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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Premiere Review

Just because I’m mad at Disney over screwing over Amphibia doesn’t mean I’m going to let it ruin May the Fourth for me. Star Wars may be owned by Disney now, but it’s always going to stand by itself, mouse or not. And speaking of standing out by itself, so do the clones of Clone Force 99, the Bad Batch. Introduced in the final season of The Clone Wars, I fell in love with the Bad Batch right away. They were like GI Joe crossed with the Ninja Turtles, and easily stood out from most of the other clones. Unfortunately, the fact that they stand out sets the tone for the series premiere of their spin-off of the same name. As the Galaxy reels from the aftermath of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, the Bad Batch has a choice to make. Stay with the Empire, or do what they think is right?

Since this is the Empire, though, the choice should be a no-brainer. At least, it should be.

Order 66 and a Young Kanan

In an interesting start to the episode, viewers see the Bad Batch in the final hours of the Clone Wars fighting alongside Debi Billaba and her Padawan, Caleb Dume. Or, as fans of Rebels know him, a young Kanan Jarrus. Then, Order 66 comes down, and we get to see Caleb’s master die while he flees for his life. These are things we already knew about and saw happen in comic form. However, what made this scene interesting is two things. Firstly, the Bad Batch (sans Crosshair) doesn’t participate in Order 66. They don’t even know what that is. As we later confirm in the hour long premiere, because of their mutations, Bad Batch is immune to the inhibitor chips that brainwash them. As for Echo, his got fried when he was captured. Secondly, the fact that we see how Caleb escapes Order 66 is a nice bit of continuity for the franchise. Just something to consider.

Aftermath and Omega

Then, we all know what comes next in the aftermath. The Empire rises, and the Galaxy is plunged into darkness. And the Empire doesn’t appreciate the free-thinking ways of Bad Batch.

The premiere makes it clear that a lot of Clones don’t like the Bad Batch for being different. In a surprising moment in the mess hall, one Clone even calls them “The Sad Batch.” Having known the Clones as the good guys for years, seeing them act far colder to everyone in the aftermath of the war is a chilling sight. Fortunately, that prejudice doesn’t extend to everyone.

Which brings us to Omega. Since her introduction in the trailer, fans speculated about who she is. While the Bad Batch speculates that she’s an abnormal Clone like them, the premiere gives no concrete answers.

I like the concept that Omega’s Clone, and it makes sense. When creating millions of clones from a single source of DNA, abnormal clones are certain to exist. Thus, it makes sense that there could exist a Clone that is essentially a gender-swapped version of Boba Fett. In addition, there’s the symbolic meaning behind her name. Omega is the final letter in the Greek Alphabet. This could mean that Omega may be the final Clone to be born from Fett’s DNA. Therefore, it’s fitting that she’s an abnormal Clone, and even more fitting that she takes a shine to the Bad Batch.

Too bad Tarkin doesn’t.

They’re Their Own People Now

We all knew that the Bad Batch was going to desert the Empire, but I still wanted to see how it happened. As it turns out, it’s Saw Gerrera who serves as the catalyst. When the squad’s sent to wipe out “Separatist Insurgents” on Onderon, they balk at the fact that it’s essentially women and children running from the Empire. Saw confronts them over this, and it’s his resolve to fight the new Empire that proves to be the final straw. The Bad Batch chooses to desert the Empire. Except for Crosshair.

It was leaked that Crosshair would remain loyal to the Empire, and it’s made apparent why. Unlike the rest of his squad, Crosshair’s inhibitor chip remains partially functional, making him obey Order 66 despite his past history of not following orders. Sadly, Tarkin gets to him before Bad Batch can. By the time they see each other again, Crosshair’s as brainwashed as the rest of the Clones.

I loved this moment. Star Wars has made it clear that the Clones are just as much victims as everyone else who suffered from Darth Sidious’ actions. But Crosshair? Seeing him physically brainwashed into following the Empire is downright tragic. Now, he looks set to be the main antagonist of The Bad Batch, albeit a very tragic one.

Can’t Wait to See What Comes Next

I absolutely adored “Aftermath”, and think that it helped The Bad Batch hit the ground running. From seeing the fall of the Jedi and rise of the Empire from the Clones perspective to Crosshair turning on his brothers, this episode was just amazing. If this is what we have to look forward to in the rest of the show, I think fans will enjoy this show.

I don’t know what will become of the Bad Batch or Omega. Will they live to see the fall of the Empire? What will happen to the rest of the Clones? Why was Omega made? I’m hoping that we see all these questions answered and more.

I Give “Aftermath” a 5/5

May the Fourth be With You!

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Star Wars: History Abridged Pt. 7- The Dark Wars, Pt. 1

Any Star Wars fan worth his salt knows how Darth Sidious almost managed to wipe out the Jedi Order in the films. However, in the Star Wars Expanded Universe timeline, this wasn’t the first time this happened. That distinction belongs to the period of time following the end of the Jedi Civil War. Known as the First Jedi Purge, it’s what we’ll be talking about both today and on May the Fourth. And in some ways, it was worse than what Sidious ever did.

