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#but others like this or crosshair fighting the chip in ep 1
faceofpoe · 1 month
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"Don't make the same mistake twice."
Because I am fully in camp 'Clone Operative dude is someone devastating under that helmet' do not clown us all on this writers and a spiteful at condescending assholes on Reddit hopeful part of me just really wants it to somehow be (saveable) Tech so we can have a reunited-for-one-last-fight-full-Batch-back-together finale-
The narrative argument for somehow-Tech-returned:
(also see: my (much shorter) narrative contemplation for Cody)
I have a sneaking suspicion that our character development focus is going to shift from Crosshair to Hunter for the back half of the season. Crosshair feels a bit... done? He chose Omega over the easy out on Lau, he's owned up to making mistakes, embraced his place among the squad again ("much worse" than Hunter - lol), he's had his faceoff/heart-to-heart/mutual saving each other rapid progression with Howzer - yeah I imagine there are still things we're going to learn about what he went through/possible ramifications therein, but as far as accepting who he is/his place/etc I think we're winding down on his focus.
Bringing our attention to the end of ep 7 and Rex & Hunter's convo about walking away, and his convo at the end of s2 with Echo about an unwinnable fight and so on. He just wants to protect his squad but the walls are closing in, and Omega won't be content just running and hiding.
And this brings me to the end of season 1 and Crosshair's rather lacking motivational speech about why they should join the Empire finally - they're meant for more than wandering aimlessly as fugitives, etc, and he tells Hunter - "Don't make the same mistake twice."
Now in s3e5, in what felt like the galaxy's most unfinished conversation ever, Hunter tells Crosshair he has "regrets" - but what exactly are they?
Fleeing Kamino in Aftermath, presumably not.
But the number of times in season 1 when he's given the opening to revisit the whole "leaving our own behind" thing and just - doesn't? Everyone else starts in on the "wait maybe the whole thing was the chip?' convo in ep 3 and he shuts it down to focus on the crisis at hand. He later says he's mad at himself for leaving Crosshair behind, and Omega says they'll find a way to get him back and he nods but - I don't think the notion is ever revisited?
Rex emphasizes how the chips are impossible to resist.
They *see* what it does to Wrecker.
Howzer refuses to flee Ryloth with them because he won't abandon his squad - knows they're good men, hopes he can convince them that they're not doing the right thing. We get a brief contemplative look at that, and the look back at Crosshair after they flee but.
After Kamino and after Bracca, sure, maybe the risk of even trying to get to him would seem too high - but we never even get a conversation about it, about finding a way to recover Crosshair and get the chip out now that they know how to do it.
He's also the most skeptical one about the Plan 88 message even after a presumably decent chunk of time has passed, after he knows the chip is gone, after Crosshair saved Omega on Kamino.
So - thesis, please - my narrative argument for wintersoldier'ified-Tech isn't about very mean visual teases callbacks, and it's not about undoing Tech's sacrifice or carving out room for a Tech redemption arc (because we wouldn't need it) (seriously this one baffles me, what?) -
It's about Hunter getting the chance to not make the same (actual) mistake twice, writing off one of his squad as a lost cause and leaving them behind.
(I'm also still really hung up on meeting Phee on the line "Better late than dead" but that's a different conversation)
Thank you for coming to my Tech talk.
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Louk's Bad Batch rewatch pt 5 !!!
Actually starting tbb now let's gooo!! It's a long ep so this is gonna be a long one so buckle up kids 💕
(edit: I decided it was way too long lmao so I'm breaking it up into 2 parts)
Bad Batch 1x01 (part 1)
fyi my phone is on 66% and I hate that very much
the way the clone wars logo burns into tbb one 👌
Depa Billaba 👑👑👑 AND BABY CALEB MY HEART 😭
"Hey clanka" ~ TECH ILYSM
Tech straight up kicks a droid just bc he can lmao iconic
knife knife knife knife
Crosshair's snow slide 🙌
Grey why are you so moody bro 😂 the regs just hate them sm
Caleb's intro of the batch 😭😍
"We're all ya need!" ~Wrecker @ me
the dad batch adopting Caleb 💕
"Execute order-" YOU SHUT UP RN
remind me why I'm doing this again lmaooo
Crosshair's body language changes a little each time the others say "order 66" and that makes me feel like the chip activates a little more each time he hears it
LIGHTSABER IN THE SNOW 💕
Poor Hunter sounds so scared when he thinks Caleb is going to kill Crosshair 😭 the way his voice changes 💔
Hunter is SUCH a dad omg
Echo translating math for Wrecker 🥺
why is Crosshair still wearing his helmet!! I hate it here
the way Hunter knows Crosshair is looking at him even with his eyes closed 👀
Crosshair with his sassy crossy arms 😂
their faces when they see the lightsaber drop 😭
why does their room smell so bad 💀💀
the board !!! show Anakin !!
