The fifth episode of The Bad Batch’s second season, Entombed, is out on Disney Plus. An enjoyable episode but one that raises many questions about the direction this series is going.
This review contains spoilers.
Recap of the story so far
There are fewer Clones within the Imperial ranks every minute that passes, they’re deserting, being replaced, or even getting killed by their officers for refusing to make false informs.
Crosshair is in a very strange position, he’s not a Stormtrooper but his clone brothers refuse to be in his presence. He’s the most loyal soldier in an army that couldn’t care less about him.
Echo has stated that more must be done in order to help the people that are being subjugated by the Galactic Empire. There will be a moment when things get difficult and they better be ready to make a decision.
Looking for adventure
For most of her life, Omega was unable to see anything other than the white corridors of the cloning lab or the perpetual rain of Kamino. Everything in the galaxy is new and mysterious to her, even the simplest things like people, animals, and plants.
It is not surprising that she’s constantly looking for a new adventure. Missing out on everything and a genuine child’s curiosity can be a combination for getting into many problems.
Hunter has become like an adoptive father for Omega and while he’s trying to find the middle ground between caring about safety and also letting her explore the galaxy and its mysteries, even when he’s not too excited about the idea.
People like Phee and Cid love talking about pulling incredible jobs with wealth and glory awaiting and while there might be some truth to this it’s obvious to everyone but Omega that they exaggerate their stories.
So far no one’s been hurt but if Clone Force 99 continue to do jobs just for the sake of it it’s just a matter of time before they’re in life-threatening danger. Normally, I wouldn’t worry too much about something happening to the protagonists in an animated show but after what happened to Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels there’s always a small possibility of things going really bad really quickly.
I wish we got more episodes with this thematic
This whole episode had a very different vibe compared to the four previous ones. It felt like Jedi: Fallen Order meets Indiana Jones.
Looking for an old and legendary treasure, needing a special item to navigate the “tomb”, and the hidden entrance under the mountain might be too cliche but it worked perfectly for this episode.
I got the feeling that this episode was going to be different the moment the strange creature appeared. I have played too many games and watched enough movies to know that things of incredible importance are guarded not only by traps and puzzles but their own guardians.
The more seconds passed the more I felt like watching an action-adventure gameplay. The compass was the equivalent of a main quest item, it led the Bad Batch and Phee to the place where the alleged treasure was.
Not only that but it was necessary to solve the small puzzles that would otherwise stop them from getting out of there. After serving its purpose the compass became unusable and they had to continue without knowing what to expect.
That looks familiar…
I absolutely love when different Star Wars media are related in any way. I’ve talked many times about how Disney is trying to make the Star Wars universe a more cohesive place instead of having multiple stories that feel isolated.
This has already been seen in Andor and the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and while it’s undeniable that both of those shows are not even comparable to animated ones that doesn’t mean that we can’t get cool references in The Bad Batch.
I’m talking about the odd similarities between the giant robot of mass destruction and the Zeffo civilization. The Zeffo are a very ancient species that lived hundreds if not thousands of years before the Jedi existed. They were a force-sensitive species and very advanced society.
We learned a little bit about the Zeffo in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order but there are many questions that still remain unanswered. The most obvious similarity between the Zeffos and the destructive thing that Phee “activated” is the physical appearance.
One of Zeffo’s most notable characteristics is the shape of their heads. If we also consider the energy beam and the overall aesthetic of the place it’s impossible not to think about them.
The Zeffo culture was one of my favorite things when playing Jedi: Fallen Order and even if what we saw in this episode isn’t directly related I think it was good to see them do something that deviates from the typical “go to a mission-fight bad guys-escape” theme.
A step down from Season 1?
This and the previous episode have been very entertaining to watch, both felt unique in their own way and it’s impossible not to relate them to other Star Wars media that many of us love.
However, I’m starting to wonder how many of the remaining episodes are going to feel unimportant. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this one but having episodes that (apparently) have no big impact on the bigger picture isn’t something that excites me.
I don’t mind having a few laid-back episodes every now and then but out of the five episodes that have been released so far I only felt that something truly important happened in one of them. Ironically, it was the episode that didn’t have any of the current members of The Bad Batch.
I would certainly have hoped that the second season would surpass the first one in terms of drama, the stakes involved, and the overall story. My expectations for the first season of The Bad Batch were very low and I was completely blown away by everything that happened.
It was the first time we actually got to see a group of clone deserters, not only regular clones but an elite squad that succeeded where everyone else couldn’t. Watching some of the best soldiers of the former Galactic Republic being hunted by Imperial troops led by their brother Crosshair was incredible.
We also got to see unexpected characters like Kanan Jarrus, Fennec Shand, Cad Bane, Grand Moff Tarkin, Captain Rex, and a young Hera Syndulla, this made everything feel more real and impactful. The season finale was the cherry on top, finally seeing what happened to Kamino after the war ended is crucial to the clones’ future (or lack of).
Basically, the first season set the bar very high and so far this one is far from being close. We still have two more months of The Bad Batch to see how things unfold, I’m worried but not too much.
Easter eggs in Season 2 Episode 5 “Entombed”
In the segment below I am going to share a few of the key secrets and references from this episodde. Star Wars is not just a title, it’s a connected world. Let’s see what connections to the franchise’s legacy are hidden in Episode 5 of the second season of the show.
Star Wars Compasses
This is not the first time we’ve seen some type of compass in Star Wars, these items usually lead to places of great danger and mystery. In the Disney era, we’ve seen a few of these special items; a Sith wayfinder that leads Kylo Ren to Exegol, and the Jedi compass that Luke Skywalker uses to find Ahch-To are some of the best examples.
Phee Genoa
Phee Genoa, the pirate that led this episode’s incursion is voiced by actress and stand-up comedian Wanda Sykes ( The Upshaws, Black-ish).
The Heart of the Mountain
This might be a reach but I find it curious that the treasure that Omega and the others were looking for is called the same way as the Arkenstone. The gem that Thorin Oakenshield jealously protected in The Hobbit. Both are mystical stones of great power that can cause pain and destruction and the only way to stop that was to let go of both of them.
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 Season 2 Premiere Episodes 1 and 2 Review and Breakdown
Review and analysis of The Bad Batch Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2. Find out how much Clone Force 99 has changed and what are their new goals.
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 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.
