This is how to turn around a slow start to a season. The Bad Batch S2 has completely turned around what looked to be another boring, pointless season into one of the best series in Star Wars history as the S2 Finale awaits!
I take back everything negative I’ve said about The Bad Batch Season 2: this is a worthy successor to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and is actually a great character study of the universe post Order 66 through the clones’ perspective.
Okay, let me qualify all of that by saying The Bad Batch Season 2 will be a worthy successor to SW: The Clone Wars as long as the final two episode play out as brilliantly as the past 6-7 arcs have. Though, with Dave Filoni at the helm, I have full confidence the season will end on the highest of high notes.
Like I said, I was a huge skeptic going into the Bad Batch this season as the first season (aside from a few arcs) served little purpose other than to bloat the content post Order 66 and give the Bad Batch, a group of clones that should have a ton of characterization, a bunch of boring side quests.
And, unfortunately, the second season started out very similarly as the Bad Batch had to embark on treasure hunts that ended up getting them nowhere, recovering stolen loot and valuables from Count Dooku’s former home that also ended up getting them nowhere, and pod racing to save Cid’s, who is an insufferable character, life.
Yeah, not the bombastic, intriguing, or emotional questlines and character arcs we all were hoping for.
But, as only a great storyteller can pull off, Dave Filoni has managed to turn this season around just like he did with the early Clone Wars seasons (though, those still have better stories in my opinion) by giving us fantastic character arcs like The Solitary Clone (Ep. 3), The Clone Conspiracy (Ep. 7-8), The Crossing (Ep. 9-10), Metamorphosis (Ep.11), The Outpost (Ep. 12), Pabu (Ep. 13), and The Tipping Point (Ep. 15).
Sure, some of these episodes were a little better (well, more like a lot better in The Solitary Clone, The Outpost, and The Tipping Point) than the others, but all of them served a vital purpose in introducing new concepts, new characters, new relationships, and new dynamics that has infinitely made the show more exciting and interesting.
Instead of bemoaning how boring the Bad Batch was and how they never grew, I can now proudly boast how Echo is turning into a war leader, Hunter has nearly left his soldiering life behind, Omega has matured into the world around her, Tech is in the middle of finding love (which was nonexistent in any clone’s mind, let alone his nerdy self), and Crosshair has finally abandoned his blind loyalty to the Empire and is in the process of learning what a “good soldier” really is.
(Disney/Lucasfilm-Star Wars: The Bad Batch-S2, Ep.14: The Tipping Point)
Moreover, the introduction/reintroduction of phenomenal new/recurring characters, such as Captain Howzer, Commander Mayday, Captain Wilco, Fireball, Nemec, Dr. Royce Hemlock, Senator Riyo Chuchi, the Zillo Beasts, Emperor Palpatine, the clone commandos, Gregor, Commander Cody, etc., have elevated this season far above even the best moments of Season 1.
Hell, I’ve even done a full 180 on Phee as she’s actually shown a lot of motivation and character during her appearances in the Pabu and The Tipping Point arcs than her goofy introduction during the treasure hunting episode.
Instead of being the knockoff, goofy Indiana Jones copycat I thought Filoni was making her out to be, she has actually turned into a reliable, snarky, yet empathic character that actually wishes to see the best for the Bad Batch. Unlike a certain green slug alien (cough…Cid…cough) that gave out some of the most boring side missions ever!
The show just has so much more heart to it now, which is all I (along with many others) was asking for.
And, I’d be willing to bet my life savings (which is $0, but that’s beside the point) the final two episodes, Ep. 15: The Summit and Ep.16: Plan 99, will only add to this season’s greatness.
I don’t want to speculate too much, but there’s obviously going to be an epic showdown on Mount Tantiss (which is one of the coolest and most mysterious places in the Star Wars lore) as the Bad Batch will try to save Crosshair, who heroically warned them about the Empire’s plans to hunt them down, from a horrible fate under Dr. Hemlock’s evil watch.
(Disney/Lucasfilm-Star Wars: The Bad Batch-S2, Ep.14: The Tipping Point)
Truthfully, I’m a little nervous about the final episode’s name, Plan 99, as I have a sinking feeling someone important on the show will meet an abrupt end. But I’ll just leave it at that as I’m eagerly awaiting the two-part finale on March 29th!
Images Source: Featured Image: (Disney/Lucasfilm) (Star Wars: The Bad Batch-S2, Ep.13: Pabu)
In Text Image 1: (Disney/Lucasfilm) (Star Wars: The Bad Batch-S2, Ep.14: The Tipping Point)
In Text Image 2: (Disney/Lucasfilm) (Star Wars: The Bad Batch-S2, Ep.14: The Tipping Point)