LULA 💕
Tech explaining the regs programing, I wanna know if he ever saw Rex's report about Fives 🥲
Wrecker smashing Crosshair in the face with Lula 💀
"You're more machine than man, percentagewise" BRO-
Echo's dramatic sigh count is already up to like 3 lmao
👀 Omega
Palps 🤢
Tech was looking at his datapad and he still somehow noticed that Hunter was distracted
Not the imperial march 😬
Crosshair: "Republic, empire, what's the difference?" Tech: murder ???
Hunter sensing Omega !! It kinda looks like he's counting the footsteps
okay but she's just so tiny 🤲
"What's that?" ~ Wrecker @ Omega💀 bro was with a kid like yesterday and loved him, new kid comes along and he's like 🤔
Tech really scanned her 😂
Hunter with his hands on his knees!!! bending down to her level!!! what if I cried!!! 🥺
Tarkin EW 🤢
all the clones getting food idk why it's so adorable but it is
Wrecker making a scene 💀
"Hopefully not mental, clearly we'd never pass that" relatable
Omega: 😁 the batch: 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨
she really thought they already forgot about her stop it 😭
"I like you" ~ OMEGA MAKES TECH SMILE 👀
aaaaaand Omega's adopted
Echo's so done with them all fr
Crosshair throwing his lunch tray 👌
I wanna see how the fight endeddddd
"I'm staying until he wakes up" 👀 ep 7 foreshadowing
Echo's ptsd 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Omega ptsd baby what did they do to you 💔💔
I want Azi to mention Fives to Echo so bad 🥺
"You owe me 2 credits" they're betting on Echo's survival pls 💀
Echo's sigh count: 5?
can everyone stop roasting Echo for 5 seconds ??? lmao
"Maybe this empire things not so bad after all" WRECKER DO NOT SAY THAT
"Gimme more!" ~ me @ star wars
TARKIN FOR TARGET PRACTICE NEXT PLS
the hand signals 💕
Tech's turn for a piggyback ride
Wrecker calls Tech buddy 🥺🥺
"Wrecker knife!" I'll never get over the lack of need for communication between them Wrecker just tosses it and hopes for the best
Wrecker picking Tech up 🥺🥺
aaaand I'm cutting it off here bc otherwise it's gonna be hella long
tysm to everyone who has been keeping up with these 💕💕💕 y'all are so sweet
I'll be posting part 2 of episode 1 a bit laterrr just to break it up a little hehe
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superhusbands4ever · 3 years
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The nuance of Wrecker’s chip not fully activating until Hunter told Rex “we couldn’t save the Jedi but we helped the padawan escape” and then the music cutting out and his pupils dilating in direct parallel to Rex’s chip activating in Shattered is just,,,, *chefs kiss*
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zaptrapp · 3 years
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Vin’s Bad Batch Rant -ep 1
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Welcome to this part of Tumblr where, after I watch each BB episode, I’ll give you my detailed (yeah lmao as if) analysis and emotional ramble. SPOILERS AHEAD!! Let’s gooo (this is gonna be a long one, 70 minutes of ep!!):
First of all HOW DARE THEY. Filoniiiiii.
I was NOT expecting to start with a mission right before Order 66 are you fucking kidding me? I immediately went “Nope, not doing this.”
Look at the initial flashback of the clone wars. I was shaking, too many memories.
I haven’t watched Rebels but I know some things and I know who Caleb is. So HI Padawan Caleb, good to see you. But... wasn’t Kanan’s skin complex a bit darker?
It’s going nicely, some comedy thrown in, The Bad Batch being wholesome and just destroying clankas! Tech is growing on me.
