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Throughout its 47-episode run, The Bad Batch spun a tale of a crew of wartime veterans searching for an identity in a galaxy that had chewed them up and spit them out. As the third and final season of the show launched in April, the remaining members of Clone Force 99 found themselves reeling from the loss of one of their own and the abduction of another. Though they had hoped their days of running missions were over, Season 3 gave the squad plenty of reason to stay in the fight, though this fight was one of their own choosing. In the final episode of the series, “The Cavalry Has Arrived”, every member of the team puts everything on the line to complete their most important mission yet: holding on to what they fought so hard to get.
“The Cavalry Has Arrived” works wonderfully as a season and series finale by wrapping up three seasons’ worth of plot and by keeping Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair and Omega at the center of the action. No heroes dropped in for a cameo appearance and to help save the day; Darth Vader didn’t show up at Tantiss Base and cut down Clone Force 99; no major reveals intended to set up a new Star Wars project stole the spotlight. Indeed short of a brief appearance from Tarkin and a reference to Project Stardust, no connections to the larger Star Wars universe were made. Instead, Omega found herself able to deftly apply all she’d learned from the crew, simultaneously helping the other children held at Tantiss Base to escape and providing a way for Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair to find their way in. By the time it was over, the Batchers all did what they do best, the bad guys got what they had coming (it was somehow more satisfying to see Rampart meet his end than to see Hemlock meet his) and, somewhat surprisingly, they all made it out alive and returned to Pabu. The end.
Of course, it’s never truly the end. A nice epilogue set roughly 20 years or so later showed a grown Omega heading off to join the Rebellion as a pilot. A touching moment with an older, grayer Hunter served to inform fans that they should not expect to see him, Wrecker or Crosshair taking part in the Rebellion. There war is over. Omega’s, however, is just beginning. Given the care with which the character has been curated by Dave Filoni, Jennifer Corbett and the rest of the crew behind The Bad Batch and given Filoni’s penchant for finding ways to work his favorite creations into other projects, both animated and live-action, it seems incredibly likely that Omega’s story in only just beginning.
Taken as a complete body of work, The Bad Batch will rightfully take its place by the side of Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars as foundational pieces of the modern era of Star Wars stories. It established itself as an integral piece of the larger mythology of galaxy far, far away both in its ability to tackle to politics of the Empire and establish the importance of cloning in Palpatine’s ultimate plans. It’s examination of the treatment of war veterans probably doesn’t receive enough attention but the show boldly tackled the topic along with glimpses of post-traumatic stress disorders in soldiers. In a galaxy that’s always just moving from one war to another, those themes alone make The Bad Batch a worthwhile watch. It’s the end of an short-lived era for the best group of good soldiers. Clone Force 99, we thank you for your service.
Star Wars hasn’t always provided room to explore the grey areas of morality. Good is good. Bad is bad. Of course, that’s almost entirely driven by the binary nature of the Force. The Light is good; the Dark is bad. Jedi or Sith. While there’s room for redemption within George Lucas‘ original trilogy, “classic Star Wars” storytelling left no room for Force wielders who were neither Jedi nor Sith. Modern Star Wars storytelling, on the other hand, has found plenty of narrative space for characters who find no use for either Sith or Jedi. Following the collapse of the Republic, Ahsoka Tano and Baylan Skoll no longer consider themselves Jedi and Ahsoka’s good friend Ezra Bridger dabbled in the Dark Side without becoming permanently corrupted. Their journeys through the Force are a natural consequence of new stories being built on the foundation of Lucas’ stories. Modern Star Wars has expanded the scope of Force users beyond Jedi and Sith, including the exploration of other aspects of it and how it’s perceived and wielded by those outside of the binary constraints, such as the Nightsisters. Interestingly enough, there’s one character who has traveled all the paths described above, and in Episode 9 of Season 3 of The Bad Batch, her return antecedes the next round of chaos headed the way of Clone Force 99.
As many fans presumed to be the case, Asajj Ventress is indeed the friend Fennec Shand turned to for information about M-count and, as the episode’s title, “Harbinger”, indicates, her arrival portends dark days for the Batchers. For fans who know Ventress only from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Dathomirian Nightsister who was once both a Jedi Padawan and a Sith apprentice seems like the last person anyone would turn to for help; however, after having been a pawn for others, Ventress walks a different path now: her own. And make no mistake, her meeting with Uhmeeguh falls under the category of one of Star Wars most thoroughly explored themes: destiny.
Remember… you always have a choice to be better. You always have a choice to… to pick the right path. Even if that choice comes a little late.
-Asajj Ventress, Dark Disciple
Explored in the canon novel Dark Disciple, Ventress began her ascent from darkness after teaming with Jedi Quinlan Vos to attempt to assassinate Count Dooku. Though it was believed she died while sacrificing herself to save Vos, the trailer for The Bad Batch made it clear that Lucasfilm saw further storytelling currency in Ventress and in “The Harbinger”, head writer Jennifer Corbett seemed to hint at just what that might be. After revealing the meaning of M-count to Clone Force 99 and realizing what danger lurks for Uhmeeguh and her presumably high Midi-chlorian count, Ventress agrees to test the clone’s abilities with the Force. While Uhmeeguh’s potential to wield the Force isn’t made clear to viewers, what is made clear is that Ventress can sense both her latent potential to use the Force and the danger in which it puts her. Though she skitters off at the end of the episode, it seems highly unlikely this is the last time Ventress and Omega meet. In fact, it might just be the start of one of the most unlikely relationships ever to unfold in the galaxy far, far away.
