Star Wars: The Bad Batch returns with a low-stakes season 2 premiere

Star Wars: The Bad Batch returned on Wednesday with a two-episode premiere to kick off season 2. After a year-and-a-half hiatus, we got to see a brand new adventure with Clone Force 99  as they pulled a heist on the home of an old villain. Read our review of “Spoils of War” and “Ruins of War” below.

Catching Up

The premiere episode opens with the Bad Batch on a beach planet escaping from giant crabs. They are now sporting orange accents on their armor and Omega finally has some practical equipment, like a helmet. In addition to getting more skilled with her bow, Omega is also learning about military gear and tactics from Tech.

They’re completing a mission for the Trandosian Cid. They return to her base after escaping the crabs and securing a package. When they arrive, a pirate named Phee gives the crew intelligence on a possible high-paying mission in the outer rim.

In Dooku’s Castle

The intelligence turns out to be about Count Dooku’s castle on Serenno, and how he left behind a fortune after he died in Revenge of the Sith. In addition to being born into a wealthy family, Dooku spent years exploiting the Sepratist planets for their riches and stockpiling them at his castle. Now the Empire has begun extracting the riches, but there is still time for the Bad Batch to steal some of it.

After Hunter initially refuses the mission, because of course he does, the rest of the group unanimously decides that they want to go for it. A rift between Echo and Hunter seems to be forming, as Echo wants to use the funds they are going to steal to buy more weapons and soldiers to help fight the Empire. However, Hunter is still apprehensive about getting Omega involved in a war. The young clone overhears the two bickering and feels like she is responsible for the team being on the run.

The Heist

After trying to complete the mission with stealth, the heist goes awry and the Bad Batch end up shooting their way out. Omega, Echo and Tech get trapped in one of the Empire’s cargo ships while Hunter and Wrecker try to help from the ground. The crew on the ship is eventually jettisoned back to the surface in a cargo container, and Tech breaks his leg in the crash.

Pursued by clones led by a captain named Wilco, the survivors eventually make contact and get help from a local named Romar. Romar explains that the war chests the crew is seeking hold riches not only from offworld, but from Serenno as well. He also wants nothing to do with the treasure and just wants everyone to leave his home so he can live in peace. Echo again voices his displeasure at the team not doing enough to fight the Empire, this time to Tech.

Meanwhile, Hunter and Wrecker find old Sepratist tanks and salvage a cannon that Wrecker uses as a portable missile launcher. They fend off Wilco’s men and make it back to their ship, the Maurauder.

Escape

Omega decides to go after the jewels herself, not knowing Imperial troopers are closing in on the container. Echo goes after her. She tells him about overhearing his argument with Hunter and that she feels like the team doesn’t have a normal life because of her. After narrowly escaping with help from Romar, the team leaves Serenno empty-handed, except for a kaleidoscope that Romar gives to Omega.

When they’re safe in the ship, Echo sits down with Omega, who is still feeling guilty about their situation. Feeling like the jewels would have helped them buy a better life, Omega confesses she blames herself for the Bad Batch being on the run from the Empire. Echo reassures her by saying he would do it all the same way if he could, and that he’d rather be on the run with honor than fighting for the Empire.

The episode closes with Admiral Rampart grilling Wilco about his report that the Bad Batch was responsible for the incident on Serenno. Since the Empire thinks the Bad Batch was killed by Rampart on Kamino, he would be in hot water with Tarkin for failing to eliminate them. After Wilco refuses to submit a false report that would cover for Rampart, the Admiral executes him.

Verdict

While it was fun seeing the Bad Batch onscreen again, I can’t help but feel like not a whole lot happened in these two episodes. There were typical skirmishes between the team and generic bad guys, but there were no real stakes here. I guess the Empire knowing that the Bad Batch is still alive is kind of compelling, but even then only Admiral Rampart knows for now. Oh, and the entire reason for the heist was to obtain Dooku’s money, and they failed to even do that.

Omega and Echo were the best things about these episodes. Omega was able to resolve her feelings of guilt with Echo’s help, and they both seemed more content. However, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of this beef Echo has with Hunter and possibly with the rest of the crew. He obviously is feeling like the Bad Batch should be organizing a larger crew to help make a real difference. Perhaps this will make Echo want to leave to join Rex.

Overall, I was hoping for a bit more, especially considering the explosive season 1 premiere.

Episode Grade: C+

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