Master Billaba why are you so disappointed omg ahah thank them immediately!?!?
Yo I fucking swear, I swear to god that when tbb was leaving and the Captain turned to receive Order 66 I jumped from the seat so fast. Like I yeeted myself so fucking far you cannot understand. Literally, fuck fuck fuck this. My anxiety and ptsd from the clone wars went 📈📈📈📈📈📈
Rip Jedi Master Billaba.
Run Caleb, just run.
(I’m so fucking glad to see The Bad Batch is immune to Order 66. Like so glad.)
Ok Crosshair and Hunter go rescue Mr Padawan there.
CROSSHAIR WHAT THE FUCK CHIILLLLL
nope nope nope this is not going well. I was wrong, I fucked up, I spoke too soon.
“Good soldiers follow orders” noooooooo
Hunter being wholesome omg, what a dad energy he has. I already love him.
Omg Hunter’s scream when Kanan jumps.
Crosshair literally chill dude, let’s all vibe together.
Also uhm... it hurts to see them all so pale. Please for the love of god fix that, it’s unsettling.
The way they return to Kamino so oblivious of what’s going on. It hurts
“Coruscant guard is here” YES SHOW ME FOX YOU COWARDS
Uhm.... Filoni can we talk for a second? Yeah I would like to ask you WHY? Y’know, was it really necessary to show the corpse of a dead Jedi and the hand with the lightsaber falling off? This scene is gonna be stuck in my mind forever. I’m crying.
Can we also talk about the music? Haunting, a masterpiece throughout the whole episode.
This is not a kid’s show.
Love that they have their own personal barrack filled with their stuff, so precious. Plus the Tooka doll, omg😩
The amount of times I’ve said “Crosshair chill” by now is over 9000. Spoiler: it gets worse.
Absolutely love the tension between Hunter and Crosshair. Live for these moments.
Tech listing the characteristics of his mates and then “my exceptional mind” LMAO brag about it.
“The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed”. “You can say that again” Wrecker OMG I wheezed. Echo’s like “bruh”. That’s what I need. Right here. God I love this.
“Still don’t think the regs are programmed?” This part made me shiver. It literally terrifies me. Also Tech is growing so much on me...
Hello Omega, nice to meet you.
“adolescent human female” Tech what the fuck it’s just a girl.😂 I love her accent and her smile! And she’s a medical assistant, love that too!!!!!!
Omega really said 😃😃👋🏼👋🏼
Here comes Tarkin ugh
Why does it hurt to see regular clones without helmet? Probably cause they all look like Fives, Kix, and the others. My heart is crying
Also, why is no one bald anymore? Guess that’s old fashioned uh... (yeah I know it’s because they want them to have no characterization whatsoever, but what’s wrong in being bald?) I miss my bald-with-crazy-tattooes- regs❤️
“Hello again” 😁😁👋🏼👋🏼 the way they look at her LMAO 😶😐😑🤔😕
Food fight, yay! (Crosshair was just trying to chill but ooop guess it’s time to fight)
EXCUSE ME?!?!?
No seriously. They really threw AZ in curing Echo’s injury??? You don’t know how much I was crying. I thought they were gonna throw a “Fives” in and I wasn’t ready at all, not now. Glad they didn’t but still... fuck me Filoni
Look at Echo’s reaction. Fuck. He’s scared as hell, probably though he was back on Skako Minor being a lab rat.
Yeah what a shocking revelation for them AZ.
Headcanon: Tarkin hates his life. He’s so bitter.
The fact that they’re being tested against real threats and guns while they have stupid toy guns it’s so fucking wrong and ridiculous.
“Five are all that remain” but Echo’s not genetically enhanced. That means... (i was putting 2 and 2 together)
Here we go with a mission... this stinks from miles away just telling you
Omega and Hunter talks, ughh the feelings
The way Omega calls softly Hunter’s name ugh I’m sold. They already have a bond “something about her I can’t figure out.” 😩😩
“I guess kids aren’t your area of expertise” Crosshair what a subtle shade😂
Crosshair was not really going to shoot at kids and elder people. Right?
Oh hello Saw, good to see ya. Always a pleasure.
GENERAL SKYWALKER AND CAPTAIN REX mention here we goooo🤪🤪🤪
This is chilling and unsettling....
