Star Wars: The Bad Batch S3 Ep 15/Series Finale Review
Almost three years to the day since their solo series began, our journey with The Bad Batch has ended. But the problem is that the series finale, “The Cavalry Has Arrived,” doesn’t feel like one. There are plenty of good scenes and tense moments where someone may die, but death doesn’t come for any of the named protagonists. Villains and unnamed characters fall in droves, but Clone Force 99 makes it out of Tantiss with their lives. And while some fans will end up debating whether that makes it a good ending, I want to point out a few things. Firstly, things turn out this way so Disney can keep using the protagonists in future Star Wars projects. Secondly, regardless of opinions on the finale, the events will have long-lasting effects. Up to the Sequel Trilogy, even.
Since this is the finale, this will be an extra-long review so I can give my thoughts on everything. That means spoilers from here on out, so either come back after you’ve either watched it or don’t care.
Spoiler Warning in Effect
Kind of a Misleading Title
Going into the finale, I thought its name, “The Cavalry Has Arrived,” was more than just a callback to the squad’s first appearance. For a long time, I thought the Bad Batch would invoke the “calls for aid” trope. They’d call Rex and their other allies, tell them where Tantiss is, and then show up to help storm the base, free the prisoners, and destroy it. It would be a pretty awesome way to wrap things up, and seeing the free Clones sticking it to the Empire would be cathartic given all they’ve gone through. For better or worse, though, Omega’s discovery of a captive Zillo Beast makes that plan pointless.
Tech is Dead. And Crosshair Loses His Arm
Another thing many fans hoped to see (again, myself included) is the reveal that CX-2 was a brainwashed Tech. Freeing him from Hemlock’s conditioning would mark the first time the whole squad was back together since the destruction of Tipoca City. Again, this doesn’t happen. None of the CX Troopers were Tech; Tech is dead, and we have to accept that. Mirroring this, the finale has the squad having to accept that they’re not the same squad they were when the Clone Wars ended. They’re still good, but without Tech, they’ll never be as strong as they once were, which many people wanted to see. Crosshair even has to spell it out for his brothers when they want to power through their injuries to get inside Tantiss: “Clone Force 99 died with Tech.” As harsh as it is, and despite Crosshair being motivated by the belief that he can only atone for his sins with his life, he’s technically right. The Bad Batch as we first met them is gone, a fact made clear when the trio get captured by Hemlock and one of the CX Troopers cutting off Crosshair’s hand.
That may not seem like a big deal since prosthetic limbs are common in Star Wars, but on a symbolic level, it’s appropriate. The squad lost part of themselves when they lost Tech. But while they can’t get back what they lost, the Bad Batch can still adapt to their new circumstances. Here’s where Crosshair is wrong. The squad as he knew them in the Clone Wars is gone, and they may never be as strong as they once were. But they’re still a family, and the best families are the ones that stick together. Case in point: the Clones and children can escape thanks to Omega.
Omega Has Become A Total Badass
On her end, Omega’s escape plan goes off with nary a hitch. After leading the other kids in tranquilizing their cruel overseer, Dr. Scalder, they escape into the walls and make their way to the Zillo Beast’s pen. While the Imperials do spot them, they’re too late: the Zillo Beast is set free! And what happens next is a sequel to “The Zillo Beast Strikes Back.” The alien Kaiju makes short work of Hemlock’s men, tearing through the base, and causing a big enough distraction for the kids to make it to Echo and Dr. Karr. While she gets them to safety before heading back, the Zillo Beast makes its way to freedom. The last time we see it, its headed off into the wilderness.
Master Windu, your wish has been fulfilled (Watch Season Two of The Clone Wars. It will explain everything.)
With the children now safe and reunited with Echo, Omega doubles back. It prepares to fulfill her other objective: freeing the other prisoners, which includes the Clones, Nala Se, Rampart, and now her brothers. Unfortunately, Hemlock attempts to break the Bad Batch and make them his newest CX Troopers. Thus, the group has to split up. Most of the Clones who can still fight choose to follow Omega and Echo, while the injured head to secure a way out.
Rampart Died As He Lived: Being a Self-Centered Idiot
And Nala Se? She ensures her research is destroyed, even if she won’t survive. Thanks to Rampart following her in an attempt to learn about Project Necromancer. Leverage to try and get his old job back. But even though he ends Nala Se’s life, she gets the last laugh via death by thermal detonator. She destroys the research for Project Necromancer and avenges the destruction of Tipoca City in one fell swoop-A fitting way to end their stories.
As for the Clones, at least one thing fans wanted to see happen: the Clone rebellion. Seeing them fight alongside Omega and Echo through Tantiss to free the rest of the squad is incredibly cathartic. After being used as tools to almost wipe out the Jedi, and then be treated as slaves and guinea pigs by the Empire they put in power, seeing them get some payback is a delight. It’s not on the scale I hoped for, and many of them die, either by poison gas or at the hands of the CX Troopers, but they succeed. The Bad Batch is freed, and between them, Wrecker, and Echo, the CX Troopers escape their misery.
Speaking of them, the CX Troopers were a messed up idea. After everything the Clones had already gone through, Hemlock broke them and turned them into nothing more than organic droids. Sadly, they couldn’t be saved, but sometimes, death might be better.
Great Shot, Crosshair! That Was One in a Million
Despite everything, though, Hemlock manages to get his hands on Omega before attempting to flee the base with Scorch (remember him?). Thankfully, Hunter and Crosshair ensure his ride is destroyed and Scorch is taken care of (RIP Scorch), bringing us to the climax.
