– Spoiler Review –
“Flash Strike” is the penultimate episode of The Bad Batch series, where the final gears are put into place and everything’s ready for what is sure to be a big finale.
Picking up right after the events of “Into the Breach,” “Flash Strike” gets off to a high-octane start and doesn’t let up, though this isn’t without its detriments since the finale is next week, but we’ll cover that in a moment. I want to start with a shout out to Deana, Sean, and Kevin Kiner for setting the mood with the nerve-racking inducing opening musical score, as it gave me a nervous energy watching the episode’s events that I felt never let up. We end “Flash Strike” in a similar position to “Into the Breach,” with plenty of unknowns about what’s to come next, be it Omega’s plans, Emerie’s own, and how/if the rest of the Batch will make it out of the jungle alive. There are plenty of compelling options and ideas for what will happen and how various plans will play out, but beyond those, will one more episode truly be enough to give this series a fitting closure? The team behind The Bad Batch has more than earned our trust, but if the finale isn’t as long as the premiere, over an hour or so (and hopefully they’ll actually give us a heads up on that…or some sleuths will), beyond the big events of finding out what happens to Omega and Tantiss next, which are sure to be exciting, will we get enough time for the characters as well? Something I’ve taken issue with in the past, and it’s not abated, is the lack of arcs for several characters, especially main ones like Hunter, Wrecker, and even Echo. Omega, Emerie, Crosshair, and maybe Rampart have had arcs to some degree or another, Omega the biggest, followed by Crosshair, and most recently Emerie, with potential for change or overcoming what’s holding them back, so a finale which gives them all a chance to make a choice and move towards their next lot in life would be welcomed, but what about the others? Hunter has hemmed and hawed about fighting the Empire like Rex wants to, but beyond his apprehension there, and his parental tendencies towards Omega, there’s not much growth left for him, so if he survives what’s to come, whether he joins the fight or not won’t feel earned, just inevitable. As much as I love Wrecker, I never expect him to change, which made him less and less compelling as the series went on, so if he survives into another story, especially one without more exploration for his character, diminishing returns would continue. Echo got to make his choice already, go off and fight with Rex, and beyond his great moment here spurring on another clone to finally make their own choice, there’s not much left for him to deal with either. I’m sure the remaining arcs will be satisfying, and the plot will be one to remember, but a finale that doesn’t try a little more with these characters, especially if it’s a half hour or so, will come up short overall despite how this show has gotten more interesting each season even as it leaves character development behind for some.
The rash actions of the Batch means when they get out of hyperspace, Hemlock, Scorch, and Tantiss are aware the clones have arrived with the science shuttle, leading to a chase in the sky which ends with Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and a very reluctant Rampart jumping out of their stolen shuttle before it blows. It’s an exciting sequence, with some good humor from Rampart’s discomfort, and the base’s gun emplacements joining the fight helps to give Omega the message her brothers have arrived. During scenes with this group, “Flash Strike” continues the series’ work on Crosshair, whose hand-tick is still bothering him, especially when he and Wrecker talk about his escape and how he’s now trying to break in. It’s rare I feel like we’ve had such a prolonged conversation between these two, especially this season, and I enjoyed it for how it allows Crosshair to talk about his debt to Omega and her actions, which leads into an even better conversation between Crosshair and Rampart, where the two discuss the Empire betraying them both and part of Crosshair’s response stems from Omega’s actions making him realize what matters more. It seems like some of this is getting through Rampart’s haughty demeanor, but there’s a hint he may never change when he gives an under the breath comment about Crosshair’s point. Despite all this conversation, they are sneaking through the jungle as Imperial patrols are scouring for them, but it’s Rampart that gives them away unintentionally, laying down and snuggling up with a dryax, the giant monsters the lurca hounds like Batcher are keeping at bay from the base! A chase ensues, with Rampart caught by Imperials due to all his loud screaming, while the others are still on the run by the time “Flash Strike” ends. Will they find a way to the mountain? Are they going to climb it? Or will someone have made a nice big hole to let them in…
Hearing the guns, noticing only Dr. Scalder remains, and knowing her brothers are on the way, Omega jumps into action, asking her fellow captive kids to distract anyone who comes into the Vault while she goes investigating. The poor children don’t know the first thing about being a useful distraction, which adds plenty of tension when Scalder comes to take samples and Omega’s working her way back, but it’s what Omega finds that’s far more thrilling: the Zillo Beast!!! The creature made a triumphant return in the season two episode “Metamorphosis” and this clone version was once again under the Empire’s control by the episode’s end. I had figured, much like The Clone Wars, it was just a fun thing to bring back to the screen, finally following up on Palpatine’s desire to see it researched, and therefore we wouldn’t see it again, but some fans were smarter than me and have had it on their bingo cards for the finale. Looks like they can collect the bingo prize, as Omega seems set to unleash the Zillo Beast on the Tantiss facility, either bringing to it all to the ground or setting it back significantly, which feels right considering the beast’s continued existence, this clone of it, is a product of the Empire and Emperor’s hubris. Also, the Zillo bringing an end to Dr. Hemlock sounds rather delectable. I cannot wait to see what devastation the Zillo Beast brings to the table for the finale!