Great a snitch droid or whatever the fuck that is.
*dramatic stare between Crosshair and Hunter* plus toothpick action going on
Crosshair literally stfu
And here’s Tech dropping facts. Omega’s an enhanced clone. I wonder how they made it possible for her to be a female taking Jango’s DNA but whatever, this is Star Wars.
I am legitimately pissed that Crosshair threw away the toothpick. Justice for toothpick.
Omg she found a picture of the squad😭😭😭😭😭 flashback to Rex’s picture with Echo, Fives and Cody I’m crying
Look at them walking right into the trap.
Hunter looks totally offended but c’mon, you know what you were going against.
Yo, I’m really here trying not to SIMP and they fucking throw TBB in their blacks on my face. I don’t have to look at them, I don’t have to— HELLO HUNTER, how’s you booty doing?
Crosshair CHILL amigo ok io quando mi incazzo devo passare all’italiano quindi o ti calmi o ti calmi, capito brooo??!! Le bestemmie che mi fai tirare.
Ok he’s struggling, I see that. No need to be an ass tho 😶
“I know it’s not your fault. You can’t help it.” Yes I’m crying why aren’t you. The way he looks at her... I’m dead.
CT-9904. Okay... also why did they have to kick Hunter. He’s so precious, trying to defend him regardless of him being under the effect of the chip.
Oh shit oh fuck oh shit here we go. (I didn’t want to watch this part.)
Ehm, Hunter why did you have to lay down like that, you sexy beast. I’m waiting for a gifset of him like that. I’m waiting.
Not Omega copying his moves😂😂😂😂😂
“Abnormal individual” lmao the look on Tech and Hunter’s faces. So done.
Ugh the anxiety is spiraling in me. Also how did they suit up so fast lmao.
Oh no. Oh no. NO NO NO
oh shit.
He looks good tho ngl🥴 (toothpick’s back.)
Oh the look on Hunter’s face, the music... breaks my heart.
Oh I was kinda ready for this part but still..... 😭😩
Yo can you not throw the toothpick away in every damn scene please? That’s my emotional support character object.
Yo jumpscare I lost 10 years of my life what the fuck
The amount of times Wrecker got hurt just in this episode is concerning.
Your move. AHHHHHH
Yoooo Omega with that blaster rifle saved the day😃✨
BYE Crosshair see ya later 💔
Kaminoans hiding to the Empire that BB escaped? This is gonna be no good I’m telling you
Omega is precious. Must be protected.
Dad Hunter DAD HUNTER DAD HUNTER IM SOBBING
Short list of friends. One is on coordinates J-19. Saleucami sector system. CUT LAWQUANE confirmed. Fuck yes. I’m happy. Now I can rest.
Sike I will never rest. Strap in and let’s gooo
Well well well. I LOVED IT. FILONI THANKS FOR THE UNWANTED FEELINGS that made me remind I’m a human capable of emotions❤️ I owe you one but I’m also hurt and also in love. Yes, there are things that did not sit really nicely with me: the obvious whitewashing, Omega being a clone of Jango (yes I was kinda expecting it but as I think through about it... makes less sense. Literally how?), but overall I enjoyed it.
