The Bad Batch has come to an end, with a thrilling hour-long series finale.
It’s been quite a journey since we first met Clone Force 99 in the seventh season of The Clone Wars (after they were created for an unfinished arc of the series), which introduced us to this elite squad of genetically modified clones. Then the series premiere of The Bad Batch introduced us to another clone, Omega, who joined the squad – and the rest of the series centered on her and the mystery of why she was so significant to the Empire’s plans.
That journey has all come to an end with the finale, titled “The Cavalry Has Arrived”. I was very relieved when I saw that this was an extended episode, since there were so many different threads all converging in this episode, and it delivered on the long-awaited assault on Mount Tantiss in an effort to rescue the clones imprisoned there. Before pressing in any further, though, it should be noted that full spoilers for the episode lie ahead. With that said, let’s dive right in to the review.
The stakes are clear right from the beginning, as Hunter and Crosshair tend to an injured Wrecker outside the Mount Tantiss base, while Doctor Hemlock pays a visit to the captive Rampart. Hemlock expected the clones to come and therefore doesn’t seem too rattled. But he also is quite overconfident, saying that he is utterly indispensable to the Empire’s plans. On the one hand, it’s easy to see why he would think that, since the Emperor himself told Hemlock that the research going on was of utmost importance to the survival of the Empire. This work, Project Necromancer, has to do with creating Force-sensitive clones, which would allow Palpatine to live forever. Hemlock is right that his work is indispensable, but what he doesn’t realize is that the only truly indispensable person to the Emperor is the Emperor himself. Ironically, Rampart should be the evidence of that, for Rampart also thought himself more important than he actually was. But the higher the pride the harder the fall (“twice the pride, double the fall”, one might say), and Rampart’s hubris led to Palpatine manipulating him and blaming him for the destruction of Kamino. Like Rampart, Hemlock isn’t as important as he thinks.
But the tension is undeniable all throughout the episode, as we’re left wondering whether Clone Force 99 will make it out alive. Some might complain that the fact they all survived the episode meant the stakes weren’t high enough, but I disagree. Tech’s death in season two showed that the series wasn’t afraid to kill off main characters, and the fact that we didn’t know the future of any of the main characters in this episode meant that all throughout there was the very real chance they could be killed. And they would have been, too, if it weren’t for Hemlock’s hubris. Wrecker was badly injured, Hunter captured, and Crosshair’s hand cut off in a brutal scene. All season they’ve been hinting at Crosshair’s crisis being a sniper with a failing hand, and here it’s just chopped right off. But rather than being killed they’re taken prisoner, because Hemlock wants to try turning them into the same brainwashed CX troopers we see elsewhere, the same conditioning process Crosshair underwent earlier in the series that messed with him.
This is such an Imperial perspective, thinking that they can subjugate and control others. But as Star Wars has continually shown us, it doesn’t go well for them. Their desire for control always backfires on them. And that’s what happens in this episode, too. Hemlock’s plans are ultimately undone by his own arrogant need for control, both with the clones but also with the Zillo Beast. Because, at long last, we get to see more about the beast. We’ve been waiting to see what happened to the creature since the second season of The Clone Wars, and the second season of The Bad Batch brought it back only to tell us the beast was taken to Tantiss. We knew that was foreshadowing something, and sure enough, Omega’s plan is to free the beast to create a distraction and cause some destruction. It’s a great plan, and it’s great to see her taking matters into her own hands to get the other kids to safety. Together with Echo and Emerie, Omega rescues the kids – but then decides to go back to save her brothers. I love that Echo knows she’s ready for this; whereas Hunter has repeatedly tried to keep her out of the fight to protect her, Echo doesn’t, because he knows that she’s one of them and is ready for this.
