Star Wars: Bad Batch review: Palpatine returns in two-episode thriller

Bring in the backup

The next episode, “Truth and Consequences,” picks up with Rex contacting the Bad Batch and tasking them with going to Coruscant and extracting data from Rampart’s ship. Rex says that there will be a lot of security but that he knows a way in. The group agrees to help.

Omega goes with Senator Chuchi to the Senate building where she learns about what the Senate does and how Chuchi is working to give the clones representation as citizens. Chuchi brings Omega along to a meeting with Organa, and she tells him that she has people (The Bad Batch) gathering evidence. He suggests that Chuchi gather intel from other Senators and to meet with Halle Burtoni, a former member of the Defense Finance Committee and a senator from Kamino.

After Burtoni dismisses what happened on Kamino, she asks why Omega cares so much about its destruction. Omega tells her she is a clone and that she is angry about what happened to her homeworld. Burtoni then reveals that Rampart was siphoning funds from the Senate, which Burtoni reluctantly agrees to testify to if Chuchi can get concrete proof that he was involved with the incident on Kamino.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew (plus Rex) infiltrate the shipyard and make their way to Rampart’s ship. Rex tells Echo that more clones are waking up to the injustice being done to them by the Empire, but that not enough are on board and that help is hard to come by.

The file transfer results in the entire facility being alerted to the group’s presence. When they get the data, the Bad Batch crash the ship into the ground and leave in an escape pod. They get the data to Omega, who brings it to a stalling Chuchi on the Senate floor just before they vote on Rampart’s bill. After accusing Rampart of intentionally destroying Tipoca City on Kamino, she plays a recording of Ramparts ships doing just that in front of the entire Senate.

Not on a Sith Lord’s watch

When it looks like Chuchi haS won the day, Emperor Palpatine enters the chamber and has Rampart arrested. He proceeds to blame the entire situation on not only Rampart, but the clones. Palpatine spins the incident on Kamino as the clones blindly following through with horrific orders, saying that they cannot be trusted anymore. He concludes that Rampart’s bill for a conscripted army is the future of the Empire.

In the aftermath, the crew is frustrated that Palpatine is still many steps ahead of them. Chuchi reassures them that she won’t stop fighting to get proper representation for the clones. The Bad Batch then say goodbye to Rex, and Echo reveals that he is going with him. Omega is blindsided by the news and shares an emotional goodbye with Echo.

Verdict

These episodes were not bad. Not only did we finally see Admiral Rampart get a bit of comeuppance for his terrible actions, but we got a bit of Palpatine doing his classic bad guy stuff and showing how he got the stormtrooper initiative through the Senate. It was also nice to see  that Clone Wars veterans Senator Chuchi and Bail Organa are still some of the few people on Coruscant trying to do the right thing.

As for the Bad Batch, Omega got a taste of what the Empire looks like at its core, and how its leadership is corrupt. Having Rex along for the ride is always great, and we finally got payoff on Echo being disgruntled with Hunter not wanting to help fight the Empire.

I just don’t understand why the entire group didn’t go with Rex. Are they just going to keep doing fetch quests for Cid after this episode? It seems like the rest of the team should be getting involved with the early rebellion at some point. And hopefully it’s soon because I don’t know if I can handle another pod-racing or tomb-raiding filler episode.

Two-part Episode Grade: B

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