TV Review | Star Wars: The Bad Batch S3:E10/11 (Identity Crisis / Point of No Return)
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Max Nocerino 
THE BAD BATCH consistently delivers quality content each week. Check out our review of the latest episodes from the final season.
After last week’s hijinks, THE BAD BATCH is raising the stakes again with an explosive and thought-provoking two-parter episode showing just how cruel and unmerciful the Empire can be. It gives you all the feels in all the wrong places.
The episode begins with Dr. Emerie Karr requesting a promotion from Dr. Hemlock. She wants to be the head scientist to replace the traitorous Nala Se, who allowed Omega to escape. Hemlock initially expresses skepticism but ultimately reveals the contents of Project Necromancer to her. The revelation is shocking and far worse than anticipated.
PROJECT NECROMANCER
The project consists of three young Force-sensitive children imprisoned by the Empire. They have been taken from their families to test their blood and other unknown things. The cold and uncaring Hemlock tells Emerie not to form any attachments to the children. But the Iktochi child named Eva’s innocence sways Emerie to show her compassion as she did with Omega. Emerie’s morals are being tested every minute she works with the children. You can see that she disapproves of young kids being taken from their families to play a part in this horrible experiment.
The Empire very much reflects that of Nazi Germany. Hemlock is the perfect stand-in for Dr. Mengler, who experimented on Jewish people during the Second World War in a similar vein to what’s going on now.
CAD BANE RETURNS!
Cad Bane returns this week and delivers another child to Emerie, and she is appalled that this child is even younger. A toddler, no less. Seeing her ripped away from her loving mother made me sick to my stomach. It’s a testament to the excellent writing of this show in that it makes me feel such a visceral reaction to characters I’ve barely been exposed to. Bane is as cruel as the Empire and thinks nothing of kidnapping kids for money.
The Aqualish who reported the toddler is also cruel, as are the Storm Commandos on Tantiss. There is so much barbaric cruelty in the Star Wars galaxy that it is plain to me that despite the early Jedi influence, the galaxy truly is a backward dystopian civilization with advanced retro tech but no enlightened morals or moralistic individuals. Except for a few. Like Emerie. I sense that her time with the Empire is coming to a close. She is getting close to her breaking point in putting up with these atrocities. If she defected from the Empire, I predict she would join the Batch and become the new female Tech.
EVACUATION FROM PABU
Speaking of Tech, back on Pabu, Omega and the clones are thinking of leaving Pabu behind, per Hunter’s suggestion. It’s so sad. But mega has recovered Tech’s shattered goggles and plans to leave them on Pabu to memorialize him, making him a permanent part of the tranquil island. The irst place that Omega could call home. Leav ng is a perfect plan, as the Empire has sent that creepy assassin to find Omega and was pressured by his boss. He must eliver results. And deli er he does.
In an impressive display of rare Imperial competency, the assassin locates Pabu and alerts the Empire to their position. He then estroys the team’s ship and seriously injures Wrecker. He then destroys the is and’s boats, so there is no escape. I have to say, this assassin i quite effective in his job, and his sense of morals is just as out the window as the rest of them.
VERDICT
I loved these episodes. I was on the edge of my seat, ully immersed and entranced for every minute. This show is quite miraculous n that it almost always delivers every week. Some episodes were slow, but t at’s not the norm, and there is quite a bit of talent behind this medium. The future for Omega looks unc rtain, and I can’t wait to see what they pull out of their hat next.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is streaming exclusively on Disney Plus now. Stay informed and never miss story with our frequent updates at Future of the Force.
FORCE FACTS
Throughout the episode, we noticed various Force facts, Easter eggs, trivia moments, and observations. How many of them did you see?
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Phee refuels on a rocky asteroid or moon orbiting a large planet. It amazes me how there are so many locations in the Star Wars galaxy, and we Earthlings cannot really imagine the scope of an interstellar-sized civilization. We barely know everything about our planet!
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Star Wars continues to impress with its technology. You can literally put a vial of blood into a scanner and get results within seconds, but our fastest labs still take a few days.
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When the Empire destroyed all of the fishing boats on Pabu, the mayor of the village was enraged—as he should be! The Empire had destroyed these simple folks’ livelihoods by destroying their main means of fishing. How will they feed themselves 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!
