– Spoiler Review –
To figure out why the Empire wants Omega so badly, Hunter and Wrecker end up working for Fennec Shand, while Crosshair and Omega work on the latter’s lingering trauma in another great, character focused entry in The Bad Batch’s season three, “Bad Territory.”
For us at home, we know the Empire’s need for Omega because of M-count transfer numbers is all about midi-chlorians, but in-universe, I can’t imagine, and the show is quickly confirming, this information isn’t well-known. Maybe at one point it could’ve been, but do you think the Jedi Order ever cared to share, especially by the time of the prequels, about midi-chlorians and counts of them? From Phee Genoa not having any luck to deadly bounty hunters going after targets on behalf of the Empire, most people aren’t concerned about the what of an M-count anyways, more concerned about how someone’s need for it can benefit them. Considering the Empire has hunters out looking for viable beings, the Batch’s only foot in that world includes a frenemy: Fennec Shand, who starred in some early season one episodes as she hunted and later help save Omega from a more deadly threat. Since then, Fennec feels even more confident and demanding, basically setting all the terms of her deal with Hunter and Wrecker to get them the information they seek, all done in another wonderful performance by Ming-Na Wen, which made Fennec feel like she’s on the edge of kicking everyone’s butt at any time if she wants and leaves me hopeful she’ll get to play the character even more in the future.
Between both the swamp-set mission Shand takes them on and her history with the group, I really enjoyed how The Bad Batch handled her return to the series. Fennec bossing Hunter and Wrecker around and them being unable to fight against it because the info they need is so important makes for a funny and enjoyable dynamic and, even if Ming-Na Wen wasn’t recording with Dee Bradley Baker, you can tell she’s having fun with holding all the power. The swampy setting, and a planet where the atmosphere isn’t breathable for humans, was a nice change of pace, as we got a cool bayou/gondola design, plus a fun fight with space crocodiles. They all come to a bit of mutual respect by the hunt’s end, as the struggle with the target, Sylar Saris, who is a species that looks a lot like a praying mantis, is a difficult one, as Sylar manages to wrangle itself away from Hunter and Wrecker’s initial attacks and it takes a bunch of stun bolts to bring him down. Despite all their help, Fennec doesn’t give them any additional information but she does promise to follow-up with them, and as she flies away we get a quick scene of her contacting someone we don’t hear or see, but she’s telling whomever the clones she just worked with were interested in M-count bounties and that this being could find them easily. Could this be Cad Bane, who we know will be in this season, even despite their past tussles, or is it the first hint of the show finally introducing the return of the character we’ve all been waiting for: Asajj Ventress!?!!?!
Before Hunter and Wrecker leave Omega and Crosshair behind on Pabu, the target on Omega’s back too risky to take her along to such populated areas, Hunter tells Omega to convince Crosshair to get his hand checked out, the tick which has diminished his formidable skills as a sniper. Initial attempts by AZ turn up no medical way to fix the problem, with the droid suggesting it’s psychological instead. Crosshair rejects this immediately, but Omega thinks she has an idea for it, even countering his usual dislike of everything with a funny little line, which leads to them meditating on the shores of Pabu. I love the lighting in this scene, so serene with the sun setting, while Omega’s new jacket makes her look more at peace herself, while Crosshair’s look of incredulousness at Omega’s teaching and the Batch’s life without him really sell this scene well. Referencing meditation she learned from Gungi and the Wookiees, Crosshair eventually gives in and we see them both relaxing finally, the music from the Kiner family swelling to a hopeful note. Will this be the first step on Crosshair’s longer journey of overcoming the lingering traumas of all the experiments run on him on Tantiss, or is this enough to fix his problems? I’d love to see the show, though we’re over halfway through with the final season, explore this further, even if it means he finally overcomes it in a clutch scenario, as it would be good for any Star Wars series to include or tackle some mental health content, as it’s largely something more easily fixed or glossed over in other stories.
Here are a few other things:
- When Fennec explains what her target did, we get a Haxion Brood name-drop, a group first introduced in the Jedi series of video games!
- I don’t want to assume the Rodian talking with Fennec is Greedo, though I thought it would be a fun easter egg, but I noticed Wookieepedia says it’s him though I didn’t see anything in the credits/subtitles about it.
- Remaining season three release schedule: March 27: Episode 9 (“The Harbinger”) | April 3: Episode 10 (“Identity Crisis”), 11 (“Point of No Return”) | April 10: Episode 12 (“Juggernaut”) | April 17: Episode 13 (“Into the Breach”) | April 24: Episode 14 (“Flash Strike”) | May 1: Episode 15 (“The Cavalry Has Arrived”)
- As always, a reminder about the Unwhitewash The Bad Batch campaign, which I hope it they’ll consider going forward with any more clones in animation.
The Bad Batch’s season three “Bad Territory” brings back a familiar face for a fun dynamic and mission, while it starts to help Crosshair unpack his lingering issues.
+ Omega helping Crosshair
+ Fennec Shand’s return and Ming-Na Wen’s performance
+ Love the new environment, crocs, Mantis species
– Not gaining new information feels a little like wheel spinning
– Unwhitewash the Bad Batch
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
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