Way Too Early Predictions For 'The Bad Batch' Season 2
With the emotional conclusion of Season 1 of The Bad Batch, many Star Wars fans have already begun to look ahead to The Book of Boba Fett and Visions, a non-canon anime show that promises to be a fresh perspective on creativity in the galaxy far, far away. In this article, however, we will be making bold predictions and setting expectations far too high for the follow-up season to Dave Filoni's newest entry in the Star Wars animated universe. So strap in and make sure your GNK droid is secured as we dive into our way too early predictions for The Bad Batch Season 2.
Much of the first season of the show dealt with the transition from Kaminoan-bred clone troopers, to Imperial recruited TK troopers. These early stormtroopers are plentiful if not particularly talented, as indicated by clone commando Gregor in episode 14, "War Mantle." In some of the final moments of Tipoca City, we see a column of young clone cadets being escorted to their new assignment by Chief Scientist, Nala Se. With Se being taken into Imperial custody shortly after this scene, the fate of these young troopers, and clones in general, is left very much in limbo. The Empire clearly still values the clones for their military ability and obedience, as seen by their presence on the Venator-class Star Destroyer that rained destruction on their homeworld and obliterated Tipoca. However, with the continued transition from clone to stormie, it seems only a matter of time before Jango Fett's clones are rendered obsolete and disposed of.
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In Rebels, we see Captain Rex, Gregor, and Wolffe enjoying their retirement as old war veterans often do: fishing. The Empire seems content to let them drive their heavily modified AT-TE around on Seelos and only comes after them after their connection to the Jedi is revealed. This still begs the question, what drove these once proud soldiers to this non-descript retirement? While clones obviously age at nearly double the rate of a normal human, it seems odd that Rex of all clones would abandon the galaxy to Imperial subjugation. Especially after how active he appears in Bad Batch. I have little doubt that we will eventually learn why Rex, with Gregor now in tow, fled to this desolate world and allowed the likes of Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, and Ahsoka to fight the good fight on their own.
One of the two likeliest motivators could easily be the termination of the clone army. With all clone troopers being transferred off-world, including younglings, and the growth pods seen shockingly empty for the first time onscreen, would it be that much of a leap for the Empire to terminate all clones still within their service? While this might not take place in such an abrupt way as say, jettisoning thousands of clones into space (which would make for a horrifying visual and reminder of the Empire's ruthlessness), it could manifest itself in ways. The Empire's military philosophy has always been "numbers over skill" seeking to overwhelm their enemy with an insurmountable number of stormtroopers and TIE Fighters.
If the Empire is truly seeking to dispose of the clone army, as it seems Rampart is eager to do, sending wave after wave of clone troopers against an entrenched and well-armed enemy could accomplish this. Where the Republic would have supported their infantry with armor, artillery, rations, supplies, etc. the Empire could easily leave the clones to die against insurmountable odds. While the show is certainly not short on action, The Bad Batch could do with a large scale conflict to infuse some scope and gravitas in their conflict. Tasking the clones with capturing a world like Mimban would be a miserable slog of a battle, as seen in Solo with multiple infantry and officers being slain by the entrenched natives attempting to defend their homeland. Knowing Rampart, he would even manage to turn a clone victory against the former G.A.R. in a similar way that the attempted assassination of Orn Free Ta became a lynchpin in the ousting of Cham Syndulla from his homeworld. Perhaps the clone troopers are annihilated while enslaving Kashyyyk and Rampart uses this to illustrate their "inefficiency" when compared to his stormtrooper corps.
The other reason for the official retirement of clones and Rex's exile to Seelos could be the much expected and hoped for clone rebellion. With Tipoca City now resting on the bottom of the Kaminoan seas, fans of 2005 Battlefront II campaign have lost hope of seeing their childhoods realized in a stormtrooper vs clone trooper conflict. All is not yet lost, however, as The Bad Batch continues to build the story of the clones. With Captain Rex operating mysteriously in the shadows, while rocking a stylish poncho, a marshalling of clone forces could easily be in the cards. With the likes of Howzer and Gregor seeking to defy the Empire, and other clones willing to follow, a clone rebellion in Season 2 is certainly a possibility. Full-scale conflict seems to be unwise however, lest the clones be subjugated to orbital bombardment on the same level as their homeworld. A small strike team of Rex, Howzer, Gregor, and possibly Wolffe could do a lot of damage to the Empire if they were to ally themselves with Clone Force 99. With the recent appearance of RC-1262, the rest of Delta Squad could be sent to hunt them down, resulting in a climactic commando vs clone firefight.
Easily the best part of the finale was the character development of Crosshair. His hesitancy and certainty about his future is extremely relatable, and the conflict is evident on his face, in his voice, and in his actions. While he professes to want to rejoin the Empire, for the sake of bringing order to the galaxy, this option may be completely off the table. Crosshair was, after all, witnessed fighting side by side with the traitorous Bad Batch in the Kamino training facility by the last surviving member of his Elite Squad. It is hard to imagine Rampart welcoming him back with open arms after that report and after ordering the Venator to fire on the city with Crosshair still inside.
While Crosshair's redemption seems to be inevitable after the season-long setup, the crew behind the show seem content to let it be a slow burn and leave their audience wondering where the sniper's allegiances truly lie. Surly rejoining his brothers onboard the Marauder is a tempting option for Crosshair, but currently, as Hunter put it, "[they] want different things, but that doesn't mean [they] have to be enemies." If Crosshair is truly set on finding a different path from the Batch, and is no longer welcome in the Empire, his services as a hired gun and commando would be in high demand in the underworld. Aurra Sing, Bossk, and Fennec Shand are all notable marksmen who sell their sniping skills to the highest bidder. With Clone Force 99 already making a living from Cid, Crosshair bounty hunting for a slightly slimey and more sinister boss, Jabba the Hutt perhaps, would be an interesting and fresh way to not only keep him in the show, but to have continued conflict between him and Hunter.
With Omega being an exact genetic replica of Jango Fett, it seems all but inevitable that she and Boba, aka Alpha, will encounter one another at some point. In truth, I was half expecting the Slave I to appear in the rainy Kaminoan sky and rescue Clone Force 99 at some point during the finale. While I am glad that they went the grittier approach and forced the Batch to fend for themselves, it has to be only a matter of time before the young bounty hunter makes himself known to his brothers and sister. If Crosshair were to become a hired gun in the underworld, this would be the perfect avenue in which to introduce young Fett, as last we saw Boba, he was allied with the likes of Bossk and Dengar in the Krayt's Claw bounty hunter collective.
Boba has always had a complicated relationship with the clones. Raised by Jango as a son, Boba was taught that he is his father's legacy, not the clone army. While this may be the Fetts' truth, it would obviously be hard to realize with the rest of the galaxy immediately recognizing you as a clone. Traveling with four individuals who also share his slain father's face would have its own psychological problems that Filoni would have no problem delving into. With Cid, a frequent employer of bounty hunters, and Cad Bane, a former partner of Jango already in the mix of the show, we seem primed to see a young Boba Fett.
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Written By Weston Erickson
Syndicated From Culture Slate