An analysis of why it sparked so much controversy and possible solutions on how that could have been avoided.
A Disclaimer about this analysis:
Before I go into detail about how Disney handled Tech’s death in both Season 2 and Season 3, I want to clearly state that I love the Bad Batch.
This story and the characters grabbed my heart instantly and S1 got me through the darkest years of my life after my brother passed way. The amount of gratitude I have for those who put this beautifully animated series goes beyond words.
My analysis isn’t an attack on the creators, writers, animators, etc. I believe that many episodes throughout all 3 seasons are some of the best written stories in all of Star Wars. The animation itself is awe inspiring and the soundtrack is a work of art.
However, one can still love a show while also having valid criticisms.
This analysis is strictly concerning the nature of Tech’s sacrifice in the series. The questions of why it happened, when it happened, how it was handled, and what was the detrimental affect on a particular group within the fan base were all factored in.
I have placed my personal feelings aside for the sake of offering a fair assessment of Tech’s sacrifice within the series. With complete neutrality, I have spent a great deal of analytical thought regarding the controversy and it has allowed me to provide a few alternate solutions to how it could have been avoided.
The heart of the debate:
After the conclusion of season 2, Tech’s sacrifice has become one of the most emotionally painful losses in all of Star Wars and started one of the most heated debates within the fandom.
Is he alive or did he really die on Eriadu? After analyzing every scene and dissecting the overall narrative within the Bad Bad Batch, there was plenty of evidence that it could be interpreted either way.
Tech’s sacrifice was undeniably heroic. He gave his life without hesitation in order to save both his squad and his family. It secured their survival and thus their eventual success in season 3. There could be no greater act of love.
Neither side of “Tech is alive or Tech needs to remain dead” would deny this.
However, the fact remains that the circumstances surrounding Tech’s sacrifice did spark debate regardless. Therefore, I’ve come up with a few possible ways that Tech’s sacrifice would have less room for speculation:
If a batch member died (permanently); placing it within in the 3rd act, not the 2nd
Having the entire Batch remain alive until they were reunited. It heals the wound of the fractured family and gives the catharsis of seeing them finally fighting together on the same side.
Having a canonically neurodivergent character, who also gets an unfinished romantic story with a WOC right before they are killed off, will always cause a deeper introspection to why they were chosen to be sacrificed. Removing all intentional/non intentional aspects of having a sacrifice interpreted as “shock value” would help alleviate that concern
The manner of which Tech died was too ambiguous for many viewers. In real life, Tech would never survive a fall from that height, but this is Star Wars. Characters survive impossible situations all the time. In order to reduce speculation when a main protagonist dies, the death needs to be clearly shown on screen. The fact that there was a huge debate after Plan 99 proves that insufficient evidence was provided
This is not a universal sentiment from all fans, but the lack of sufficient payoff or closure led many of them to believe Tech would return. They were awaiting official confirmation that was yet to be revealed in season 3 that would solidify if he was still alive or really dead
Combining all of these factors, here is how the story may have unfolded:
If the stakes needed to be raised in Season 2, having one of the main protagonists severely injured, enough to cause viewers to fear they may die, would still require the Batch going back to Ord Mantell for help with AZI.
The betrayal by Cid would still happen and Omega would still end up captured; thus leaving us with the same cliffhanger of Omega being ripped away from her family. Having a character still clinging to life and Omega being taken would certainly quantify as raising the stakes for ACT II.
As hard as it is for me to admit this, Wrecker would be the obvious pick if Tech was slated to die later in the series. This would have given Wrecker more focus for season 3 character development should he be hindered in some way after the injury.
Season 3 would start out exactly the same; the Batch hunting for Tantiss’s location and Omega. Omega would have the same time skips and bonding with Crosshair and would still escape and reunite with the Batch, Exactly as shown.
The reunion, however, would allow the entire Batch to reconcile and learn to work as a team again. Tech could have solidified whatever feelings he had for Phee during this time. The Batch would seemingly have won but trouble would still be on the horizon.
