If The Mandalorian is the type of Star Wars series that’s accessible to those with only a passing familiarity to the franchise, Star Wars: The Bad Batch is the exact opposite. More than just a spiritual sequel to Clone Wars, The Bad Batch is essentially a direct continuation of creator Dave Filoni’s celebrated animated TV show that shifts its point of view to follow the members of Season 7’s Clone Force 99. And while that will understandably limit its audience, it’s a worthy followup that continues to flesh out the mythology of Star Wars’ Prequel Era in fascinating and worthwhile ways.
The Bad Batch‘s extended premiere, “Aftermath,” readily clears the low bar set by Clone Wars‘ theatrical feature film — an amalgamation of multiple episodes originally planned for the show — by picking up with Crosshair, Echo, Hunter, Tech and Wrecker on the planet Kaller, mere minutes before Emperor Palpatine issues Order 66 and the extermination of the Jedi. It’s an efficient way of establishing a darker tone for the series that recalls the later seasons of Clone Wars, complete with a heartbreaking, if contrived, connection to Star Wars Rebels. The pacing doesn’t let up from there; before they’ve even begun to process the horror of what just happened, Clone Force 99 is whisked back to Kamino, with Palpatine announcing the death of the Republic and the rise of his Galactic Empire.
There’s a confidence to the storytelling in “Aftermath,” from the way it establishes The Bad Batch‘s core themes about the importance of disobedience and questioning authority to its approach to distinguishing the firmly militant Crosshair from the stoic yet tender Hunter, detailed-oriented (okay, nerdy) Tech, charmingly boisterous Wrecker and the introspective, strategic Echo, in terms of their personalities. It’s a testament to how precise Dee Bradley Baker has gotten at giving different clones unique vocal inflections over the past decade — his still-shaky attempts to match Temuera Morrison’s accent as the live-action Jango/Boba Fett aside — that one sometimes forgets they’re all voiced by the same person. And though it remains to be seen if Clone Force 99 are strong enough to sustain a show over the course of a season, they make for engaging protagonists in “Aftermath.”
Filoni and his co-writer on the episode, Jennifer Corbett, apply an equally assured hand to the world-building in The Bad Batch‘s premiere, laying the groundwork for the show to answer some big questions about how the Republic transformed in the Empire. The series is shaping up to be just as action-packed as Clone Wars, yet the high-octane shootouts and showdowns in “Aftermath” have an emotional weightiness and sense of stakes that its predecessor’s battle sequences sometimes lacked. It’s an encouraging sign that The Bad Batch, as much as its trailers make the show look like The Dirty Dozen in a galaxy far, far away, will tackle issues of morality and ethics similar to those in Clone Wars and Rebels, even as it follows Clone Force 99 into their newfound profession as mercenaries for hire.
Whereas previous animated Star Wars series started out targeting younger viewers before embracing a more mature outlook, The Bad Batch appears to recognize who its primary demographic is from the get-go and is stronger out the gate for it. That goes double for its animation, carrying over the stylishly rigid 3D figures of Clone Wars while painting its worlds in more realistic textures and bleaker shades. Yet, though the show unquestionably explores a dark and desolate period in the Star Wars timeline, “Aftermath” still makes room for humor, often in the form of Wrecker and the gleefulness with which he charges into battle. Wide-eyed newcomer Omega (Michelle Ang) is also a fine addition and hopefully someone who will continue to develop as she steps into a leading role moving forward.
Again, The Bad Batch will likely have comparatively niche appeal for a Star Wars show, based on all the deep cuts and nods to Filoni’s other animated series in the premiere alone. Even so, it’s better the show makes its intention clear from the get-go: this is a proper sequel to Clone Wars and anyone who hasn’t watched that series should either do so first or feel comfortable skipping this one while they wait for the dozen or so other Disney+ Star Wars series coming down the pipeline. But for those who know their Kaminoans from their Saw Gerreras, The Bad Batch should mark a welcome return to the animated side of the franchise.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker, Michelle Ang and Ming-Na Wen. The series premieres May 4 on Disney+.
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