Star Wars The Clone Wars
These four episodes introduce the squad of clones known as the Bad Batch. If you're a "Star Wars" fan, I'm sure you're familiar and have maybe watched the first two seasons of their spin-off series. Let's get into it.
"The Bad Batch," Season Seven, Episode 1
"Embrace others for their differences, for that makes you whole."
Narrator: "The battle for Anaxes! One of the Republic's largest shipyards is under attack from Admiral Trench's Separatist forces. Jedi generals Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker lead a two-pronged assault on the ground and in the air. But after weeks of heated battle and mounting losses, the Republic's grip on Anaxes begins to slip away..."
The Republic forces learn that the Separatist forces are adapting to their attacks. They seem to have learned Captain Rex's playbook. While talking with Commander Cody, Rex says that he believes ARC trooper Echo, who was believed to be killed during the assault on the Citadel, may still be alive because they came up with these strategies together. Cody is suspect but agrees to Rex's plan to assault the Cyber Center on Anaxes and lines up help in the form of the special Clone unit known as the Bad Batch.
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| Plans change. |
This four episode arc introduces us to Clone Force 99, a squad consisting of four Clone troopers who due to their defective status underwent unique mutations and now they go on dangerous missions. The Bad Batch is led by Hunter who has keen tracking abilities. He's also pretty clearly based on Rambo. The bandana. The hair. He is the clone rambo. There is super strong and slightly unhinged, Wrecker, sharpshooter, Crosshairs and tech genius... Tech. It's pretty clear from the moment the crew appears in these episodes that they are going to spin these characters off and why wouldn't they. They are extremely charismatic and cool.
I mentioned this when I talked about the first episodes of season seven that we covered. It's great to have the show revisiting and reminding us of conflicts from earlier in the seasons and that continues here. We get the return of Admiral Trench. Trench first appeared during the blockade of Christophsis, which were the first two episodes chronologically in the series. Trench then popped up last season when Jedi general Tiplar was murdered by the clone trooper. ARC Trooper Echo is another blast from the past. He was presumed dead during the raid on the Citadel back in season three. I really enjoy how "The Clone Wars" has humanized the clone troopers and seeing Rex grapple with his guilt about Echo and his hope that they might still be alive is really compelling.
The action in this episode is standard issue for the show so it's amazing. We get a good look at some of the Bad Batch's powers when their transport is taken down and Commander Cody is injured pretty badly. Wrecker lifts the entire transport off of him, which was extremely bad ass. Then, the Batch basically takes down waves of clone troopers one right after the other. This all keeps the episode moving at an extremely fast clip.
Tech and Rex end up making it to the Cyber Center and the source of where they are receiving the algorithm that is sending the plans to the droids. Tech reveals that it is a live signal coming from the planet Skako Minor. Rex recognizes the voice and hears the call sign CT-1409. It's Echo.
Grade: A-
"A Distant Echo," Season Seven, Episode 2
"The search for truth begins with belief."
Narrator: "Conspiracy! After repeated setbacks on the planet Anaxes, an elite clone squad is deployed to investigate the Separatist tactical advantage. This special unit, called the Bad Batch, infiltrate's Admiral Trench's cyber center to steal a strategic algorithm capable of predicting the Republic's every move. What our heroes found was a live signal from the ARC trooper known as Echo, a clone long believed to be dead..."
The Bad Batch, Rex and Anakin head to Shako Minor to find out if Echo is the source of the algorithm and if he is still alive. Anakin warns Rex that there is a chance that Echo may not be there at all or may be dead. While on Skako Minor, the Republic forces run into the Poletecs, who are the native peoples of Skako Minor and they do not want this war brought to their planet. Rex and Tech find Echo, but is he too far gone to be helped?
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| Couples chat. |
It's been a minute since we've seen Padmé Amidala show up on "The Clone Wars" and we get an appearance in this episode. It's only in hologram form but it still counts. I do think that it's funny that when they are preparing to go on this super important mission that Anakin decides to clandestinely get a call in to his secret wife. And that he makes Rex keep watch which I'm sure is super humiliating for the Clone captain, particularly when Obi-Wan shows up looking for his former Padawan. Poor Rex has to come up with a lie and he is not great at it.
I have had a lot of issues with Anakin and Padmé's relationship and those issues still exist. But, in this episode we get them actually working together as a functioning husband and wife. It's a real marvel to behold. Anakin is concerned about Rex and his hopes that Echo is still alive. He's concerned that Rex's personal feelings will get in the way of the mission. Padmé gently calls her husband out about all the times that his personal feelings have gotten in the way and asked where Rex was during all those times. Anakin has the decency to look sheepish and admits that Rex was right there with him, supporting him. Padmé makes a great point about Anakin returning that trust. It's a really nice scene. I think the main problem with their relationship is that so often we don't really see why it works or why we should care. If there had been more scenes like this one, it would have gone a long way. The nice period on the scene is Obi-Wan telling Anakin he hopes he told Padmé hello. I always enjoy when Obi-Wan proves he knows what's up.
The Techno Union is based on Skako Minor led by Wat Tambor. I enjoy the design of Wat Tambor a lot. I think it's really cool. I also love that Star Wars and "The Clone Wars" in particular never misses a time to tell us that capitalism is bad and corporations are the devil. Pretty ironic since Lucasfilm is now owned by Disney, but still, I'm a fan. We also meet another in a long line of alien races upset that they are being pulled into a conflict they have no vested interest in. I wonder how that will go?
The Bad Batch continue to be the highlights of this arc. We get Wrecker's fear of heights being revealed. Crosshair being an asshole to Rex about Echo and whether or not he's alive. The Batch being completely unable to participate in a stealth mission and some more really fantastic action scenes.