Echo’s one crafty clone, sneaking around the science ship, eventually donning the early stormtrooper armor and borrowing a droid’s hand to mask his missing one, and managing to make it around the facility without anyone the wiser. Forget the whole Batch, just send Echo by himself next time! Plugging into a terminal within Tantiss, he locates Emerie’s lab and starts poking around, not finding much, but before he’s able to sneak away Emerie arrives. He does his usual shtick, trying to talk his way out of suspicion, but Emerie noticed him putting on the hand, and knows how clones sound, and makes a guess, calling out his name. I was on the edge of my seat, curious where this was going to go, and I loved what happens. He doesn’t bother being nice, as he doesn’t accept her excuse of doing her job for running experiments on all their brothers, pointing out she can’t ignore she’s one of them and mentions how Omega saw something in her, and yet despite his meaner tone he tells her he hopes she’s right, opening the door for her to finally make a choice, more so than just giving one of the kids Omega’s doll. And thankfully she steps through the door he’s opened, telling Echo the only way they can save the kids is with her help and he’ll just have to trust her! Seeing her ready to do something, to accept she’s a clone and to help her fellow siblings, is fulfilling after all the character work this season has put her through, and I’m eager to see what she brings to the table in the efforts to free the clones being held there.
Here are a few other things:
- Remaining season three release schedule: May 1: Episode 15 (“The Cavalry Has Arrived”)
- As always, our per episode reminder of the Unwhitewash The Bad Batch campaign, which I hope it they’ll consider going forward with any more clones in animation.
- Nothing to do with the Bad Batch, but I am running a giveaway for an unopened copy of the Galaxy’s Edge Edition of Myths & Fables, which goes until 4/26 11:59pm CST! You can get multiple entries interacting with our various socials, Bluesky, Twitter, and Instagram!
- My (and many others’) hope and dream for Omega after this series is over is her joining up with Asajj Ventress, being part of whatever comes next for that character as well. Given Michelle Ang’s (Omega) comments back in February (I thought it would be worth revisiting prior to the finale) about the character’s story changing from a very large future to what we’ll get in “The Cavalry Has Arrived,” could that mean Asajj and Omega won’t get to team up or was that larger future something even bigger (inclusion in Heir to the Empire and/or New Jedi Order films)? We’ll never know the bigger plans, most likely, but I’m eager to see what we do get, as her “bittersweet” comment does fit with a story where Omega must leave her brother behind in some way or another.
The Bad Batch season three’s “Flash Strike” keeps up a frantic, nerve-racking pace as the show heads into the series finale, promising plenty of big plot to come but leaving one curious if characters will get their do as well.
+ Nervous tension throughout
+ Omega and Emerie coming up with plans
+ Plenty of cool plot to unleash…
– Unwhitewash the Bad Batch
– …but leaves me worried characters will take a backseat
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.
THE BAD BATCH REVIEWS
Season Three: 3.1/3.2/3.3 Confined & Paths Unknown & Shadows of Tantiss | 3.4 A Different Approach | 3.5 The Return | 3.6/3.7 Infiltration & Extraction | 3.8 Bad Territory | 3.9 The Harbinger | 3.10/3.11 Identity Crisis & Point of No Return | 3.12 Juggernaut | 3.13 Into the Breach
Season Two: 1.1/1.2 Spoils of War & Ruins of War | 1.3 The Solitary Clone | 1.4 Faster | 1.5 Entombed | 1.6 Tribe | 1.7/1.8 The Clone Conspiracy & Truth and Consequences | 1.9 The Crossing | 1. 10 Retrieval | 1.11 Metamorphosis | 1.12 The Outpost | 1.13 Pabu (by Katie) | 1.14 Tipping Point | 1.15/1.16 The Summit & Plan 99
Season One: 1.1 Aftermath | 1.2 Cut and Run | 1.3 Replacements | 1.4 Cornered | 1.5 Rampage | 1.6 Decommissioned | 1.7 Battle Scars | 1.8 Reunion | 1.9 Bounty Lost | 1.10 Common Ground | 1.11 Devil’s Deal | 1.12 Rescue on Ryloth | 1.13 Infested | 1.14 War-Mantle | 1.15 Return to Kamino | 1.16 Kamino Lost