The Bad Batch S01E01 is the first episode of an animated scifi space opera action-adventure streaming TV series set in the Star Wars universe. Basically a spin-off of the final season of The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch features five ‘deviant’ clone troopers who come together like The Dirty Dozen (click on the wiki link if you are too young to get the reference!) to take on missions that ordinary clone troopers are not equipped to handle.
Entitled “Aftermath”, The Bad Batch S01E01 opens to find Clone Force 99 (viz. Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair and Echo) just as the infamous Order 66 (the destruction of the Jedi Order) is executed by the clone troopers at the behest of the soon-to-be self-declared Emperor Palpatine. Basically the plot of the third act of Revenge of the Sith.
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The final season of The Clone Wars had previously depicted Order 66 from the perspective of Ahsoka Tano but this time, we get to appreciate the existential crisis experienced by Clone Force 99 as these ‘deviant’ clones are able to exercise more independent thought than their ‘normal’ brothers. Remember that the clone troopers have been fighting side by side with their Jedi commanders for years, and which suddenly they are ordered to destroy. A powerful dramatic conflict.
Clocking in at over an hour, The Bad Batch S01E01 brings Clone Force 99 through many changes and challenges which forces them to re-evaluate their loyalties in the wake of the Republic being superseded by the Empire. This provides a brilliant setup for the series to explore a popular epoch in Star Wars lore viz. the rise of the Rebellion. There remains the potential to include fan-favourite characters from The Clone War series – like Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, Darth Maul and of course, Darth Vader.
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Certainly, with 15 more episodes (!) to follow, hopefully The Bad Batch will fulfil this promise. May the Force be with you!
Now streaming on Disney+.
… still there’s more …