Episode 6 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch opens with the group delivering forged chain codes to a group of smuggler droids. While Hunter, Tech and Wrecker meet with the droid leader, Omega is suspicious of the droids and begins snooping around. She comes across two droids trying to subdue a young Wookie. She helps him destroy the droids and they attempt to escape. They meet up with Echo but are surrounded by the leader and a large group of vanguards.
Hunter, Tech and Wrecker back up the group, and the leader demands they turn the Wookie over; they intend to sell the child alive. The Wookie turns out to be Gungi, a Jedi padawan who appeared in several episodes of The Clone Wars. Gungi spots his lightsaber on the leader’s hip and uses the Force to retrieve it, much to the Bad Batch’s shock. The crew fights their way back to their ship and they escape with Gungi.
Gungi is reluctant to trust the Bad Batch, which Tech points out is understandable because they are clones and the clones killed all the Jedi. Omega and Hunter explain that they are different from the other clones and that they did not follow Order 66. Gungi accepts some food from Omega and explains that he has been on the run since the Jedi were killed. He was captured by the smuggling droids while he was trying to get back to the Wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk. Echo points out that the Empire could have outposts on Kashyyyk and that it may not be safe for Gungi to return, but Hunter contends that since he is a Jedi, no where is safe for him.
Return to Kashyyyk
The group arrives on the Wookie planet and begin making their way through the jungle. After a brief encounter with giant spider-like creatures that only attack if provoked, they comes across a burned Wookie village. Nearby, they spot a group of Trandoshans holding a Wookie hostage and burning ancient artifacts. Trandoshans are a lizard species that come from a nearby moon, and their main function in the Star Wars universe is to hunt down Wookies for sport. Gungi and the Bad Batch attack the evil lizards, who are using Imperial tanks, and free the Wookie.
They are then found by a group of survivors and taken to a hidden village deep in the jungle. The Bad Batch meet an elderly female Wookie named Yanna. They tell her why they brought Gungi to Kashyyyk. Back at the destroyed tanks, the Trandoshans and Imperial Clones notice the lightsaber marks made by Gungi. The Clones want to notify the Imperial command that a Jedi is on Kashyyyk, but the Trandoshan leader Venomor says he will find the Jedi first. He orders his men to burn the forest and he offers 100 Wookie pelts to whoever brings him the Jedi.
The Battle
Hunter learns that the Empire is using the Trandoshans to strip Kashyyyk of resources and that the local Wookies are being forced deeper into the forest. Tech notices the Trandoshan convoy heading their way, and Echo convinces Hunter to stay and help the Wookies fight. The villagers then go outside and connect with the trees, pleading with them for help. When the convoy arrives, The Bad Batch and Wookie forces ambush the Trandoshan tanks and draw them deeper into the woods.
The giant spider creatures from earlier begin to attack the Trandoshans while Venomor pursues Gungi with a flamethrower. After a brief fight, Gungi cuts Venomor’s flamethrower in half before a group of the spider creatures descend on them. Gungi deactivates his lightsaber and does not attack, while Venomor begins to punch the creatures. They capture him in a web and bring him back to their nest alive. It’s terrifying.
Aftermath
The group returns to the village where they share food and celebrate their victory with the Wookies. Omega and Gungi commune with the trees, and Yanna explains to Hunter and Tech that when a young one leaves, the trees weep. But when they return, the trees sing. She also hopes that they all find their own path, bringing to mind the uncertain journey of the Bad Batch this season.
Verdict
Compared to the last two episodes, Tribe was a needed change of pace. From the beginning, there was not only good action, but lightsaber-wielding action which we haven’t had on this show in a long time. Returning to Kashyyyk was also very cool, and we got new glimpses of Wookie culture and practices. For example, the idea that the Wookies commune with the trees and seem to use them to guide their decision-making is a great piece of Wookie lore that we haven’t seen before. Also, Gungi successfully reuniting with his people was almost as satisfying as seeing Venomor get Shelob-ed into the trees by giant spiders.
Perhaps more importantly for the future, Hunter was willing to openly fight the Empire in this episode, which is hopefully a sign of things to come. Echo has been telling him all season that they need to be doing more to help fight against Palpatine’s tyrannical regime, and now it seems like Hunter is finally willing to do that. With other allies like Cody and Rex out there, maybe the Bad Batch can start to organize a real resistance against the Empire. In any case, I was thoroughly entertained by this episode.
Episode Grade: A-
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