The series still goes on as originally planned, Omega would still want to free the clones they left behind on Tantiss. Since Omega and Crosshair both have knowledge of Tantiss, the Batch would all be summoned to Teth in order to aid Rex with this shadow operative. Unfortunately, this would once again place Omega and the Batch on the radar again because CX-2 would still be dispatched to Teth…etc etc.
The Batch would realize Omega was being targeted and therefore, the plot of Ventress could also carry on. (Though I’m pretty certain Tech would have known what an M-count was).
So now we get to the mid point of Season 3 where a sacrifice would have built up to a larger payoff.
The Point of No Return would be a perfect place for this option. It was the turning point to when everything goes wrong for the Batch in Season3.
By this time, the viewer has been led into a false sense of security. Having a main character death here would have proven just as shocking and emotional as it did at the season finale of season 2.
Tech and Phee would have already solidified their relationship and would have had the kind of emotional moment Kanan had with Hera had in Rebels. Tech’s death could have been just as unexpected and shocking as Kanan’s, as well as having a similar completion of his story arc.
Also, creating a Plan99 type sacrifice while on Pabu may have been able to clearly define his death unlike how he disappeared into the clouds. Omega would have still witnessed his sacrifice and the viewer would be left with zero ambiguity of whether or not he survived.
Continuing down this path, we would also see Omega’s reaction to Tech’s sacrifice just like Plan 99 and could have immediately set her towards the decision to give herself up in order protect her family and the island inhabitants. Basically two huge sacrifices happen. Stakes would have definitely be raised.
In the episode that follows, Tech would be given proper mourning; perhaps a funeral of sorts on Pabu.
Even though Omega had unfortunately returned to Tantiss, the closure in Tech’s death would have been equal to the weight of his character importance. Having his story arc with Phee resolved and seeing the Batch fight together against the Empire, may have lessened the sting of a neurodivergent character being the only one who didn’t survive after the finale.
This alternate direction in the story, would also mean that CX-2 wouldn’t be a mystery box. One would be led to believe that the shadow operative was clearly a metaphor for “What Crosshair would have Become” without having the the possibility that CX-2 could be Tech.
One could even argue that it would have created more emotional impact on the mental struggle of crosshair when the mystery box element is removed from the equation.
The rest of the season continues on as normal. No changes; not even the beautiful epilogue.
What if Plan 99 stays the same in Season 2? What other directions could be taken to avoid viewers from speculating?
How would one maintain Tech’s sacrifice; only adding slight differences that may have enhanced the narrative?
The mission at the summit could have either been a success to increase the payoff or have been given more time to ensure proper closure. This could happen in a few ways:
Tech sacrificed himself to save his family but the mission itself failed. Not having a successful payoff allows viewers to draw a conclusion that all the character buildup for Tech and the entire plot of the finale was to kill off a character to “raise the stakes.” Whether it was the intentional not to do so is irrelevant. Many in the fandom interpreted it as such.
Having some part of the “mission gone wrong” still ending with some success allows the thought of “at least this good thing happened” and the audience experiences the relief of knowing that something came from it beyond Tech’s sacrifice.
Think of Cassian and Jyn in Rogue One. Even though their sacrifice was heart wrenching, Cassian and Jyn’s sacrifice immediately led to the Death Star plans reaching Princess Leia.
Tech saved his family in Plan 99, which was heroic no doubt, but the failed mission had the viewer go through an entire third season in order to experience the payoff that the survival of his family eventually led to them defeating Hemlock and retiring on Pabu.
The second option is that if Plan 99 and the rest season 3’s plot is keep exactly as it is, to include more clear and concise emphasis on the characters grief and mourning from the remaining members. It would allow the viewers to also process the loss and grieve.
As it stood, after a few tears from Omega and a drink from Wrecker at a bar, the Batch was immediately rushed into being found by Hemlock and Omega being captured. Many complaints online stated that Tech’s death seemed like an afterthought by the end of the episode; especially after Emerie’s bombshell reveal was introduced.
