We’re quickly approaching the series finale for The Bad Batch, with just three episodes remaining after this week’s chapter. All roads are leading to Tantiss, where Omega has been taken, while the rest of the squad searches for its location. This week, that search brings back a familiar character making an unexpected return, who might be able to help.
It’s an action-packed episode that’s light on specific revelations to discuss, but let’s still dive in to the review of the episode, “Juggernaught”, with full spoilers to follow!
The episode picks up right where the last one left off, with Omega arriving on Tantiss after surrendering. Doctor Hemlock greets her, alone, and takes her to Emerie for testing, seeking confirmation about her blood. Omega learns that Nala Se was replaced so that she can’t help the clone girl any more, so instead Omega pleads with Emerie that it’s not too late for her to help. I think this is definitely all leading up to Emerie defecting from the Empire at a crucial moment to help to save the clones, the Force sensitive kids, and Omega. Emerie is, after all, a clone herself, and I think one of the major themes of this series as we look back on it is going to be how the clones are stronger when banding together and, together, can stand up for one another. It’s not so much fighting against the Empire that drives them as much as standing up for their brothers (and sisters). I think Emerie will learn that, and Omega will likely be the one to convince her.
I love what’s happened with Omega throughout this series, as she was terrified of being taken back to Tantiss – only to willingly surrender herself to that fate. She has returned to the terrifying fortress with a purpose, to rescue the clones imprisoned there. And, as she learns at the end of the episode, there are more than just clones there, as Force sensitive kids are too. She is no longer the kid everyone else needs to rescue; she’s a major figure trying to lead the charge for the good of the clones.
She also learns what the audience has pieced together this season, and it’s why she is so significant to Hemlock’s purposes. After getting confirmation about her blood, Hemlock tells her that it’s impossible to replicate m-count in the cloning process without depleting the count, but Omega’s blood is able to fuse it together to keep the m-count intact – the only blood known to be able to do so. She is the key, therefore, to all of Hemlock’s efforts, which are backed by Emperor Palpatine, to be able to create Force sensitive clones. We still don’t know just how Force sensitive Omega herself is, and just how much she’d be able to wield the Force, but her blood stands between Palpatine and eternal domination of the galaxy. We know that Hemlock’s efforts will ultimately prove futile – as the project will still be ongoing decades later – but it’s cool to see how significant this story is to the larger universe.
Omega is facing her fears of returning to Tantiss to save her brothers, and it’s interesting to see how the exact same thing is happening to Crosshair. He’s been trying to dodge the questions and avoid returning to Tantiss all season, even if it means not being as forthcoming with information. He wants to do everything he can to avoid it. But in this episode, Crosshair is the one who speaks up about a way to find it. It highlights just how he’s grown, and his close bond with Omega. He’s willing to face his fears if it means saving Omega, and he trusts her enough to know that she made a justifiable decision to turn herself in. The dynamic between Crosshair and Omega has been the highlight of the season, and I’m excited to see how it develops – even if it makes me more scared for Crosshair. In this episode, though, Crosshair reveals that Admiral Rampart is still alive and in an Imperial prison camp, and he might know the way to Tantiss. So with the help of Phee, the Bad Batch infiltrates the prison facility and hijacks a juggernaught walker (seen previously in The Clone Wars and Rogue One). What follows is a thrilling action sequence as the squad takes on barricades, another juggernaught, and Imperial gunships in a frantic escape. Every now and then it’s good to just pause and praise how good this series looks visually; it’s easy to take it for granted, but it’s stunning animation quality.
The squad escapes with Rampart, who tells them that no one knows the coordinates to Tantiss, and that’s by design. But he does know a way to find out, if they get him to safety. He says they’re in it together, which is an interesting development. He was their enemy during the first season-plus, but like the clones Rampart was merely a pawn in the Emperor’s grand plan. That doesn’t make Rampart a good guy or a sympathetic character by any means, but it does show how he and the clones aren’t in too dissimilar a spot. I’m glad Rampart was brought back, as he’s a compelling character who is a nice contrast to Doctor Hemlock. It’ll be interesting what happens to him the rest of the way.
In all, this was an exciting episode that established the stakes, but didn’t give a ton of answers. Those are surely coming, though, and with three episodes left, the series is set up for what promises to be a truly thrilling finish.
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