Star Wars: The Bad BatchSeason 2 is one of a handful of highly anticipated TV series coming toDisney+ in January 2023. The most recent animated series set in a galaxy far, far away,The Bad Batchpremiered to unanimous praise in Summer 2021. Its explosive first season kicked off with another perspective of theexecution of Order 66, this time allowing us a glimpse of howStar Wars Rebelsfan-favorite characterKanan Jarrus survived the purge as a young Padawan. Of course, the series would ultimately follow the specialized clonetroopers known as Clone Force 99 — or, most famously, The Bad Batch — and how they navigated a post-Order 66 galaxy.
The Bad Batch was first introduced at the tail-end ofStar Wars: The Clone Wars. All voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, the elite squad included: Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, and, by the end of their arc inThe Clone Wars, a recently rescued Echo. More significantly,The Bad BatchSeason 1 saw major changes with the beloved group. Without further ado, as we await the series' dual episode premiere (perGames Radar), here’s a recap of everything you need to remember about season 1 ofStar Wars: The Bad Batch.
Order 66: Execution & Fallout
As previously mentioned,The Bad BatchSeason 1 opened with Clone Force 99 receiving the Order 66 transmission. However, because of their genetic differences from other clonetroopers like Rex and Commander Cody, their inhibitor chips malfunctioned, rendering Hunter and the gang impervious to the Order. What’s more important to take away from this moment, of course, is how Caleb Dume ultimately survived the Jedi purge — that is, with Hunter’s help. More than just providing context for Kanan Jarrus' backstory, of course, this moment would be the inciting friction between Hunter and Crosshair.
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The One and Only Omega
When the Bad Batch returns to Kamino, they discover a young girl who takes a keen interest in them. Her name is Omega, and, in an interesting turn of events, Clone Force 99 eventually makes the discovery that she is both a clone of Jango Fett and genetically different from the other clones — just like them. As a result, in the midst of Kamino’s destruction, the Bad Batch takes in Omega as one of their own, giving us the parent-child dynamic that was so popular (and unexpected) inThe Mandalorian. Omega’s backstory, of course, is shrouded in mystery, and while Season 1 offered very little by way of character revelations, she swiftly became a favorite — and is one to watch this upcoming season.
The Inhibitor Chips
One of the major plots points ofThe Bad BatchSeason 1, Clone Force 99 eventually meets up with Rex, who informs them of the inhibitor chips implanted in their skulls and consequently helps to remove them. It’s a brief appearance from the belovedClone Warscharacter, but it sets the stage for two things: the revelation that Crosshair had already removed his inhibitor chip ahead of their hunt for Caleb Dume (again, more friction between him and his team); and the Bad Batch’s joining of the Rebellion. In terms of the latter, Hunter is, for most of the season, against joining another war.
The Rebellion
Speaking of the rebellion, the Bad Batch is sent on a mission in order to prove their loyalty to the Empire: kill Saw Gerrera. Of course, the clones ultimately fail their mission as they — minus Crosshair — begin to question the validity of their mission (and, by extension, the Empire). This is yet another moment in which Crosshair is demonstrably frustrated with Hunter’s leadership.
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New Allies
For the most part,The Bad BatchSeason 1 naturally follows the episodic nature that fans loved aboutThe Clone Wars, taking us on adventures that saw Clone Force 99 interacting with a plethora of new and familiar characters, like Rex, the Martez sisters, and even Fennec Shand. The biggest introduction is arguably the clones' newest ally, Cid, a Trandoshan mercenary who, though initially contentious, grows into the Bad Batch’s biggest ally.
New Enemies
With new allies, of course, comes new enemies. In addition to Palpatine’s rise to power,The Bad BatchSeason 1 specifically sets up two main antagonists for Clone Force 99: Vice Admiral Rampart and Crosshair. Rampart plays a villainous role steadily throughout the first season, but his biggest contribution is possibly the destruction of Kamino. We last saw him re-joining the Imperial fleet, and, according to Season 2’s trailer onYouTube, we can expect to see more of him soon.
Crosshair, on the other hand, is effectively the most interesting antagonist ofThe Bad Batchso far. Between the history he shares with Clone Force 99, the arc they go through together across Season 1 (which saw them as allies, predator/prey, frenemies, and everything in between), it’s clear that Crosshair could be shaping up to be yet anotherStar Warsbaddie on a redemptive path (maybe). Even though Hunter and his team save Crosshair from dying on Kamino, Crosshair still pledges his allegiance to the Empire. We’ll have to wait for Season 2 to see what happens next with him.
