Max Nocerino 
“I had tons of fun with this episode of The Bad Batch. Even though Hunter and Echo were absent and the plot was pretty predictable,” says Max Nocerino
Faster was a very fun and enjoyable episode of The Bad Batch. It doesn’t pack a ton of story development in but is more of a detour rest stop that allows you to just have fun and stay in that continuous awe most fans get when witnessing how strange and unique the galaxy is.
In the last episode, there was hide nor here of the main characters of The Bad Batch. Episode 3 focuses on the erstwhile member of the team, Crosshair in his continued service to the Empire. Now we get half the main team. Hunter and Echo do not appear in this episode at all. Instead, it’s just Omega, Wrecker, and Tech along with their “boss” Cid, a feisty Trandoshan bar owner and “entrepreneur”. She takes the three along on a mission to a planet that hosts races. Not Podracing. Believe it or not, this Riot Racing makes Podracing look tame!
RIOT RACING
While the riot racers look a little easier to pilot than the pods, it is undoubtedly more dangerous. Especially as the racers are allowed to shoot each other. And do other things that would be considered cheating in a Podrace. Also, the track is much more hazardous than the naturally hazardous Beggar’s Canyon from Tatooine. And the majority of racers are actually droids.
Cid has a racer and he is a droid named Tay-0. At first glance, Tay-0 kinda reminds me of that robot from the Disney/Pixar movie Robots, at least in body structure and paint design. Yet, Tay-0 is far from pleasant and is perhaps one of the most obnoxious droids I’ve ever seen in this franchise. He is cocky and condescending and so obviously in belief that he is smarter than all organic beings. He often talks down to Tech, and I admire how Tech did not let him get under his skin.
TECH WAR OR WORDS
Tech is probably as smart as a human can get (due to his genetic alteration) and I remember reading on the StarWars.com databank that Tech can actually do calculations in his head faster than some droids. Take that Tay-0! Tay-0 loses a race and gets destroyed and Sid owes a particular gangster a lot of money. Omega strikes a deal with the alien thug, saying that they will race again. If they lose. Double the money. If they win, Cid goes free. It’s quite a daring wager and I like what a strong team member Omega has become. She risks all on the line for Cid and does it without even a moment’s hesitation.
The alien gangster who they are playing against is a member of an alien species I can’t quite remember. And there is also a colorful mix of Gammoreans and even a Nosaurian making me even more nostalgic for Episode 1 racing. I also like how dark and unregulated these races are. They surely can’t be legal. The announcer advises spectators to watch for blaster fire and yeah, one being gets hit and presumably dies. Ouch. I also love that one of the racers is a droid called Quickdraw Quasar. A pink droid with a protocol droid body and a B1 battle droid head, another nod to the Prequel Trilogy as that odd combination was accidentally created with C-3PO in Attack of the Clones.
VERDICT
I had tons of fun with this episode even though Hunter and Echo were absent and the plot was pretty predictable. Yet it was Star Wars fun at its best. And for a Gen Z or even Alpha child watching this (and this may be their first time with a Star Wars show) is sure to be delighted by the excitement. I have no negative things to report on this episode, besides it being a little self-explanatory with the plot. I love Omega stepping up to direct her “brothers” and I love to hate Tay-0. Also at the end of it, all fans (and the clones) have to wonder. Is Cid to be trusted? As the series unfolds, I am sure that we will find out. B+ for this episode.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 is streaming on Disney Plus NOW!
Max Nocerino is a regular Staff Writer for The Future of the Force. He is a passionate Star Wars fan and loves the literature of the galaxy far, far away. Follow him on Twitter where he shares his love of the Force frequently!
