RJ Writing Ink

Last week, the Bad Batch took a surprising backseat on their show. Instead, the show focused on the origins of Hera Syndulla, a key leader in the future Rebellion against the Empire. While she and her famous father want nothing more than to lay down their blasters and embrace the so-called “peace” the Empire’s offering, events force their hand. As a result, Senator Taa of Ryloth got shot by the Empire, Hera’s parents were framed for it, and Hera had to go on the run. Which inevitably leads to her enlisting the help of the Bad Batch to free her family. Let the Rebellion begin!

There’s just one problem: the Bad Batch doesn’t want anything to do with the Rebellion.

The Bad Batch Doesn’t Want to Fight Anymore…But Omega Does

As they have made clear plenty of times during the show’s run, the Bad Batch doesn’t want to fight anymore. At least they don’t want to pick a fight with the Empire. Hunter’s primary concern is keeping Omega safe and under the radar. Considering how the Empire wants them dead and the Kaminoan’s want to use Omega to create more Clones, this seems like the most sensible decision. However, there are two problems with this mindset. Firstly, as long as the Empire’s in charge, no one is safe anywhere. Secondly, Omega can’t ignore others in need of help.

Omega’s role in the Bad Batch is two-fold. Two episodes ago, she established herself as the squad’s budding strategist. First and foremost, though, she’s the group’s empath. She’s able to connect with people in a way the others can’t and brings out the best in them. That’s a very powerful ability to have, but it can be a double-edged sword. 

Omega’s always looking to help out others, even when it’s to her possible detriment. While she does convince the Bad Batch to help free Hera’s parents (and show that she and Hera work great together), they also put themselves back on the Empire’s radar. Fed up with their constant interference, Admiral Rampart gives Crosshair permission to hunt down his old squad. 

This plot point’s somewhat hampered by the fact that we knew this moment was coming. No matter how much Hunter may want, the Bad Batch can’t hide from the Empire forever. No one can. The only way Omega will be safe is when the Empire falls.

Rebellion Begins in Full on Ryloth

Those who’ve seen Star Wars: Rebels know the foregone conclusion for the Syndulla family and for Ryloth. Cham, Eleni, and Hera have to go on the run after the former two get rescued. However, and this may sound macabre, I’m a little disappointed that Eleni didn’t die this episode. It seemed like the show was setting us up for her inevitable death, cementing Cham as a fighter for Ryloth once more. That said, I have faith in Filoni and his team knowing what they’re doing.

What surprised me even more, though, we’re the actions of Captain Howzer this episode. Since Order 66 went into effect, almost all the Clone Troopers have become very robotic and less individualistic, no doubt due to the inhibitor chips. However, Howzer remained different, possessing a moral compass and only following his orders out of loyalty to his men and commanders. This episode, though, sees Howzer decide to do the right thing over following orders, and let’s the Bad Batch escape with the Syndulla’s. He then talks to his men about what they’re becoming, and how what they’re doing is wrong. He still gets arrested, but several Clones side with him.

This is a game-changing moment for the Clones. Until now, we feared that the majority of them would remain brainwashed by Order 66. However, either the effects of the Inhibitor Chips aren’t as powerful as we thought, or they’re starting to wear off. That would explain why Sidious ultimately replaced the Clones in the end. While far better soldiers than the average Stormtrooper, the Clones were still free-thinking people who could make their own decisions. Thus, Sidious saw it better to use indoctrinated conscripts, as they were easier to control.

The Endgame Begins

There are only four episodes left in The Bad Batch, and no guarantee of a second season. In other words, we’re nearing the endgame for the Bad Batch. At least I’m the timeframe of the show. I have no doubt that we’ll see more of Omega in the future, but with Crosshair now after his former squad, their future remains up in the air.

I’m personally hoping that the show will end with the Bad Batch returning to Kamino to settle things. It would be a great way to bring their journey full circle, as well as explain what happens to most of the Clone Troopers. A Clone Rebellion may be brewing on the horizon, and I look forward to seeing what happens.

I Give “Rescue on Ryloth” a 4/5

Click here for some of my Star Wars stuff.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 11 Review

Ever since Disney took over the Star Wars franchise, they’ve been trying to run a tight ship. It’s not just axing most of the Expanded Universe. They’re trying to make sure that all Star Wars content is connected to each other in some way. As someone who was a fan of the EU, this strategy seems like a double-edged sword. Yes, it means less contradictions, but it also makes Star Wars not as big as it once was. Case in point, this week’s episode of The Bad Batch barely features them. Instead, it focuses on the origins of a future rebel leader, Hera Syndulla.

Hera and The Clone Wars-Rebels Connection

Those who watched The Clone Wars and Rebels will be very familiar with the characters Hera and Cham Syndulla. Cham Syndulla was introduced back in season one of The Clone Wars as the leader of the resistance against the Separatists on Ryloth, and later against the Empire. And his daughter, Hera, continued in her father’s footsteps as one of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance. As for how Cham and Hera got to the point where we saw them in Rebels, though, that was a mystery. Until now.

With the Clone Wars now over, the Empire’s trying to do everything it can to win over the people of Ryloth. Senator Taa tries his best, but he predictably fails. It’s only when Cham voices his support for peace that the Twilek’s hesitantly decide to accept the Empire. This is in stark contrast to the Cham Syndulla we saw in The Clone Wars and Rebels, who was determined for Ryloth to be free on its own terms. Yet here, he’s ready to lay down his blasters? It’s clear why: he’s see enough fighting in his lifetime, and he wants to rest. In addition, he wants Hera to grow up not knowing of the sacrifices that war brings.

