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The Bad Batch 2x03/2x04 Full Reaction! (Patreon)

Published:
2024-05-28 12:45:01
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2026-06
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The Bad Batch 2x03-2x04 Full Reaction - EA - Sesskasays

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Ryan

This first episode was the one just about everyone who saw the season trailer was looking forward to most (and kudos to all the people who knew it was specifically Cody; I have no idea how they did it). As you quickly picked up, everything about the presentation here is deliberately set up to feel like we're again watching heroic Republic forces fighting the evil Separatists, and indeed a lot of fans reported that they found themselves caught up in the vibe and rooting for Crosshair and Cody, until they're ordered to execute the governor and suddenly everyone remembers what's actually going on here. And it's really nice that they're up against a smart, driven adversary, rather than someone from the New Republic who'd probably just say "I'm very angry about this, and I'm going to write the Emperor a letter about how angry I am. That'll show you!" Of course, the most exiting thing is getting our first update on what Cody was up to after shooting Obi Wan, and the reveal that a good number of clones were actually smart enough to get out before the leopards ate their faces even with Order 66 presumably still going in their heads. With The Bad Batch now finished, that could be a pretty good setup for another animated show. As for the next one, let's just start by acknowledging that these two were in no way designed to be watched directly back to back like this, and having a week between them helped a good deal in feeling less jarring to go from a super heavy villain story to a pure light fun one. But it seems that wasn't much of an issue for you, so that's good. Cid's back from her vacation teaching Barbie the meaning of life, and gets to have a bigger role than usual. We also have the advantage of Ben Schwartz, who has a real talent for playing characters who are annoying within the story but don't actually annoy the audience, a really neat trick if you can get it. The guy managed to hold his own opposite freaking David Tennant and Catherine Tate in multiple episodes of Ducktales! He provided pretty much all your best moments here, though of course it's also great to see Tech step up to the plate like this, and indeed a lot of fans said it was about time he got his own spotlight episode. Though just once I'd like to see a story where there's a super dangerous area and no one ever goes in; you know, just to see if the sun still comes up in the morning.

Saltire le Hutt

The building we meet up with Rampart, Crosshair and Cody, was the very same facility used to imprison Ahsoka during her trial episodes at the end of season 5 of TCW (and indeed as you have seen Tales Of The Empire, Barriss too after her capture). The clones who move away from Crosshair in the mess hall talk about the "defence recruitment bill" to be discussed in the Senate, for the phasing out of clones. So we find out that Crosshair was abandoned on Kamino for 32 rotations (estimated 36/37 days) before being picked up, close to death. That would have been a long time sitting there. Even if he could fish, the weather on Kamino is rarely clement. Rampart sounds so disinterested as he half-heartedly says "your loyalty is commendable". This ties in with a line in season one from Hunter: "Don't fool yourself Crosshair, all you'll be to the Empire, is a number..." On the battle memorial where Crosshair meets up with Cody, you can see all the names of fallen clones, who were from just the First Battle of Geonosis in Attack Of The Clones. It shows just how many of them were sacrficed in the first battle of the war, let alone throughout the next three years. The only named clone who we know that was at that first battle, is Rex; even Cody wasn't there. There is so much in that short intro scene with Cody and Crosshair. Cody's armour is greyed out now to comply with the Empire, and he was the highest ranking clone in the entire Grand Army Of The Republic; now he's a mere commander tagged in with new imperial recruits. He mentions about the Bad Batch being more independent and abandoning the Empire, and Crosshair doesn't like that line as he wants to be a cog in the imperial machine, so hits back that regs left too and that they are traitors like the Jedi. He's still buying into that, to fit his world view. Dooku is mentioned again by the ex-Separatist governor of this world. A lot of what she spoke about where he saw the republic corruption was true, even if she didn't know what he truly was at that point. Its good she brings up Mina Bonteri to highlight how some of the Separatists just wanted the war to end. We also have to remember that these people didn't know Dooku was a Sith either so are still loyal to him as well, even with him now gone. They were played by him just as the Republic side was being played by Palpatine. The battle droids and droideka's are really formidable this episode; they have been reprogrammed well by these inhabitants to try to fend off the Empire, and they have assassin droids as backup. Note however that the Empire doesn't send in their new shiny TK troopers to deal with this; no the clones are brought in as they are expendable and will also get the job done. This episode is like a dark, warped episode of Clone Wars where the clones are the baddies and the droids and separatists the goodies. In fact the briefing Cody gives here is almost shot for shot done in the same way when the Bad Batch were introduced in Clone Wars, especially the framing and the zoom-in; though this is no longer the clones taking out droids as the good guys; they are imperials now. Crosshair shooting at that tank and not even moving as its firing back, awaiting the perfect shot, then his one shot taking out four droids with the puck, is so good. Such a shame he's on the wrong side. I have a confession. I've never liked Cody. I've always been biased against him since he nonchalantly shot at Obi-Wan right after getting Order 66 in Episode III. All this was of course before we knew about the inhibitor chips; but even with all that, and watching him throughout Clone Wars, as he tangles along with Rex, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka; that scene in the film always trumped anything he did for me. Here though, we see that he tries to think the Empire can be a force for good post-war if it can bring about order in a restless galaxy; as he mentions to the kid and her mother that they are there to help, and to the troublesome separatist governor. And he lays down his gun to bring her round; thats something he picked up from Obi-Wan who was called The Negotiator and always tried to find a peaceful solution to things. After he brings her round though, then the imperial governor acting like a despot and that Crosshair all too easily kills her; that he sees he's on the wrong side. And again as he's leaving, he looks to see his clones move off, and the TK troopers come in as the new regime he and his brothers have set up, get their nefarious claws into this place. This is a long way from serving under Obi-Wan Kenobi. Then in the final scene with him and Crosshair, he mentions about having to live with the things he's done; which one is a clear referral about shooting down Obi-Wan, his loyal general, and thinks he killed him. He makes a choice to get out now, before going further down this destructive path. And I have to say, I warmed to him with this episode. Crosshair wakes up early (or did he not sleep?) and it looks like he's dwelling on things. He's summoned by Rampart and once again he doesn't refer to Cody by his name, only his number. Crosshair seethes at the Admiral's dig about clones leaving when around him; but he follows orders and is off on another soulless solitary mission, a long way from his fellow Bad Batchers... What an episode.