Also if you wanna chat about TBB and feelings dm me or send in an ask! See ya bad bitches💕💕
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darkelite020 · 3 years
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Bad Batch thoughts & predictions Ep 7
Continuing these written reactions/predictions somewhere cause itd be fun I think to see what actually ends up happening and remembering what I thought at the time so im dumping it here, youre welcome. (Feel free to discuss if you want) if you want to keep up with it im gonna be tagging these as #jay rambles about bb
- Ruby? Did I forget? Who/what is Ruby? -- Oh ok. Interesting bounty I suppose. - Wrecker and Omega have a completing mission tradition? That is SO cute. - Hooded person is here >>  -- I’m still holding out on my rex or ahsoka predicition because I think it would make sense for the sisters to call them since theyre friends with ahsoka and obviously she knows about clones and Rex is/was with her last we saw him... but the hooded persons eyes definitely aren’t ahsokas so I think it’s rex and if it is Im gonna be so happy - “Thats not her ugly side?” FFF Tech you bastard I love you - I SEE THE WHITE AND BLUE ARMORED ARM IM GONNA SCREAM - I’M SCREAMING -- REX I MISSED YOU SO MUCH I’M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN AHHHHH --- I KIND OF POKED FUN AT MYSELF THIS WEEK REBLOGGING A MEME OF A GRANDMA SAYING ‘REX WILL BE IN THE NEXT EPISODE’ AND SOME YOUNGER PERSON EXCORTING THEM AND SAYING SOMETHING LIKE ‘OK GRANDMA LETS GET YOU INSIDE’ OR SOME SHIT BUT **VIOLENTLY POINTING AT THE SCREEN** MY LOVE IS HERE - Cid shut the fuck up he is a KING how dare you - Oh no. Oh god. “thats a long story.” Is he going to talk to him about his pov with 66 and about the ship and Jesse AND FIVES OH FUCK -- So it skipped to Rex talking about the end of the war but we didn’t hear really the story itself, and I really hope thats not all we get when it comes to him talking about the people he and at least echo knew. Like if he talked about Fives learning about the chips and not being listened to and that resulted in 66 because of the chips where activated and made them betray the jedi but we get no reaction from Echo I’m going to be pretty disappointed honestly. Like I get the bad batch not really knowing the squad so they have excuses but Echo did, and I really hope they don’t do the thing “Oh well Echo was caught by droids so now he doesn’t care about them anymore” because... that sucks. Like honestly Echo wasn’t even super crazy about seeing Rex either tbh (I get that Echo feels like he doesn’t fit in with regs and thats all fine and dandy) but it kinda feels like he doesn’t give a shit about what he’s gone through with other people. ---Rambling and getting off topic now because I have some shit between Echo and Fives: but if thats the case like we all know it fucked up Fives when he thought Echo was dead so if Echo isn’t the same way about Fives I guess thats just like... depressing and it sucks because everyone sees them as “that duo”. Again we really don’t know what Rex said exactly so its possible it didnt get brought up but if it did...  - Wrecker picking up Rex is so cute but you can see the fucking worry in Rex’s eyes for being picked up by him cause Wrecker would throw him and agjsdb I love it. - Omega straight up being like “youre old” while looking at Rex’s face PFFT no filter kid. - REX KNOWS ABOUT WRECKER -- Good I’m very happy Rex is calling them out on this inhibitor chip shit. ‘Oh crosshair was just an exception’ should definitely not be an excuse. - Oh alright so the glimpse in the trailer was a junkyard and not the same thing. Same kind of ship but not where the graveyard is. Honestly thats kind of a relief. - OH SHIT I WAS TALKING ABOUT FIVES NOW THEY ARE BRINGING HIM UP IM GONNA CRY ABOUT FIVES ALL OVER AGAIN -- wait.... now I don’t know if they know or not about him. - The scenery in this show is really pretty im just gonna go ahead and give some appreciation. - Oh no Wrecker! Pull up the rope!!!!!! He can climb but you can also pull him!!!! -- Thank god. - Omega talking about if something goes wrong? It’s not like theyre all gonna die at the same exact time.... like theyre only gonna do the surgery one at a time so... Omega what are you imagining sis? Like if one person turns? It’s still kind of unlikely that they could defeat the other very talented people in the room. - OH SHIT TECH YELL FOR HELP - HEY THIS HURTS MY FEELINGS DAVE HEY HEY -- LIKE YEAH THEY CANT POSSIBLY KILL THEM ALL CAUSE THE SHOW NEEDS TO GO ON BUT HEY --- Lowkey predicting they could all turn by the end of the show season cause like if they dont beat wrecker and cant use the medical bay then they are fucked. Also especially think this is gonna happen because one of the directors literally said the second half of season 1 is gonna get emotional and holy shit can you imagine. ---- WHAT IF THEY DO AND ITS JUST OMEGA AND REX TEAMING UP TO SAVE THEM HOLY SHIT AND ITD GIVE EVEN MORE OF A MEANING TO THE WORDS “THE BAD BATCH” - Holy shit this fight Wrecker grabbed ECHO BY HIS FUCKING FACE - Ok I was seriously wondering about Omega’s concerns but now HOLY SHIT CAUSE THATS ALL I CAN SAY LIKE THEYRE NOT DEAD BUT OH MY GOD I DIDN’T THINK ITD GO DOWN LIKE THIS - THANK YOU REX OUR HERO - I know we’re all having a moment after Wrecker but can you guys like team up to move him off the table and get your own done like even if its a bit risky cause we don’t need a repeat of what just happened like yeah theres not enough time in the episode for it but still - The *immediate* little head pat “Hey kid” ;-;
