Ever since an eager Luke Skywalker breathlessly asked Obi-Wan Kenobi about fighting in the Clone Wars in a throwaway line from Star Wars: A New Hope,Bayo the clone army has been an integral part of Star Wars lore. Star Wars: Attack of the Clonesgave fans their first look at how and why the clone army exists and the Clone Wars began, but it wasn't until Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars: TheClone Warsfilm followed by the Clone Warsseries that the clones themselves began to emerge as characters.
Wow, you really can't explain that without using the word "clone" way too much. What does clone mean again?
Each of the Bad Batch's group scenes is so dynamic that it's astounding to think that they're all basically one guy talking to himself in a sound booth.
Star Wars did well to establish a few fan-favorite clones comparatively early on — the mysterious Boba Fett from the original trilogy was retconned into being a clone and the animated spinoffs gave the world cherished heroes like Rex and his squad. If there is a limit to how many clones a franchise can support before things get really weird, Star Wars may have been approaching it, but The Bad Batchis a fun, sideways look at what happens when individuals rise from a legion of science fiction sameness.
The eponymous Bad Batch first appeared as side characters in The Clone Wars, but these characters are more than strong enough to carry their own show. Each member of this team, considered elite and experimental in the days of the Republic, was engineered by the Kaminoans to have special skills that make them different from the standard issue stormtrooper. Hunter has enhanced senses, Tech is a material genius, Crosshair is a perfect sharpshooter, Wrecker has superhuman strength, and Echo is a "regular" clone whose inclusion in the unit is explained in The Clone Wars.
Every member of the Bad Batch, as well as the other clones in the series, are voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who does an incredible job creating disparate and recognizable characters who share identical DNA. Crosshair's sneery sarcasm is completely different from Wrecker's good-natured lunkhead vibe, and Tech is a quintessential nerd while Echo is a competent worrier. Each of the Bad Batch's group scenes is so dynamic and driven that it's astounding to think that they're all basically one guy talking to himself in a sound booth.
Without spoiling too much, The Bad Batchbegins with the execution of Order 66, and while the iconic Jedi massacre is approaching "watching Batman's parents die" levels of ubiquity in Star Wars, The Bad Watchoffers a unique perspective by showing the immediate emotional aftermath of the order on the clones themselves. Most of the "regular" clones accept the 1984-esque change from Republic to Empire, but the Bad Batch have the neural leeway to actually question Palpatine's heel turn as it happens. As servants of the Republic, the Bad Batch were an elite killing team happy to carry out their orders, but their ability to refuse to kill Jedi makes them a liability and traitors to the Galactic Empire.
From there, The Bad Batch takes on similar traits of other Star Wars animated shows, including a young apprentice who's full of wonder and longs to explore the galaxy, a crappy spaceship that nonetheless is home, and cameos from big players in the live action movies. The 70-minute premiere is entertaining as a glimpse of things to come and the characters are compelling enough to want to know what happens next to this new, otherbatch of Kaminoan clones in the Star Wars universe.
The Bad Batch is streaming on Disney+.
Topics Star Wars
Best early Prime Day deal: Save 40% on the Ember Mug at Amazon
'Severance' is borrowing a brilliant idea from 'Terminator 2'
Wordle today: The answer and hints for March 14, 2025
Bluesky proposes new privacy settings for its users
Super Bowl LIX livestream: Watch Eagles vs Chiefs on Tubi
Liverpool vs. Newcastle United 2025 livestream: Watch Carabao Cup final for free
Liverpool vs. Newcastle United 2025 livestream: Watch Carabao Cup final for free
Cybertruck deliveries reportedly halt for trim flying off the trucks
Even Trump's Earth Day message was anti
'Mickey 17's creeper plushes are the movie's real red carpet stars
Best Echo Show 5 deal: Save $20 at Amazon
Your Amazon Echo will start reporting to Amazon on March 28
Best Garmin deal: Save $72 on Garmin vívoactive 5
Bumble adds host of new safety and compatibility features
Best smart scale deal: Get 15% off an Etekcity scale at Amazon
Wordle today: The answer and hints for March 13, 2025
Best Samsung TV deal: Save $300 on 65
Best kitchen deal: Save $100 on the Ninja Slushi
Getting Started with Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts
Best Sonos deal: Save $50 on Sonos Era 100
'Ellen' returns, addresses workplace allegations in new monologueThe livestreaming boom isn't slowing down anytime soon'Sopranos' memes are having a real moment in 2020Genius woman dressed as a unsolicited dick pic for an undeserving costume partyThe livestreaming boom isn't slowing down anytime soonHow to reduce remote learning burnout in kids5 significant historyShazam is coming to iPhone's control panel soonAre dating apps the new social networks?7 'God'Ellen' returns, addresses workplace allegations in new monologue*Really* miss flying? Join over 100 other weirdos on this 7Parrot has no qualms showing swiping cat who's boss'The Mandalorian' Season 2: Everything we know so farI redownloaded Snapchat for the dancing hot dog, and I am not ashamedTrump has already started writing his speech to pardon the Thanksgiving turkey'The Mandalorian' Polaroid camera puts Baby Yoda in the corner...of your photosTrivial Pursuit saw the Trump presidency coming decades ago*Really* miss flying? Join over 100 other weirdos on this 7We now know the Queen's favorite song, and everyone has a terrible guess about it Kevin Spacey is seeking 'evaluation and treatment' after more allegations emerge 'Thor: Ragnarok': What do the post New climate report rebuts everything Trump administration has said Apple says the most popular emoji is 'Face With Tears of Joy' Marvel movies heroes' shirtless trope: Ranked Twitter account shows what images Osama bin Laden had on his devices Apple is just $100 billion away from being a trillion Here's how to tell if you're yelling at a bot on Twitter 'Stranger Things 2' is channeling Harry Potter Latina Equal Pay Day is in November, and that's a problem New 'Hearthstone' expansion coming soon captures the spirit of classic fantasy 'Wonder Woman' has largest superhero origin story box office ever KFC Japan made fried chicken bath bombs, even though no one asked for it Is Finn a Jedi 'The Last Jedi'? Not according to John Boyega iOS keyboard glitch keeps some users from typing vowels 'Portal' gets a fancy vinyl print after 10 years The iOS game that lets you explore Australia as a wombat Pandora tried to become more like Spotify and now it's bleeding users Hulu and Marvel's 'Runaways' will give us the MCU's first LGBT heroes A timeline of the rogue Trump