Saltire le Hutt

2x04 : This was originally going to be a podracing episode, but they decided to make a new sport here called riot racing. Could be a solid game this down the line. I was just thinking about Echo in the first episodes of the season, on about doing more to stop the Empire, and here he is in this episode, off with Hunter to deliver chicken nuggets lol!!! TAY-0 is so full of himself, but I kind of love him! Sassy droids are the best droids. A nice tidbit too is that TAY-0 is voiced by the same fella who voiced BB-8 in the sequels. :) Many of the background assets used in this episode were intended to be for a Clone Wars ep with Cad Bane and Boba Fett (perhaps for their duel which was never shown?). One thing I've always loved about the Star Wars creators, is that if something doesn't get used for one thing, it may get used another time for something else. Mother Talzin's design for example was originally going to be Darth Maul's design. Speaking of designs, this episode is jaw-droppingly stunning. I was reading on the Star Wars website about Bad Batch last night from the animators, and a mandate from George Lucas in Clone Wars, was that you should be able to pause it when watching, and each image would look like a painting. You couldn't do that so much with most of TCW and perhaps (though I love the minimalistic look) some of Rebels; but you can certainly do that with Tales Of The Jedi/Empire and here in Bad Batch. Each frame is beautiful. And as we've seen with Tales Of The Empire, this engine gets improved on even from this! Tech saving Cid's neck by winning the race. Crosshair may be my favourite Bad Batcher, but Tech is not far behind! Milking the applause with the Han Solo salute too - legend! :D