- Ok I’m glad theyre getting them out - THE GENTLE REASSURING TOUCHES IN THIS EPISODE *deep breath* ARE GIVING ME SERATONIN  - Wreckers apology ;-; THIS IS SO FUCKING SAD AND CUTE - Rex is leaving already? :( Be safe you funky little space soldier. - Not really surprised the empire is gonna know they were there cause it was only a matter of time but if theyre smart theyd get off planet and back to Cid before the empire gets there to see whats up.  -- Im sure they’ll realize they removed their chips though, I wonder if crosshair will show up (he probably will) but if he does rather its gonna be a fight there between the empire and bb maybe the bb can win and save crosshair or they have to retreat and something else goes on idk. - Would love if Crosshair was saved because he really got the short end of the stick and is being called “the bad batch” but like he’s not even really there with them for the show so far... also you can tell subtly that he doesn’t like being alone which is fucking sad :tm: because all his friends are gone and it hurts even more now because wrecker was talking about how he didn’t want to do things and he was trying not to hurt them and stuff in his apology and you know damn well Crosshair is the same way about his friends he’s probably just a lot less expressive about it.  -- Honestly even bad batch aside can you imagine how terrible all of the clones feel like all the regs over all knowing theyre the downfall of the jedi and thinking that they were trying to resist it too. Like they know whats happening and deep inside theyre themselves but they cant do shit about it. That fucking hurts me.  This is a longer post but this episode was a roller coaster for my emotions.
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anoray · 3 years
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Just some thoughts that sprang to mind while watching today’s episode WAR-MANTLE:
1. IMO, this was a really good episode from start to finish. Always good to see Rex and I sure am curious about what had him so busy he couldn’t take part in the mission himself. Looked like he was getting shot at.
2. Huzzah for seeing Gregor again :) He’s got his nervous laugh but he’s nowhere near the mental state of deterioration we saw in Rebels. Wonder if we’ll see how that happens at some point in TBB.
3. I’m no expert at clone history and culture like some folks out there, so maybe I’m misinterpreting things...but it seems TBB series has been making it clear there is a rather hostile divide between the enhanced aka defective clones and regular clones. I’m thinking back to the scene in the Kamino commissary early on in the season where the Batch was sitting by themselves, apparently not very welcome by the rest of the regular clones even before the fight broke out. Plus the way the Batch refer to the others as “regs” and then how Gregor called the Batch members “defective” once he knows they were from Unit 99 all seems to make a point there is long held rancor between the groups. 
4. Regarding regular clones from TCW and TBB in general, I could be wrong, but it seems so far that most (if not all) of the clones who’ve shown resistance to what the Empire is doing are from the earliest batches, like Fives, Rex, and now Gregor. Plus Howzer was no shiney, he had salt/pepper hair and very scuffed up paint on his armor. So maybe the later batches with more degraded DNA are more vulnerable to the chips and their long term effects and/or maybe these newer batches just don’t have as much individual spark to begin with? Which also makes me wonder if the Kaminoans have always done their best to water down personality in the clones, period, to make them impersonal soldiers. Could this be why Omega constantly has to drag compassion out of her Batch brothers?
5. Well, well, well, looks like the Kaminoan Prime Minister has met his doom and I wonder if Nala Se will somehow get a message out (or already has) to Fennec for rescue, or if Se is now stuck in the Emperor’s cloning program.
6. Now that Hunter is captured and face to face with Crosshair, I’m very interested to see how he gets out of this mess. I’m wondering how big a role Omega will play in comparison to how instrumental Ezra was in rescuing Kanan from Tarkin in the similar arc in Rebels. I’m guessing we’ll see Rex return for some of the rescue action and maybe some things from “filler” episodes might come into play?
