TV Review: ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Season 2, Episode 10
by Frank Martin
After last week’s episode essentially ended on a cliffhanger, it made sense that Star Wars: The Bad Batch would pick up where it left off. Although the previous episode’s plot was relatively slow, it allowed time for the characters to bond and for Omega (Michelle Ang) to deal with the loss of both Echo (Dee Bradley Baker) and her ship. It was great in terms of characterization, some of which was lost this week as the story moved away from the interpersonal relationship of the group and instead dealt with them trying to regain their ship and escape the planet.
The turning point in their situation comes when Omega has the brilliant idea to track their droid on the ship rather than the Marauder itself. This leads to an alien who also has a large group of kids stealing for him in a sort of caste system where all they vie for his approval or end up mining the dangerous mineral introduced last episode. Sneaking into the base, the Bad Batch (all voiced by Baker) eventually retake their ship and head out. And along the way, the kids realize they are being taken advantage of and essentially rebel against the alien leader.
Rather than do one thing very well, this episode does several little things well instead. Omega and the boy who stole their ship bond about what it means to have a family who treat each other with respect — the basic gist of the characterization this time around. It’s not the Bad Batch who grow, but rather the children being manipulated by the alien leader. Also, it allows Omega and the rest of the group to come to the realization that evil is not exclusive to the Empire. Although the galaxy is changing and the Imperial grip on it is an immense threat, there are others that also seek to exploit the downtrodden. This is setting the Bad Batch up as a group looking to do good wherever they can; a worthy repositioning of the characters as the season gets closer to its end.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch streams Wednesdays on Disney+.
