TV Review | Star Wars: The Bad Batch (S2:E12 The Outpost)
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Max Nocerino 
“For such a simple plot, I can’t believe how deep and excellent this episode was. The Bad Batch is like a fine wine. It gets better with age,” says Max Nocerino
The Bad Batch has adopted a semi-formula that I quite enjoy and it seems likely to continue doing so for the rest of its run. The main story centers on Omega and Clone Force 99. But sometimes it will take episode-long hiatuses to focus on other characters. In this case, other clones. Yes, this one is a Crosshair episode and despite its simplicity, it was just a phenomenal episode. Crosshair left the rogue former-Clone Force 99 as he is determined to serve the new Empire. Good soldiers follow orders after all.
This episode added a lot of depth to Crosshair’s character and reasserted my belief that perhaps he isn’t so cold and calculating after all. There is a sliver of humanity buried under that frosty, intimidating, and almost chillingly, feminine voice. And that could not be a more apt metaphor for this episode.
A NEW MISSION
Crosshair is on a new mission on an ice world to retrieve some cargo. His adjunct for the mission is an Imperial named Nolan who reeks of cruelness and pompous self-entitlement. It is clear from the start that he views clones as expendable. But I often wonder if the Empire maintains a jerk factory where THEY make Imperial human clones that are all the same level of ridiculousness.
When Crosshair and Nolan get to this world, they see that the transported cargo has been stolen by raiders and there are only 3 clones left. One of which (who is in charge) is named Mayday. Mayday and Nolan immediately get off on the wrong foot and Nolan callously pulls rank on him and after an attack, forces Crosshair and him to retrieve the cargo. It seems straightforward and the two clones bond as they make their frosty journey.
MAYDAY
Crosshair keeps to himself initially but soon starts to feel some sort of attachment to his impromptu partner. And we see just how hard it is for Mayday to accept that his role as a soldier is nearly over. He had always fought in The Clone Wars in his short life and admitted that he never thought about what he would do once the war was over. I am experiencing a similar situation with my schooling so I can very much relate to Mayday’s struggle. Mayday is also angry about how the Empire treats clones after they sacrificed so much. And his words seem to budge Crosshair’s dogma slightly as he begins to see that the Empire truly does not “thank you for your service” and that he is just an expendable cog in the brutal new Imperial war machine.
To add insult to injury, just what the two clones are looking to retrieve is basically in a nutshell…their replacement. Yes. Stormtrooper armor from the classic Original movies. How sick. Anyways, Nolan is a cold callous monster and needed to be brought down a few pegs. And I am glad that Crosshair is starting to see the light. His fate is unclear but this episode hammered home how evil and despicable the Empire is. And in a way, with the tossing aside of the clones like trash – this is truly the end of The Clone Wars.
VERDICT
For such a simple plot, I can’t believe how deep and excellent this episode was. The Bad Batch is like a fine wine. It gets better with age. A+
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 is streaming on Disney Plus NOW!
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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!