Tech and Rex find Echo and he's in a not great way. He's attached to this gnarly looking machine and is looking pretty gnarly himself. He's half droid. His hand has been replaced by one of those jack-in things that R2 routine uses to hack items. It's a sad and shocking sight. It works really well. You feel for Rex and you're rooting for him to take his friend home.
Grade: A-
"On the Wings of Keeradaks," Season Seven, Episode 3
"Survival is one step on the path to living."
Narrator: "Trapped! On an unsanctioned mission to rescue ARC trooper Echo, General Skywalker, Captain Rex and the Bad Batch travel to Sako Minor, headquarters of the Techno Union. After a harrowing encounter with the natives, our heroes infiltrate the city of Purkoll, only to find themselves surrounded by Wat Tambor's forces..."
The Bad Batch are attempting to escape the Techno Union's headquarters along with the newly rescued Echo. Things are not looking great until Tech figures out the frequency to call the Keeradaks to help them escape. Once back with the Poletecs, things take a turn. The Poletec's are furious that the war is now on their doorstep when they were assured it wouldn't be. Anakin and the others attempt to convince the Poletec's to help them defeat the Separatist forces on Skako Minor? Will their pleas be listened to?
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| Anakin and the Bad Batch. |
It's been a minute since they trotted it out, but you didn't think that "The Clone Wars" was going to have a final season without pulling out its favorite trope one last time, did you? As soon as you heard that the Poletec's were upset about the war being brought to Skako Minor, you had to know how this was going to all play out. The show has made it pretty clear that pacifism in war is bad and the people who choose that basically deserve what they get. And that's pretty much what happens here. The Republic forces said they wouldn't bring the war to them and it was actually the Techno Union, but guess what the war is coming right to their village. And instead of them being like, sorry, we'll see what we can do, Rex shows them the horror show that Echo has become to show them that they are pussies for not wanting to fight and shock of all shocks, it works.
So, the Separatists attack and you'll never guess what happens. The Poletec's start to get slaughtered by the Separatists. And the show acts like its not a tragedy, even though it definitely is, just that these are more acceptable losses during the tragedy of war. Even though, they are losses that could definitely have been avoided. Its one of my biggest issues with the show and I kind of hate that they keep bringing it back up.
I do love the way that the intro recap seamlessly blends into the opening of the episode. Even though I don't love these indigenous people's getting pulled into conflict against their will, but I do think that final battle is probably the best part of the episode. The way Anakin takes down the Walker's is pretty dope and I really enjoyed how Wrecker kept fastball special-ing Rex against his will throughout the episode.
Overall this episode is the definition of filler. The pacing is pretty plodding and it feels kind of unnecessary in the grand scheme of this arc.
Grade: C+
"Unfinished Business," Season Seven, Episode 4
"Trust placed in another is trust earned."
Narrator: "Reunited! With the help of the Bad Batch, Captain Rex rescues his old friend, ARC Trooper Echo, from the Techno Union. The Separatists' loss of Echo's strategic algorithm provides a chance for the the Republic to turn the tide in the Battle for Anaxes. However, Echo's horrifying experience behind enemy lines leaves lingering questions of his true loyalty and uncertain future..."
Anakin, the Bad Batch and Echo return to Anaxes to try to finally drive the Separatists off the planet. The battle isn't going great and they are hesitant to use Echo. Echo comes to them with a plan to feed the Separatists false plans and convinces them. Will Echo be the help that they have been looking for?
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| Windu and Kenobi together again. |
It seems pretty obvious after the fact, but that at the end of this episode, Echo joins the Bad Batch. To be completely honest, I haven't watched any of the series so I don't think that it immediately was apparent to me that would be the case. But it makes total sense that Echo with his new abilities and body parts would be a perfect fit for Clone Force 99.
There was one thing about this episode that I really enjoy. There is this idea that Echo will be a a double agent. We have seen that storyline happen particularly in the "Star Wars" universe. We just had a story like that in "Dark Disciple" with Quinlan Vos. So, I'm glad that the episode never really veered too far into that territory. I completely understand why that would be a concern but I'm happy that they didn't really entertain it for too long.
Admiral Trench meets his end in this episode at the end of Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber blade. When Trench activates a bomb, Anakin goes to Trench to get the last bit of the code to disable it. Trench fucks around and finds out. First losing his cybernetic legs and then his life when he electrocutes Anakin. As we are getting closer to "Revenge of the Sith" it's easy to look for the man that will become Darth Vader and in this confrontation with Trench that aspect of him is clearly on display.
There are some really fantastic action moments in this episode and most of them have to do with the Bad Batch. Wrecker goes on a tear down a hallway using his bare hands to dismantle quite a few battle droids. I love this competition between Wrecker and Crosshair. Not to be out down, Crosshair runs down the hall tossing discs and then with one shot they ricochet off each other destroying the droids. We also get some solid lightsaber action with Obi-Wan and Mace Windu. We learn that Windu has dismantled 100,000 type-1 battle droids himself which is pretty impressive.
This was a solid four episode arc and after watching it, I'm pretty excited to watch "The Bad Batch" series. One thing that "The Clone Wars" has done superbly throughout it's run is give the Clones individual personalities and the Bad Batch is a great example of that.
Grade: A-
Next up, we complete our journey through "The Clone Wars" as Ahsoka teams up with Bo-Katan to take down Darth Maul and Order 66 is unleashed on the galaxy and the Jedi.
What did you all think? Are you fans of the Bad Batch? Did you like that brief scene between Anakin and Padmé? Are you ready to move on from "The Clone Wars?" Let me know in the comments.
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