This week’s episode of The Bad Batch opted to ditch Star Wars politics and their effects on the galaxy during this time period in favor of a more intimate episode, which saw the Batch dealing with their new team dynamic and emotions after the departure of Tech.
Please check out the full review below in written or video form. You can also checkout a video we made about how this episode honors an iconic moment from the Disney classic The Lion King.
Script
After last week’s 2-part midseason slappers, fans of The Bad Batch may have felt a bit underwhelmed with The Crossing, and that is understandable, but this episode is far from filler and can’t be described as standalone either thanks to its cliffhanger ending.
Now that doesn’t mean that the Batch’s adventures in a cave looking for minerals was overly thrilling and water cooler worthy either, but if you’re here for character development, Episode 9 delivered in spades, most notably with Tech and Omega.
The loss of Echo has undoubtedly affected the clones more than they’re willing to admit outside of Omega. She clearly is devastated and not getting the type of comfort she needs from her battle hardened brothers, which allowed for some insightful character development to take place between her and Tech.
Tech really was the star of this episode, even if he at first came off as very cold and lacking empathy for Omega’s emotional response to Echo leaving. Tech has always felt like a protocol droid, the organic version of a C-3P0, albeit with courage and bravery, so seeing him have to grapple with his programming per se while dealing with a kid’s emotions was quite enlightening.
Tech is a character I’d assume many males can identify with thanks to how men are mostly taught to bury their emotions and approach the world as pragmatically as possible. Through his special abilities, and his years in war, he’s become even more hardened and matter-of-fact than his brothers, so it was informative to watch him struggle with Omega’s emotions and how to handle them, while also seeing him grow with his own just a bit due to her.
The two really did grow in this episode, with Tech taking the biggest leap in beginning to understand that the world is no longer 1’s and 0’s, and that as a member of a family, he has to be better at handling the highs and lows of being a part of one and loving someone.
Omega also benefited from Tech’s emotional breakthrough, and dare I say he essentially dropped some Jedi lessons on her about the perils of emotion and attachments? If anything, he’s as close to a Jedi as a clone got, and I’m not talking magical powers, I’m talking about how he chooses to approach relationships and the ebbs and flows they can bring to someone’s life. His talk helped Omega realize more about who he is and why he reacts the way he does, which when it comes to family, the more you know what makes them tick, the better the bond and relationship shall be.
Beyond the character growth, one overarching plot point of note played out, and that is Cid’s reluctance to help her mercs. One would hope that her hesitancy to help at first, and her delayed pledge to help will further open the Batch’s eyes to her shadiness. T
his was a reminder about Millegi’s warning from a few episodes back about Cid’s character, and it seems the warning is more poignant now than ever, so hopefully they take note and shift gears once, or if they get their floating home back. It’s not just transport Tech, or maybe he gets that now after his therapy session with Omega.
How About some top moments?
Up first I have to go with Tech pissing off Omega with his callous attitude towards Echo’s departure, and his inability to realize that it is really messing with her head. This scene provided great setup for Tech’s growth throughout the episode, because it perfectly showed how detached he has become from emotions, and that like a Jedi he has found a way to bury his to ensure that he can complete his mission to the fullest of his ability and not be distracted by attachments.
Omega’s reaction on the other hand is exactly what you’d expect out of someone who wasn’t bred to be a warrior. She is the emotional intelligence of the team, and not just because she’s young. She’s not battle hardened and she’s prone to form attachments due to her age, so she provided a great contrast to how her brothers handled Echo leaving, which was more or less business as usual for them.
The second moment is where Tech really put off some Jedi vibes when he opened up to Omega about why it doesn’t seem like he cares about Echo leaving, or the loss of the Marauder, which Omega reminded them all is their home and not just a transport. His advice about how people deal with emotions differently, and that it doesn’t mean they don’t care was brilliant, and it really showcased his growth. He got as soft as his wiring allowed him, but it was enough to make her understand that everyone handles emotions differently, especially when it comes to familial losses.
This growth on both of their parts will not be wasted, so expect some followup next week, and hopefully it isn’t laced with tragedy, because I don’t think fans, or Omega, could take another loss for Clone Force 99.
Nick and I will talk more about The Crossing on next week’s episode of the SWTS, so don’t forget to tune into the Star Wars Time Show on a weekly basis via our podcast platforms or via YouTube if you prefer the livestream angle.
