WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1, Episode 1, “Aftermath,” which is streaming on Disney+.
From its very first episode, Star Wars: The Clone Wars focused on humanizing the clone troopers introduced in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, proving the identical soldiers’ uniformity was only skin-deep. Now, sequel series Star Wars: The Bad Batch continues to explore the diversity in the clones’ ranks, including one young clone unlike any other. Omega, ostensibly a medical assistant on the clones’ home planet of Kamino, is the only female clone seen to date. But her differences from her clone brothers may go a little further than that.
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In the series’ first episode, Omega has already proven a mysterious character. Head cloner Nala Se kept Omega’s true identity as a clone a secret and the reasoning behind the creation of a female clone has yet to be revealed. Additionally, Omega proved impressively skilled in battle despite having no prior combat experience. At first glance, The Bad Batch appeared to be the first of Dave Filoni’s Star Wars TV series not to feature any Force users in a leading role — The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels both featured prominent Jedi characters, while The Mandalorian had Grogu — but Omega might just prove otherwise. In fact, she could be the first Force-sensitive clone.
The clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic, first introduced in Attack of the Clones, were modeled on the genotype of Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett. While they appeared to take on the warrior instincts of their genetic template, little has been revealed of just how far the clones could deviate from Fett. Prior to Omega’s introduction, the Bad Batch themselves represented the greatest divergence from standard clone biology, each member possessing their own particular enhancements.
However, the idea of a clone becoming sensitive to the Force has generally been disregarded in Star Wars fan circles in the past. Since the prequels introduced — for better or worse — the concept of midichlorians to the Star Wars mythos, the Force has had a biological grounding, suggesting that clones of a non-Force-sensitive being like Jango Fett could not develop a sensitivity to the Force. Moreover, no Jedi clone trooper has ever appeared in Star Wars canon before.
Despite this, The Bad Batch could be the perfect series to challenge everything fans thought they knew about the clones. The central characters are all genetically divergent and inherently disobedient clones. Omega is introduced as a great admirer of the Bad Batch clone troopers, seeing herself as an outcast like them. She clearly shares their rebellious streak, starting a fight with another clone after he mocked the “Sad Batch” and later getting imprisoned when she was caught sneaking into the Bad Batch’s quarters.
Omega even went on to help the clone force break free when they too were imprisoned and, as they were being pursued by their ally-turned-Imperial, Crosshair, she grabbed a blaster for the first time. With precision that clearly amazed even the Bad Batch, Omega shot the rifle out of Crosshair’s hands. As the group escaped Kamino, Omega put the shot down to luck. This may be a poignant moment for reflection on an old Jedi’s assertion that “there’s no such thing as luck.”
It wasn’t the only point in the episode where Omega showed such heightened perception. Earlier, when speaking to Bad Batch leader Hunter, she warned him she didn’t trust Admiral Tarkin and that Kamino was no longer safe. Their imprisonment upon their return to the planet proved her right. While locked up with the Bad Batch, Omega spoke to soon-to-be traitor Crosshair, telling him “I know what you’re going to do,” as if sensing his innermost thoughts. Tech, the brains of the Bad Batch, attributed Omega’s heightened perception to her being an enhanced clone. But the truth could be one even the group’s super genius might not suspect: Omega could be the first clone to display Force sensitivity.
Giving Omega a connection to the Force makes sense. Not only is the question of whether clone troopers could become Force sensitive one that has never officially been answered, but it could also give The Bad Batch a stronger tie to the wider mythology of the Star Wars universe. The Force has always been at the heart of Star Wars, serving as the spiritual embodiment of the broader moral struggles that define the saga. Although it will be refreshing to explore an area of the Star Wars universe that is a little further removed from the Jedi, losing any connection to the Force risks losing the essence of Star Wars. And as the audience surrogate character, like Luke Skywalker before her, Omega is the perfect character to follow on a journey of discovery into the deeper powers of the galaxy.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker, Andrew Kishino and Ming-Na Wen. New episodes premiere every Friday on Disney+.
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