This week The Bad Batch survives on a hostile planet and deals with family drama and explosive minerals. Star Wars at its best!
This week’s episode of The Bad Batch delivers something that we often see in science fiction that is a super-popular trope. Survival on a hostile alien planet. In Star Wars, a majority of planets are colonized with breathable air for Baseline Humans. While this may not be scientifically realistic, it ensures that the characters have a near-infinite amount of storytelling plot locations. And this trope also lets fans marvel at the sight of each unique alien world.
A DISTANT ECHO
The Bad Batch is doing a routine mission for Cid and has Wrecker watch the Marauder while they dig up some minerals in a new mine Cid bought. This mine contains ipsium, which is a highly volatile unobtanium-type element that can explode if handled too roughly. It seems like a piece of cake but Omega is very distraught because she very much misses Echo.
Echo left Clone Force 99 in the last episode and Omega feels like a piece of her is missing. It’s very understandable as Omega is a young child and any child feels the loss when parents get divorced. Or when a family member dies. Echo is far from dead, but he is a galaxy away and Omega just wants her family to be together.
SURVIVAL
Wrecker isn’t exactly the best lookout. And while they get the ipsium, some strange being jacks the Marauder stranding the Batch on this alien world without food, supplies, or means of communication. Tech finds a spaceport a few clicks away and they must stay one step ahead of the storm brewing in the distance.
As I said, survival is a very popular sci-fi trope. And even though it has been done to death, The Crossing delivers a new, fresh dimension to it that was highly enjoyable and made me hunger for Part 2. Throughout the trek, the clones are at odds with one another, pointing blame between Tech and Wrecker. And Tech very much upsets Omega when he coldly (but logically) says the Marauder is just a ship and they can acquire a new one.
COLD TECH
Tech’s behavior is very cold and clinical because of his superior intelligence and oftentimes has low emotional intelligence. He strikes a nerve with Omega as she regards the Marauder as her home and the clones as her family. Tech does as well, but the guy admits he processes things differently. And even though a soldier’s job is to adapt, Tech still feels some loss over Echo’s decision to leave. It just isn’t as visceral as Omega.
I liked the tension between Omega and Tech in this episode as they are very much on two ends of the emotional spectrum. Tech doesn’t mean being callous. He just uses logic for the sake of full compassion and Omega is all compassion. The two learn a lot about each other and I really appreciate the writers giving us episodes that are mainly about character growth and development. I also liked the nod to Disney’s The Lion King with the stampede in the gorge sequence. The Lion King was a huge part of my childhood and seeing a recreation in Star Wars was quite titillating. The episode ends on a cliffhanger and I am excited that we are starting to see some long-term changes in the trajectory of the Batch’s lives. This could easily be a two (or even three) parter episode and raising the stakes is the direction the show should go in at this point.
VERDICT
We are now almost halfway done with the new season. Lastly, I like how one thing Tech said, actually inspired Omega. “We’ll figure things out. We always do.” That’s the right attitude kid. Let’s just hope they figure it out before the storm comes. Wonderful episode. Solid A.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 is streaming on Disney Plus NOW!
Author
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!