Ventress has seen and done it all. She’s walked the path of light and descended into darkness but now, by her own omission, she walks her own path and it almost certainly is shaded grey. Given the totality of her own experiences, it’s almost impossible for it not to be. And what she sees in Omega is someone who, like her, whose life is being controlled by everyone but her…and it’s at least worth wondering if Ventress means to stop that and give Omega agency moving forward. Ventress mentions training Uhmeeguh during the episode and it would seem that might at least one possible option for what happens to the young clone (she’s somewhere between 12 and 14 years old during Season 3). While it’s known that Project Necromancer is ultimately at least sort of successful (Sleepy Sheev does inhabit a clone body in The Rise of Skywalker but it’s certainly no masterpiece) it doesn’t mean Omega has to die. The Bad Batch producer Brad Rau has teased the potential for more adventures with Ventress down the road and given Dave Filoni’s fascination for bringing animated characters into live-action, any number of possibilities exist including Ventress and Omega still being alive and well during the New Republic era. The producers once explored the possibility of using Ventress in Star Wars Resistance which is set long after The Mandalorian and, as the Nighsister said, she has a few lives left. Star Wars loves destiny; Star Wars loves to tell master and apprentice stories; and it’s starting to show some love to those who live in the grey which gives plenty of room for the continuing story of Asajj Ventress…and maybe Uhmeeguh.
The third and final season of The Bad Batch came out of the gates fully armed and operational. The three-part season premiere serves as both a fulfilling follow-up to Season 2’s heavy two-part finale and a massive exposition dump in which the animated series transitions from seemingly superfluous to entirely essential Star Wars. By the time the credits roll on Episode 3, “Shadows of Tantiss”, The Bad Batch’s place in the larger narrative of the Star Wars universe becomes clear and it becomes the loom through which narrative threads from the Fall of the Jedi era stories will be woven together into the existing storytelling fabric of both The New Republic and Rise of the First Order eras.
Written by head writer Jennifer Corbett (Episode 1, “Confined”, and Bad Batch aficionado Matt Michnovetz (Episode 2, “Paths Unknown”, and Episode 3, “Shadows of Tantiss”) the big Season 3 rollout sheds a significant amount of light on what’s happening inside Tantiss Base on Weyland. Following the destruction of Kamino, Mount Tantiss is now THE home of the Imperial cloning program where Dr. Royce Hemlock, Chief Scientist of the Advanced Science Division, carries out his work by any means necessary. And as expected/predicted, that work is revealed to be on one of the Empire’s most vital undertakings, Project Necromancer. Of course, Tantiss Base is also where two members of The Bad Batch, Omega and Crosshair, are being kept prisoner by the Empire, each for a different reason.
First mentioned in Chapter 22 of The Mandalorian, “The Spies”, Project Necromancer fell under the purview of Commandant Brendol Hux as revealed by Captain Gilad Pellaeon during a meeting with the Imperial remnant Deep State known as the Shadow Council. While the full extent of Project Necromancer’s work is still kept secret, Sleepy Sheev Palpatine’s visit to Mount Tantiss and his exuberance for the work (the goal of which is to produce a specimen with an equal or greater M-Count than the original specimen) all but confirms it is the program that produces clones of the Emperor as seen in Star Wars: Episode IX-The Rise of Skywalker. As expected, the importance of Omega’s unaltered genetic code takes on renewed importance as it’s revealed that her blood is the only sample so far capable of supporting a full M-Count transfer. That “revelation” establishes ties between Omega and Grogu and also between The Mandalorian’s Doctor Pershing and The Bad Batch’s Advanced Science Division.
Omega’s persistence in rehabilitating Crosshair during her unwanted visits ultimately pays off as the series’ new odd couple work together to escape Weyland. On the run and destined for a reunion with Hunter and Wrecker (who spent Episode 2 discovering more of the Empire’s terrible bio-weapons and their disregard for the lives of clones), Omega and Crosshair have enough knowledge of Hemlock’s plan to pose a major threat to Project Necromancer; however, the emergence of Omega as the key to extending Sleepy Sheev’s lifespan affords her a measure of protection that will make it that much harder to bring her in. Ultimately, the three-part premiere flips the script on Hemlock from the two-part Season 2 finale. It’s now Hemlock and the Empire who stand to lose everything while the remaining members of Clone Force 99 are about to come together to try to stop them. Season 3 is off to a fantastic start and even though its headed to a (mostly) known outcome, it’s doing so in style!
Star Wars animated series such as The Clone Wars and Rebels have habitually brought back characters and returned to locations seen in prior seasons, no matter how big or small of a role they may have played. In this way, characters like Hondo Ohnaka became fan favorites rather than one-offs and stick around long enough to potentially make their way into live-action (fingers crossed, Hondo!). With the third and final season of The Bad Batch underway on Disney Plus, the writers dipped into that playbook in Episode 2, “Paths Unknown”, and brought back a face not seen since Season 1 and with him, one of the galaxy’s more ruthless crime bosses.
