Thomas Storai 
“The Bad Batch season two is amazing. This is an essential piece of Star Wars and one of the best animation seasons Lucasfilm has made so far! It is visually breathtaking! The story gets quite dark but remains very much entertaining and full of heart.”
Our favorite group of rogue clones is finally coming back for a second season. Star Wars: The Bad Batch starts streaming today on Disney Plus with two premiere episodes. Right from the beginning, I loved this series. It had a brilliant first season, you can only love these characters. So, I was obviously excited for this second season, it took longer than expected to get it but it was worth the wait. Last month, I had the chance to watch the first fourteen episodes. You are not prepared for the level of awesomeness this season brings.
STORY
Season two picks up some months after the destruction of Kamino and things are changing fast for the galaxy controlled by the Empire. The events of the season one finale are not without consequences. These are dark times and the story gets incredibly darker. Nevertheless, it knows how to be entertaining. So, it is still a lot of fun and accessible for any Star Wars fan. Indeed, it is a family adventure with humor, action, and emotions. There is actually a great variety of episodes. You get an episode about racing, treasure hunting, and a political plot … This season follows the same structure as season one with self-contained episodes and also two-part episodes. Some lean more on the action side while others are more lighthearted or go heavier with the feels.
Furthermore, season one started to explore what becomes of the clones during the Empire. As we all know, Stormtroopers are conscripts and not clones, we did see the first ones last season. And season two delves further into this. Crosshair’s story also comes into play. Even though, he is not a likable character what happens to him is quite captivating. There are several returning characters as well as new intriguing ones. You are in for a lot of surprises.
As for Clone Force 99, they continue to navigate throughout this galaxy controlled by the Empire. New challenges and missions are ahead of them. This season once again confirms that this is my favorite group of clones. There is a fantastic dynamic between them. And I have no doubts that Omega will be remembered as a fan favorite. I am going to need a third season. I can’t get enough of these characters.
If it wasn’t clear enough with season one, this season cements my idea that The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Bad Batch are forming a trilogy. Several storylines connect with each other and are continuations. And let’s not forget that several characters do appear in each series.
VISUALS
Since there is a time jump between seasons one and two, the characters get a brand new look. Indeed, they no longer wear full armor but a mix of armor and more casual clothes. In this changing galaxy, they don’t need that much attention on them. Plus, the red marks are gone, now is time for some orange. Moreover, Omega has her own outfit that fits with the rest of the team now! Tech is the only member of the team with minimal changes to his costume. This update reflects their newly found place in this galaxy.
The animation style of The Clone Wars has always been beautiful. But when it returned for its final season, they upgraded it to make it look even more magnificent. With The Bad Batch, they took it a step further. And in season two, it reaches its peak. The visuals are simply breathtaking. It is incredibly cinematic. Each episode feels like an actual film.
Indeed, there are a lot of crowd scenes with so many different characters. It is impressive to see how far they have gone. On top of that, we visit a lot of planets. I insist on the words a lot. Some are planets we already knew but many are new as well. Episode 13 ‘Pabu’ is the most visually beautiful episode of Star Wars animation. It features my new favorite planet. It is a world with Lord of the Rings/fantasy inspiration while it also feels very much Star Wars-y. Beyond just the design of this world, there is also its skyline. It feels so real. If you can, experience it in 4K and on the biggest television you can get.
SOUNDTRACK
Kevin Kiner is a master at Star Wars scores for animation. He knows what makes a sound feel like it inherently belongs to Star Wars. And once again, he delivers a fantastic score full of heart. It goes heavy with the feels, while also going hard with the action. It is quite dynamic.
VOICE CAST
Dee Bradley Baker as the clones is amazing as usual. It is not easy to talk to yourself but Baker does it so well! Michelle Ang’s voice performance as Omega is so heartfelt. Plus for this season, Wanda Sykes is joining them as Phee Genoa. She brings her iconic voice into Star Wars. Phee is definitely my favorite of the new characters. And I think fans are going to love her as well!
VERDICT
The Bad Batch season two is absolutely amazing. This is an essential piece of Star Wars and one of the best animation seasons Lucasfilm has made so far! It is visually breathtaking! The story gets quite dark but still remains very much entertaining and full of heart. It is packed with action, emotions, and some humor too. You are in for a lot of surprises. It is so good to see our beloved characters again.
The first two episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2 are streaming on Disney Plus right now!
Collectables Editor at Future Of The Force.
Star Wars and Marvel specialist, anime expert
