Top 5 Moments From The Bad Batch Premier

How many of us were sitting at the edge of our seat in anticipation for the clock to strike midnight in Pacific Daylight Time (or whatever the equivalent time is in your particular timezone)? It was like waiting for midnight to hit on Christmas Eve so you can open your presents. For this year’s Star Wars Day, we were treated to the highly anticipated premier episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. The first episode definitely did not disappoint and promised a great series to come. Obviously, SPOILER ALERT!!! 

Without further adieu, here are the top 5 moments (in this author’s opinion) from The Bad Batch premier.

5.) Bad Batch combat proficiency test

We already saw what the Bad Batch can do against the droid army. Now watch them effortlessly deal with a combat simulation. (Can’t we just show Admiral Tarkin the footage from Kaller instead? It was literally five people against an entire droid army). Then Tarkin raised the stakes when he ordered for live rounds to be used. The squad’s ingenuity once again allowed them to win.

Did anyone else cheer when Wrecker suplexed the battle droid? What about when Crosshair shot the tossed knife into the battle droid?

4.) Appearance of Omega

At first, some of us shared a similar sentiment as Hunter as this mysterious blonde kid seemed to be annoyingly following the Bad Batch everywhere. Our feeling no doubt changed when she chose to join them in the mess hall, and instigate a food fight in response to a “reg” bully.

“I like this kid!” - Wrecker

When Tech as a matter of fact revealed that Omega is a clone, a few questions popped up in our mind. Who is she a clone of? Is she “defective” too? Is she Force sensitive? How does she get so good with a blaster?

“A state of heightened awareness is not unusual for an enhanced clone such as herself.” - Tech

3.) Onderon

With the appearance of Saw Gerrera, we link Bad Batch to yet another part of the Star Wars saga. Furthermore, the order to attack the “insurgents” on Onderon tells Hunter and the rest of the squad that things are not back to normal like they previously thought. The Empire is not the Republic. For the first time, they face the dilemma of being a good soldier who follows orders without question and the morality of those orders itself. They have been on the “right side” previously, but are they still on the “right side”?

“The Clone War may have ended, but a civil war is about to begin.” - Saw Gerrera

2.) The opening scene on the snowy planet of Kaller

The cinematography of the opening scene made you forget that this is an animated show and not a live-action movie. Smut and debris fell as a result of explosions, and the smoke cleared away, dropping us right in the middle of action. Then we zoomed in on Master Billaba, and saw the mix of emotions on her face. We should be celebrating. We are launching a counterattack. We can win this. Like Billaba, we are confused as to why we feel this impending doom instead. Then in the calm of the storm, we hear the fateful words: “Execute Order 66.” Dave Filoni just gave us a preamble of what he could do with this new series.

Storywise, some of us might ask why are we focusing on Depa Billaba and who is this Padawan of hers that came sliding down “snowboarding style, ushering in reinforcement in the form of our Bad Batch? As we get lost in the Clone Force 99 jumping into action, showing off their abilities, you might miss the significance of this Caleb (And why does this kid have a very deep adult voice of Freddie Prinze Jr. anyway?). You then recall that Kanan Jarrus is the Padawan of Jedi Master Depa Billaba, and his previous name was Caleb Dume. Star Wars: Bad Batch just essentially ties itself to Rebels in addition to Clone Wars.

The interaction between Hunter and Caleb post-Order 66 demonstrated the confusion happening around the Clone Force 99 (who apparently “missed the memo” about Order 66). This uncertainty would persist throughout the episode as the squad tries to make sense of this new Galactic Empire.

1.) Crosshair vs. the Bad Batch

We might have seen a foreshadowing of this early on as Crosshair insisted on following Order 66 (albeit not as passionately as the other clone soldiers), and when he argued with Hunter concerning his action concerning Caleb. This author wrote it off as Crosshair being more on the rule-following spectrum among the squad of rule breakers. Then Kaminoan Chief Medical Scientist Nala Se explained that among the Bad Batch, Crosshair’s inhibitor chip is the only one working, but his defect causes Order 66 to be weakened. Not to worry, Admiral Tarkin, we can intensify Order 66 in CT-9904’s brain.

“I know what you’re going to do, but please don’t...I know it’s not your fault. You can’t help it” - Omega

The subsequent standoff in the hangar between Crosshair against his former friends showed that he would be a formidable enemy. From all their times together, he knew the Bad Batch intimately, and could predict their actions to a certain degree. This could be where Fennec Shand enters the series. After all, we would love to see some sniper vs. sniper action.

No one saw this coming as ALL promotion artworks for the show have Crosshair standing WITH the Bad Batch not against them. However, Star Wars is all about redemption. Perhaps we will see Crosshair working with the Bad Batch again.

Bonus: The jump to hyperspace scene

The cinematography excels once again as the music swells and we share the same sense of wonder we see reflected in Omega's eyes. We are about to jump into hyperspace. Despite the circumstances, it is a new beginning.

“Plot a course for J-19.” - Hunter

What is J-19? Who’s at J-19? Is it Friday yet?

Written By Apinya Wong

Syndicated From Culture Slate

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