One two eps to go for season one. Hoping the momentum stays strong from this point forward :)
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hellowkatey · 3 years
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post-finale thoughts on the bad batch below the cut
[I'm specifically focusing on story and characters. this doesn't even begin to address the issues with their animation design, coloring, and the whole lot of racial, stereotypical, and ableist themes that show up, they are important to be aware of and speak out against. resources that I have found helpful are linked.]
@revenge-of-the-shit has a great compendium with lots of resources for both TBB and SW as a whole | change.org petition
okay.
As a SW fan, I am no stranger to putting up with meh writing because of my love for the characters. I love found family and I love the protective space dad trope with all my being, so TBB caught me by the hyperfixation... but not until the last few episodes of the season.
I loved Echo and Tech from the beginning. As someone who is neurodivergent, I relate to Tech a lot. And I've had a soft spot for Echo since TCW. Wrecker and Omega are more neutral for me. I like them but don't connect to them as much. My like for Hunter decreased as the season progressed, and I disliked Crosshair until episode 15. After part 1 of the finale, I went back and rewatched TCW backdoor pilot and actually began to understand Crosshair.
Coming into the 2nd part of the finale, I sort of expected them to discover Crosshair still had his chip despite claiming to already have it removed, remove it, and they fly off in the Marauder into the sunset, brothers again.
Obviously that is not what happened. But I'm not mad about that. I'm actually glad this didn't happen, though it hurt to see that wide shot of Crosshair standing alone on the platform as his brothers flew away.
I do think Crosshair still has his chip. I think the Empire tricked him into thinking they removed it. It's a mind game. Because Crosshair thinks he had the chip removed, he stops fighting the impulses to support the Empire over his team. He genuinely believes he has chosen this.
And, because Crosshair by nature is severe and unyielding (as Tech says), his natural personality is not far off from the aggression and standoffish shift that chipped clones display. But compared to how Crosshair was in TCW and the first episode, he's definitely not all there imo. The fact he remained loyal to the Empire after they destroyed Kamino with him on it (and the scenes of him still having headaches-- I mean, hello, how did the boys miss that??) is why I believe he is still chipped.
But I am glad Crosshair did not go with them even though it messes up the premise of a fic I wrote between ep. 15 and 16 (rip). The finale was important for bringing the boys back together so they can see they all still care about one another, but there's a difference in ideology. And there's a breach of trust on both sides.
Crosshair needs to see for himself that the Empire has been manipulating him and he needs to come to that conclusion on his own. The Bad Batch, mainly Hunter, needs to realize that they did abandon their brother because as soon as they figured out about the inhibitor chips their primary mission should have been getting Crosshair out of there.
In terms of the conflict between Crosshair & himself and Crosshair & The Bad Batch, I think the show did a good job. It's an extremely complex issue, and they depicted the characters as true humans that make mistakes and have to atone for them. I hope season 2 focuses on what they need to work on individually to be ready to come back together as a team.
That is why I think I watched the show but didn't really connect to it until we actually got back to the main conflict from the first episode.
But this was a 16-episode season. They filled half a season with cameos and odd-jobs which were hardly used it to advance the characters' arcs. (At least when the Mandalorian S2 did this, the cameos contributed to the journey in some way.)
Tech, Echo, and Wrecker basically got no development when there were lots of opportunities to explore this-- I mean, we have Echo who was a POW, the last of his squad, pretty well acquainted with the Jedi, and the only "reg" among them. Before he was taken by the Techno Union, he was a huge advocate of following orders and doing things by the books. I feel like he would have had a hard time with learning about the chips and Fives' death amongst other things. Tech and Crosshair were depicted working together a lot in TCW, and he is one of the few that (sort of) defends Crosshair in the finale, but that dynamic isn't explored much either. And Wrecker's chip actually activated and he hurts his brothers. Yet, there's not really any sort of fallout there either. I also feel like they alluded to Omega having some sort of special ability at the beginning and then we just never touched on it again.
I point out these things not just as a fan, but as someone who studied writing and storytelling in college. You can have your round and flat, dynamic and static characters, but they still should have a complete arc. And they all can't be flat. Especially as being part of the main cast. I think they focused mainly on external struggles and forgot about the internal ones, which would have been much more profound. If The Bad Batch was an anthology of their missions during TCW I would be a little more forgiving of the mission-to-mission episode format, but this immediately following Order 66. One of the most emotional moments in the SW franchise.