In contrast, young Hera (who already has Chopper) is at crossroads in life. On the one hand, she wants to follow her parent’s example and do what’s right. On the other hand, she desperately wants to become a pilot and leave Ryloth behind. Sooner or later, she’ll have to choose. Unfortunately, forces outside her control decide for her.

The Straw That Breaks the Camel’s Back

Despite her parents wanting to keep Hera out of their fight, canon pushes her towards her role as a rebel leader. Cham’s lieutenant talks her into going on a “supply run” with him with the promise of learning how to fly. This supply run is getting weapons delivered by the Bad Batch. Besides giving us a chance to see Omega and Hera interact with each other, this moment only solidifies the latter’s desire to see the Galaxy.

Unfortunately, the Empire and Taa knew about this from the start, and arrest the whole group, forcing her parents to break her out. Then, just to make things worse, Cham and his wife get framed for attempting to kill Senator Taa, who gets shot through the lekku by Crosshair. As a result, all the adults are arrested while Hera escapes by herself.

Drive Towards the Future

I think that we all know what’s going to happen next. Hera is going to turn to the Bad Batch and Omega to rescue her family, the Bad Batch is going to fight Crosshair again, and this moment will set Cham and Hera Syndulla on their paths as full-on rebels. And Hera’s mom, Eleni, may or may not die in the process, leading to a wedge between father and daughter.

It’s a very predictable outcome to this story on Ryloth, one that I saw from a mile away. In addition, it also seems to take away focus from the Bad Batch, who are supposed to be the focus of the show. However, The Bad Batch is a part of a much larger narrative, and this episode reminds us of that. The Bad Batch may just be trying to survive and raise Omega, but someday, the Rebellion will rise. We’re already seeing the first stages of it rise on The Bad Batch.

I wasn’t that big a fan of Rebels, so while I did enjoy seeing Hera and Chopper, I didn’t let it cloud my judgement. As far as episodes go, this wasn’t the strongest one that The Bad Batch has given us. However, I’m hoping that it’s setting us up for a much cooler episode next week.

I Give “Devil’s Deal” a 3/5

Click here for some of my Star Wars stuff.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 6 Review

You’d think that an arc that brings back one of The Clone Wars breakout characters would hit the ground running. Last week, our first look at Ashoka post-Jedi crashed; quite literally, too. She crashes in front of the shop of two young sisters trying to get out of their shady life. As a result of their meeting, Ashoka gets a dose of how life’s not black-and-white like the Jedi say. Sometimes, it can be a gray galaxy, and Ashoka has to adapt to it.

A Simple Job

“Deal or No Deal” starts with Ashoka tagging along with the Martez sisters for a simple job that promises to make a lot of money. She wants to make sure they stay out of trouble out of the goodness of her heart, but the cynical Rafa think she has “an angle.”

This is a classic example of cynicism vs. idealism. Ashoka’s been raised with the strong moral code of the Jedi, so she tries to hang onto that as much as possible. Having been shaped by her tough life, Rafa doesn’t care as much about morals, only surviving. It’s a gray galaxy they have to live in. As a result, these two end up becoming the little angel and devil on Trace’s shoulder during the episode. Too bad neither of them can do what’s best for the trio.

Worse, it turns out that Rafa’s “big job” is delivering spice for the King of Kessel to the Pyke Syndicate.

Kessel Spice Run and Gray

I remember Kessel from the Expanded Universe: a misshapen asteroid that barely had an atomsphere. Anyone who got sent to the dark spice mines had little chance to escape. While it looks like an actual planet now, complete with greenery, I saw through it. It’s a gilded world of corrupt elites and abused slaves.

One would think that Kessel’s the kind of place the Jedi would want shut down. However, it’s Ashoka’s turn to be cynical about the matter. When Rafa remarks that the Republic would shut the operations on Kessel down if they knew, Ashoka can only scoff and say “you’d think they would.” It’s sad, but also reassuring to know that she’s not as naive as some Jedi. Yet she still tries to live up to their morals, as she tries to talk Trace out of delivering the spice.

So, Trace dumps it all, which was the absolute dumbest thing she could have done.

Ashoka in a Gray Galaxy

The whole point of this arc is to show Ashoka adjusting to living in a morally gray galaxy. It will help her to survive until her return in Rebels years later. As a result, she has to learn to balance between her morals and what’s necessary.

Case in point, when the three have to deliver the absent spice to the Pyke’s, Ashoka resorts to using a Force Mind Trick on their leader to get the credits. The Jedi Council would reprimand her for doing such a thing. However, given the circumstances, a lot of people would do the same thing. Heck, I pulled similar stunts while playing Knights of the Old Republic. Still not sorry!

Fortunately, Ashoka remembers enough of her Jedi past to keep herself from falling down a slippery slope; or at least of what Anakin taught her. Speaking of whom, we get a touching scene near the start of the episode that shows how Anakin still cares about his former Padawan.

When Trace accidentally flies her ship into a military lane, Admiral Yularen’s ready to arrest them. However, Anakin senses that Ahsoka’s on board, and and she senses him in turn. In a moment that mirrors what will happen between him and his son Luke in Return of the Jedi, Anakin lets them go. Yet another example of how Anakin may be more of a Jedi than most Jedi. Which only makes his fate all the more tragic.

How will Ashoka Get out of This

By the end of the episode, Ahsoka, Trace, and Rafa have all screwed up. As a result, the Pyke Syndicate takes them prisoner. However, we all know that Ashoka will get out of this situation intact. the Martez sisters, though, may not.

This episode was a step up the previous episode, and I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out for Ashoka. This is one step on her way to becoming the badass leader she is in Rebels, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I Give “Deal or No Deal” a 4/5

Click here for some of my Star Wars stuff.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.