I need to rant about a few things from Bad Batch so
SPOILERS AHEAD
I'm writing this based on memories right after my first watch because my emotions are overwhelming me and I need to rant about them to strangers on the Internet. They're also not in any chronological or logical order.
First off, Echo telling Emerie that he knew the Zillo was Omegas doing? Because he would have done the same?
Immaculate. Fives would be proud to see his brother still being up to dangerous shit. And even passing it along to his little sister/daughter.
On the same note, the Zillo breaks out and the boys outside immediately know it's not coincidence because of course it would be one of their genius madlads.
Crosshair: Was that Echo or Omega.
Wrecker and Hunter without missing a beat: Omega
Because of course it was her.
Then Crosshair saying Clone Force 99 died with Tech had me crying buckets. Baby really has lost all feeling of self worth and needs time to heal on Pabu. Poor boy. Probably feels hella responsible for his death, too, because he wasn't there to help them.
Next up, Hemlock's operatives? You cannot tell me that they're not reminiscent of the Clone Force 99 we saw in Clone Wars. Using debris as a shield, like the first plan we see them do? One fighting with knives, like Hunter? One having a rifle, like Crosshair? Hemlock saw the boys and said: damn I want that as well.
It also explains why many people (me included) hoped for the reveal of Tech being CX-2. They're meant to seem like the Batch.
Also I really hoped Scorch would somehow survive this, just because I'm currently replaying Commando and feel for my poor boy.
Then I think a lot of us remember the meme with the explosion? Absolutely adore, that it was Nala Se blowing the research and Rampart to pieces.
Don't get me wrong, Rampart was a great addition to the recent episodes and his screams had me dying with laughter, but he was an evil piece of shit till the end. He died as a selfish evil Empire guy instead of dying for redemption (like there is a tendency in Star Wars) or getting to live on without any change. He stayed an asshole, even if he was kinda funny in the end.
Now to get into some specifics about the ending and the fate for the boys.
The cut to black when one of the operatives threatened Crosshairs hand? I nearly shat myself, holy hell. What the actual fuck.
The constant pan to Wrecker being injured? I was fully expecting him to sacrifice himself in the end, very glad he didn't.
The scene in the rain on the bridge? Immaculate. The perfect climax to the show. Perfection.
Hemlock's threat being empty, because he needs Omega.
Crosshair still worried because, even if Hemlock won't shoot Omega, his trauma won't just go away and he cannot risk Omega getting hurt.
Omega realising Crosshairs struggle and helping out.
Hunter realising that Omega realised.
Crosshair getting the first hug.
And then we see them leave. Safely. Because it's over. Their fight is over. Bad Batch is over.
Seeing all the clones and children happy on Pabu was the kind of ending the show deserved.
I'd go so far as to call it the ending the show needed. Because the Bad Batch would never have stopped fighting, if there was still danger threatening one of their members. Omega wouldn't have stopped fighting if she had lost another one of her brothers or hadn't been able to free the other clones.
The only way for them to find peace in that world, was a happy end. And I think that's beautiful.
In fact, this leads right into my final thoughts on this. Omega leaving to fight for the rebellion is very on brand for her selfless nature. It's also why this has to happen in the future. The Bad Batch had done their duty. They had fought enough battles for their lifetime, which is why we don't see them joining the rebellion with her. Why it has to happen, when Omega is ready to leave on her own.
Then of course, I cried buckets for Tech's glasses on the dashboard. Because her following in his footsteps and becoming a pilot makes this story come full circle.
Sidenote, I'm pretty sure her hairstyle is, at the very least, inspired by Phee. And her flying is probably closer to Phee than Tech as well, because she is still a chaos child.
Perhaps we'll see more shows from this time. We're certainly still lacking important info.
How does Wolffe join his brothers?
Why are Gregor, Wolffe and Rex "retired" in Rebels?
What happens to Echo?
I imagine, Filoni will give us a Clone Rebellion show (possibly with a sadder ending than Bad Batch) to answer these questions.
Do I have a closing thought? Yes.
As nice as the final scene was, we were absolutely robbed of older Crosshair and Wrecker. ROBBED I SAY.
