Review and analysis of the first two episodes of The Bad Batch Season 2 with an idea to find out how much Clone Force 99 has changed and what are their new goals. I’m thrilled about what this new season has prepared for us!
The Galactic Empire has existed for just a few months but the consequences of this are already showing on every planet. Clone Force 99 continues to avoid the Empire but that can’t last forever. Omega, Hunter, Tech, Echo, and Wrecker continue their adventure in a galaxy that has been turned upside down by Palpatine.
The second season started with a two-episode premiere on January 4th, 2023. It has sixteen episodes in total, so there’s a lot of time for the story to surprise us.
Here’s my review for the Season 2 Premiere of The Bad Batch. It contains spoilers!
How The Bad Batch makes the difference
A few months have passed since the destruction of Tipoca City. Hunter, Tech, Echo, Wrecker, and Omega have continued working as mercenaries for Cid but this lifestyle can’t last forever.
Hunter made clear that he doesn’t want Omega to live like this, but considering the events that are taking place I doubt that she will ever have a “normal life”.
Echo understands Hunter’s concerns, but at the moment he’s looking at the bigger picture. The Galactic Empire’s reign is just beginning and things will get worse.
In the first season of The Bad Batch, Echo felt more like a secondary character that followed Clone Force 99 around because he had nowhere else to go. Being a part of both Clone Force 99 and the 501st gives him a bigger perspective than none of the other clones have.
But in this second season, he’s finally showing his ideals and what he thinks must be done in order to help the people of the galaxy. I really liked how we can see the parallelism between Echo and Luthen Rael from Andor. Both acknowledge the need for weapons, money, and men but I doubt their methods are the same.
Luthen wants to destroy the Empire, while Echo wants to help the people oppressed by it. The end goal might be technically the same, but this difference is key in the decisions they make and what they’re willing to sacrifice for it.
Of course, The Bad Batch is an animated show, and while Star Wars animated shows can have scenes that are hard to watch it doesn’t compare to what we saw in Season 1 of Andor. Nonetheless, it’s very cool to see how these small but meaningful concepts are shared between different characters in Star Wars media.
Clone Force 99 was among the best teams in the Grand Army of the Republic but even they will struggle to do any significant damage to the massive war machine that is the recently established Galactic Empire.
With Palpatine controlling the Senate few systems can oppose political resistance, and fighting against the military is out of the question. Planets that have valuable resources and/or are underdeveloped are the ones that will suffer the most. Lothal, Kashyyyk, or Ryloth are good examples of it.
One thing is certain, the Bad Batch needs to find new powerful allies that will aid them in their fight against the new galaxy ruler. I wonder if we’re going to see any familiar faces from the Clone Wars or even Rebels animated shows.
More than just separatists
Since the release of Attack of the Clones, the conflict was simplified to Republic vs Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS) or “separatists” as many on the Republic side called them.
But a war of galactic proportions is far more complex than just A vs B; politics, personal agendas, greed, natural resources, and other factors impact the people of both factions that have no say in the conflict.
Millions of beings from both sides suffered the effects of the war. Republic systems were invaded and destroyed by the droid armies while the Republic did the same to their opponents. Clones vs Droids in hundreds of battles that left countless planets destroyed and barren.
While brief, Romar’s appearance was important because he reminded Tech (and us) that people are more than just Republic or Separatists. Unlike the Jedi or Clone Troopers, the identities of the rest of the galaxy aren’t directly tied to a big political entity.
They all have different stories, languages, beliefs, and costumes that can be overlooked when an armed conflict is happening. I really enjoyed being reminded how rich and diverse the cultures in Star Wars can be.
Clone Force 99: what a strange family
When Hunter, Tech, Crosshair, and Wrecker were introduced in Season 7 of The Clone Wars it was super evident that they’re the exact opposite of what a regular Clone Trooper is. If it wasn’t because of their appearance one could easily say that they weren’t part of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The tactics used by the Clone Force 99 are chaotic and riskier than what the other clones do, but this is what makes them so effective in battle. Their mutations and odd personalities make them one of the most deadly and unconventional squads.
Being so different in an army made of clones makes their bond stronger. Aside from Domino Squad (Which Echo was also part of), I’ve never seen clone troopers that really make me think “they really are brothers”. That was until the first season of The Bad Batch.
With Echo joining the ranks it felt like the team was “complete”. Wrecker’s unnatural physical strength, Tech’s ability to slice anything, Crosshair’s unmatched aim, Echo’s experience as well as his cybernetic implants, and Hunter’s leadership made Clone Force 99 a truly devastating enemy.
But, everything changed when Crosshair decided to serve the Empire and turn against his brothers. Not only that but Omega, a clone that’s just as pure as Boba Fett, joined them right after they decided to walk away from this new Galactic Empire.
Their brother betrayed them and now they had to look after this girl. It’s been interesting to see how they try to be role models while also completing missions as mercenaries that now depend on this type of work to survive.
To say that they’re an unconventional family would be an understatement, but I really like how Omega has changed them and how they have changed Omega. In the previous season, it felt like she was more of a burden than actual help but Omega has proven that she can also be smart and resourceful.