Episode 13 of Season 1, “Infested”, introduced Devaronian gangster Roland Durand into the mix of interesting folks Clone Force 99 have crossed paths with. Roland made his big entrance by assuming control of Cid’s Ord Mantell establishment, a move he said he learned from his mother, Devaronian crime boss Isa. Over the course of the episode, as Roland’s tough-guy tactics put him on the wrong side of business with the Pyke Syndicate, it was revealed that Isa was not to be trifled with and was a ruthless and respected leader with enough juice that the Pykes chose not to escalate matters and allowed Roland and the Batchers to walk away from their confrontation…but not before cutting one of Roland’s horns off. In the second episode of the three-episode Season 3 premiere, as Hunter and Wrecker begin their search for Omega, they pay Roland–and his mom–a visit.
You take what you want. That’s the Durand way. It’s a tactic my mother has perfected.
Roland Durand, Season 1-Episode 13
“Paths Unknown” not only introduces Isa Durand but also put a major talent and longtime Hollywood favorite behind the crime boss. Anjelica Huston, who played Morticia Adams in 1991 and 1993’s Addams Family films and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1986’s Prizzi’s Honor, was revealed as a surprise addition to Season 3 as the voice of Isa. Huston, who previously voiced a Sith character in an episode of Star Wars Visions, is now officially apart of the galaxy far, far away!
The first 3 episodes of the final season of The Bad Batch are now streaming on Disney Plus.
Throughout its first two seasons, The Bad Batch has wonderfully–and sometimes painfully–been thematically centered on identity. While some audiences still struggle to recognize animated series as something more than children’s cartoons, The Bad Batch has been a fascinating psychological study of individual change. Over the course of Season 2, each of the members of Clone Force 99 had more or less worked their way through Robert Dilts’ Pyramid of Logical Levels. For better and for worse, Tech, Wrecker, Hunter and, yes, Crosshair, each reengineered his identity and each rebuilt his personal ethos. As their values and beliefs were challenged, the mutant clones reprogrammed their minds and changed their behavior. Tech, Hunter, Wrecker and Omega settled in on Pabu and Crosshair found himself in what he believed to be a comfortable position with the Empire. And then the two-part season finale shook them all to the core of their new identities; however, rather than halt their journeys of personal growth, the cliffhanger put the Bad Batch exactly where they needed to be to complete them. After a lifetime of running missions for others, Season 3 allows the remaining members of Clone Force 99 to determine their own purpose and take on one last mission of their own choosing.
Crosshair has always been severe and unyielding. It is his nature. You cannot change that. He cannot change that.
Tech, The Bad Batch: Kamino Lost
Thought up by George Lucas while he and Dave Filoni were developing Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Clone Force 99’s path to the Star Wars universe was bumpy and their place within it seemed unclear until about halfway through Season 2. Lucas originally conceived of the Bad Batch as a group of aberrant clones that would undergo further testing by the Empire in their pursuit of producing an elite squad of genetic Super Soldiers. While their connection to the Kaminoan cloners was well-explored in Season 1, the introduction of Doctor Royce Hemlock–and the unknown nature of his sister mission–in Season 2 smoothed that bumpy path for The Bad Batch and set the series up to do some of the heaviest science-fiction lifting yet. Throughout the first eight episodes of Season 3, The Bad Batch completes its evolution from a show you might want to watch if you have some time to a show that serves as an integral piece of Star Wars mythology with story-telling tendrils that touch the prequels, the New Republic era of stories and the sequels.
Those storytelling tendrils are most active, both thematically and in shared plot points, during the first five episodes of Season 3. Star Wars fans will find connections to Andor, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and, yes, Star Wars: Episode IX-The Rise of Skywalker. Omega’s abduction by the Empire in Season 2 is, of course, the inciting moment for the action of the first half of Season 3 and her time at Mount Tantiss over the first four episodes is both revelatory and catalytic, exposing a mystery that fans will immediately solve but that will set Clone Force 99 on their true final mission. The first five episodes are easily among the best the series has put forth so far with episodes 1-3, which premiere together, serving not only as the follow-up to the Season 2 cliffhanger but as a wonderful example of how The Bad Batch has carved out a hardcore sci-fi niche within the larger space opera of Star Wars. If you enjoyed the Alien-esque Season 2 episode “Metamorphosis”, the three-episode premiere will be your cup of tea.
I am a soldier of the Empire.
Crosshair, The Bad Batch: The Solitary Clone
Not the only Batcher being held in the Empire’s Weyland facility, Omega’s interactions with Crosshair highlight the strength of head writer Jennifer Corbett in exploring the team’s interpersonal dynamics. Omega and Crosshair couldn’t be much more different from one another than they are but the two form a wonderful bond that ultimately saves them both. As Omega and Crosshair look to escape the facility, Wrecker and an emotionally devastated Hunter work with what they have left to find Omega and an invested audience will surely be anticipating the frosty reunion between Hunter and Crosshair. To that end, episode 5, “The Return”, might be one of the most cathartic episodes of Star Wars TV to date. While it may not hit as hard as Ahsoka’s “Shadow Warrior”, it’s spiritually similar and without it there’s neither a literal nor figurative path forward for what’s left of the team.