Republic and Jedi at Death’s Door

Thanks to the efforts of the redeemed Revan and his friends, the Jedi Civil War ended in victory for the Jedi and Republic. However, that brought no comfort. In less than fifty years, the Galaxy had gone through three major conflicts that had eaten away at the Jedi. Thousands of members had either died or fallen to the Dark Side. Some of their most important centers of knowledge had been lost. And since the latest incarnations of the Sith had been ex-Jedi, public confidence in them reached an all-time low.

When the Jedi Civil War ended in 3,956 BBY, the total number of Jedi left was around a hundred. A hundred; in a galaxy of trillions of people who needed help. Worse still, the Republic stood on the brink of total collapse. Their military and infrastructure were in shambles, and they could do nothing to help their protectors.

There was one person who could lead the Galaxy through this strife, though: Revan. However, after the war, he began to regain more of his memories. Suspecting there was a threat in the deep reaches of space, he left known space a year after the war ended. Thus, the Galaxy was deprived of a leader.

The Sith Triumvirate

Even though Revan’s Sith Empire was shattered, remnants of it clung to life in the dark corners of the Galaxy. For several years they continued to cause trouble for the Republic, but they also fought each other. After a while, though, the remnants united under the leadership of the Sith Triumvirate, three powerful Dark Lords of the Sith with badass titles.

There was Darth Sion, the Lord of Pain. He had been a part of the Brotherhood of Sith in the Great Sith War, where he discovered an unnatural power. By focusing on his pain/sheer willpower, he could use the Dark Side to bring himself back to life whenever he fell. In other words, he was immortal at the cost of his body becoming a patchwork of injuries held together by the Dark Side.

Then there was Darth Nihilus, the Lord of Hunger. scariest of the three. He fought in the Mandalorian Wars and was unlucky enough to be on Malachor V when Revan almost destroyed it. Even though he survived, he had to drain the Force Energy from others to survive. In other words, he was a Force vampire. When the Dark Side began to destroy his body, he got rid of it. He transferred his consciousness to his skull-like mask and armor, become a freak of nature.

Then there was Darth Traya, the Lord of Betrayal. Once a Jedi, she had been one of Revan’s teacher’s in his youth. When he became a Sith Lord, the Jedi kicked her out, and she vowed revenge. Journeying to Malachor V, she learned Revan had left something behind: the Trayus Academy and its students, the Sith Assassins. They used the Force to hide themselves and hunt down targets through it.

First Jedi Purge

Rather than conquer the Galaxy outright, the Triumvirate had a different strategy: take. out. The Jedi. They were smart enough to realize that if their attempts at Galactic Domination kept getting foiled by the Jedi Knights, they should get rid of them. After that, it wouldn’t who was in charge: the Dark Side would reign supreme. Thus, they got to work, starting the First Jedi Purge

Every time the Jedi tried to gather together, they began to disappear, hunted down by the Sith. No place seemed safe for them. To make matters worse, someone put out a bounty on the Jedi; now they had to worry about bounty hunters as well. Something had to be done. So, most of the remaining leaders called a meeting on the planet of Katarr in secret. However, one of them ratted on them in the hopes of drawing their attackers out of hiding. Big mistake.

Katarr was also home to a colony of Miraluka, a species of blind humanoids who used the Force to see. The whole planet was like a Force feast for Darth Nihilus. So he came to Katarr and… he ate them. He sucked the Force out of everything on planet, killing all but one person.

So, the remaining Jedi (who I could count with my fingers) went into hiding. The Order was publicly disbanded. It seemed like the Galaxy would fall into darkness.

One Last Hope

By the year 3,951 BBY, the Galaxy was sinking into darkness. The Jedi were gone, crime was rampant, and the Republic was on life support. It looked like the end of everything.

However, all was not lost. In the Outer Rim, the Republic found a Jedi; rather, a former Jedi. She had fought in the Mandalorian Wars as one of Revan’s top officers. She was the only one to return when the war ended and was exiled as a result. Now this Exile was the last hope for the Jedi and Republic.

Come back tomorrow as I cover the events of Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Wars and the end of the Old Sith Wars and the First Jedi Purge. Then come back on Revenge of the Fifth for an extra surprise. May the Force be with you!

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

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Star Wars: History Abridged Pt. 3

Hello, everyone, Jay here with some more Star Wars: History Abridged. This series has been dormant for some time, but with “May the Fourth” next week, I thought it’s a good time to restart it. Picking up where we left off, this post will cover the start of the Old Sith Wars, my favorite period in Star Wars lore. The long and short of it is that, in fifty years, the Galaxy almost fell apart. The Republic came close to collapse, and the Jedi came closer to extinction than ever. Until Order 66, that is. And it all starts with the conflict known as the Great Sith War and a planet called Onderon.

