The second episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch is a minor improvement

While the premiere was fun and action-packed, the second episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch takes its time to focus on characters.

If you thought last week’s episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch was exhilarating, then you’ll love this week, as the titular deadly mercenaries spend most of their time on…a farm. After narrowly escaping the newly formed Empire and their former comrade-in-arms Crosshair, the Bad Batch head to Sector J-19 to lay low with deserter Cut Lawquane. The arrival of the defective Clone squad forces the Lawquane family to go on the run. While it saves some action for the end, “Cut and Run” primarily focuses on the characters as Clone Force 99 helps the family.

Hunter continues to be the most interesting character from the main cast, and we spend the most time with him. He starts to grow attached to Omega and makes it his responsibility to look after her. Cut teaches him how to look after children and act as a guardian after Omega’s life is put at risk.

The show wants us to view Hunter as Omega’s father figure or protective older brother. It’s cute, but it feels too similar to Din Djarin and Grogu’s relationship fromThe Mandalorian, except instead of one grumpy soldier taking care of a young child, it’s four. I’d like to see their relationship advance, but I’ll be disappointed if it copies what has worked before.

One of the best improvements over last week is Omega herself, who receives some much-needed development. Watching her react to the wide galaxy and other children warmed me up to her, as did her dynamics with Hunter and the other Clones. The episode teases her mysterious nature yet again, which feels familiar (cough, Grogu, cough) and hints at a reveal later down the road.

While Hunter is the main focus of “Cut and Run,” the other three Clones don’t have much to do until halfway through the episode. Tech and Echo retrieve chain codes so the Lawquane family can escape without detection from the Empire. While I’m glad to see Echo get more lines, Wrecker is sidelined.

The show struggles to give the characters equal screen time as it focuses on Hunter and Omega. I’m curious how the show will find a balance in upcoming episodes.

The highlight of the episode is Tech, Echo and Omega getting the chain codes; it’s thrilling to watch the characters sneak past Imperial clone troopers. Their plan quickly goes south as Omega interferes and clones open fire at Tech and Echo. Wrecker and Hunter join the fight later, and Clone Force 99 barely escapes with their lives, which is classic Star Wars stuff. I had a great time watching this sequence.

Speaking of the Empire, the premiere rushed through its takeover of the galaxy. I wanted to see more details about how people were reacting. “Cut and Run” delivers. We get to see how clones act as Imperial enforcers before the Stormtroopers get involved. We see drastic changes in law enforcement. It’s the kind of worldbuilding that I like in these Star Wars spin-off shows.

We’ll see more of the Empire in its formative years in future episodes, all through the eyes of clone troopers’ eyes. This is something I hope The Mandalorian explores with the First Order.

Overall, “Cut and Run” is a nice break from the action as it focuses on developing pivotal characters. However, the show needs to find a better balance between the main cast, because it’s starting to feel like the Hunter and Omega show and not The Bad Batch. Hopefully, other characters like Captain Rex and Fennec Shand won’t steal the spotlight from Clone Force 99 when they appear. The show has some work to do before I start caring about the other Bad Batch members.

Grade: B+

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