– Spoiler Review –
On the latest The Bad Batch, “Episode 11 – Metamorphosis,” a surprising return and building tension within both the Batch and the Empire’s nefarious research efforts raise the show’s stakes heading into the final handful of episodes for season two.
Like last episode dealing with lingering issues from the one before, “Metamorphosis” allows Clone Force 99 to air their grievances with Cid’s lack of assistance helping them get off the planet they were stranded on. She’s a tough customer and barely seems to be bothered by how she treated them, but she’s been softer around them in some recent episodes, leaving me curious if this is just how she is overall or if the Empire or some rival has gotten to her and this is her keeping them at a distance to protect them. Regardless, she has a line on a crashed ship and wants them to collect the cargo, offering them 50% of the cut for once because she’s kind after all aka Hunter stares her down until she offers such a sizeable cut. The opening of the episode already shows us it won’t be a mission they’ll make any credits from, though how it all ends helps push the simmering issues with how Clone Force 99 will continue. After they escape from the situation regarding the ship, the revelations they’ve uncovered once again point to the larger struggles in the galaxy, though Hunter forwards the information to Echo and Rex, returning to Cid instead, though the looks exchanged between Omega and Wrecker show the confrontation for the group on what to do next is brewing. I look forward to the conversation and really hope they decide to get involved, though it seems they might not have much of a choice soon…
Before we get into that, how about the frighteningly effective return of the Zillo Beast! The Clone Wars was a place where George Lucas and team loved to experiment and have fun, so often it went down surprising and unique paths, like the Godzilla-themed Zillo Beast episodes. A lingering thread from those episodes, which never needed to be addressed but was full of potential and I’m glad they touched on it, was then Chancellor Palpatine eager for research to be done on the creature. The results are where “Metamorphosis” picks up, as the spooky, tone-setting opening introduces us to a monstrous threat which Clone Force 99 later finds when investigating the downed ship Cid sent them after. The designs for the Zillo Beast, showing us its various growing stages, are fitting for each stage of the episode. The youngest Zillo is unnerving in its movements and indiscriminate hunger (giving me the xenomorph from the Alien franchise vibes), capturing in the show’s impressive lighting tech, flashlights teasing it at the edges until bringing it into full focus. Once it gains access to the ship’s power, the next phase is intimidatingly larger and more threatening, unafraid of being in the spotlight as much now. And as it feeds on the nearby village’s power grid, it more closely resembles the Beast as we knew it from TCW, though this technically is a clone version of it with some modifications by the Empire. It was really cool to see its growth process and I love how the Empire is what finally stops it…only so they can bring it in for further study, meaning someone else can bring it back if they want to future stories as well. It also points to how unequipped Clone Force 99 is on their own against the Empire or even smaller threats at times, hinting of their need to be involved with a larger force. From the excellent nerve-inducing score from the Kiner family, the usage of light, to the evolving threat, the Zillo Beast couldn’t have asked for a better return to the screen!
After depositing Kaminoan scientist Nala Se on the mysterious Imperial science facility on Mount Tantiss, the planet and mountain nods to Legends, the show’s never revisited the thread…until now. A good portion of the episode actually deals with the intrigue happening there, as new character and potential series baddie after Rampart got ousted Dr. Royce Hemlock (voiced by Jimmi Simpson, who I know from Westworld) arrives at the facility to stir up some trouble. We find out Nala Se hasn’t been cooperating as the Empire would’ve liked, but Dr. Hemlock won’t take no for an answer and has Lama Su, a prison on Coruscant currently, sent to help push her to cooperate. Lama Su’s always been more friendly of the Empire or his own pockets/survival, so he has a suggestion, given only in exchange for his freedom, which should help Nala do what the Empire wants: find Omega and use her as a bargaining piece. Remember how I said Clone Force 99 might not have a choice about getting involved with the fight against the Empire? With them on Clone Force 99’s tail to capture Omega soon, the giht is coming to them whether they like it or not.
Here are a few other things:
- As always, #UnwhitewashTBB. You can read more up on the campaign via their Carrd, and this great article on Gizmodo, but it’s simply pointing out how the special clones of a character played by a Māori actor are whiter than any other clone, unintentionally implying superiority and uniqueness are inherent in those who are white versus their darker-skinned brethren. I find it hard to cover this show without mentioning it each episode, as not acknowledging it would be ignoring the problem. They’ve reportedly darkened the characters, but it’s still not been enough to fix the issue, so hopefully by the show’s eventual third season they can maybe get it right.
- I’m a little surprised, mainly because of how early into the Empire’s reign we are, they were so willing to disappear a whole village just since they all happened to see the Zillo Beast.
- Also…holy clone commando overload!! We love to see it.
- You know you’re old when you type Zillow more than Zillo (that’s me).
The Bad Batch‘s “Metamorphosis” provides not only some scares with the returning Zillo Beast, but it also pushes the overarching story forward in a big way.
+ Zillo Beast returns!!!
+ Imperial research intrigue
– Unwhitewash the Bad Batch
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.
THE BAD BATCH REVIEWS
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
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