Crisis on Onderon

According to Wookiepedia, the Great Sith War started in 3,996 BBY. However, its roots go back four years earlier, to a planet called Onderon (Yes, that Onderon). The world was harsh, filled with dangerous beasts from its moon, Dxun. The two were so close that they would briefly merge atmospheres and create an air bridge. Worse, there was an ongoing civil war between the ruling monarchy and the Beast Riders, outcasts who had tamed the dangerous beasts of the planet.

When Onderon asked to join the Republic, Jedi Master Arca Jeth sent his three Padawans, Tott Doneeta, Ulic Qel-Droma, and his younger brother Cay Qel-Droma, to resolve the conflict. They showed up right as the Beast Riders raided the Royal Palace and kidnapped Queen Amanoa’s only daughter, Galia. The three Padawans pursued the Princess’ abductors deep into Beast Rider territory, arriving at their base just as Galia was marrying their young leader, Oron Kira.

Years ago, Oron had snuck inside the Onderonian’s walled city. There he became friends with Galia. United by their shared desire for peace, the two fell in love. Galia knew her mother would never approve of their union, so they had secretly arranged all that had transpired. This abduction was nothing more than an elaborate plan to elope. One that the Jedi consented too once everything had been explained.

With that, the wedding continued, and everyone celebrated the union. However, Oron and Galia revealed a startling secret about Onderon to the three Jedi and their world’s connection to the Dark Side.

The Dark Truth of Onderon

Four hundred years ago, there was a young Jedi Padawan named Freedon Nadd. Everyone who met him saw him as a prodigy and thought he’d be one of the Order’s best. However, his strength made him arrogant, and when he was passed over for knighthood, he furiously left the Jedi Order. 

Traveling to the moon Yavin IV, Nadd discovered the Massassi, descendants of Naga Sadow’s followers who had joined him in exile centuries prior. What’s more, Nadd found an even bigger secret: Sadow himself kept alive in stasis for centuries. Recognizing Nadd’s strength in the Force, Naga Sadow taught Nadd everything he knew about the Dark Side. Then, Nadd killed him and declared himself a Dark Lord of the Sith. After this, he traveled to Onderon, where he established himself as King, banishing criminals and anyone who opposed him beyond his walled city to die. The Beast Riders were the descendants of these outcasts.

It gets worse. Nadd died centuries ago, but his ghost stuck around his Tomb underneath the Royal Palace. He spent centuries teaching his descendants the Dark Side in the hopes that one of them would be able to create him a new body to possess. 

Battle for Onderon

As freaked out as they were, the Jedi came to bring peace, so that’s what they were going to do. So with Galia and Oron in tow, they returned to the Capital city of Iziz to negotiate peace. 

Queen Amanoa wasn’t interested. Calling on the spirit of Nadd himself, the Queen used the strength of the Dark Side to empower her outnumbered forces. Iziz became a battleground between the royal army and the Beast Riders. The three Jedi were almost overwhelmed. However, Master Jeth’s timely arrival turned the tide of the battle in favor of the Beast Riders. With the Dark Side’s influence broken, the Jedi pursued Queen Amanoa into the palace to Nadd’s tomb, banishing Nadd’s influence. Which, unfortunately, killed the Queen. 

Naddist Uprising

With Amanoa’s death, Galia and Oron became the new monarch’s of Onderon, which officially joined the Republic. The only problem was what to do with the remains of Amanoa and Nadd? In 3,998 BBY, Arca Jeth chose to move them to a new tomb on Dxun where their Dark Side influence could be locked up. However, their bodies got stolen by the Naddist Sith Cult, led by Amanoa’s thought-to-be-deceased husband, King Ommin. With Master Jeth captured by the Naddists, Ulic Qel-Droma, now a Knight, called the Republic and Jedi for reinforcements.

In the battle that followed, thanks to the aid of Jedi Knight Nomi Sunrider, the Naddist forces were crushed, and King Ommin himself was slain by Qel-Droma. At last, Onderon was freed from the grip of Freedon Nadd.

What no one knew at the time was that this wasn’t the end of the crisis. Instead, it was only beginning.

Birth of the Krath

The Jedi didn’t know at the time, but just before Ommin’s defeat, he had visitors. Two cousins from a Deep Core system with an interest in the Dark Side and Sith Artifacts. Intrigued and realizing Onderon was a lost cause, Nadd chose to make them his new apprentices and helped them escape with Sith relics in tow. Together, they would found the Krath, a Sith Cult that would seize power in their system. 

Worse, Nadd had appeared before the Jedi and sensed darkness within Ulic Qel-Droma. Unknown to all, there was another Force-user that Nadd had taken an interest in, a young Jedi named Exar Kun. However, that is a story for another day.

To Be Continued

Pretty cool story, huh? If you want to learn more, click the links to Wookiepedia. Or if you want to read the story for yourself, search for the Tales of the Jedi series. Tomorrow, we’ll be picking things up with the rise of the Krath and the Return of the Sith as the Great Sith War begins!

May the Force be with you!

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.