The Bad Batch Episode 5 “The Return” Thoughts

So I’m getting this post in by the skin of my teeth before the two-parter drops later tonight, lol. No particular reason, I’ve just been busy, but here we go:

Man, I loved this episode so much! I’ve heard a (very) few grumbles about “filler”–don’t get me started, I just don’t understand these people–but this was an absolutely necessary episode about Hunter and Crosshair working things out in their own way.

We start with the Batch on Pabu with Omega finally waking up where she belongs (and btw, I love her little knit sweater and Pabu-style necklace, lol). Crosshair is keeping his distance from everyone, particularly Hunter, but Omega reminds him that he has to talk to Hunter eventually.

Echo shows up, and they all gather together to discuss next steps and to get any information from Omega and Crosshair about Tantiss. Omega offers up Nala Se’s datapad, but it’s encrypted and they can’t get much info. Echo mentions that it’s harder without Tech, and the mention of his name makes everyone sad; they don’t pause long, but it’s a loud pause. Crosshair mentions that he knows an Imperial facility that will help them access the datapad.

The facility turns out to be Barton IV from the S2 episode “The Outpost,” where Crosshair turned against the Empire and killed the odious Lt. Nolan. It’s abandoned, and they have to dig through the snow into the base. We see an ice vulture, one of the screaming creatures that constantly circled above in The Outpost. The bird came to represent Crosshair, and the fact that we see it up close in this episode tells us (as if we didn’t know) that this one will delve into Crosshair and his journey even more.

While the others connect the datapad to the computer, Crosshair wanders off and finds a pile of clone helmets in a corner; he gently picks them up and places them on a table nearby, in respect, most likely thinking about Mayday and the other clones who died there. Hunter watches silently from around the corner and wonders.

When Crosshair goes outside, Hunter follows. Omega moves to follow them, but Echo tells her to let them work it out. Hunter confronts Crosshair about why he turned on the Empire–he wants answers. All their anger with each other comes spilling out, and Crosshair accuses Hunter of being the cause of Omega’s capture, and that he’s jealous Crosshair helped her escape and not him. It might have come to blows, but they’re interrupted by the arrival of a big Dune-like snow worm.

Turns out that’s what the sensors around the perimeter of the base were keeping out; once they turned them off for more power to the console, the worm came knocking. Wrecker’s cry of “Why are there always big monsters?!” is funny and on the nose. And the answer, of course, is that it’s Star Wars, lol.

So Wrecker has to go to a separate bunker to manually ramp up power to the sensors, Omega mans the console to turn them on when it’s done, and Hunter and Crosshair go out to lure the worm past the sensors before turning them back on. Echo is in the tower “keeping watch.” Basically to make sure Crosshair and Hunter don’t kill each other.

He needn’t have worried, though, as they work together to get the job done. Hunter falls into a snow tunnel, and Crosshair and Batcher follow up top. Once the worm is outside the sensor range, they run back and the sensors are turned on just in time. I love how Wrecker runs to them and hugs them together as they come back, and Echo comments to Omega that at least there’s no blood this time.

Later, Crosshair opens up to Hunter a little and admits he thought he knew what he was getting into with the Empire, and that he did bad things. Hunter says he made mistakes too, and that all they can do is to try to be better. And maybe there’s hope for them after all. Man, I hope so, because I’m a little scared right now as to where this season is leading. But one episode at a time.

So I’m guessing they’ll get enough intel off the datapad to find Tantiss, and that will be the focus of the two-parter coming up.

Highlights of this episode:

Omega calling Crosshair “little brother” and their growing relationship.
How Crosshair is like the dad that didn’t want the dog but now loves the dog more than anyone except Omega.
Crosshair has his toothpicks back and the healing has begun, lol.

What did you think of this episode? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

The Bad Batch Episode 4 “A Different Approach” Thoughts

Please be aware: SPOILERS ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Episode 4 S3 of The Bad Batch, “A Different Approach,” moves the story right along without feeling rushed. Frankly, I’m surprised that Crosshair and Omega have busted out of Tantiss (without the help of the rest of the Batch) already and that they’ve reunited with them on Ryloth’s moon at the end of this episode. I thought those things would take half the season, lol. But I’m so glad it didn’t, because it just means there’s so much more story ahead.

