The sixth episode of The Bad Batch’s second season, Tribe, is out on Disney Plus. This has been my favorite episode of the current season, a good story, old characters, and a planet that brought so many memories back. This is an improvement over the last five episodes.
This review contains spoilers.
Recap of the story so far
The Empire might be the ultimate power in the galaxy but there’s little trust in its ranks. Clone Troopers are unsure about their future, some of them have even abandoned the Imperial army. Others stay likely because they don’t think there’s another place to go, they were bred for war after all.
Crosshair is in the middle of this unspoken conflict, the time to make a definitive decision keeps getting closer with every episode.
The Bad Batch keep getting themselves into unnecessary trouble; money, friendship, or doing the right thing are the main reasons. If they’re not careful then their past might catch up.
Leaving traces
The Bad Batch has been to multiple systems and encountered all kinds of people. In their adventure, they have made unexpected allies, new enemies, and even some “business partners”. Not everything that they’ve been involved in is a matter of life and death but all of these small things are adding up.
They have kept a relatively low profile but the Empire knows that former Clone Force 99 survived the destruction of Tipoca City. With the number of resources and spies that the Empire has spread across the galaxy, it wouldn’t take much before someone starts making the connections.
On this occasion, it was Vanguard Axis that had a bad experience with the Bad Batch. I’m very happy that they did the right thing in helping Gungi to escape a miserable future but I can’t help but wonder what kind of retaliation an organization of this type will seek.
Big smuggling operations require a lot of money, manpower, and lots of connections with the right people. It wouldn’t surprise me if criminal groups like the Hutt Cartel or the Pyke Syndicate would be among Vanguard Axis’ clients. I understand that these are trying times even for big crime lords but none of them can be underestimated.
So far it has only been the Empire who chased Hunter, Omega, Wrecker, Tech, and Echo but if they keep continuing to mess with the wrong people there’s going to be more than just Stormtroopers after them.
Reviving memories
Kashyyyk has always been one of my favorite planets, not only because I’m a fan of the Wookiees but because I’ve been able to explore it in different games.
In Republic Commando (one of the best FPS Star Wars games ever made), Delta Squad rescued Tarfful from General Grievous’ claws, sabotaged the Trandoshan’s outposts, and later helped the Wookiees defend the city of Kachirho from the CIS battle droid army before the Republic army arrived.
Knights of the Old Republic took us into the deepest parts of Kashyyyk. A place full of dangers and monstrosities that made it the perfect place to hide a star map that has a clue to finding one of the most powerful weapons of that era. Only the absolute best Wookiee warriors dared to go there.
And more recently, Cal Kestis had to climb the Origin Tree in order to find out what secrets Master Eno Cordova learned in Jedi Fallen Order. There are more examples but these are the ones that really made me fall in love with Kashyyyk.
Even if it was for a few minutes I really enjoyed watching the forests, villages, and Wookie tribes. Or what’s left of them. This was super refreshing and hopefully, it’s not the last time that the Bad Batch visits the Wookiee’s home planet.
One big, living planet
Having episodes that last a little more than twenty minutes doesn’t allow us to properly explore deeper things like a species’ culture or social hierarchy. This is why every scene must count and properly deliver the intended message.
There are two things that I believe this episode captured perfectly. The first one is the sense of community that Wookiees have. Unlike many species, Wookiees have very strong traditions that can’t be disregarded, and doing so would mean expulsion (like using the claws against a fellow Wookiee) from the family.
This keeps every member very close to each other with love and respect as two of the most important things. It’s no surprise to see that Yanna, an elder, is leading the villagers.
The second and main reason why I love Wookiees is their connection to every other living being on Kashyyyk. They understand that everything is connected; the trees, water, plants, animals, and every Wookiee have a symbiotic relationship.
This could be an explanation as to why they don’t have an “advanced” civilization. Industrialization would mean destroying and contaminating Kashyyyk and that’s something that no sane Wookiee would allow.
The Jedi have sacred places like ruins or temples that are preserved because of their meaning and importance. For the Wookies, all of Kashyyyk is a sacred temple.
A new low for Clone Troopers
We all know that after a few years, the clones won’t have a place in the Galactic Empire but that doesn’t make it easier to watch how they’re removed. I feel sorry for most of them, the proud soldiers that once fought side by side with their Jedi generals are now just doing the Empire’s dirty work.
Attacking settlements that refuse to give up their freedom, arresting people that they once swore to protect, and now being paired with Trandoshans slavers. It’s such a strange sight to watch Clone Troopers working together with a species that’s known for their cruelty and lack of respect for almost anything that isn’t their Scorekeeper goddess.
Many troopers have already abandoned the Empire but those that haven’t will have to do whatever they’re ordered to because that’s what good soldiers do. So far they’ve turned against the Jedi, other clones, and even civilians. It’s so sad to see how they’re becoming more similar to droids with each episode.
I’m a pretty optimistic person but honestly, I don’t see things getting better for the remaining clone troopers. Unless they’re formally removed from the Galactic Empire’s army I can see them being eliminated in a similar fashion to how the Jedi were destroyed.
Good intentions are not enough
There’s no doubt that helping Gungi was the right thing to do. Bad things already happen to captured Wookiees, one can only think what horrors awaited a Jedi Wookiee if Omega hadn’t heard him.
However, I’m afraid that returning Gungi to his people might not be enough. As Hunter said, there’s not a single place in the galaxy that’s safe for him. While Kashyyyk is extremely hard to navigate for outsiders that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for individuals of a certain kind.
If the clones actually reported that the tanks had lightsaber marks there’s going to be more than just clone troopers hunting Gungi. Let’s suppose that the Empire knows that there’s a Jedi on Kashyyyk, in the best scenario they send a bounty hunter or an Inquisitor.
None of them are enemies that a young Padawan is able to defeat on his own but Gungi might still be able to evade them. But, if Darth Vader decides to join the hunt then there’s no amount of Wookiees or trees that can keep him away from his prey.
Hopefully, none of this happens, and no one besides the Bad Batch learns about Gungi. Wookiees already have much to worry about without having a Sith tearing down the place.
Gungi is such an interesting character and I really hope that isn’t the last time we see him. Perhaps he and other Wookiees might even help Hunter, Omega, Echo, Wrecker, and Tech in future episodes.
Easter Eggs in Season 2 Episode 6 “Tribe”
In the segment below I am going to share a few of the key secrets and references from this episode. 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 6 of the second season of the show.
Kinraths from KOTOR
The spider-like creatures that appear in this episode are Kinraths. Kinraths first appeared in the Knights of the Old Republic game.
Restoring Clone Wars content
Many of the characters that appear in this episode were originally planned for the last season of The Clone Wars before it was canceled by Disney after the buyout of the franchise. Said characters include Commander Venomor and the ape-like creatures that the Wookiees ride.
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 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 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.
