First introduced during Season 7 of The Clones Wars animated series, a. spin-off animated series called The Bad Batch expands on the story of a ragtag group of rogue clone soldiers, known as experimental “Clone Force 99,” who are a squad of defective clones with “desirable mutations” who colloquially call themselves “The Bad Batch.” They are Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, and Echo –all voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. The show takes place during and after the infamous “Order 66” as all the typical clone soldiers suddenly turn on the Jedi, bringing an end to the Clone Wars. However, The Bad Batch are not like other clones, their inhibitor chips do not appear to be working (or so we are led to believe).
As the Empire rises in power, The Bad Batch retreats into the shadows with their ship (The Marauder) where they conduct skirmishes on the periphery to disrupt Imperial dominance in the galaxy. The central tension in this first season of the show concerns one of their traitorous members, Crosshair, who decides to defect to the Empire. And the introduction of a young, slightly annoying girl named Omega serves as another source of tension in the show since she is a unique genetic experiment created by the Kaminoans. The fate of Kamino features heavily as The Bad Batch seeks to explain how the Empire went from using a vast clone army to ultimately. Rejecting the clones and conscripting Imperial Stormtroopers instead.
In my view, Season 1 of The Bad Batch offers some fun Star Wars adventures, especially for fans of The Clone Wars (there are a variety of cameos from Cad Bane, to the Kaminoans, Fennec Shand, Saw Guerrera, Bib Fortuna, Admiral Tarkin, Caleb Dume, and plenty of clones) but the highlight of this show is the inspired score by Kevin Kiner and the jaw-dropping animation which reminds me a great deal of Star Wars Rebels.
Season 1, Episode 1 “Aftermath”
“The clone war may have ended, but a civil war is about to begin.”
“Aftermath” portrays the fall of the republic during and after Order 66 as General Grievous’s hostilities increase across the galaxy. Meanwhile, on the besieged world of Kaller, Jedi Master Depa Billaba and her clone troopers are battling waves of droids (“clankers”) while awaiting the return of her young padawan Caleb Dume with reinforcements (otherwise known to us as the future Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels). However, instead Caleb arrives with five ragtag defective clones known as “Clone Force 99” or “The Bad Batch.” They are Wrecker (who has enhanced physical strength and stature), Hunter (who has enhanced senses), Echo (who incurred damage during his rescue on Skako Minor as portrayed in Season 7 of The Clone Wars which affected his prior preset behavioral modifications), Tech (who has enhanced mental acuity), and Crosshair (who is equipped with enhanced sharpshooting skills). Together, they save the situation on Kaller by destroying the droid army while encrypted information reveals that Obi-Wan Kenobi is currently confronting General Grievous on Utapau. But suddenly, Order 66 is instituted and Depa Billaba is killed by her clone troopers while Caleb narrowly escapes. The central issue underlying this episode is whether or not Crosshair can be trusted since it seems his inhibitor chip is still active inside his head.
The Bad Batch heads home for Kamino where they learn that things have changed. They are informed of their own inhibited cognitive function, and in essence that they are immune to the order. While on Kamino, they encounter a young medical assistant named Omega who seems to take an interest in them (she appears to be a defective clone, as well). Meanwhile, Admiral Tarking arrives to terminate the Imperial contract with Kamino which would have ordered new clones, and instead he favors an Imperial conscription program. One of the lead Kaminoan scientists, Nala Se, is deeply distraught over this development.
The Bad Batch gets into a fight in the mess hall, and instead of being reprimanded, they are sent for a test before Admiral Tarkin (in what appears to be the same training facility as featured in The Clone Wars) and clones’ unorthodox methods impress Tarkin. The Bad Batch is then sent off to Onderon to eliminate a group of insurgents, but when they arrive it turns out the insurgents are nothing more than innocent civilians, women and children –they are not Separatist insurgents but rather republic fighters who simply refuse to fight for Palpatine. And they are led by Saw Guerrera. After realizing the Empire has sent a probe droid to keep an eye on The Bad Batch, they decide against killing the “insurgents” and instead return to Kamino to rescue Omega, but they are quickly captured and thrown into the brig for treason along with Omega. Naturally, they attempt to escape with Omega to a place called “J-19” while Crosshair defects to the Empire under his mantra that “good soldiers follow orders.”
As the only episode in Season 1 co-written by Dave Filoni, “Aftermath” is naturally one of the best. The central question in the episode is whether or not Crosshair is a traitor or a friend. Is his inhibitor chip still functioning? Admittedly I wasn’t crazy about the addition of the Omega character, but at least there is some wonderful animation in this series and the betrayal of Crosshair sets the show up nicely with an antagonist.
