nowhere with no explanation. It’s implied that Rex told them about Cut, but that’s about it.

The Iron Grip of the Empire Already Taking Hold

That said, the Bad Batch went to Cut for a reason: to learn how to lay low, which is now very hard with the Empire in control. Cut’s trying to take his family and move elsewhere, but the Empire’s not letting anyone leave without a chain code. A chain code is basically a fancy way for the Empire to track everyone around the Galaxy, which is something someone like Cut and the Bad Batch can’t afford.

Seeing the Clone Troopers, who we’re used to knowing as the good guys, act so cold and detached is both frightening and sad. The Clone Wars only ended a few months ago, and the Empire is already becoming the despotic regime that fans are familiar with. And the worst part is that the Clones don’t even realize they’ve become puppets for Darth Sidious.

In the end, the Bad Batch comes up with a plan to create forged chain codes to help Cut’s family get off-world. However, when the plan goes awry, the Bad Batch has to fight their fellow Clones in a brutal stand-off. While Bad Batch doesn’t have a strong rapport with most of the normal Clone Troopers, it’s still tragic to see them fight their genetic brothers. However, they know they have no choice if they want to survive and protect Omega.

Omega Chooses her Family

Speaking of Omega, she’s the center of much of the B-Plot for this episode. Having never left Kamino, everything she sees is brand new and exciting for her. Seeing her get excited over something as simple as dirt or playing with a ball is very sweet to watch. However, it also reminds Hunter that she’s still a kid. And they may not be the best people to look after her. Thus, he tries to talk her into going with the Lawquane’s in the hopes of giving her a normal life.

Omega’s not having any of it. She chose to go with the Bad Batch, and she’s going to stay with the Bad Batch, much to Hunter’s joy. As sweet as it is, though, it also feels like the show rushed the growth of their relationship. Omega’s only known the team for a few weeks at best. Plus, it makes it feel like an attempt to recreate the famous bond of Mando and Baby Yoda. Then again, those two became close in a short amount of time, so it’s not impossible.

More Familiar Faces to Come for Bad Batch

After the drama and tension of the premiere, it feels like the second episode was a bit on the slow side. There was action to be had, but not on the scale of The Clone Wars, and I doubt there will be anything like that. But that’s part of the point behind the show. It’s not about massive armies fighting for control of the Galaxy, or the Jedi protecting it. It’s about the (subjectively) normal people trying to find their place in a changing Galaxy. So, while this episode seemed slow, I’m hoping that this won’t be the trend for the show.

In addition, the show gives us plenty to look forward to. Thanks to the trailers, we already know that Rex will make an appearance, and it may be sooner than we think. According to Cut, Rex visited the Lawquane’s the day before the Bad Batch arrived. Sooner or later, the team will run into him. And I can’t wait.

I Give “Cut and Run” a 3/5

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Twelve years on, and I still remember going going to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars in theaters with my old man. Little did I know at the time, but the movie that critics tore to shreds would spawn one of the best cartoons I have the pleasure of viewing, Star Wars: the Clone Wars. With the release of Revenge of the Sith three years prior, everyone thought the circle of the Skywalker Saga was now complete. Thank the Force that Lucasfilm proved us wrong.

If you recall my earlier post on the subject, I have a bit of a soft spot for the Prequel Trilogy, in spite of its flaws. As a result, I took to The Clone Wars fairly quickly, to the point where I had a weekly ritual for watching it. I would grab an old lightsaber I had lying around, and when the opening started, I would swing it around like a Jedi before striking a cool pose. It was totally nerdy, but I didn’t care. I would end up watching The Clone Wars throughout its five year run on Cartoon Network, and as a fan and a critic, I can safely say that kept the flame of Star Wars alive during that time.

A Grand Adventure…

In hindsight, I realize that there was a pattern to the show regarding its tone. At the start, it seemed a lot more light-hearted and fun, with very little continuity between episodes. The writers made the whole thing seem like some of grand adventure, with an epic clash of good vs evil. It was still a show about a galaxy-spanning war, but seeing the heroes win every week made us forget about that. 2

Looking back, I now see this as a deliberate attempt by Filoni and the writers to induce a sense of idealism. We would start with something exciting and pure, like the kind of war movie you’d expect John Wayne to star in. That’s how many used to think wars were like: dangerous but exciting. Maybe we just wanted to think like that because we knew what awaited us at the very end. As the series continued, though, it began to delve into more nuanced stories that went beyond the war. Suddenly, the grand adventure didn’t seem so grand anymore.

…Suddenly Gets Darker

I think I mentioned it before, but one thing I loved about The Clone Wars was how it matured as it got older. Slowly, the reality that we were watching a war that would end with the fall of the Jedi began to re-assert itself. Then came the Umbara Arc; while it wasn’t the best arc in the show, for me, it was what really drove home the truth about the conflict. The Jedi would ultimately go into hiding, Sidious’ Empire would rise, and darkness would reign.

