REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch,’ Season 2 Finale Hits Hard

With no current confirmation for a third season of The Bad Batch, going into this week’s two-episode finale, there was a lot of uncertainty. The hints of a happy ending for Clone Force 99 have been littered throughout, pointing to the possibility of the family clones settling down free from Imperial oppression. I certainly went in expecting a clean escape for our heroes, overlooking a sunset on Pabu together again at last. The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale certainly had other plans.

The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale wastes no time jumping into the action in this two-part event. “The Summit” sets up Clone Force 99, now nearly at full power with Echo, attempting to intercept Dr. Hemlock, who knows the whereabouts of Crosshair. The mission is not an easy one Hemlock is attending a summit on Eriadu with high-ranking Imperial officers, including Eriadu native Grand Moff Tarkin. In true Bad Batch fashion, their plan doesn’t quite go how they expect.

As they pivot and adjust their mission objectives, everything looks up. Much like how the season progressed, “The Summit” shows that things may be improving for Clone Force 99. With Echo back, they feel like a cohesive team again. Like a piece missing from previous episodes has finally been reunited. However, this sense of hope is quickly exchanged for tension and heartbreak. “The Summit” gives its cliffhanger for the season’s finale episode.

Despite being animated, it doesn’t stop The Bad Batch from hitting just as hard as its live-action counterparts. In “Plan 99”, the dream of a peaceful resolution for The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale is shattered. Expectations are subverted as viewers realize that Clone Force 99 may not be destined for that happy ending. The emotions that the finale evokes are eerily reminiscent of the end of The Empire Strikes Back. A down ending that leaves our heroes defeated, splintered, with little hope for the future. However, in these moments, our heroes’ mettle is shown. We can see what they have to fight for now more than ever.

The finale’s biggest moment is heightened when looking back at previous episodes in the season. Season two intentionally took time to build the relationships that make the Bad Batch special together. Season one, for better or worse, focused much of its time largely on Hunter x Omega navigating their relationship with the other members of Clone Force 99 fitting into simple archetypes. But in season 2, nearly every member took their time to show who they truly are past the armor of a soldier. Their motivations and thoughts on the future are laid bare. So, when the poo-doo hits the fan, and Clone Force 99 is reeling, it is felt even more now than last year’s finale.

While I would have been perfectly happy with The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale being the last we saw of Clone Force 99, I would be lying if I wasn’t excited to see what comes next in the eventual third season. We have a determined Batch like we haven’t seen before, and they look ready to do whatever it takes to set things straight with the Empire and Dr. Hemlock. The season as a whole is a testament to long-form storytelling. Every episode mattered, which led to The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale being some of the best Star Wars to date, animation or otherwise.

The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale is currently streaming exclusively on Disney+.