Season 1, Episode 2 “Cut and Run”
“The war is over. With peace comes opportunity and prosperity for all.”
The Bad Batch and Omega head for a rugged planet called Saleucami where they are reunited with fellow clone deserters Cut and Suu Lawquane (and their children). Recall: Cut first appeared in The Clone Wars episode “The Deserter.” Cut explains that Rex had just stopped by his farm only yesterday, but Cut and his family are in the midst of attempting to flee Saleucami due to a heavy Imperial presence which is impounding ships and people alike. But unfortunately, they cannot escape the planet in a shuttle without a “chain code” thus the Bad Batch devise a plan to steal chain codes and help Cut’s family escape from Saleucami. In the end, Hunter tries to leave Omega with Cut’s family but she only wishes to remain with The Bad Batch.
Season 1, Episode 3 “Replacements”
“Good soldiers follow orders.”
The Bad Batch’s ship, The Marauder, is facing glitches after getting hit hard while fleeing Saleucami in the previous episode. It is suddenly thrown out of hyperspace and forced into a crash-landing on “Ordo Moon” where an Ordo Moon Dragon steal the ship’s capacitor which leads to a minor adventure in order to retrieve it (no thanks to Omega).
Meanwhile, on Kamino “Project War Mantle” is underway as recruits are going to be led by a newly genetically enhanced Crosshair. The central tension in this episode is between whether or not the Empire should continue producing clones via the Kaminoans or else begin recruiting willing mercenary soldiers via conscription. The original genetic material from Jango Fett has become degraded over time, and the Kaminoans are privately worried they are losing their business relationship with the ascendant Empire, while Admiral Rampart’s recruits are appearing more favorable. Admiral Tarkin orders a test whereby the new batch of recruits are sent to Onderon to finish the job of killing Saw Guererra’s band of rebels (in other words, to complete the job the clones in Episode One failed to accomplish). Upon arrival, Saw is mysteriously absent but Crosshair orders the cold-blooded execution of all the civilians against the protestations of the recruits. When they return to Kamino, Tarkin praises their success.
Season 1, Episode 4 “Cornered”
“The galaxy is a dangerous place to be on your own.”
The Bad Batch heads for the uninhabited planet of Idaflor to hide out, however their ship’s signature has been marked by the Empire so the Bad Batch is forced to change course for the closest planet (an urbanized planet known as Pantora) where Tech can scramble the ship’s signature so they can continue to travel below the radar. However, they are betrayed by a double-crossing ship attendant who reveals The Bad Batch to the bounty hunter Fennec Shand who has been hired to hunt down Omega. Who is Shand working for? This leads to a wild rollicking chase through the streets of Pantora until The Bad Batch narrowly manages to repair their ship and escape. Unfortunately, Omega continues to be a frustratingly annoying character in the show in my view.
Season 1, Episode 5 “Rampage”
“This is not a standard military operation…”
The Bad batch heads for Ord Mantell to speak with a Jedi informant named “Cid” in order to hopefully gather some intel on the mysterious bounty hunter tracking Omega. As far as I know, Ord Mantell was first mentioned in The Empire Strikes Back and it featured prominently in Timothy Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy.” At any rate, Cid requires a side quest in order for her to release information on the bounty hunter –a rescue operation to claim a bounty from Jabba the Hutt to capture a child named Muchi who has been kidnapped by Zygerrian slavers on the other side of the planet. It turns out Muchi is a young rancor –the very same rancor Luke faces in Return of the Jedi—who is let loose on a wild rampage. The Bad Batch releases a group of Falleen prisoners and then recovers the adolescent rancor thanks to Wrecker. In the end, Muchi is returned to Bib Fortuna, and Cid reveals that the bounty hunter in question is Fennec Shand. Her employer remains a mystery but if the Bad Batch is ever looking for more work, they can always return to Cid (mainly because they will need friends and money to stear clear of Fennec Shand). Can Cid be trusted with their secret? I was wondering when The Bad Batch would turn its focus to amusing side quest/filler episodes to stretch out the season length. This was a bit of a silly episode but it still offers some good fun for hardcore Star Wars fans.
Season 1, Episode 6 “Decommissioned”
“We’re being paid to acquire and deliver, not ask questions.”
