REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch,’ Season 2 Episode 14 – “Tipping Point”

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Last week the Bad Batch saw what life could be without the life of a soldier. The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 14 shows the life of clones who aren’t as lucky. Directed by Saul Ruiz and written by Jennifer Corbett and Matt Michnovetz,  “Tipping Point” follows Echo and Senator Riyo Chuchi continuing their work to be a beacon of hope for the clones discarded by the Empire. Their efforts lead them to seek help from Clone Force 99 which sets up an action-packed finale next week.

The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 14 opens with Echo leading a group of clones on a rescue mission from an Imperial prison transport. When once there was only a handful of clones who decided to not follow Imperial orders, now there are even more. This season has shown how little the Empire cares about the clones, preventing them from a seat in the senate and decommissioning clones as nothing more than an afterthought. Seeing them band together with the help of Echo and Chuchi is certainly inspiring, to say the least. While their final outcome is yet to be seen, more and more clones resisting the Empire gives hope that they can gain their independence someday.

While rescuing the clones from the transport, Echo was able to steal encrypted data. Echo only knows of one person with the skills to break the code which leads him to Pabu. On Pabu, Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, and Omega are thriving as the village on Pabu is rebuilt following the tsunami from last week’s episode. It further shows that Clone Force 99 can truly live a happy life if they turn away from the fight and carve out a life on the remote world. However, Echo’s appearance and the data he stole will likely cut their stay short. While the Bad Batch may be able to resist orders from the Empire, they cannot ignore their need to protect their clone brothers. When Crosshair is the one in need of saving, that is the tipping point to get them back in the fight.

“Tipping Point” gives viewers more time with Doctor Royce Hemlock. Hemlock continues to be nefarious and downright scary as his calm demeanor hides his sinister nature. With the finale so close, I wish that we had more time with his character to really build up his motivations. To this point, he comes across as just a mad scientist but his off-the-books operations and his constant touching of his gloved had speaks to there being more than meets the eye which his character. Further, Doctor Scalder, his subordinate, continues to be a wildcard. While she carries out orders to get information out of Crosshair, her hesitance may point to an eventual Imperial betrayal in the near future. More time is needed to be sure and I hope that the finale gives us that.

In all, The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 14 works solely as a vehicle to set up the two-episode finale and that is okay. The Bad Batch has a reason to get back into the fight. Doctor Hemlock continues to prove himself as a worthy antagonist even if I wish we knew more about his character. Most importantly, Crosshair’s arc continues to trend toward the light. As the finale inches closer and closer, the long-awaited reunion of all the members of Clone Force 99 is on the horizon.

The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 14 is currently streaming exclusively on Disney+, with new episodes every Wednesday.