After that, I just saw the show get progressively darker and cooler before we got the darkest story yet: Ashoka on the run. Ever since the film, fans had been wondering if Ashoka survived the Clone Wars. Thus, when she wound be falsely accused of crimes she didn’t commit, we thought this is it. Ashoka’s done for. Anakin cleared her name, but the damage was done.

After seeing the Jedi Council throw Ashoka to the wolves with so little hesitation made me lose almost all respect for them. No wonder she chose to leave the Jedi order. Deep down, though, I was also relieved, as it meant Ashoka would survive the war. However, it would be years before we found out what happened to her, or to Rex. Star Wars: The Clone Wars was cancelled, a victim of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm and the Disney-Warner Bros. War.

The Return

Lucasfilm’s put up a sixth season on Netflix, but to be honest, I didn’t really watch it. The fire had just gone out for me. However, like many fans, I hoped for the day when the final episodes of the show would be made. So, when word came that a 7th and final season of Star Wars: the Clone Wars would air on Disney+, I was filled with joy.

Thanks to material that’s come out since the show first ended, we already know how the series will end. Ashoka will face off against Maul, Order 66 will begin, and she and Rex will go into hiding. However, that’s not going to make the whole thing any less exciting. So you can bet you credits that I intend to review every episode of this final season. So, come back tomorrow night to see my review of the first episode of the final season, “The Bad Batch.” If the promo’s are anything to go by, though, it’s going to be good!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

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My Honest Review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

I would like to state, for the record, that I’ve always been unsure about the Star Wars Sequel films. I love the franchise to death, but I thought making new movies could end up backfiring. However, I buried by concerns and went to see the new movies anyway. I put up with the fact that The Force Awakens rehashed the original film; and I tried to accept what Rian Johnson did to Luke. Now here I am, having seen The Rise of Skywalker bring an apparent end to the Skywalker Saga. My ultimate verdict: meh. Here’s why.

The Folly of the Sequels

Going into this, The Rise of Skywalker had a lot of things working against it that the original films didn’t. Thanks to the Internet, fans could now be very vocal about what they liked or disliked, and Star Wars became no exception. As we saw with reactions to The Last Jedi, this could divide a franchise’s fanbase in two. As a result, Disney tried to reconcile both parties in the span of a single film and give everyone a satisfying ending. Truth be told, though, I think that making the perfect ending to the Skywalker story was impossible. We can’t please everyone, especially in regards to something as beloved as Star Wars.

Then there’s the effect of The Last Jedi. Despite what critics say, that movie was divisive among fans. Rian Johnson had good intentions, but him trying to subvert expectations split the fanbase in two. I didn’t like how Luke got handled, and I especially didn’t like how Holdo’s actions almost wiped out the Resistance. Needless to say, but The Last Jedi put things in a bind for The Rise of Skywalker.

Lastly, there’s the elephant in the room: the passing of Carrie Fisher. When I heard about Carrie Fisher’s death, I mourned for her like so many others. After that, my thoughts turned to the future of Star Wars. How could they finish the Trilogy without Leia, when The Rise of Skywalker was supposed to give her a prominent role? I think we all knew that this film would be the final chapter in Leia’s story, and the fact that Carrie didn’t live long enough to film it gave the movie a bittersweet tone. That said, I think they did the best with what they could.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Now that I’ve gone over all that, time to dive into the spoiler zone as I talk about five major plot threads that left the biggest impact on me. I wanted to do this without spoiling anything at first, but I realized that’s impossible for me.

Palps is Back!

This one’s so obvious I don’t even count it as a spoiler: Darth Sidious’ back. First off, the film does confirm that Palpatine did die in Return of the Jedi like we saw. However, what the film doesn’t confirm is how the Sith Lord came back from the dead. The closest we get to an answer is Palps quoting what he said at the Opera House in Revenge of the Sith about the Dark Side being a pathway to many abilities. So I’m just using the headcanon that he used the Dark Side and cloning to come back.

Fortunately for the Galaxy, the process brought him back more dead than alive; his body’s falling apart and kept alive by life support. However, while he’s as cunning and manipulative as ever, I think death damaged the Sith Lord’s mind. Whereas before he hid his true nature behind a facade, in TROS he drops all pretenses and openly proclaims himself a Sith Lord to the Galaxy. That would explain why his master plan sounds so convoluted, though:

1. Lure Rey to Secret Base
2. Transfer spirit into Rey’s Body
3. Unleash massive armada of retro-looking Star Destroyers with mini-Death Star cannons to reconquer Galaxy

I’m going to have to devote another post to this, but my point is, I think they could have done a little better bringing Sidious back into the films. When you’re so evil that your actor considers you to be more evil than the Devil, you want to do this character justice

www.cbr.com/star-wars-reveals-ren-means-lightsaber/

That’s what “REN” means? You, Disney, too lame, explain now!