The setting may seem a little cliche: the thunderstorm at night, the confrontation on the bridge, and the villain’s holding one of the heroes hostage as a means to escape. But it still makes for a pretty great climax. And Hemlock’s defeat is appropriate for his character. Despite repeatedly proving that she should be recognized, Hemlock makes the mistake of focusing solely on Crosshair and Hunter. Big mistake, as she uses the chance to stab him with her stolen scalpel, giving Crosshair the opening he needs to shoot the binders connecting them.
And Crosshair, what can be said about him? He’s been through Hell and back, thanks to the Empire. He was tortured for months by Hemlock, giving PTSD so great that it left his hand trembling (until he lost it!) But even after everything, he still managed to pull off one last, impossible shot. His leverage gone, Hunter and Crosshair send Hemlock off the bridge to his death.
Again, it’s cliche, but what’s wrong with a little cliche?
Did Omega Ensure Sidious’ Final Defeat?
And with that, the Bad Batch and remaining Clones escape, with Tantiss in ruins. Just in time, too, because Tarkin appears in a Star Destroyer seconds later. Not one of the Republic’s Venator-Class Star Destroyers, but the classic ones that will come to symbolize Imperial might. I hoped we would see the first TIE Fighters, but this is a close second. It’s almost as satisfying as the reveal that what Omega, the Bad Batch, and everyone else did that night will lead to Sidious’ final defeat decades later.
I’m not joking, and here’s why.
Firstly, there’s Project Necromancer itself. The Mandalorian reveals the project’s continued existence, but with the loss of Hemlock, Nala Se, and all their research, it’s nowhere near as far along as possible. That, in turn, means that when Sidious meets his first death in Return of the Jedi, he’ll stuck with clone bodies that can’t handle his strength in the Dark Side. Not only will that leave him trapped in a clone body on life support, but likely also leave him weak enough for his final defeat at the hands of Rey.
In the more immediate future, Tarkin’s frustration with Hemlock’s failures leads him to divert its resources to Project Stardust, AKA the Death Star. That’s just as bad as Necromancer, if not worse, and it will destroy an entire planet. But in the end, thanks to a certain young Jedi, the Death Star will be destroyed, wasting all that time and manpower.
To sum it up, Omega and her brothers ensured the eventual fall of the Empire, the Sith Eternal, and Darth Sidious in one fell swoop.
Everyone Can Live Their Lives
What happens to the heroes? Simple: They can finally live their lives how they want.
The young Clones that Hunter and Wrecker found are adjusting to life on Pabu, now the once-captive children alongside them. Rex and Hunter begin working on finding the abducted kids’ homes, but that could take a while. As for the others, a few head to Pantora to settle under Senator Chuchi’s protection. Echo and Dr. Karr go with them, the former ready to help Rex’s mission and the latter to make up for her part in the Empire.
As for the Bad Batch, they get one of the best possible endings a soldier can hope to get: they get to retire.
Only some soldiers get to retire. Many will not live to see that happen. Others may choose to stay a soldier for the rest of their lives, even rising to command other soldiers. Some end up leaving, but the trauma they can go through can make it hard to adjust to civilian life, even if they do get help. But some soldiers can adjust and find some inner peace. And while the show doesn’t demonstrate it, it feels like the Bad Batch can do that, and enjoy their retirement.
Except, that is, for Omega.
The Baby Bird Leaves the Nest
The series’ final minutes have taken us a few years into the future. Thanks to accelerated aging, Hunter is starting to reach middle age, while Omega is now a young adult able to look after herself. And with the Rebellion beginning to take shape, Omega wants to do her part. And despite wanting to leave unnoticed, Hunter and Batcher manage to be there to say goodbye. Thus, with her Dad and pet seeing her off, and carrying Tech’s goggles as a souvenir, Omega leaves the nest, like every kid has to one day.
With that, the story of the Bad Batch has ended—for now.
What Comes Next?
Like I said at the start, “The Cavalry is Here” might be the ending to The Bad Batch as a show, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel like one. At least not for many of the characters that make up the show’s cast. For most of the Bad Batch team, this is a solid end to their story. Given the nature of the franchise, it’s likely Disney will continue to use them in stories down the road, but hopefully, they’ll either take place during the Clone Wars or during the time of the series itself. It does help that the way the series ended could lead to more stories.
While the series finale can serve as a starting point for several sequel series, two I want to see emerge. Three if you count Ventress, we still don’t know how she’s still alive!
The first is continuing the stories of Echo and Dr. Karr and Rex’s underground network to save the Clones. We know that Rex will eventually retire Seelos with Wolfe and Gregor, but that’s still a ways off, and a lot of Clones may live and die before that happens (like Cody.)
The one story that should be continued is that of Omega. Ignoring that she’s the only other unaltered Clone of Jango Fett alive besides Boba Fett, and potentially Force-Sensitive, Omega has shown how capable she is time and again. If she could shut Tantiss down as a kid, imagine what she could do to the Empire as an adult in the Rebellion. Or for a much older version of her train to become a Jedi? I would pay money to see either one!
A Pretty Decent Finale for the Bad Batch
So, after everything, where do we leave the finale of Star Wars: The Bad Batch? On the one hand, we didn’t get a big-dang heroes moment or be surprised by the reveal that Tech was alive. The ending also feels more like the start of several more stories, but given how Star Wars is a franchise, that’s understandable.
On the other hand, it does close the book on Hemlock, Rampart, and Project Necromancer in the Bad Batch’s lifetime, and the remaining, original members of the squad get to enjoy retirement on Pabu. Which, believe it or not, is what I wanted to see for them when the series came to an end. And The Bad Batch isn’t just a story about conflict and grand adventures. It’s a family story and how important that family is. Whether it be the one you’re born into or the one you choose. So, while I still wish we could’ve gotten an actual cavalry arrival, and more danger and suspense, I still felt satisfied with the ending. Good for a bunch of misfit Clones.
May the Force be with you!