Season 3 isn’t all pedal to the metal, however, and is not–as was the case with previous seasons–without its lulls. Episodes 6 and 7 step away from the sci-fi and dip back into some familiar subplots from last season, notably the post-Order 66 politics and the place of discarded Clone Troopers in the Empire. Fans have taken–somewhat understandably and also regrettably–to referring to these episodes as “filler”; however, they’ve become a staple in the modern serial Star Wars narratives and while it’s fair to say they typically slow down the pace of the series (and they do so again here), they also provide the galaxy far, far away with an unparalleled level of verisimilitude by calling to mind the politics of the real world. Star Wars always has and always will delve into politics and the expansion into longer-form narratives simply opens up more space for them to be explored more thoroughly. If you haven’t enjoyed the subplot around Palpatine’s Defense Recruitment Bill or finding out how Rex got his groove back after Order 66, this two-episode arc (“Infiltration and “Extraction”) will not be your cup of tea. If that’s the case, though, you’ll be happy to find that Episode 8, “Bad Territory”, puts the series back on its breakneck pace.
This is who I am.
Crosshair, The Bad Batch: Return to Kamino
With the final 5 episodes withheld from the early screening package, it is unfortunately impossible to make a fair judgment of the final season of The Bad Batch. What can be comfortably and confidently said, however, is that much like the members of Clone Force 99, the show has settled on its identity after wavering on determining just exactly what it was capable of becoming. For it to become truly transformative, though, it will have to become truly impactful by settling on what the ultimate purpose of the Batchers’ three-season journey is and provide true clarity on how the story of Omega and her band of mutant brothers fits into a larger narrative whose ending is already known. And so it’s reasonable to ask that the final five episodes of The Bad Batch deliver an answer to why the show existed in the first place. If they do, Clone Force 99’s last mission will likely establish the series’ place alongside its animated predecessors (Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels) as mandatory viewing for anyone whose mission is to connect to the creator’s true vision of Star Wars.
In the epic final season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the Batch will have their limits tested in the fight to reunite with Omega as she faces challenges of her own inside a remote Imperial science lab. With the group fractured and facing threats from all directions, they will have to seek out unexpected allies, embark on dangerous missions, and muster everything they have learned to free themselves from the Empire.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch showcases a talented voice cast, including Dee Bradley
Baker (American Dad!), Michelle Ang (Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), Jimmi Simpson (Westworld), Noshir Dalal (It’s Pony) and Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws).
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is executive produced by Dave Filoni (Ahsoka, The
Mandalorian), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad
Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance), Jennifer Corbett (Star
Wars Resistance, NCIS) and Carrie Beck (Ahsoka, The Mandalorian), with Josh
Rimes (Star Wars Resistance, Star Wars: Visions) as co-executive producer and Alex
Spotswood (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) as senior producer. Rau
is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.
Their mission is not over yet…
On February 21st, the first 3 episodes of the third and final season of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch will debut on Disney Plus. Clone Force 99 has one last fight in them but before you embark on their final mission with them, there is plenty of time to catch up on what the clone commandos have been up to since they first debuted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Good soldiers follow orders and we order you to check out The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before The Bad Batch Season 3.
If you want to be fully prepared to understand all the references and nuances that will certainly be thrown your way beginning February 21st, you have some serious homework to do…including watching a couple of prequel films.
One of the great revelations of Attack of the Clones was that an entire clone army had been bred and trained right under the noses of the Jedi. Obi-Wan’s trip to Kamino gave the Jedi quite a mystery to solve and all these years later, the Clone Force 99’s last mission is still tied to what went on there. Kamino played quite an important role in the first season of The Bad Batch, so revisiting it and all its key players is a worthy venture as you prepare for the final season.
Though it was only mentioned a couple of times in A New Hope, the Clone Wars–like Boba Fett–was one of those things that took on a life of its own in the minds of fans over the years. Attack of the Clones teed it up and though 2003’s Clone Wars series first brought it to life, most fans know that’s not considered canon so the 2008 film provides the first canonical Clone Wars story. It also sets up the animated series that ran for 7 seasons and introduced Echo and Clone Force 99 (and, of course, Ahsoka), so, by all means, take the time to revisit it before moving along.
Rewatching/watching all 7 seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a must for every true Star Wars fan; however, attempting to do so before February 21st might prove tricky. With that in mind, here are the key episodes that introduce the major players and some of the plot points you need to know to fully enjoy The Bad Batch.
Clone troopers unite! As war rages across the galaxy, the Republic’s clone army strives for victory against the evil forces of the Separatists. Bravery, valor, unity — the lifeblood of victory on the battlefield and in space. It all begins on the planet Kamino, where Jedi General Shaak Ti oversees the training of clones with the help of contracted bounty hunters. Bred to be perfect soldiers, these cadets must first be subjected to intense physical and mental training before heading off to war….
