Episode 214 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, “Tipping Point,” kicks off with the clone Howzer, who defied Imperial orders on Ryloth in season 1, being moved onto a transport ship in handcuffs with two other clone prisoners. Just after taking off, a ship comes out of hyperspace and disables the transport’s hyperdrive. Echo, Gregor and two clones named Nemec and Fireball are aboard and attempting to board the vessel to retrieve Howzer and his men before Imperial reinforcements arrive. Fireball frees the imprisoned clones while Echo and Nemec retrieve data from the bridge before narrowly escaping ahead of an Imperial cruiser.
We learn that Howzer’s transport was heading for Hemlock’s facility on Weyland, where Crosshair and other clones are being held. Crosshair is taken into a room and questioned as to the whereabouts of the Bad Batch by Hemlock. When Hemlock insists that the Bad Batch is in possession of something he needs, Crosshair correctly assumes that it is Omega, but tells Hemlock he does not know where his former squad is. Hemlock has Crosshair restrained and maintains that he must know something useful. He brings in an Imperial torture droid into the room, the very same droid we see in the original Star Wars film from 1977; very cool.
On Coruscant, Echo and Howzer inform Senator Chuchi of clones being taken prisoner and shuttled to an unknown place never to come back. Echo thinks Tech can decrypt the data he stole from the shuttle’s bridge so they can find out where the clones are being held. Chuchi urges him to do so while she tries to find out more on Coruscant.
After enduring the torture droid, Crosshair successfully steals one of his guard’s blasters and escapes his holding cell. After knocking out the scientist with a stun blast, he steals her access card and begins making his way through Hemlock’s facility. When he finds a console, he sends out a distress signal saying “plan 88,” which may be a coded message to the Bad Batch. Crosshair also says, “you have to hide, they’re after…” before the chamber he’s standing in fills with gas and he is captured once more.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch catches us up with Echo and Rex
Back at Pabu, the Bad Batch have become an integral part of the community after helping them rebuild the damage from the sea surge. While Tech is teaching Omega how to fly the Marauder, Echo arrives on the planet and races Omega to the landing zone. Echo and Hunter discuss their recent doings, and Hunter says he does not know if his group will stay on Pabu permanently. He does think staying is probably best for the group, though. Echo explains that he and Rex have built up a network of clones, with some in hiding and some acting as double agents within the Empire. Hunter wonders when it will be enough and thinks their work is futile, but Echo insists he simply wants to help his brothers.
On Weyland, Hemlock is reassuring Governor Tarkin vie hologram that losing Howzer’s group is not an issue, but the way the shuttle was specifically targeted is. Tarkin explains there are a growing number of clones questioning Imperial orders, and Hemlock insists that he send all the clones to him to be dealt with. Tarkin is hesitant, He wants a full briefing of his plan at an upcoming summit.
Tech decrypts the data and finds out all about Hemlock’s secret facility and how he was expelled from the Republic’s science program for unethical experiments. He also finds that Crosshair has been taken to the facility and that he left them a distress signal warning of Hemlock’s pursuit. Hunter is not sure whether to trust Crosshair and the scene cuts before they decide what to do.
We then see Crosshair get detained again, and Hemlock asks one more time about the Bad Batch. Crosshair refuses to tell him anything and is hit with another wave of torture droid injections, this time at a higher dosage. The episode ends with Hemlock’s assistant, the girl Crosshair spared earlier, with a concerned look, teasing a possible face turn for her in the future.
Verdict
This episode was awesome; we finally catch up with what Echo has been up to and how he and Rex are building a formidable resistance of anti-Imperial clones. The Bad Batch are also faced with the dilemma of trusting Crosshair, who has worked against them in the past, although there is evidence that he has had a change of heart. I predict that Echo, Rex and their men will help the Bad Batch storm Hemlock’s facility to free Crosshair and the other clones while taking down Hemlock. In the process, Crosshair will likely sacrifice himself to save the group and complete his redemption arc.
Episode Grade: A-
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