– Spoiler Review –
Thankfully we didn’t have to wait long for the next episode of The Bad Batch, especially since Ep. 2 “Cut and Run” is the perfect companion to the extra-sized premiere, bringing in a familiar face (aren’t they all?) from The Clone Wars to tell an important aspect to their tale, further develop the main crew, and show the Empire’s little ways of changing the galaxy.
The Bad Batch reaches out to an old friend for help on their new situation, as they’ve never been on the run before, instead always on the offensive, with the Republic by their side, but now the Empire is on their backs. Who better to help learn how to hide from a galaxy-wide government, plus another purpose Hunter reveals, than the premier deserter himself, Cut Lawquane! Cut is a regular clone trooper who deserted on Saleucami and started a family early in the war, found originally by then Captain Rex, who helped defend Cut and his family from Separatists, deciding not to report him (as seen in The Clone Wars Season Two “The Deserter”). Turns out the Bad Batch befriended the Lawquanes, which includes Cut’s wife Suu (a Twi’lek) and their two children, sometime during the war, so it would make sense they’d return to him to learn any tips and tricks to laying low and hiding out. When they arrive, it turns out Rex visited the Lawquanes before them (probably his first stop after parting ways with Ahsoka in TCW’s finale) and the family is ready to run themselves, the Empire’s presence already widening in these early days of the transition. With the Lawquanes, from Suu’s fantastic skills with a sniper rifle to Cut’s skills evading detection, plus the two healthy and loved kids, Hunter sees a far better family for Omega, just a young girl herself. With their skills meant for a completely different purpose, highlighted with how Hunter handles Omega after she almost gets killed by a nexu, Hunter believes hanging out with a family of protective dads can only offer her so much, thinking she needs a real family and to get away from the war and their dangerous life, settling down for a normal upbringing. As a member of the same batch as theirs, meant to breed their ‘defections’ which separate them from their clone brethren, Hunter’s missing the fact, as Cut even mentions, Omega’s meant for something different just like them. I loved how the episode played this out, with Hunter punting on telling her until he’s basically forced her into going with the Lawquanes on a shuttle off-world to how she confronts him afterwards once she sneaks back to the Batch’s ship, convincing him she belongs with them; it was a great way to cover this type of story beat, and I was glad it happened so soon, instead of drawing it out.
I understood Omega’s shock at the sun, as I doubt Kamino ever sees one through its endless storms, but at first it didn’t quite click for me, just like for the Batch, why she’d bend down and play with dirt out of pure amazement and wonder. Once she asks what it is, it finally hit me: since she’s never been off Kamino, she’s never been on a planet with solid, non-metallic/built ground. It was a joy to watch her joy, which Michelle Ang captures so purely in her voice acting, and this episode tests her range again as Omega deals with the nexu attack and Hunter’s decision. The animation teams’ add a lot to her work, from the hurt and shocked look when Hunter yells at her to her private moment on the ship, tearing off her headpiece and the tears that come with the moment, where reality is setting in and it’s clear she can never go back to that life and the one out here won’t be all fun and games. She steps up regardless, vital in getting new identification to the Lawquanes so they can get off-planet, a different gesture than her crack shooting against Crosshair, but it shows she’s ready for whatever may come and can be helpful in any situation calling for someone less…noticeable. In Star Wars Rebels, we got to see some of the galaxy from Ezra Bridger’s young, initially starry eyes, but he lived the street rat life so there wasn’t as much pure amazement at the littlest of things, which is something I’m appreciating more, so Omega seeing the Galaxy Far, Far Away through such a new lens adds to the enjoyment of the episode and this series. At some point that naivety will be washed away I’m sure, potentially tied into whatever purpose the Kaminoans had for her, but for now it’ll be a fun part of the series as it explores how her relationship with the Batch with challenge and change them.
If the new identification system called “chain codes” sounded familiar to you, then you’ve been watching The Mandalorian! It’s how the bounty hunters continue to track down Grogu and Din Djarrin in the show, or other targets, and we see the system begin its implementation by the Empire here. An Imperial* pronounces the new system with gusto, making it sound like a necessary new aspect to secure galactic travel, but via Tech and Echo’s discussion about it, the show cuts right to the chase about how the Empire is basically creating a galactic database of its citizens, which they can then use for whatever purpose they desire. I was curious how or when chain codes ever became part of the galaxy after The Mandalorian introduced the concept so it’s really neat to see those details play out here, and if it was the only way to legally get around the galaxy once the Empire took over, it makes sense why so many people would potentially have or be willing to get them; it’s do that or try the black market for travel, which could lead to indentured servitude and more, and for many that’s any easy choice to avoid. It does raise the question on why Grogu has a chain code, considering he was born prior to the system, but maybe somewhere along his travels after leaving the Jedi Temple one was forged for him, much like what Tech does for the Lawquanes; I loved Tech’s answer when Hunter asks him if he can make chain codes for them, basically saying he only heard of them minutes ago but yes, he can…love that confidence, Tech! Regardless, this was a seamless and fun connection to other parts of the grander story of the Saga.
Here are a few other things:
- I don’t know if it was the lighting in the darker areas or nighttime shots, or I’m trying to see a change, but I felt like this episode was marginally better with the whitewashing issue of the clones and Omega, but it’s still prevalent and a clear problem. There’s an excellent article on io9 about the whole thing, including supposedly the production teams have heard the criticism and are adjusting lighting, but who knows who much that’ll actually help things (especially like with Echo). On the flip side, there’s some excellent fan art out there that depicts them a little more as they should, especially this one of Hunter that pulls more of Temuera Morrison in for this rendition.
- I have to say, I enjoyed how much more Suu featured in this episode and in “The Deserter” and damn, she’s an awesome shot!
- Executive Producer and series writer Jennifer Corbett, alongside ubiquitous clone voice actor Dee Bradley Baker, spoke about the introduction of Omega. There’s nothing new about her there, though Baker does hint we’ve seen some of Omega’s uniqueness already, which I’m guessing refers to her moment with Crosshair in the season premiere.
- The episode guide for the premiere is up on the official site, basically a bunch of neat little behind-the-scenes details, and I suspect the “Cut and Run” episode guide should be available on Monday, 5/10.
- A video titled “Mercenaries,” giving a glimpse of the season ahead, offers some new future.
- *Vice Admiral Rampart is the name of the Imperial, per the credits, and he might get a bigger role considering he’s getting a figure from Hasbro. Then again, every trooper variant gets a figure so that doesn’t mean a whole lot.
The Bad Batch is on an roll so far, as “Cut and Run” is a great follow-up to the series premiere, from how it deals with threads from different eras, has lots of great Omega moments, to its methodical character development
+ Wide-eyed Omega
+ Perfect usage of Cut and Suu from The Clone Wars
+ Great set-up for the chain codes in The Mandalorian
– Skin-tone problem persists, though I don’t know if it’ll change
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.