“Clone Cadets” delves into the lives of clone troopers and witness their rigorous training in Kamino’s cloning facility. The episode showcases the determination and camaraderie of the cadets as they face challenges and prove their worth. The story revolves around a squad of clone cadets named Domino Squad. Led by an experienced clone trooper named Sergeant O’Niner, the squad consists of five unique members: Hevy, Fives, Cutup, Droidbait and Echo, who is destined to become a member of The Bad Batch. Unlike their fellow cadets, Domino Squad has struggled to pass the various tests required for graduation, making them the underdogs of the facility. As the episode progresses, we witness the squad’s struggles and the bond forming between the members. Despite their differences in personality and approach, they learn to work together and overcome their individual weaknesses. Hevy, the hot-headed member of the group, initially believes that their failure is a sign that they are not fit to be soldiers. However, with the encouragement of his squadmates, he begins to regain his confidence.
Meanwhile, a group of bounty hunters, including the infamous Cad Bane, infiltrates the cloning facility with the intention of stealing clones for their own purposes. As the cadets’ final exam approaches, they encounter the bounty hunters, leading to a thrilling showdown. With their training and newfound unity, Domino Squad successfully defends the facility and foils the bounty hunters’ plans. In the end, Domino Squad’s determination and growth are rewarded as they graduate from their training and officially become clone troopers. Their impressive teamwork and resilience earn them the respect of their superiors and fellow cadets. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with the cadets ready to face the challenges that lie ahead as they join the ongoing war effort. It provides deeper insight into the lives of clone troopers, emphasizing that even though they are clones, they possess unique personalities and abilities which really sets the stage for Clone Force 99.
Interestingly enough, “Clone Cadets”–though part of Season 3–is a prequel episode to Season 1’s “Rookies.”
Clone forces rally! As the war escalates in the Outer Rim, the Jedi Knights are spread thinly across the galaxy. Many new clones are rushed into service to support their Jedi generals. Unfortunately, because of the relentless demands of battle, many young clones must join the struggle before their intensive training has been completed. These clones, manning a vital network of tracking stations, are all that stand between the Republic and invasion…
“Rookies” sees Domino Squad stationed on the remote Rishi moon outpost as they find themselves facing a significant challenge when their base is unexpectedly attacked by separatist droids. The episode begins with the clone troopers going about their routine tasks on the desolate Rishi outpost. However, things take a turn when a distress signal from a nearby listening post is intercepted. The outpost is ordered to investigate, and the troopers are left as the only line of defense. Meanwhile, the droids, under the command of the tactical droid commander, infiltrate the moon’s surface undetected. Their mission is to capture the base and install a listening device to intercept Republic transmissions.
Back at the Rishi outpost, rookie clones Hevy, Cutup, Droidbait, and Echo are left feeling uncertain and overwhelmed with their new responsibilities. Their lack of experience and doubts about their abilities make them an easy target for the droid invaders. As the droids launch their attack, the inexperienced rookies find themselves struggling to defend the outpost. However, they manage to hold their ground and fight back using their limited resources and skills. Despite the odds stacked against them, the rookies display bravery and determination in their efforts to protect the base. By the episode’s end, only Echo and Fives remain alive and are both inducted into the 501st.
Separatist attack! After the destruction of the Republic outpost on the Rishi Moon, General Grievous and Asajj Ventress plan an attack on the planet Kamino, home of the cloning factories. Meanwhile, aboard a Jedi cruiser, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi examine an intercepted message from General Grievous….
Season 3, Episode 2 follows the elite clone trooper units known as Advanced Recon Commandos (ARCs) as they face off against the Separatist forces on the planet Kamino. The episode opens with the Separatist invasion of Kamino, home to the Republic’s clone army. As the Separatist droid army storms the cloning facility, the ARCs, led by Captain Rex and Commander Cody, spring into action to repel the invaders. The ARCs, renowned for their specialized training and combat prowess, prove to be a formidable line of defense against the overwhelming odds, including Asajj Ventress and General Grievous. By the end of the episode, Fives and Echo are promoted as ARC troopers.
Captured! Returning from a perilous assignment in the Outer Rim, Jedi Master Even Piell’s cruiser has fallen under attack and been boarded. Seeking vital information he carries about secret hyperspace lanes called the Nexus Route, Separatist forces have taken him alive. Now the Jedi are preparing a stealth mission into the heart of Separatist space in an effort to rescue Master Piell from the deadly prison known as the Citadel….
Led by Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex, a team of elite clone troopers embarks on a daring infiltration mission that will test their skills, resolve, and loyalty to the Republic. The episode opens with the Republic learning of the capture of Jedi Master Even Piell, who possesses vital information about hyperspace routes crucial to the war effort. Determined to retrieve this valuable asset, Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex assemble a team of seasoned clone troopers, including Echo, Fives, and Commander Cody, to undertake the perilous rescue mission to retrieve Piell from from the impenetrable fortress known as the Citadel.
As the Republic forces infiltrate the Citadel, they encounter a series of formidable obstacles and deadly traps designed to thwart intruders. The tension escalates as the team navigates the treacherous corridors of the fortress, facing off against Separatist droid guards and other obstacles at every turn. The stakes are raised when the team encounters Osi Sobeck, the sadistic warden of the Citadel, who will stop at nothing to prevent the Republic forces from succeeding in their mission. With Sobeck’s cunning traps and ruthless tactics posing a constant threat, the team must stay one step ahead to outsmart their adversaries and secure their objective.
Escape from a Separatist prison! Carrying information about secret routes into the heart of the Republic and Separatist homeworlds, Jedi Master Even Piell was captured and imprisoned in a fortress known as the Citadel. Leading an elite strike team, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker rescue Master Piell and his officers. Now the Jedi have split up to evade Separatist forces as they attempt to escape the Citadel….