The Bad Batch are hired for another side quest by Cid to break into a decommissioning facility on Corellia and retrieve a Separatist tactical droid. They infiltrate the facility and quickly encounter two others in search of the tactical droid: sisters Trace and Rafa Martez (both fairly forgettable characters from Season 7 of The Clone Wars). After a hard-fought battle, the droid is unfortunately destroyed but a copy of the droid’s data is given to Trace and Raffa since they are working against the Empire. In the end, Trace and Raffa privately reveal the existence of the rogue cohort of clones to their mysterious employer –could it be Ahsoka Tano?
This is another filler episode with a few interesting points of note at the beginning and end of the episode, but otherwise nothing is really at stake in this show.
Season 1, Episode 7 “Battle Scars”
“I’ve met many clones in my time, but never one like you.”
The Bad Batch narrowly recovers a “strange looking lizard” for Cid, and they start to question this mutually beneficial agreement with Cid when a hooded Rex shows up. He has tracked down The Bad Batch through Trace and Rafa Martez (apparently, Rex was the person communicating with Trace and Rafa at the end of the previous episode). Rex meets Omega for the first time, and we learn that The Bad Batch still have their inhibitor chips inside their heads which are causing headaches. Thus, they agree to meet Rex on the “junk planet” of Bracca which is controlled by the Scrapper Guild where they sneak aboard an abandoned original Venator class republic star destroyer, an old ship which is filled with water and Wrecker is attacked by a giant sea creature. And once they arrive at the medical bay, Wrecker inhibitor chip starts acting up and he suddenly attacks his friends. They manage to subdue him and remove his inhibitor chip –Omega remains by his side since they have become close friends. In the end, The Bad Batch parts ways with Rex, and a mysterious pair of spies observes the Bad Batch from afar…
Once again, this episode offers plenty of visually arresting animation. In particular, the scenes on Bracca are simply astounding in creating an ominous, atmospheric tone.
Season 1, Episode 8 “Reunion”
“I’ve taken down so many clones over the years.”
Crosshair reports to Prime Minister Lama Su on Kamino because there has been a unique power surge was reported on a cruiser on Bracca –it is the result of experimental Clone Force 99—which Admiral Rampart then orders to be eliminated. Meanwhile, on Bracca The Bad Batch confronts a trio of scrapper spies who have been watching them. Crosshair arrives with his team of recruits on Bracca to attack The Bad Batch, while Lama Su secretly hires a second bounty hunter to rescue Omega. The Bad Batch steals some proton torpedoes to cause an explosion on the ship while Tech manages to fire up the engines which badly burns Crosshair as they fly back toward their ship, the Marauder. But when Hunter arrives, he is confronted by none other than Cade Bane, the notorious bounty hunter a la Clint Eastwood who shoots Hunter and steals Omega with plans to return her to the Kaminoans.
Season 1, Episode 9 “Bounty Lost”
“You’re… different.”
The Bad Batch are chasing after Cad Bane while dodging Crosshair. Meanwhile, the Kaminoans arrange to meet with Cad Bane and pay him in unmarked credits (Taun We meets with Cad Bane at an abandoned cloning facility on Bora Vio in the Lido system). In this episode, we learn that Omega is of great value to the Kaminoans. She briefly escapes from Cad Bane in order to release a power surge and she draws the attention of The Bad Batch, but she is recaptured by Cad Bane. When Taun We arrives, she is shockingly killed by Fennec Shand. Then both bounty hunters –Fennec Shand and Cad Bane– face-off with one another while Omega escapes and releases a signal to the Bad Batch from inside an old abandoned cloning facility. In the end, Omega is rescued by her friends, and Fennec Shand sabotages Cad Bane’s ship. We learn that Omega is valuable to the Kaminoans for her unique genetic material which can be used for additional cloning activities. Will we see Cad Bane again?
Season 1, Episode 10 “Common Ground”
“Live to fight another day.”
Senator Avi Singh of Raxus is arrested by the Empire after refusing to obey mandatory curfew order and with the help of his droid GS-8, The Bad Batch are sent to Raxus to help. However, since Omega is being chased by bounty hunters, she is left behind with Cid. They infiltrate the capital city of Raxulon and manage to rescue Senator Avi Singh while Omega is shown to be a skilled tactician at the holographic board game of Dejarik. This episode was a bit reminiscent of various Clone Wars episodes.
Season 1, Episode 11 “Devil’s Deal”
“I should be content the war is over, but change is not always easy.”
