Lucasfilm has done it again with their newest animated series, “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” This show uses its established world to tell an exceptional story with mesmerizing animation and more.
I’ve been a big fan of the “Star Wars” franchise for a long time, so I had to know more when I saw the first teaser trailer for “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” on YouTube. I booted up Disney+ and started watching the first two seasons.
In “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” we follow Clone Force 99, five elite and defective clones that served with the Republic during the Clone Wars. During the aftermath of the Clone Wars, Clone Force 99, composed of Hunter, Tech, Crosshair, Wrecker and clone cyborg Echo, learns that the Empire has taken over the galaxy after they returned to Kamino.
While watching the show, I was a little confused as to what was going on, but the writers did a great job explaining the aftermath of the war, making it easier to follow the story. This show serves as a continuation of the Clone Wars series. Even if you haven’t seen that series, the show gives a short recap before jumping right into the action.
While on Kamino, Clone Force 99 meets a young clone named Omega, who is also a defective clone like them. She is smart, brave and she balances the group’s personality well.
During a mission to prove their loyalty to the Empire, they start to wonder what side they should be on and they are tasked with taking out “insurgence” but fail in doing so. This results in them being targeted by the Empire. With Omega’s help, they escape Kamino but at a cost.
I love the dynamic between the characters. They act like a family and it shows. Omega acts like a little sister to the group of defective clones and I also love how Hunter is like the big brother/father of the group, making sure that everyone is safe.
One of the things that I didn’t like was how inconsistent the Empire was in the first couple of episodes. They did make themselves present in the first episode and it was a strong start, but it also felt rushed at some parts throughout the first two seasons. This was semi-redeemed toward the end of season two with the new villain but overall, the villains didn’t feel that threatening until the later half of season two.
Another thing I liked was the villain they introduced at the end of season two, Dr. Hemlock. It was a nice change to see a villain that was threatening. He gave me unsettling vibes every time he was on screen, and it worked really well for his character.
This series was amazing all the way from its characters to its world-building. The crew put a lot of love into this show and it shows. I recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of the “Star Wars” franchise, memorable characters and a well-written story. I give this series a four out of five Loper stars. While the story and animation were spectacular, the show did suffer from predictable plot points but had great character development.
