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Review: ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Promises to Continue the Legacy of ‘The Clone Wars’
May 4, 2021Ben MK
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After seven seasons and 133 episodes, one might think that we've already seen all there is to see about the epic battle moviegoers first learnt about in passing during Star Wars: A New Hope. However, if there's one thing viewers should have taken away from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it's that you can't keep a good clone trooper down. And in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the titular group of "defective" troopers known as Clone Force 99 are back once again to remind us of just that. Taking place concurrently with the climactic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, the show's first episode (aptly titled "Aftermath") finds Wrecker, Hunter, Echo, Tech and Crosshair (all voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) grappling with a new mystery. Accusing the Jedi of betraying the Republic, Senator Palpatine has issued the infamous Order 66, all but wiping out the Jedi and declaring himself the galaxy's new ruler. As a result, the clone facility on Kamino is placed on high alert, and when our five heroes return to their home world following a mission on the war-torn planet of Kaller, they're met with more hostility than usual, not to mention Admiral Tarkin (Stephen Stanton), who has arrived on Kamino bearing a message from Palpatine himself. Enter Omega (Michelle Ang), the medical assistant to Kamino's chief medical scientist, Nala Se. A mysterious young girl who may also hold the key to unraveling the mystery behind the origins of Clone Force 99 and why Order 66 did not affect them in the same way as regular clone troopers, Omega and her unique abilities do not go unnoticed by the Empire. What Tarkin doesn't count on, though, is her innate courageousness and resolve. And when he turns one of the Bad Batch's own against the team, it's up to both Omega and the rest of Clone Force 99 to find a way to escape Kamino and strike back against the new wave of terror spreadhing throughout the galaxy. In what follows, we're also reunited with a few familiar names who have helped to shape the mythology of the Star Wars universe through such shows as The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, as well as movies like Rogue One. From a young Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) to Saw Gerrera (Andrew Kishino), there's no shortage of fan-favorite inclusions to tie the story back in to the adventures viewers already know and love. Thankfully, The Bad Batch doesn't rely solely on such callbacks to keep audiences engaged, instead using its main characters and their moral quandaries to forge a new and exciting tangent through what can easily become all-too-familiar territory. It all adds up to an intriguing series debut. And whether you're a die-hard fan or someone who's entirely new to Star Wars, The Bad Batch has something for everyone. Ultimately, however, it's those with a keen interest in The Clone Wars who will surely get the most out of this new show, as it promises to not only tie up a few loose ends and settle a few scores, but also shed some light on a ragtag group of heroes that are quickly shaping up to give the franchise's other protagonists a run for their Galactic Credits. |
Star Wars: The Bad Batch begins streaming May 4th, exclusively on Disney Plus.
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