Yesterday Star Wars released a minute-long trailer for the “Bad Batch” arc of The Clone Wars, and it looks pretty awesome!
Here’s a look:
This four-episode arc was actually released as unfinished episodes several years ago, so we know the general storyline, but the animation here looks absolutely tremendous.
The show returns in exactly one week, when we’ll get our first true look at the Bad Batch in action! Until then, though, let’s break down this trailer for the first arc of the seventh and final season of The Clone Wars!
The trailer opens with a look at the Battle of Anaxes, where we see a massive space battle raging. We quickly learn things aren’t going too well for the Republic…
We see Obi-Wan Kenobi and another clone trooper helping an injured clone into a gunship. This shot helps us realize that things might not be going too smoothly for the Republic, since we’re being shown injuries.
At a Republic base, we see a command station where Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker talk. Windu explains the dire situation, saying, “We have more than a dozen active battlefronts, and we are losing nearly every one.” These battles include Windu, Skywalker, and Kenobi, which helps put into perspective just how formidable the opponent is.
Rex and Cody join the Jedi Generals at the command station, and Cody has a suggestion: “Let’s take a small squad behind enemy lines. If we’re going to find intel, it will be there.” The plan is simple enough, as they want to stealthy reconnaissance mission – and Cody has an idea for who to call! In a conversation in the barracks, Rex asks Cody, “What squad are we taking in?” Cody turns and responds, “Clone Force 99.”
That’s when we’re introduced to the Bad Batch, as Cody calls them, as a shuttle lands at this Republic outpost, with Cody, Rex, and others looking on. One of the clones asks, “these guys are clones?” Cody explains that, “They’re defective clones, with desirable mutations.” In the first image we see Hunter with his helmet on. In the second image, then, we see Tech and Crosshair. Then in the third image, we see Wrecker, with his helmet off, saying, “The cavalry has arrived!” (we get a look at him with his helmet on in the fifth image). Hunter, the leader of this squad, greets Cody and the others as they arrive. And then lastly, in the sixth picture, we see the group all together!
One fun fact to note about the Bad Batch is that their squadron is named Clone Force 99, which is a tribute to 99 – the clone seen in the Kamino arc in the first two episodes of season three. 99 was a clone who suffered deformations in the cloning process and thus was assigned to janitorial duty at the cloning facilities on Kamino. 99 was a loyal and good-hearted clone, however, and he aided the Republic efforts in defending Kamino from Separatist attack, sacrificing his own life in the process. It’s a wonderfully touching nod to 99 that this squad of clone troopers, who have genetic mutations, is named in his honor.
We see the team going on their mission behind enemy lines, with the four members of the Bad Batch alongside Rex riding in a speeder.
Anakin Skywalker is in an elevator with the Bad Batch and Rex, and the General says, “Remember, this is a stealth mission.” Once the elevator door opens, however, the Bad Batch charges out with their guns blazing, fighting off the enemy. We see Wrecker destroying the droids, blasting one of them and then throwing others outside the hangar. Rex then says to Anakin, “so much for stealth.” Indeed.
Rex and Tech approach a reactor, with Rex saying, “I don’t like the look of this.”
One of the clones says, “This is a trap,” as we see Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, and Rex surrounded. So it’s safe to say that things aren’t going too well for them.
We then cut to look at the one opposing them, as Admiral Trench says, “They don’t stand a chance.” This helps explain why things aren’t going too well for our heroes, because Trench is quite a formidable opponent. In case you’ve forgotten who Trench is, he was the one commanding the Separatist forces in the Battle of Christophsis. He successfully blockaded the planet and prevented reinforcements from arriving, until Anakin Skywalker piloted a prototype stealth ship and destroyed Trench’s ship, presumably killing the Admiral. But that wasn’t the first time Trench had survived presumed death, as years earlier at the Battle of Malastare Narrows (in which Yularen participated) his ship was also destroyed. So Trench is back, and that makes for quite the challenge for the heroes.
We then get several shots in quick succession depicting this challenge. We see the natives leading an attack, with a walker firing a blast that sends Rex and the others flying. Then we see a shot of a gunship plummeting, with Wrecker saying, “We’re going down!” as the ship crashes into the ground.
Rex puts on his helmet, and we see him covering Tech (who looks to be working to open the door) as we hear a clone say, “Let’s finish what we started.”
Here’s another look at Obi-Wan and Mace Windu in action!
And don’t forget Anakin, as he leads the Bad Batch and Rex down a hallway. The General motions for some of them to split off.
Some of the clones have teamed up with locals on their mission.
In the shot we saw in the previous trailer, Anakin cuts down some droids. He looks pretty pissed.
Crosshair slides and fires his gun, looking pretty cool in doing so.
Super Battle Droids are deployed into battle and march forward, firing at their enemy.
Wrecker carries Cody away as an explosion rocks the background. This is probably after the gunship crashes and Cody is left injured, leaving the Bad Batch to rescue him.
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