Ryan Shoots First: The Bad Batch (S2 Ep3) “The Solitary Clone”
Oh, weekly Star Wars content how I missed you. This week it’s the third episode of The Bad Batch Season 2 and boy was it a doozy.
This episode was a very cool character study of Crosshair, the clones that are left serving the Empire and the decisions they make, all framed against a backdrop of some badass Clone action. Seriously, Crosshair in this episode does some really amazing things that sets him apart as easily the best soldier in the Empire but probably the best soldier in Clone Force 99. Crosshair is a fascinating character, all around him Clones are waking up to the horrors of the Empire and how different it is to the Republic they once served. Meanwhile, even though it seems it is affecting Crosshair he just soldiers on. His identity is 100% being a soldier, even if he maybe questions the outcomes it isn’t his place. And while its easy for us to yell at our TV’s for him to wake up! It isn’t that simple for him, this is who he is and he cannot imagine who he would be if he was to betray that programming. I am confident he will eventually turn it just seems like they have put a huge emphasis on it for it to never happen but I like how they are dragging it out and really toeing the line between irredeemable and sympathetic.
Beyond that though this week saw Crosshair and his squad come up against some old Battle Droids and oh man were there some awesome kills. I won’t spoil it for you here if you haven’t checked it out yet but man, the creativity and execution of the mission and some of these set piece action beats were just so cool. Clones get the job done that’s for sure. While we didn’t see any of the other members of the Batch this week, I get it. This week was a focus on Crosshair and I can’t imagine the episode would have had the same impact if we were cutting back and forth to some B Plot with the Batch in such a short run time. I applaud them for going this far into the commitment to Crosshair’s development and he really is one of my favorite characters on the show.
Observations:
- It’s like Boushh Disguise people!
- I love the concept that there were entire legions of Battle Droids just abandoned for small tribes and pirates to repurpose.
- What is that bed?? Cmon dude can’t even get a sheet.
- Cody! I mean we knew he was coming but still nice.
- Also, what is this memorial wall?
- That was Bad Ass Crosshair
- Man a Destroyer Droid close quarters has to be terrifying.
- WHAT planting a charge on a Battle Droid and then shooting it so it falls through the Destroyer’s shield? This episode is fantastic!
- Crosshair is super OP cmon man.
- Oh Cody you dumb bastard
- The fact that Star Wars lately has really had to double down on “Empire = Bad” is a troubling notion.
- Top soldier in the Empire and guy can’t even finish a meal.