On a Ryloth, a new refinery promises job opportunities and economic growth. However, the uneasy partnership has bred tension between the Empire under Admiral Rampart and their Twi-lek ally, Senator Taa, while Cham Syndulla, and his wife Eleni, and their popularity among the general public. Meanwhile, Hera Syndulla and her droid Chopper (from Star Wars Rebels) are sent on a secret reconnaissance mission by Gobi Glie (Cham’s lieutenant) to gather intel on the refinery. Despite getting in trouble for her activities, Hera joins Gobi once again for a secret “supply run” smuggling weapons on a nearby moon –the exchange is handled by The Bad Batch. On this mission, a young Hera meets a young Omega. This leads to a battle between the freedom fighters and those loyal to the Empire. Senator Taa is shot by Crosshair while Hera escapes.
Once again, the visually arresting animation in this show continues to impress me –particularly a scene in this episode on the moon over Ryloth which features a staggering view of space and the looming planets in the background.
Season 1, Episode 12 “Rescue on Ryloth”
“I have seen how you treat your allies, Admiral. I prefer to be your enemy.”
Continuing the narrative arc from the previous episode, Imperial forces on Ryloth are hunting down Hera while her parents are imprisoned. She sends a message to The Bad Batch asking for help, while Senator Taa continues to recover. One clone trooper named Howzer tries to help the Syndullas, while The Bad Batch attacks the capital. In the end, Howzer is arrested as a traitor and The Bad Batch escapes. The episode ends as the Syndullas depart and Admiral Rampart gives Crosshair permission to hunt down The Bad Batch.
Season 1, Episode 13 “Infested”
“We don’t want to wake the hive.”
The Bad Batch returns from a mission wherein the Drop Zone was “swarming with Gundarks” when they return to Cid’s parlor on Ord Mantell and they find the parlor suddenly being run by Roland Durand, a former client and son of crime boss Isa Durand. He is trying to make a name for himself by joining up with the Pyke Syndicate. The Bad Batch works together with Cid to infiltrate her office and prevent a spice trade via a network of underground tunnels filled with slumbering nocturnal hives of “Irlings.” They stage a ruse with Roland’s pet creature “Ruby” and successfully steal the spice hidden in Cid’s office which leads to a conflict with the fearsome Pykes. In the end, Omega sticks up for Durand and the parlor is returned to Cid.
Season 1, Episode 14 “War-Mantle”
“I was hoping for the whole squad… but you’ll do.”
The Bad Batch receives a message from Rex to rescue a friend, and even though they are in the middle of a job for Cid, they decide to help Rex’s friend. Meanwhile, the Empire is in the midst of a mysterious plot against the Kaminoans. Admiral Rampart cancels his clone contract with the Kaminoans but takes Nala Se as a scientist for the Empire. The Bad Batch lands on the planet Daro to rescue a trooper named Gregor trapped inside a secret mountain prison where clone commandos are training new Imperial conscripts (the clones are shocked to find non-clone commandos). In the end, Gregor is rescued but Hunter falls and is captured by Crosshair.
Season 1, Episode 15 “Return to Kamino”
“We were brothers once… we can be again.”
Hunter is taken to Kamino and The Bad Batch tracks him via an undisclosed underwater transport system that leads to Nala Se’s research laboratory. However, something strange is happening as all the records at Kamino have been wiped. They meet up with the charming droid AZI again, and Omega accidentally activates the droid test battlefield where The Bad Batch once fought before Admiral Tarkin earlier in the season. Crosshair decides to join his former comrades in battling the different waves of droids while still attempting to persuade them to join the Empire. Crosshair claims to have had his inhibitor chip removed a long time ago, but Hunter stuns Crosshair and they try to escape Kamino just as the Empire begins opening fire on the cloning facilities, entirely destroying them. Thus concludes a chapter of cloning which initially began in the Star Wars prequels.
Season 1, Episode 16 “Kamino Lost”
“Soldiers follow orders.”
“Blind allegiance makes you a pawn.”
As the ruins of Kamino sink into the sea, Omega and AZI struggle valiantly to rescue Crosshair who remains trapped. Together, they search for a safe, secure part of the facility as it lands at the bottom of the ocean and various compartments are filled with water. One of the few habitable areas is the old clone barracks, but Omega finds the underwater tunnel which could lead back to the Marauder. Dodging underwater creatures and Crosshair’s intransigence, they run through the tunnel, detonate several explosives, and float to the surface in separate test tubes. They narrowly make it to the surface. The Bad Batch leaves in their ship the Marauder while Crosshair remains behind to rejoin with the Empire. Omega reminds him of his “brothers,” while Nala Se is ushered into the Empire’s secret mountainous prison facility.