Another direction one could take to alleviate any hope or confusion over Tech’s death was to remove the ambiguity. In Star Wars, having any character “fall out of sight” without being clearly dead first; especially in Star Wars, will always lead to speculation.
If Tech had experienced an ending more like Fives, the viewer witnesses his last breath and it removes all doubt that he has died.
How would any of those options look applied to the story:
Starting season 3, avoid moving straight into a time skip. This would include showing Omega telling Crosshair about Tech as well as Hunter and Wrecker telling Phee. Seeing the reactions of important people in Tech’s life, who wasn’t present during Plan 99, would allow the viewer to know how much he was missed by everyone.
Another possible scenario is a reflection scene, much like Crosshair’s moment with placing Mayday’s helmet on a makeshift memorial.
Perhaps the entire Batch standing behind Omega as she placed his Goggles in the Archium. Many in the neurodivergent community have expressed that Tech was only mentioned whenever his skills were missed. Having a few words about Tech’s character and not just his skills, may have resonated more with people who related to him. If anything, just to take some of the edge off for the families and young children watching.
Wrapping up:
This assessment was to examine how Tech’s death was handled within the season and how other directions within the story could have alleviated some of the speculation and dissonance within the fandom surrounding Tech’s sacrifice.
I’m not trying to persuade anyone to change their opinions on whether if Tech should be alive or stay dead. My hope was to offer a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding Tech’s sacrifice and how that fueled heated debate.
It is completely possible to watch Season 3 and see CX-2 as a misdirection. It is also completely understandable to see CX-2 as as a mystery box reveal that he could be Tech with the clues given.
Either way, it remained a debate and distraction after the finale of season 2 and all the way to the end of season 3.
Tech said it best, “Understanding you doesn’t mean I agree with you.” People will always see the world differently. No matter how Tech’s sacrifice was presented, there will always be those who feel it was the wrong decision because Tech meant more to them than the majority of the fandom. Their grief and feelings are just as valid as those who disagree.
No one’s grief or sadness should be made into a joke, ever. You may not understand it, or agree with it; but like Tech said we should always “respect their decision.”
Star Wars is about hope and the stories found within touch us all in different ways. We bring our own unique life experiences and connect to the story in ways that are deeply personal. Fictional characters do hold weight into the real world because of this.
A personal note:
I will always love Tech. He will remain one of the best and bravest characters in the entire Star Wars Universe.
However, I do wish that there had more clear and direct confirmation regarding Tech’s sacrifice. Being neurodivergent and “processing moments and thoughts differently,” made me see parallels and patterns that kept conflicting; driving a mystery that my brain desperately needed to solve.
Now that the Bad Batch is over, I’m relieved to have somewhat of an answer; even if I had to say goodbye to the one Star Wars character that I connected to the most.
Ironically I lost my brother, (who was my only sibling), on the same day Plan 99 aired. It’s hard to know that March 29th is also the day Omega lost her brother too. We both have had to carry the weight of having a brother whose life was taken too soon.
I have yet to reach that feeling of acceptance with losing both my brother and Tech but I’m sure I’ll get there. Tech lives on through Omega. My brother lives on through me. I still wish they both survived long enough to grow old and share more moments with their families. Still, I’m thankful for the precious time we were given with them.
And who knows, maybe there is still wiggle room in the story to allow Tech to return to his family one day. It is Star Wars after all.
So to everyone…
Be kind to each other. Reach out often and tell those you care about how much they mean to you. Try hard to remember that we are doing our best to survive in this world together, so be kind and compassionate to those who are struggling.
"Seems like the mystery's been solved, Brown Eyes. How do you feel about that?"
Tech felt a loaded question. "It proves a hypothesis I've held for some time. I'd love more data on the potential number of clone offspring through- out the galaxy, but I imagine that would be hard to come by."
"You're good at solving hard problems. The big question is, if you could gather that data, what would you do with it? What would it mean for you?"
"I..." Tech didn't know what to say. "I think we've completed Jatil's list."
- Star Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel), pg. 200