The Republic’s heroes face dire circumstances as they are trapped behind enemy lines on the planet Lola Sayu. As the Republic forces push forward, they encounter fierce resistance from the Separatist droid army, led by the sadistic warden Osi Sobeck. With Sobeck’s cunning strategies and ruthless tactics, the Republic’s escape becomes increasingly perilous, testing the resolve of the heroes to their limits.
Echo’s technical expertise and strategic thinking are instrumental in the Republic’s plans to break through enemy lines and secure their escape. As a seasoned soldier, Echo contributes valuable insights and tactical suggestions to the team, helping them navigate the treacherous terrain of Lola Sayu and outsmart the Separatist forces. During the episode, Echo is critically wounded while attempting to secure the Republic’s escape from the Separatist-controlled planet. As a result, his condition is left in doubt, and there are concerns among his fellow clone troopers about whether he has survived the ordeal.
The battle for Anaxes! One of the Republic’s largest shipyards is under attack from Admiral Trench’s Separatist forces. Jedi Generals Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker lead a two-pronged assault on the ground and in the air. But after weeks of heated battle and mounting losses, the Republic’s grip on Anaxes begins to slip away….
The first appearance of Clone Force 99! The episode starts with Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex receiving a distress signal from the planet Anaxes, which is under attack by the Separatist forces. Rex and Anakin send a squad of Clone Troopers called the “Bad Batch” to investigate the situation. The Bad Batch consists of four genetically enhanced clones, each with unique abilities. They are Hunter, who has enhanced sensory skills, Crosshair, an expert marksman, Wrecker, a super strong trooper, and Tech, a clone with advanced intelligence and technical skills. As the Bad Batch infiltrates the Separatist-held Cyber Center, they encounter droids with enhanced tactical strategies. Despite the droids’ advantage, the Bad Batch manages to outsmart and defeat them. Alongside the Clone Troopers, they rescue Echo, a clone trooper who was presumed dead but is actually being held captive and used to gather intel for the Separatists.
Rex and Anakin begin to suspect that Echo’s rescue was too easy and that the Separatists might be using him to feed false information. As they leave Anaxes, Rex shares his concerns with Commander Cody, hinting at a potential trap. Overall, “The Bad Batch” sets up the storyline for the rest of Season 7, establishing the Bad Batch as unique and formidable allies for the Republic. It also introduces the mystery surrounding Echo’s captivity and establishes the impending danger that Rex and the other clones will face in the upcoming episodes.
Conspiracy! After repeated setbacks on the planet Anaxes, an elite clone squad is deployed to investigate the Separatist tactical advantage. This special unit, called the Bad Batch, infiltrates Admiral Trench’s cyber center to steal a strategic algorithm capable of predicting the Republic’s every move. What our heroes found was a live signal from the ARC trooper known as Echo, a clone long believed to be dead….
The story continues in “A Distant Echo,” with Captain Rex, Anakin Skywalker, and the Bad Batch pursuing their mission to find Clone Trooper Echo, who was presumed dead during a battle on the planet of Anaxes. The episode begins with the team landing on Skako Minor, a remote planet controlled by the Techno Union. They meet a local alien named Poletec, who guides them through treacherous terrain to the Techno Union’s headquarters, where they believe Echo is being held. While making their way through the complex, the team encounters intense resistance and faces deadly droids. However, they manage to find a lab where the Techno Union experiments on Echo. They are shocked to discover that Echo is still alive, but he has been heavily modified with cybernetic enhancements, linking him to a computer system. Rex pleads with Echo to remember who he is and that they are there to rescue him. Echo hesitates, unsure of whether he can trust them.
Meanwhile, the Separatist General Trench, who is overseeing the Techno Union’s operations, becomes aware of the Republic’s presence and orders a full-scale attack. As the clones and the Bad Batch fight their way out of the facility, Echo eventually decides to join them. Together, they manage to escape the besieged headquarters, but not without severe casualties. The team barely makes it back to their ship, holding onto the hope of Echo’s potential recovery. Back on Anaxes, Rex and the others deliver Echo to the Jedi Council, who plan to investigate the Techno Union’s cybernetic modifications and obtain crucial information about the Separatists. However, the council worries about the risks of using Echo’s knowledge, given the possibility of him being compromised. In the final moments of the episode, Anakin expresses his concern for Rex, fearing that his close attachment to Echo might cloud his judgment.
The rescue mission to save Echo proves successful, but it also raises questions about the consequences of war and the line between humanity and machinery. With Echo now back in their grasp, the Republic faces new challenges as they prepare to uncover the secrets that could significantly impact the outcome of the Clone Wars.
Trapped! On an unsanctioned mission to rescue ARC trooper Echo, General Skywalker, Captain Rex, and the Bad Batch travel to Skako Minor, headquarters of the Techno Union. After a harrowing encounter with the natives, our heroes infiltrate the city of Purkoll, only to find themselves surrounded by Wat Tambor’s forces….
