Following on from the first season, the second of The Bad Batch continues the exploration of the Empire’s growing hold in the galaxy. The choices that the characters make in this ever-changing environment that have consequences for themselves and those around them. Unlike the first season, the second fully focuses on the phasing out of clone troopers. As well as furthering the bond of the Batch.
The two-episode opening presented a mission for Cid. That put the Batch into proximity with the Empire. It’s great to see Serenno again and get a bit more exploration of just what Dooku had done with his title of Count of Serenno. As an opening to the season, it serves its purpose of showing where all the characters stand after the end of season one.
The only person the opening doesn’t address is Crosshair, who gets an episode to himself. With this episode, Commander Cody makes for a great contrast to Crosshair, who is still believing in the Imperial cause. Cody can see what is happening around him, and it takes Cody going AWOL for Crosshair to start seeing that. But, unlike with the first season where he appeared quite often, the impact of his eyes opening won’t be seen until his next appearance near the end.
Another impactful moment comes in the midseason, where things get very clone-centric. This is something I feel needs to have seen the three episode respite away from the Empire’s dealings for this impact to fully be felt. The continuing retiring of the clone troopers has mostly been happening in the background, but is now being raised in the Senate.
What makes The Clone Conspiracy an interesting episode is that though it is very clone-centric, it features none of the Batch. Not even Crosshair. It digs fully deep into the subject of Rampart’s actions on Kamino and the ever decreasing clones in the Imperial Army before getting the Batch involved with Truth and Consequences. Seeing certain Senators care for what happens to the clones, with Riyo Chuci being the main voice of that with these episodes.
The importance placed on passing the new Defence Recruitment Bill gives the arc the weight it needs for all actions that happen within. The setup to getting the evidence of what really happened on Kamino is all with the first half. If this evidence can be provided, the Bill will be shot down. But… conniving man, that Palpatine.
All through the Senate sessions, Palpatine has been absent. His arrival rising up from his private chamber with the destruction of Kamino within the background is chilling, and his speech even more so. This episode reinforces how much of a master manipulator Palpatine is. That he can still use the destruction of Kamino but turn it onto the clones to get that bill passed is thrilling. And Rampart’s arrest for his part in that destruction turns the focus onto Mount Tantiss.
A secret facility of the Empire, this is where Nala Se was taken after Kamino’s destruction. The Empire is trying to unlock the cloning secrets the Kaminoans hold, with this facility being where that is happening. What that facility is also doing is taking clone troopers to use as experiments. Which is where Crosshair ends up after the truth of his position hits him.
His choice to not be a slave of the Empire is a major shift for him. What little stand he can take is a sign that he is done serving the regime that sees him as less than expendable. That he can switch from “no point in hauling deadweight” to carrying a critically injured clone back within a single mission is the culmination of a lot of development between this and his last appearance.
The Batch also go through some development which leads and continues into the finale. The choice to cast away the protection of Cid as they try to stop being soldiers. To get away from the action and lead normal lives. Something they were planning to do right from leaving Kamino having escaped Imperial custody. Before becoming embroiled with Cid.
It was a bold move to give the Batch a taste of what could have been as they head to Pabu with Phee. Introduced in the first episode, Phee Genoa is a pirate with a connection to Cid but who mostly does her own thing in tracking down artifacts. Having already shared an adventure with her, the Batch trust her. Learning of their split from Cid after another mission with her, she takes them to the hidden sanctuary on the world of Pabu.
Here, the Batch get that taste of a normal life. While the peace is disrupted by a sea surge, the Batch help the community to get to safety and later rebuild. By being accepted quickly by that community, it seems they have now found their forever home. Except for Echo, who had split to help Rex after the events of Truth and Consequences. The only part of the finale I will touch on is what Echo was doing.
Working with other free clones, Echo is fighting against the Empire, rescuing other clones who want to escape from the system. Those who the Empire have imprisoned. Those who would otherwise end up at Mount Tantiss. Not that the clones are aware of their end destination upon being transferred. But the raid on a prison shuttle we see during the finale could give the clues needed.
The finale does a great job in tying up all the connections made across the season. It’s full of emotional moments, with all the character development and interactions making it so. Without that investment, it wouldn’t be nearly as powerful a finale. It is truly a bleaker Empire Strikes Back finale. Plan 99… the meaning of that really hits hard, and its meaning is felt throughout the episode.
This second season might have had some lows, but even those lows managed to tie into the highs of the season. Much like with Rebels, this season has incorporated side episodes with the main to build what it needs to put the focus on where it needs to elevate those main episodes. To make them stronger. The overall season I would rate highly. Now that it’s all out and ready to watch, I can easily say that it is something you should. Explore what the series holds and give it a watch.
Images Taken From:
Star Wars: The Bad Batch | S2.03, S2.07, S2.13
