By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)
Disney+
May 4th, 2021
Star Wars: The Bad Batch will debut with a special 70-minute premiere, and this team may well prove to be the new “Rebels” to join a growing Alliance. That’s my take on this renegade team of Clone Troopers with genetic defects who have broken their programming. They are the only warriors willing to take on dangerous missions, ala Mission Impossible, for the glory of the Empire. This tale takes place in the aftermath of the Clone Wars. Somewhere along the line will be a breakdown of their conditioning so they can be totally independent, true to the spirit of this franchise.
The action is more in line with Fast and the Furious, but for the characters involved. They’re generally well adjusted-well sort of. Whatever’s wrong with their neural pathways can’t be fixed in Kamino since being activated. I’m betting there was subterfuge to cause this group to be what they are. That’ll be revealed in later episodes when we look to their past. Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker and Crosshair aren’t Transformers. They’ve earned their nicknames because each member is talented in their own unique way.
The trailer revealed today is exciting and follows up in the same style as the aforementioned series, and it’s safe to assume it fits somewhere in the same period of time as Rebels so we may see crossover with returning favourites! Key to me my theory is that Captain Rex is returning! Also familiar and staying true to the formula is introducing Omega, a young tween in this tease–whom this squad takes in.
I wouldn’t be surprised more of that A-Team aesthetic will be played out. Several critics have made this comparison and I agree to this consensus after seeing this trailer. This team will do as they’re ordered, but they won’t be clean or as able to mop up after the mission’s done. Grand Moff Tarkin is always the villain, and there’ll be a new merry chase in that galaxy far, far away….
After the debut, new episodes will air every Friday starting on May 7.
If anyone still hasn’t subscribed to Disney Plus, anytime before May the Fourth will be good.
From the Press Release:
“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” is executive produced by Dave Filoni (“The Mandalorian,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”), Athena Portillo (“Star Wars: Rebels”), Brad Rau (“Star Wars: Resistance”) and Jennifer Corbett (“NCIS”) with Carrie Beck (“The Mandalorian,” “Star Wars: Rebels”) as co-executive producer and Josh Rimes as producer (“Resistance”). Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.