Thomas Corp

Yes, we have two drastically different episodes back-to-back. Which fits with this show, as you say. It’s like a Barbenheimer experience in the show; the batch being the Barb, and Crosshair being the Heimer. I’ll follow your strategy of speaking of the Barb half of these episodes first, that being the lovely Tech episode. As you say, not the most surprising episode, yet it’s so FUN that that issue becomes irrelevant. When you commented on Cid expecting things to get dicey, I quipped, “She’s a Trandoshan. She always expects things to get dicey.” Knowing your love for sassy droids, I had a feeling you’d live for Jean-Ralphio-bot, er, uh, Tay-0. You were correct on the voice, hence my joke. I heard the voice, I said, “Jean-Ralphio as a droid? Oooh, CHRIST.” Mind you, he is most amusing, he just tested me some. I was delighted by the great Ernie Hudson as Millegi. Ernie’s always so good. My aunt, rest her soul, got to meet him once, she said he was a very nice man. I continue to love your love for Omega’s great big heart. Yeah, things progress in such a way that you know Tech is going to race. I love everything about your reaction to Tech’s Great Race. Particularly lovely is where he recognizes, “Everyone’s hung up on being all Fury Road about this. Well, then fuck the tried and true slow and steady Aesop, we’re getting the lead out.” And indeed, it is beyond ecstatically wonderful when Tech dominates the race and emerges as the victor, your squeal of delight at that being terrific. Amazing and beautiful indeed. I had to reign myself in some with the glee, as I said when Tech was victorious in the race, “And then Tech should throw his fist in the air like Judd Nelson whilst doing celebratory victory donuts, saying, “Now THIS is podracing!” Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! No, no, no! That’s going too far.” I so adored your analysis of Tech in this episode, and why you really love him. The man is one very cool customer. Millegi, I like shows himself to be an honorable man, at least with deals, even calling off his one guy, acknowledging that Tech beat him, straight up. Similarly, it’s great that he imparts the warning, “Cid’s not who you think she is. In the time I’ve known her, I have seen SHIT that’ll turn you white!” and it sounds genuine, not an attempt to be villainous. Wise assessment on your end with Cid. Now to the SUPERB Crosshair episode. The nostalgia is STRONG with this one. I share your desire to focus on Crosshair. I likewise loved your investment in seeing our dear beloved Cody again, and you see him reeling still from Order 66, and his growing disillusionment with the Empire. You are right that you see the two in the combat, and it takes you back to the good old days, whilst grappling with the feeling that the good old days are gone. There was indeed a lack of Obi-Wan’s class. There was a dearth of Obi’s sass, alas. Crosshair, being amazing with the tank, had me just as impressed as you were, and I loved his teamwork with Cody. Likewise, that amazing shot with Cody throwing the puck, and Crosshair getting the shot off, I lived for your reaction to that, I said upon seeing it, “NICE grouping!” Governor Ames proves a most interesting character and shows a further demonstration of how Count Dooku has become a martyr, which works most well for the Emperor and his schemes, especially how it justifies usage of the might and power of the first Galactic Empire. And we’ve seen the sentiment extends to thirty years hence with Commissioner Helgait hailing our dear beloved Sith Lord as a visionary, and bemoaning how that damned Anakin just popped up, cut the great man down in his prime. Though it sadly doesn’t work out, it is lovely to see Cody trying to achieve a peaceful resolution, and sadly the one Imperial fuckwit insists otherwise, leading to Crosshair to firing the fatal shot. Worse still is how Governor Ames was as resigned to her fate as she was; she even says about how peace was never an option. Of course, it wasn’t. Peace, after all, is a lie. And we have Cody realize, like you observe, at what point do you draw the line in the sand and say “No more.” Indeed, Cody has now abandoned the Empire, and Crosshair is alone again, left to ponder how worth it his actions have been. Love your continued disdain for Rampart, especially your crack in response to his line of clone loyalty. My own comment being, “Well, in your case, you snake, that tends to happen when you blow up the clones’ home.” He also shows his prejudice by clearly not bothering to learn the clones’ names, when even the fucking Emperor had the common decency in the shriveled up blackened husk where his heart would be to learn and memorize the clones’ names. Oh, these reactions were exceptionally lovely, Jess, thank you so much.

Thomas Corp
>>139210221

It was few things with Cody. One, he’s one of the few clones who never much altered his appearance. Two, there’s a distinct scar on his face. Three, his armor, especially his helmet, despite the muted colors is recognizable at a glance. The show really does well in making you get thrust into the old nostalgia of the Clone Wars, then rip the rug out from under you. Good use of the Team America quote to compare the worthy adversary such as Governor Ames against someone like the moronic fuckface, Xiono. The Cody update was most appreciated, as is the update on a lot of clones that are defecting even with the chips still drilling away with the suggestions to the clones that they pass the time by playing a little Solitaire. Filoni’s laid enough groundwork that I’m expecting that we’ll get another spin-off dealing more with the greater clone rebellion. I love how Jess just rolls with the tones of shows, not unlike how Mark Hamill assesses the scripts he receives for the Joker and bases his performance on what tone the script provides and he plays it accordingly. The Tech spotlight was very much appreciated. Ben Schwartz is very good, Duck Tales especially. He is greatly annoying as Jean-Ralphio, though there it’s more deliberate, and he’s excellent at it. I relate so much to Ron Swanson in the one scene where Jean-Ralphio tries to nick some of the shrimp that Ron has on his plate, and Ron grabbing him by the wrist, looking him dead in the eye, whilst saying, “Rethink that move, Son.”