I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship keeps evolving and how far they can actually get in the battle against the former Galactic Republic.
Clone Troopers have no place in the Galactic Empire
The Clone Troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic are some of the best soldiers that the galaxy has ever seen, they’re efficient, smart, and obedient. Sadly, their strengths are also weaknesses. Being so obedient was one of the best traits when the Jedi led them, but with regular humans now being in charge of the military it’s just a matter of time before the Clones are “removed” from duty.
When Tipoca City was destroyed that should have raised the concerns of many clones, instead, they blindly followed the orders and watched their home get destroyed by the weapons once used to fight their enemies.
We all know that Stormtroopers eventually replace the clones but I think Season 2 of The Bad Batch will show us how the transmission happens.
What happened to Captain Wilco is something that I believe is going to occur more times as the show progresses. Clones’ only purpose is to be good soldiers, being under the command of humans that are corrupt and willing to undermine an operation for personal benefit puts them in a very difficult situation. It’s just a matter of time until their personality design starts to bother the people calling the shots.
Captain Howzer was one of the first Clone Troopers to question and defy the Empire. He realized that the new orders were directly contradicting what they once swore, and because of this defiance Howzer and some of his men were arrested. This is something that might not appear to be that significant but I believe that it is a very important precedent.
I’m sure that more clones will follow Howzers’ example but how the Empire will react to this insubordination is something that worries me. It’s not too crazy to think that they might do something like Order 66.
Easter Eggs
Like with every other Star Wars show I really enjoy looking for easter eggs and references. The Bad Batch’s easter eggs may not have the quantity or importance of those that appeared in Andor but it’s still fun to point them out.
Lambda Class Shuttle
The ship that Omega was studying is none other than the Lambda Class, a shuttle reserved only for top Imperial Officers and leaders. This ship was first introduced in the original trilogy.
Republic Commando
The DC-15 pistol is a weapon that appears in every Star Wars media that has Clone Troopers in it but what’s curious about The Bad Batch is that it makes the exact same sound it did in the game Republic Commando. This was confirmed by David W. Collins, Sound Designer/Mixer at Skywalker Sound.
Dooku’s chamber
When Hunter and Wrecker wander inside Dooku’s Palace they find the main room where the Sith Lord used to execute his plans and receive orders from Darth Sidious. This chamber was shown multiple times in The Clone Wars animated show.
Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 2 Episodes Reviews
Reviews of each individual episode of Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 2. Each article breaks down a single episode and analyses its story, digs for secrets and easter eggs and explains how the events of the episode and scenes featured in it relate to and reference the rest of the Star Wars franchise!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 3 Review and Breakdown
Review of Episode 3 from the second season of The Bad Batch Star Wars Animated TV Show. Breakdown of scenes, events, references and secrets!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 4 Review and Breakdown: Faster
Episode 4 of Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 2 lacks any planetary-level threats. Instead, it focuses on developing an unexpected character!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 5 Review and Breakdown: Entombed
The Bad Batch’s S2 Episopde 5, is an enjoyable episode but one that raises many questions about the direction this series is going!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 6 Review and Breakdown: Tribe
The sixth episode of The Bad Batch’s season 2, Tribe, is out on Disney Plus. This has been my favorite episode of the current season so far!
The Bad Batch S2 Episodes 7 and 8 Review and Breakdown
The Mid-Season Review of The Bad Batch’s second season includes episode 7 "The Clone Conspiracy" and episode 8 "Truth and Consequences".
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 9 Review and Breakdown: The Crossing
After last week’s intense Mid-Season, The Bad Batch Season 2’s ninth episode “The Crossing”, which focuses on Character development!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 10 Review and Breakdown: Retrieval
In The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 10 "Retrieval" the team recovers their ship and learns that the Empire is not the only evil in the galaxy!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 11 Review and Breakdown: Metamorphosis
The Bad Batch Episode 11 of season 2 is surprisingly dark and answers two questions that have haunted Star Wars fans for over ten years!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 13 Review and Breakdown: Pabu
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 13, Pabu, is the most relaxed so far. Animation can be exceptionally beautiful and this one is a testament to it!
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 14 Review and Breakdown: Tipping Point
The Bad Batch S2 Episode 14 “Tipping Point” shows what Echo has been doing with an Imperial Senator’s help and an update on Chrosshair’s fate.
The Bad Batch S2 Season Finale Review and Breakdown
The Bad Batch Season Finale is out and it left many of us speechless. What started as a standard mission quickly turns into something that will change The Bad Batch forever.
The Bad Batch Season 2 Recap and Review
The Bad Batch has come to an end and there are a lot of things to discuss: What happened, how it made us feel, and what's next for the Bad Batch.
The Bad Batch Season 3 Episodes 10 and 11 Breakdown and Easter Eggs
These two episodes, Identity Crisis and Point Of No Return are the prelude of the final arc of the season. Dr. Emerie Karr learns what's inside the Vault while Omega makes a choice that could change everything, for better or worse. The Bad Batch face their toughest moment, so far.
