Did You Catch This In 'The Bad Batch' Episode, 'The Outpost'?
Image Source: Winter Is Coming
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE BAD BATCH SEASON 2 EPISODE 12, “THE OUTPOST”
The Star Wars: The Bad Batch episode, “The Outpost,” returns fans to Crosshair and his struggles. While the episode is mostly centered on the former member of the Clone Force 99, it also brings up three interesting details. They may seem insignificant at first, but upon closer inspection, they demonstrate more profound plot points in the overall story.
Significance Of The Ice Vulture
Image Source: The Geeky Waffle
An ice vulture flies over the skies of Barton-4 when Crosshair arrives. Many different cultures view vultures as creatures of doom and a sign of ill omen since vultures naturally subsist on carrion. This symbolism is clear as the ice vulture appears each time a clone's death is mentioned.
The first instance of the ice vulture is when Lieutenant Nolan and Crosshair discover that Commander Mayday, Hexx, and Veetch are the sole surviving clones at the Barton-4 Imperial outpost. Later in the episode, the raiders attack the outpost shortly after Commander Mayday expresses his admiration for the ice vulture. This assault ends in the deaths of Hexx and Veetch.
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Partway through the episode Commander Mayday and Crosshair catch up with a wounded snow raider. While Commander Mayday seems to be sympathetic to someone who has died in the freezing cold, Crosshair points out that he does not want to carry around any dead weight, thinking very much like a calculating vulture.
In what is probably the climactic moment of the episode, the avalanche crashes in on Crosshair and Mayday. The ice vulture makes its appearance once again to foreshadow the death of the clone commander. At the end of the episode, it circles over the deceased clone commander who finally succumbs to his injuries after Nolan refuses to bring in a medic. It also marks the moment Crosshair finally reaches a breaking point. The final image of the sniper with the snowy ridges in the background looks very much like the wings of the ice vulture.
Image Source: The Geeky Waffle
The Avalanche
Image Source: The Geeky Waffle
After Mayday and Crosshair track down the raiders to retrieve the stolen cargo, Crosshair fires at some exposed land mines, bringing down the entire cave and the raiders within. The two then discover that the cargo they have risked their lives to recover is new gear meant for the Empire’s new stormtroopers who will now replace the “obsolete” clone troopers.
As Crosshair is not one for expressing his emotions, the oncoming snowstorm and resulting avalanche represent the weight of the world crushing down as he is forced to process the many recent revelations. Crosshair no longer has squadmates or anyone to really converse with. In a way, the turbulent environment of Barton-4 represents Crosshair’s headspace and emotional state of mind. headspace and emotional state of mind.
The avalanche also represents the overwhelming power of the oppressive Empire threatening Crosshair and the remaining clone troopers. It symbolizes Crosshair’s path to self-destruction. As long as Crosshair continues his service to the Empire, he will soon be swallowed up by the unescapable force.
Crosshair has had to question his loyalties after essentially losing his family. With every mission he goes on for the Empire, his morals are challenged and it is taking a toll on him. As seen in “The Solitary Clone,” other clones also refuse to associate with him, further alienating him. He is now realizing that the Empire sees him as less than an ordinary citizen as Lieutenant Nolan verbally voices that clones like him are expendable.
Mount Tantiss And Possible Ties To The Mandalorian
Image Source: With Ashley and Company
In Star Wars lore, Mount Tantiss is the secret location of Emperor Palpatine’s clone experiments. In Legends’ Thrawn Trilogy, Mount Tantiss was where Grand Admiral Thrawn cloned the crazed Jedi Joruus C’baoth and Luuke Skywalker. The Bad Batch has now shown the imprisonment of Nala Se, and the cloning of the Zillo Beast at Mount Tantiss. Could this also be the possible prison for Grogu?
The uniforms worn by Emerie Karr in The Bad Batch are similar to the ones worn by Doctor Pershing in The Mandalorian. Although the clone specialist has yet to appear in The Bad Batch, it is clear a larger story is being told through these scientists at Mount Tantiss. This may be where Doctor Pershing and the experiments conducted at the Mount Tantiss cloning facility begin, and bring us closer to discovering how Emperor Palpatine actually resurrected himself in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It is no coincidence that Crosshair wakes up at this facility.
Image Source: The Direct
Catch new episodes of The Bad Batch on Wednesdays on Disney+. The two-episode season finale streams on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
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