The story continues with the daring rescue mission of the captives from the Techno Union facility on the planet of Skako Minor in “On the Wings of Keeradaks.” The episode begins with Anakin, Rex and with the Bad Batch making their way through the dense forests of Skako Minor towards the Techno Union facility to free Echo. As they approach the facility, the team encounters fierce resistance from the native creatures known as Keeradaks. These winged reptilian creatures prove to be a formidable obstacle, attacking the clones and causing their transport ship to crash.
Undeterred, the team splits up, with Anakin and Captain Rex heading toward the facility while the Bad Batch attempts to repair the ship. Anakin and Rex manage to infiltrate the facility and locate Echo, who is hooked up to a machine that is extracting information from his mind. Anakin and Rex rescue Echo, but their escape is cut short when they are confronted by Watt Tambor, the Techno Union foreman. A fierce battle ensues, during which Echo showcases his enhanced abilities and knowledge of the Separatists’ plans. Ultimately, Anakin, Rex, and Echo manage to overpower Watt Tambor and escape with the help of the Bad Batch, who arrive just in time with their repaired ship. The episode concludes with the reunited team flying away from Skako Minor, determined to bring Echo back to the Republic and uncover the true extent of the Separatists’ plans.
Reunited! With the help of the Bad Batch, Captain Rex rescues his old friend, ARC Trooper Echo, from the Techno Union. The Separatists’ loss of Echo’s strategic algorithm provides a chance for the Republic to turn the tide in the Battle for Anaxes. However, Echo’s horrifying experience behind enemy lines leaves lingering questions of his true loyalty and uncertain future….
The first episode of the season of The Bad Batch takes place following Chancellor Palpatine declaring Order 66 to be executed and that, of course, takes place during Revenge of the Sith. The revelation that the clones obedience to the directive came via chips implanted in their heads is a major plot point in The Bad Batch. When executed, Order 66 commanded the clone troopers to kill their Jedi Generals, effectively wiping out the Jedi Order. The order was implemented towards the end of the Clone Wars, when Chancellor Palpatine revealed himself as a Sith Lord and took control of the Republic, transforming it into the Galactic Empire. The end of the Clone Wars and what that meant for clones is also heavily explored in The Bad Batch.
No reason to ramble here. Obviously to understand Season 3, the two seasons that came before it are required viewing.
If you’re short on time and are looking for the essential episodes of the first two seasons of The Bad Batch, try this on for size. While it’s probably pretty important to watch every episode (because you truly never know which character or location will come back in a big way), this list does provide you with a pretty solid idea of the overarching plot.
Separatists pushed to the brink! Republic forces continue to mount victories on battlefronts across the galaxy. After the Jedi Knights thwarted an attempt to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine, the evil droid general Grievous retreated to the Outer Rim. With his legions of battle droids severely depleted, Grievous mounts a desperate and brutal counterattack across several star systems. We find Republic clone troopers locked in deadly combat on the besieged world of Kaller. Led by Jedi Master Depa Billaba, they struggle to hold their position as they wait for reinforcements to arrive….
Season 1, Episode 5-Rampage
Season 1, Episode 7-Battle Scars
Season 1, Episode 8-Reunion
Season 1, Episode 9-Bounty Lost
Season 1, Episode 14-War-Mantle
Season 1, Episode 15-Return to Kamino
Season 1, Episode 16-Kamino Lost
These 9 Season 1 episodes deal with the themes of identity and individuality while exploring exactly what was going on at the cloning facility of Kamino.
Season 2, Episode 1-Spoils of War
Season 2, Episode 2-Ruins of War
Season 2, Episode 3-The Solitary Clone
Season 2, Episode 7-The Clone Conspiracy
Season 2, Episode 8-Truth and Consequences
Season 2, Episode 11-Metamorphosis
Season 2, Episode 12-The Outpost
Season 2, Episode 14-Tipping Point
Season 2, Episode 15-The Summit
Season 2, Episode 16-Plan 99
Family. Season 2 of The Bad Batch spends a lot of time allowing each character to grow and to establish that Clone Force 99 wants to be done running missions and to settle down as a family. The two-part season finale, of course, makes that impossible and sets up their one last mission.
In the epic final season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the Batch will have their limits tested in the fight to reunite with Omega as she faces challenges of her own inside a remote Imperial science lab. With the group fractured and facing threats from all directions, they will have to seek out unexpected allies, embark on dangerous missions, and muster everything they have learned to free themselves from the Empire.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch showcases a talented voice cast, including Dee Bradley
Baker (American Dad!), Michelle Ang (Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), Jimmi Simpson (Westworld), Noshir Dalal (It’s Pony) and Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws).
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is executive produced by Dave Filoni (Ahsoka, The
Mandalorian), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad
Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance), Jennifer Corbett (Star
Wars Resistance, NCIS) and Carrie Beck (Ahsoka, The Mandalorian), with Josh
Rimes (Star Wars Resistance, Star Wars: Visions) as co-executive producer and Alex
Spotswood (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) as senior producer. Rau
is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.
Lucasfilm’s first 2024 streaming series will be the third and final season of the Star Wars animated series, The Bad Batch. Announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2024, Season 3 of The Bad Batch will see what’s left of Clone Force 99 go on one last mission in an effort to rescue Omega. Disney recently revealed that the series will debut with three episodes on February 21st and now they’ve shared the full release schedule along with the titles of all 15 episodes.