Ryan
>>139222525

I’ve never been able to get into Parks and Rec, so the live action role I most associate him with is the affluenza brat from Renfield. Love that movie so much and it deserved so much more success.

Thomas Corp
>>139217734

Shame that Crosshair didn’t have Wilson to keep him company for all that time. At work, I’ve had a boss in the past long ago that expressed a similar tone, so I feel Crosshair’s pain on that one. Cody expressing how the batch was always more unique, and Crosshair bristling against that as he wants, as you note, to just be the cog. He kind of still needs to buy into that as it justifies his actions; he needs to believe that the sacrifices he made were not for naught. The mention of Mina Bonteri is nice. I adore the showcase that the Separatists are just as much victims of the Emperor’s grand and glorious scheme as the Jedi and the Republic were. And they continue to espouse what a visionary that Count Dooku was, never learning of his Sith Lord nature. ...It’s ironic. Much though fans give the battle droids shit Revenge of the Sith onward, they do have their moments. I always thought they were pretty damn impressive and slightly terrifying in The Phantom Menace. The droidekas (Spinny-spins as Jess called them once, which is most appropriate as tis a good trick) are always a win. The episode is a dark mirror inverse of a Clone Wars episode, and it’s glorious. Such amazing Crosshair moments with the tank and the puck. I remember your thoughts on Cody. I still subscribe to the theory that he resisted enough to have his men alter their aim just enough so that Obi had a fighting chance. I still remember my brother telling me the theory, and I jumped on it, saying, “Canon! I take that as canon!” I do like how deliberately vague Filoni is about that here, and I wonder if the theory is made canon, is Cody even aware of his resistance. Certainly, you see his guilt. And even if the theory gets debunked, despite my being dug in with the idea, I’ll make peace with that, saying, “Well, it was a thought.” You can definitely see Obi’s influence with Cody reminding us that, though understated about it, they had a solid bond which gets tragically torn asunder when Order 66 happened. Well shown in two moments in Revenge of the Sith. First, in the mission briefing, when Cody notes, “Oh, come on, when have I ever let you down?’ and Obi-Wan slightly chuckles as to concede the point. Then later, right before the Emperor gives the order, when Cody acknowledges Obi’s commands in a proper military fashion, then immediately follows by giving Obi the lightsaber, with a tiny bit of playfulness in his voice, when he says, “Oh, by the way, I think you’ll be needing this.” How I wish they kept from the novelization where Obi mentions that there’s no need to mention to Anakin about Obi losing his lightsaber, and Cody has a bit of fun by asking if that’s an order. Yeah, it hurts seeing Governor Ames acquiesce to Cody’s plea for peace and then she gets coldly shot by Crosshair, and that is a haunting and wonderful moment when the stormtroopers arrive. That last scene with Cody is a beauty. Crosshair being up early or just not sleeping, possibly both. I’m intimately familiar with the feeling. “Alone in the dark with nothing but your thoughts. Time can draw out like a blade.” as they say. Indeed, Crosshair contemplates how worth it any of it has been. As you say, what an episode, one of the best. Not my favorite, we’re getting to that two-parter soon. But yeah, one of the best.

Thomas Corp
>>139217851

Yeah, you can see the podracing influence. Well, Echo is doing good for the galaxy as people do really love their chicken nuggets. I don’t why, then again, at fried chicken establishments, I favor the boneless chicken tenders. We all seem to greatly appreciate a good sassy droid, and like Jess notes, we all surmised that she’d have a good response to Jean-Ralphio-bot, uh, sorry, TAY-O. That is a consistent thing with Star Wars of saving stuff for later. I know the magnaguards came from a possible look for Grievous that Lucas liked enough that they basically created the magnaguards so they could use the design. As Clone Wars progressed, you have some shots that look like great paintings: lots of things in The Lawless like Obi holding Satine after her death, and the FANTASTIC fight that Darth Sidious had with the Dathomirian brothers. One such shot being like a great painting that I love so much is Count Dooku being torn between the light that was Yaddle, and the shadowy dark that is Sidious. There are occasions when Crosshair and Tech essentially tie for being my favorite batchers. These two episodes are one such occasion. Back-to-back episodes where my two favorite batchers are given strong showcases of their amazing strengths and the moments where they shine and are allowed to demonstrate the reasons why they are my favorite and why I love them so much. Likewise, to now have this reaction seeing Jess express similar love for their strengths is wonderful. Tech surely was amazing winning the race and coming through for Cid, even if as Millegi warns, such loyalty is perhaps misplaced. That salute is a nice touch. What a guy, that legend is.