December has been full of Star Wars news and announcements and the surprises keep coming. Disney+ just released the official trailer for The Bad Batch Season 2, an animated series that follows the journey of Clone Force 99.
Season 2 of the Bad Batch kicks off January 4th, 2023, with a double episode premiere.
After the dramatic Season 1 conclusion at Kamino, The Bad Batch continues figuring out their role in the galaxy. With a recently formed Galactic Empire, the reign of terror is just starting.
This new trailer is short but chaotic, there are many things happening but here are what I consider to be the highlights.
Cody’s second thoughts
Unlike Rex, we never got to see what happened to Cody after Revenge of the Sith. Due to the inhibitor chip implanted in his brain, Cody had no choice but to follow Order 66 when it was issued. The Clone’s point of view after betraying their Jedi Generals is something that, in my opinion, hasn’t been properly explored.
We see Cody having a conversation with Crosshair, a former member of Clone Force 99. Cody mentions that some clones are questioning the order (not sure if he’s referring to Order 66) and Crosshair answers that if that’s the case then they’re also traitors.
The important thing in this scene is not the question but how Cody delivers it, he’s being very cautious about it and not revealing names while also paying close attention to Crosshair’s reaction.
Cody is a good soldier, but he isn’t as cold or “mindless” as Crosshair. Crosshair could go on a mission to burn down a school with children inside and he wouldn’t care at all. Cody, on the other hand, is beginning to think about the bigger picture and this is going to make him doubt where he wants to stand.
B-1 Battle Droids
The classic enemy of the Clone Troopers, from the Battle of Geonosis until the defeat of General Grievous at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi. I grew up watching the Clones combat the B-1 battle droids in games, animated series, and comics.
Learning that they’re returning for the second season is super exciting for me, it also makes me think who’s controlling them; a rogue CIS leader? Rebels? Perhaps a new enemy of the Empire?
Trandoshan slavers
Wookiees and Trandoshan’s story goes way back, for centuries the Trandoshans have organized hunting expeditions to Kashyyyk with the sole purpose of hunting Wookiees, they’re killed to be portrayed as trophies or enslaved. We have seen some of this happen in The Clone Wars animated series or games like Republic Commando.
The possibility for the Wookiees to get some help vanished when the Galactic Republic was dissolved. Wookiees have been oppressed by other groups like the Czerka Corporation, the CIS, or the Pyke Syndicate.
Without an authority that cares about them, there are few things that the Wookiees can do to prevent anyone from hunting them.
In this picture, we can see a group of Trandoshans capturing a Wookiee deep inside a forest. I’m ninety percent sure that this is Kashyyyk. Wookiees have no match in terms of physical strength, but their technological advances are poor in comparison to other species.
Their attachment to old traditions and way of life has prevented them from developing weapons that would be useful when fighting invading forces, even a few AATs could prove very dangerous to them.
I’ve always wondered what happened to the Wookiees after Order 66. Hopefully, we learn many details about it and maybe even get a brief mention of a certain Clone Commando that went missing on the planet.
Helping Gungi
Gungi is a Wookiee that was part of the Jedi Order during the Galactic Republic era, he first appeared in The Clone Wars. In that episode, Ahsoka and other younglings were stranded and actually end up fighting against Trandoshan slavers.
A few years have passed since that moment but it seems that Gungi is in need of help again. With the Trandoshans back, I would assume that they’re going to capture Gungi and attempt to sell him to the Empire or make him a trophy. A Wookiee that is also a Jedi? It doesn’t get any rarer than that.
In a small scene, we can see Echo speaking to Hunter and saying “We need to do more”. The rogue clones have been serving as mercenaries in order to survive, but if they actually want to make a difference they really need to get involved and not just show up when somebody offers them money.
I can see Omega agreeing with Echo and executing a plan to rescue the young Wookiee, let’s hope that he makes it out in one piece. He’s one of those mysterious characters that I’d love to learn more about.
Revolt
This was my favorite part of the trailer, Cody is aiming his blaster while he says “We are not the enemy”. He’s talking in plural so that means that it’s not just him, if he has to reaffirm that then it means that he’s talking to someone he considers an ally.
This makes it easier to believe that Cody and a bunch of Clones are really thinking of leaving the Empire. In Season 1, Captain Howzer refused to follow his orders because he felt that it was wrong. His actions allowed The Bad Batch, Eleni, and Cham Syndulla (Hera’s parents) to escape from a trap set up by Crosshair.
If Cody and his men actually manage to defect, then Clone Force 99 and Rex are going to gain very strong allies. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to see how Storm Troopers would match against Clone Troopers, I know it’s not even close but you can’t deny that it would be pretty entertaining.
Do you think there are going to be any major surprises? Do you think Crosshair might return to his old team or is he too far gone?
You can watch the trailer here. If you don’t know what the Bad Batch is all about you can learn more about it from the First trailer from Season 2.
Full list of air dates and episode titles:
- January 4 – Episode 201 “Spoils of War” / Episode 202 “Ruins of War”
- January 11 – Episode 203 “The Solitary Clone”
- January 18 – Episode 204 “Faster”
- January 25 – Episode 205 “Entombed”
- February 1 – Episode 206 “Tribe”
- February 8 – Episode 207 “The Clone Conspiracy” / Episode 208 “Truth and Consequences”
- February 15 – Episode 209 “The Crossing”
- February 22 – Episode 210 “Retrieval”
- March 1 – Episode 211 “Metamorphosis”
- March 8 – Episode 212 “The Outpost”
- March 15 – Episode 213 “Pabu”
- March 22 – Episode 214 “Tipping Point”
- March 29 – Episode 215 “The Summit” / Episode 216 “Plan 99”
