WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5, “Rampage,” streaming now on Disney+.
Star Wars fans are used to seeing the conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebellion, which formed the overarching conflict of the franchise’s original trilogy. The Empire’s planet-destroying superweapon, the Death Star, and the ruthless methods of their military forces marked them as a terrifying adversary for the trilogy’s central band of rebel heroes. However, little was seen of what life under the Empire was like for ordinary citizens. Now, Star Wars: The Bad Batch is starting to explore the formative days of the Empire, revealing how its evil extended beyond the war with the Rebel Alliance.
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Set in the immediate aftermath of Order 66 and the formation of the Empire, The Bad Batch is giving Star Wars fans a clearer look than ever before at the galaxy’s transition from the Republic to the Empire. This includes seeing the introduction of new Imperial legislation and its devastating impact on citizens of the galaxy.
In Episode 5, “Rampage,” the Bad Batch meet with an informant who is willing to aid them in their efforts to track down whoever put a bounty on Omega’s head, in exchange for the Bad Batch’s help in freeing an enslaved rancor. The rancor, among other captives, has been abducted by Zygerrian slavers. The Zygerrians made their first appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, before later appearing in Star Wars Rebels and various other Star Wars media. In ancient times, the Zygerrians had built an empire on their slave trade, until the Republic’s anti-slavery laws and a conflict with the Jedi brought their vast slaving enterprise to an end. Zygerrian slaving operations continued only in the depths of the galactic underworld, until the Clone Wars. During the conflict, the Zygerrians sided with the Separatists, seizing the opportunity to abandon Republic laws and revive their prosperous slave trade.
Ultimately, the end of the Clone Wars saw the defeat of the Separatists and the reunification of the galaxy under Emperor Palpatine. Presumably this should have meant the end of the Zygerrians’ new slave trade. However, when Echo points out that the Republic had outlawed slavery, Raney, leader of the Zygerrian group the Bad Batch have encountered, tells him, “We’re not in the Republic anymore.” It appears that the Empire has quickly forgotten about the Republic’s anti-slavery laws.
It seems unlikely that the Empire could have revised much of the galaxy’s pre-existing laws so soon after its formation, and so it may be the case that the Empire is currently taking a more laissez-faire approach to the activities of slavers and other criminals. This seems to be confirmed by Raney, who makes reference to being free of the “meddling Republic,” claiming the Zygerrians’ slave trade will flourish under the Empire. Even if the Empire has not (yet) directly legalized slavery, it appears they are far more tolerant of the practice than the Republic had been.
This is not the first time The Bad Batch has explored the harm being done by the rise of the Imperial regime. Episode 2 saw the introduction of chain codes, which are used by the Empire to track and monitor citizens across the galaxy, while Episode 3 saw new Imperial recruits being ordered to execute civilians. These glimpses of the first days of Imperial rule show that even before the war with the Rebellion, the Empire was establishing an authoritarian iron grip over the lives of their citizens, while turning a blind eye to abuses of power. The Bad Batch paints a picture of a cruel Empire emerging in stark contrast to the glory and honor of the Republic.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker, Andrew Kishino and Ming-Na Wen. New episodes air Fridays on Disney+.
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