It’s sad to say goodbye to The Bad Batch, but I’m glad it’s going out on top with what is undoubtedly its best outing. The final season sees the remaining members of the Bad Batch working to free Omega from captivity on Mount Tantiss, the same facility that’s holding Crosshair.
After two good, solid seasons, it feels like The Bad Batch has really settled into what makes the series work. They put a lot of time into building up the characters and developing their complex relationships over the first two seasons, and it’s paid off. As someone who liked, but didn’t love, the individual members in past seasons, I felt a strong connection to them throughout this season, especially as it ramped up to the big finale. Hunter and Wrecker don’t have as much going on in terms of personal arcs, but their connection to their clone family makes them integral to the story. However, the stars of the show through this season are undoubtedly Omega and Crosshair – they both have incredible arcs that tie together everything we’ve seen of them so far. The two of them have a few episodes where it’s focused primarily on their bond, and they have to be some of my favourite animated Star Wars episodes, period. They’re the most complex and conflicted characters, and have exhibited an extreme amount of growth since we were first introduced.
Overall, this season is way darker and more tense than anything we’ve seen in prior seasons. Being the final season, it’s clear the writers focused on wrapping up the story and wasting absolutely no time. There’s maybe one episode that teeters on the edge of being ‘filler’, but even then it still ties into the central plot. It moves at a joyously fast pace, making the 15-episode run feel no longer than 10 and packing some great moments into every episode. Being primarily set in and around Empire-controlled locations, the drama is palpable and there’s always this looming sense that something bad can and will happen. It made the wait for each episode rather exciting, something I’ve not really felt across the first two seasons. On top of the tension, this is an emotionally heavy season that focuses heavily on the family bond our favourite clones share. It tugs on those heartstrings, weaving in sad and heartwarming moments that don’t fail to bring a tear to the eye. It’s a well-written narrative that ties things together in a very neat and fulfilling way for Bad Batch fans.
What I really admire is how the narrative throws us for a few loops, never resorting to telling a basic, predictable story. It brings back characters from the show’s past, as well as characters from Star Wars history, and holds many fun surprises along the way. Being primarily made for a younger audience, it would be easy for the writers to play it safe, but they do a great job of maturing the narrative just as Omega herself matures. I’ll also take a moment to commend the animation style, as it has grown and advanced not only over the course of this series, but since the Clone Wars days. There’s so many beautifully animated locations in this season especially that looked like living matte paintings. As much as I have an attachment to the Star Wars: Rebels animation, there’s no denying this style is just as stunning to look at in its own right.
Omega is a character who, like Ezra in Star Wars: Rebels, becomes someone entirely different and unrecognisable by the end of the series. Her growth is incredible, and seeing how her role through this season compares to where she started puts a good ol’ smile on my face. Much of that is a credit to the writers, but I also have to shout out the voice performance of Michelle Ang. There’s a bit of maturity to the way she brings Omega to life this time around. She’s very much just a kid, but Ang really emphasises the confidence and intellect she’s adopted from her brothers in the way she communicates. Dee Bradley Baker once again must be commended. To bring all these clones to life in a way that brings out their unique qualities is a talent not many others would be able to achieve with just their voice. Each character’s voice and cadence is so unique that you never really jerry that it’s one actor talking to himself for much of the series. This is also the point to commend Jimmi Simpson, who portrays Dr. Hemlock through this season. As far as members of the Empire go, he is one of the more fun and intriguing to watch. He’s just plain-old evil, and Simpson does a great job of making you hate his guts from the get-go.
In the end, The Bad Batch does what a final season should do – it wraps up every character’s journey in a way that’s fun and fulfilling for longtime fans. The story is more tense and gripping than ever, with a darker tone and more tension as our characters are put in situations of peril. The ramp-up to the ending is exciting, and it leads to an overwhelming sense of emotion in what is a perfect finale. With the growth this series has exhibited, I’m excited to see what’s next in store in the world of Star Wars animation.
7.8/10
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