So Crosshair and Omega crash their stolen shuttle on a planet called Lau, which is controlled by the Empire. They head to the spaceport; Crosshair wants to blast his way onto a ship, but Omega, not wanting anyone to get hurt, suggests a different plan. She tries to bribe the ticket-seller, but he says he wants 30,000 credits. Wha??? Geez. Omega decides she’ll gamble at a game of chance at a nearby bar. We know she’s preternaturally good at holochess, but it seems her strategic gifts also help her win just enough at a card game for the bribe. She’s about to leave the table when an Imperial enters the bar and challenges her (insists) on a game with him. He’d just collected a case full of credits from the barkeep (presumably protection money) and Omega wins all of it.

They’re about to leave the bar when the Imperial tells them gambling is illegal on that planet and the fine is 10,000 credits. They still have 35,000 credits. Okay, we need to clarify exactly how credits work. Is one credit like one dollar? Is it like Yen, with thousands of Yen to the dollar? Because that sounds like a lot of money, and Omega just casually won it in this seedy bar against a Trandoshan who doesn’t look particularly wealthy.

Anyway, they need to part with another 5,000 credits outside the bar to some kid who demands it in exchange for information on where Batcher is–the Imperial took her to the docks. They head that way, and again, Crosshair wants to blast his way to their goal. Again, Omega convinces him to do things her way. But of course, the Imperial is there waiting for them (his name is Lt. Mann or something, I can’t remember, lol). Hemlock has found their crashed shuttle, and presumably word went out that he’s looking for the fugitives. They’re surrounded with no way out, and Omega finally agrees to Crosshair’s approach: with blasters.

They get onto a cargo ship and take off. Omega sends out a coded message to Hunter with a rendezvous: Ryloth’s moon, where they met a young Hera in Season 1. The Marauder is there, and Omega (and we) finally get the reunion we’ve been waiting for. It’s lovely, especially since Hunter finally–finally!–hugs her back. Then Crosshair walks down the ramp, and everyone gets tense and glares at each other. End of episode.

So basically this episode was about Omega and Crosshair bonding just a little bit more and learning to work with each other and appreciate each other’s approaches to problem-solving. I loved it, especially when they’re walking away from the ticket-seller and Crosshair comments sarcastically how well that went; Omega grumpily replies, “Stow it!” Definitely acting like siblings now, lol.

I’m hoping they pick up right where they left off this episode and we can get more of their initial reaction at Crosshair returning. My only gripe about this season so far is that they’re skipping over the hard conversations that I really think we need to hear. Does Crosshair know Tech is dead? I’m assuming so–otherwise that would have been a pretty big secret Omega kept all those months, and unlikely–but I would have liked to see that conversation. I get that the showrunners need to get a lot of story in and have to make creative choices, but give us something, guys.

Anyway, a great episode and I can’t wait until next week!

What did you think of the episode? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Bad Batch Fan Art…and some fan fiction!

So….remember about a month ago I said I was working on a site where I could put some of my fan fiction and original fiction? Well, I’ve had some technical difficulties with the site (ugh, I hate starting a new blog; it’s like I totally forgot how I managed to create this one, lol).

But fear not, I posted the fan fiction stories on Archive of Our Own, so you can still read them if you want to. It’s about the Bad Batch, who as you probably know, I absolutely adore.

Here’s some info and caveats: it takes place after Season 3 on Pabu. Obviously S3 hasn’t happened yet, but I’ve made some assumptions and vaguely filled in some blanks (emphasis on vaguely, lol). Basically, it’s based on my intense wish that all the Batch survive (even Tech) whatever horrors await on Tantiss and go to Pabu to live out their lives. But I was curious as to what that would look like. What would they do? What issues/baggage do they still have and must deal with? What do they do with their lives after they put being soldiers behind them?

That’s the premise. If you’re looking for action-packed Star Warsy stuff, this ain’t it, lol. It’s more character-driven, relationship/love stuff, with the typical fan-fictiony “adult themes”; if that makes you gag, this probably isn’t for you, lol. But despite the subject matter, I do hope it’s well-written and that I’ve done these characters justice.

Anyway I’ll stop the nervous babbling and give you the link: https://archiveofourown.org/users/swjedilover

And here’s some great fan art that has inspired my stories:

Older Hunter and Omega by Artist: Queen Jiru

I had a ton of fun imagining these characters in various stages of their lives on Pabu. I can’t wait for Season 3, which will almost certainly contradict everything I’ve written, lol. Let’s just say this is my alternate-universe head canon for the Batch.