The Bad Batch has proven to be a great continuation of The Clone Wars across its first season. That was proven in its first episode. Having already given thoughts on that first episode, I’m not going into detail with it. Having the opening feel like a Clone Wars episode really tied in with the transition to the dark times of the Empire. As did the first thing we see being Order 66 from the eyes of the Batch.

Full of emotion, it made sure that this new series started strong. And right from the off, it set a central theme of choice into motion. When Hunter makes the call to not carry out the mission the newly-formed Empire tasked the Batch with, it marks the catalyst for future events. Crosshair’s split from the Batch is forced by the Empire when they return to Kamino for Omega, but as revealed later in the season, he stayed because it’s what he believes in.

He believes in the Imperial cause. Just as he was a soldier of the Republic, he is now one of the Empire. He has no loyalty to the Empire, though. After all, he’s just following orders. If we believe his words in the finale, his inhibitor chip was removed a long time ago. Perhaps soon after it was strengthened when he was split from the rest of the Batch. Yet because they’re not with him, he wants them back. But on his terms.

Which obviously, being on the other side of things, the others of the Batch aren’t willing to do. They’re seeing what the Empire is doing to the choice of the people. Clone deserter Cut, who the Batch visit after their escape from Kamino, doesn’t fancy his chances of staying hidden for much longer with the Empire making their presence known. And it is lucky the Batch arrived to see him, as otherwise he’d be stuck on Saleucami.

As Tech says, clones wanted names, but now the public is all too willing to sign up for a number. The Imperial chain codes are just one way of taking the freedom and choice of the people away. It allows them to easily be tracked, meaning they are never truly hidden. And it’s not just the chain codes which are being used to control the people. By controlling or otherwise undermining those the public look up to, it deters them from going against the Empire’s wishes.

It’s seen with Raxus, where the planet’s Senator refuses to cooperate with the words of the Empire. It’s seen with Ryloth, where Admiral Rampart tries to have the people lose trust in Cham Syndulla – the hero of Ryloth during the Clone Wars. Those particular two episodes show a young Hera getting stuck into some action, but it is her choices that give Rampart the means to incriminate Cham. But then it is also her choices that help break her parents from prison.

There are two major standout arcs from this season. Not counting Crosshair’s run-ins with his brothers. But they do tie in with it. After a job for Cid puts them into contact with the Martez sisters, they put Rex into contact with the Batch. Who warns them of what the inhibitor chips are capable of. Finding somewhere with the means to remove them – a Jedi cruiser downed on Bracca, he talks of the control the chips have over the mind and the impossibility of breaking from that control.

Across the episodes before this point, poor Wrecker has seen his head beaten quite a few times. On the mission where the Batch met the Martez sisters, the chip almost activated. And at the moment of finally removing the chip, it activates. Wrecker is a cold killing machine. And it hurts to see, especially when he turns on Omega. The episodes before had seen the two bonding moreso than the others of the Batch. So when Wrecker has her cornered, ready to fire upon her, it’s a tense moment. As is the entire sequence.

The second arc is Omega’s importance. Not only to the Kaminoans, but as part of the Batch’s family. Omega grows across this first season, learning to become a skilled fighter, and how to get herself out of situations. Early on, it’s Fennec Shand who is hunting her. A new bounty hunter on the scene, she has already shown herself to be skilled, as shown during the first contact with her.

The second contact with her also sees first contact with another hunter. Cad Bane enters the picture, having already captured Omega during the conflict between the Batch and Empire on Bracca. Omega, using her smarts, gets away from both hunters as they fight each other using all their skills and equipment on the abandoned Kaminoan facility the handover was meant to take place.

With the season finale, both of those arcs come together to reform the Batch. And that finale… If you’re invested in the story of the clones of their home base of Kamino, seeing its destruction is full of emotion. As is the Batch and Crosshair coming to terms with each other’s worldviews as they escape the sinking city. They are together again, but still on different sides of this conflict. Crosshair’s final choice reflects that.

Overall, the first season is a strong one. In showing how the Empire is affecting the galaxy, and the bonds the Batch share. Seeing the galaxy from various points of view. With it all leading to the catalyst of ending the clone production and them serving the Empire. Not the end of it. That will come with season two. As will a few other threads that are still open.

I’m not going to talk of the second season here, but needless to say it is continuing to be a strong one that has so far continued the theme of choice across its episodes. When that season is finished, my review of it will be up.

Images Taken From:
Star Wars: The Bad Batch | S1.01, S1.07