In addition to the three-episode premiere, Season 3 of The Bad Batch will also drop multiple episodes on March 13th and April 3rd, which means the series finale will stream on May 1st, just ahead of Star Wars Day 2024.
In addition to the release dates, Executive Producer and Head Writer Jennifer Corbett revealed the titles for each of the 15 episodes.
Of note, the title of the series finale, “The Cavalry Has Arrived”, are the words said by Wrecker when Clone Force 99 was introduced in the first episode of Season 7 of The Clone Wars when the Batch arrived on Anaxes. A pair of episodes, “The Return” and “Identity Crisis”, stand out as potential ones to watch for the return of fan-favorite Asajj Ventress, who is seemingly back from the dead for the new season.
In the epic final season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the Batch will have their limits tested in the fight to reunite with Omega as she faces challenges of her own inside a remote Imperial science lab. With the group fractured and facing threats from all directions, they will have to seek out unexpected allies, embark on dangerous missions, and muster everything they have learned to free themselves from the Empire.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch showcases a talented voice cast, including Dee Bradley
Baker (American Dad!), Michelle Ang (Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), Jimmi Simpson (Westworld), Noshir Dalal (It’s Pony) and Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws).
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is executive produced by Dave Filoni (Ahsoka, The
Mandalorian), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad
Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance), Jennifer Corbett (Star
Wars Resistance, NCIS) and Carrie Beck (Ahsoka, The Mandalorian), with Josh
Rimes (Star Wars Resistance, Star Wars: Visions) as co-executive producer and Alex
Spotswood (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) as senior producer. Rau
is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.
Even before Lucasfilm officially announced a third and final season of the animated series, the emotional two-part finale of the second season of The Bad Batch made it all but a sure thing. After trying so hard to leave the merc life behind them and settle down as a family, Clone Force 99 saw everything they worked for shattered. There’s work to do and hell to pay and now we know when we can expect to see their last mission get underway.
In a thrilling first trailer for the final season of The Bad Batch, Lucasfilm revealed that the first 3 episodes of Season 3 will stream on Disney Plus on February 21st.
If the announcement of the debut date wasn’t exciting enough for you, the trailer also revealed that fan-favorite Asajj Ventress has somehow returned from the grave. Throughout the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the 2015 novel The Dark Disciple, Ventress embarked on a fascinating journey that ultimately led to her redeeming herself, finding her way to the light side of the Force and sacrificing herself to save Quinlan Vos. It will be incredibly interesting to see how Dave Filoni retcons her death but if her appearance is a hint of what’s to come in the final season, fans are in for something special.
As Hollywood prepares to slow down for the holiday season, studios have begun rolling out information about their 2024 slates. With so many high-profile brands under its umbrella and its own streaming service, Disney is always one of the busiest studios in the business. Following an extended work stoppage in Hollywood, 2024 won’t be quite as busy as expected for the studio but there’s still quite a bit to look forward to, especially if you’re a Star Wars fan.
Lucasfilm will roll out four Star Wars streaming series on Disney Plus over the course of 2024. While Disney did not reveal release windows, they officially revealed that The Acolyte, Season 3 of The Bad Batch, Season 2 of Tales of the Jedi and Skeleton Crew will hit the streaming service at some point.
Recently, The Bad Batch and Tales of the Jedi were left off an official release by Disney UK, prompting reports that the two animated series might end up being delayed until 2025. While that’s not the case, it does seem that Season 2 of Andor, one of Lucasfilm’s most well-received Star Wars streaming series, will not release in 2024. Release slates rarely hold true, however, so anything from cancellations to delays to projects not currently listed ending up in 2024 is on the table.
About Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Star Wars: The Bad Batch follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in The Clone Wars) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch—a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army— each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable
crew.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is executive produced by Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance), Jennifer Corbett (Star Wars Resistance, NCIS) and Carrie Beck (The Mandalorian, Star Wars Rebels) with Josh Rimes (Star Wars Resistance, Star Wars: Visions) and Alex Spotswood (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) as producers. Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer and Matt Michnovetz as story editor.
About Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi is an anthology of six all-new animated shorts produced by Lucasfilm Animation and created by Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels). Based on Star Wars and characters created by George Lucas, the series is set during the prequel era and spotlights important moments in the lives of fan-favorite characters Ahsoka Tano and Jedi-turned-Sith Lord Count Dooku as they embark on respective paths toward heroism and villainy. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi features the voices of Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano; Corey Burton as Count Dooku; Janina Gavankar as Ahsoka’s mother, Pav-ti; Micheál Richardson as young Qui-Gon Jinn; TC Carson as Mace Windu; Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious; Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn; Phil
Lamarr as Bail Organa; Clancy Brown as Inq.
Dave Filoni is the creator, supervising director, executive producer, and writer of five of the six shorts: “Life and Death”; “Justice”; “The Sith Lord”; “Practice Makes Perfect”; and “Resolve.” Charles Murray and Élan Murray are the writers of “Choices.” Nathaniel Villanueva directs “Life and Death”; Charles Murray directs “Choices”; Saul Ruiz directs “Justice”; “The Sith Lord”; “Practice Makes Perfect”; and “Resolve.” In addition to Filoni, Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck are executive producers; Alex Spotswood and Josh Rimes are producers.