So they free the clones, and as we’d expect, the clones – known for their loyalty – band together to save Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair from the clutches of Doctor Hemlock and the CX troopers. It leads to some brutal and harrowing moments, but it’s meant to show us that the clones are stronger together. Loyalty, which Hemlock sees as their weakness, is actually their strength. He tries to control them, but they’ve spent their entire existence in service of others, and they’re fighting for their freedom – the freedom of all clones, everywhere. The CX troopers present a truly daunting challenge, and I’m pretty sure they’re meant to be an initial phase of the Dark Trooper project, both from the look and the music that plays during it being reminiscent of the music from The Mandalorian. It was a bit disappointing to not see Rex or the other regs show up, though, as even though this series wasn’t really about them it’s strange that they were so interested in finding Tantiss and rescuing the clones only to have nothing to do in this finale. I’m not usually one to complain about what we didn’t get, but I do think it’s a missed opportunity not to have Rex’s network playing a bigger role in this event, whatever that might have been.
But in the end, as it should be, it culminates with the Bad Batch, and specifically Hunter and Crosshair. As Hemlock prepares to leave with Omega, knowing that she’s the last hope to his research since the lab was destroyed by Nala Se’s sacrifice, Hunter and Crosshair stop him. It’s a great moment, on the ledge above Tantiss, as they trust Omega to do her part and then come through by killing Hemlock. Crosshair, even though he’s missing his hand, makes the shot when it counts – something he failed to do a few episodes earlier. And in the aftermath, as Omega approaches them, it’s Crosshair she embraces first. It’s such a great moment on multiple levels. For one, the relationship between Omega and Crosshair has been the backbone of this season and it’s best development, and it’s paid off here. But even more so, early in the episode Crosshair tries to convince Hunter and Wrecker to let him infiltrate the base alone. He’s doing so to protect his brothers, not wanting to lose them. He feels like it’s only right for him to make that sacrifice for the sake of the clones, after all he’s done, but Hunter and Wrecker flat out refuse, saying they go together. Crosshair’s plea, though, is that Omega needs the two of them more than she needs him. But here at the end of the episode, it’s Crosshair she embraces first. What he failed to realize is that he’s part of the squad, and Omega needs him just as much as she needs the others. It’s a beautiful moment, and one that feels so well-earned after the story this season has told between them.
In the aftermath of the attack, Tarkin arrives on Weyland to survey the damage (and in doing so, we see the first chronological on-screen appearance of an Imperial Star Destroyer). Upon discovering that Hemlock is dead and his research lost (which unbeknownst to all involved set the Emperor’s plans of eternal life back decades), Tarkin orders the facility to be shuttered and the funds directed to Project Stardust (aka the Death Star). The fact that the facility is just “shuttered” and not destroyed is very interesting, and it makes me wonder if we might see it again. After all, Tantiss was a key base for Grand Admiral Thrawn’s efforts to rebuild the Empire in Legends, and the facility was used for cloning. Might we see it again in the storyline surrounding Thrawn in live-action? I’m not exactly counting on it, but wouldn’t be shocked. Regardless, this is classic Tarkin, always looking for ways to exploit another’s failures for his own purposes.
Clone Force 99, though, gets to retire to a quiet, peaceful life on Pabu. I was surprised they could just settle down there after the Empire discovered them, but it’s quite likely that Hemlock knew of it but chose not to share it, so it’s location died with him. The rescued clones are brought there to live, and Echo and Emerie head out to help Senator Chuchi advocate for the clones. Hunter and the gang commit to helping the Force sensitive kids get home, but otherwise they’re ready to just rest now that Omega is finally safe. The episode doesn’t really give us resolution on what all they’ll be up to, but that’s precisely the point: all their lives the clones’ destinies have been decided for them. Now, as this series comes to a close, they finally get to choose what they do, who they are, and where they fit in the galaxy.
Which leads us to the series epilogue, set years down the road, where an older Omega tries to sneak off to join the Rebellion, only to find an aged Hunter’s senses still adept. She explains to him that this is her fight, and that the Rebellion needs pilots (my initial guess is that this is shortly after the Battle of Yavin, but it’s left intentionally ambiguous as to when it takes place). It’s a touching scene of a father saying goodbye to his daughter, and he tells her that while their fight is done, if she ever needs them they’ll be there. And with that, Omega flies off to join the Rebellion. It’s a fitting end to the show, one that wrapped things up well while still leaving open the potential for more stories down the road. It’s been a wonderful journey with these characters and a terrific series, and they managed to mostly stick the landing with a thrilling and emotionally satisfying final episode.
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