What If There Was No Jedi Present When Order 66 Was Given?
The Bad Batch has been giving us an in-depth look at the inhibitor chips, Order 66, and most importantly, the aftermath of said order. The season appears to be halfway over, and it is still raising several questions in the best, most intriguing way possible. Throughout the season we have also been introduced to a slew of familiar characters from The Clone Wars, and in the latest episode, characters from Rebels. In this episode, we also see more clone troopers that do not behave like the clones we have seen in the previous episodes. It has given rise to quite a few fan theories as well. Before I go any further, I will say that this will contain SPOILERS for The Bad Batch, especially Episode 11.
The episode takes place on Ryloth, and revolves around Senator Taa working with Cham Syndulla to help the people of Ryloth welcome the Empire to their home. Naturally, the Twi’leks are not too keen on welcoming a militia to occupy their home-world, especially Cham’s brother and his daughter Hera. Hera is caught spying on the mining facility that the Empire has erected, but she and her droid Chopper are quickly caught by Imperial clone troopers. Then, we see the return of another familiar character, Commander Howzer. Howzer is the trooper that brings Hera back to Cham. Howzer tells Cham that he is in a difficult spot and that things are “tense at the moment.” Then he says, “I won’t report this, but it can’t happen again.” Cham ensures that it will not, and Howzer and his men leave.
This is peculiar because, aside from the Bad Batch and Commander Rex, we have not seen any clone trooper behave in such a sympathetic way post Order 66. We know that Rex and the majority of Clone Force 99 (minus Crosshair) have had their inhibitor chips removed, so it is even more odd that Howzer would behave this way. It could be possible that this specific scenario was not enforced by the inhibitor chip, or the chips were only in full effect immediately after Order 66 and have since lessened their control. However, throughout the entire episode, Howzer is more hesitant than any of the other clones. Even when Hera and her uncle are found with weapons, Howzer does not want to arrest her because she is only a child.
This has of course prompted several theories about why Howzer has behaved so differently than the other clones we have seen so far. Reddit user u/Ryiujin has suggested that he may be a defective clone like Clone Force 99. Howzer is also one of the only clones, again with the exception of Crosshair, who removes his helmet. Most other clones we have seen that have been affected by Order 66 have kept their helmets on at all times. Another major theory surrounding this episode, proposed by Reddit user u/Comrade_agent, suggests that the clone chips are only programmed to take effect in the presence or mention of Jedi. Crosshair was in the presence of Jedi when his chip activated, which made him hostile, and Wrecker’s chip only started to activated when Hunter mentioned Caleb/Kanan and his escape back on Kaller. This implies that Jedi must be nearby for the chips to activate or instill hostility.
Whatever the cause is, it is refreshing to see another clone besides the Bad Batch and Rex behave with a bit of sympathy and humanity rather than being another mindless soldier. I hope that this is explored further, and we get to see more of Howzer in future episodes. I am confident this will not be his last appearance in the show. It would also be cool to see other clones who may not be affected by the chips. Seeing the Bad Batch go on a galaxy-wide clone rescue mission would be amazing. I guess we will have to wait until Episode 12 to see.
Source: Reddit