Don't get me wrong, I loved moments of the show. It's inspired me enough to read (and write) fic for it. And I've read some really kick ass writing that has fulfilled a lot of the desires I had for the show in terms of addressing internal conflict and character development. I'm well acquainted with the fandom by this point to know emotional depth is not often a priority in SW. But I did not expect the show to lack basic character development for main characters. I've browsed The Bad Batch AO3 tag a few times now, and a very large portion has to do with creating character development and backstory that doesn't exist in canon yet. I think that says a lot on its own.
This is long so I'll stop but my overall opinion of the show is bittersweet. If someone asked me what I thought of it in one sentence, I would say "it has potential". But since S2 is confirmed, it sounds like they should have time to see fan responses, take the valid criticisms to heart, and I think TBB has the potential to join the club of a beloved SW show with a rough first season.
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darkelite020 · 3 years
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Bad Batch thoughts & predictions Ep 12
Continuing these written reactions/predictions somewhere cause itd be fun I think to see what actually ends up happening and remembering what I thought at the time so im dumping it here, youre welcome. (Feel free to discuss if you want) if you want to keep up with it im gonna be tagging these as #jay rambles about bb
- So I sort of expected it by the end of last episode but it seems like last episode was a start of an episode arc about hera's family, which, for rebel's fans I'm sure it's cool and exciting and maybe answers some questions or will actually show things discussed in rebels maybe, but as someone who hasn't seen rebels yet, I really hope this episode and the next few have more bad batch screentime, cause we were a little robbed last episode lol (but in a way I do still enjoy this stuff too, because im sure when I DO watch rebels it'll make the experience better). -- I'm not disliking this arc or anything, but up to this point we've kind of had almost mandalorian style 'one episode one adventure' sorts of episodes, and personally I really hope we get more of that (which I think we will), because while this is all new content and everything, we all have to admit clone wars had some less interesting filler arcs here and there, and I just hope bb doesn't fall the same way (across all of its seasons, im not very concerned about it so far from what we've seen of season 1) because if there is filler, I'd rather sit through a couple of the one episode stories, rather than a 3-4 episode story that takes nearly a month to get through if im disliking it, mostly for the fact that even if we got those 1 ep fillers, its more stories and more likely I'd like at least one. ---kinda rambling about this unnecessarily atm cause while again right now I think bb is fine, I just want the future to be that way too. - fffff every time I see howzer on screen I think of that fucking audio thats "here comes the boy, hello boy~" and honestly can you blame me he is so precious like ugh I swear dave you better be nice to him -- YOU CAN TELL HE FEELS SO BAD AND GUILTY LIKE IT HURTS - hey admiral can you not be MEAN to howzer when he is trying to be fucking helpful -- ;-; BRO im saying it so much already but I feel so bad for howzer like dude someone help him --- imo it feels like its sort of setting up howzer for something more important in the show kinda, at least for his character. Like we can clearly tell he doesn't really agree with the empire and I think they're going to do something with that. He's probably undercover for someone against the empire but I get the bad feeling they're gonna pull a Fives and have him go against the empire and help everyone else somehow but then he will probably end up dead because we cant have nice things. - hello cross... bet you wont be saved this episode - Ok good, some more bad batch here already. -- ALSO GONKY BEING DEFECTIVE!!!! EVEN GONKY IS DEFECTIVE LIKE BB THATS SO CUTE! - uh, im not the only one getting the leia transmission vibes from hera, right? -- ok, again I haven't seen rebels so I dont know BUT if hera has the ability to talk to bb, couldn't she have done so in rebels? Yeah she's older and im sure better at fighting and defending herself and all that, but wouldn't it still be possible for her to have gotten in some kind of rough situation in Rebels to ask for bb's help again? I super doubt bb made any appearance of any kind in Rebels, so doesn't that imply that she lost communications with them? What happens to bad batch >> - bad batch not wanting to help but because omega really wants to you can see its making hunter soften up and I appreciate it - bruh what??? Taa is dead af, like theres no way the show is gonna pull some magic and be like 'oh yep here he is' thing??? Like this has to be a lie, but even then, what even is the plan here?? Saying "oh hes recovering" well he can't be recovering forever, how does that seem like a good plan to lie about that?? People are gonna find out?? - "Great just what we need" from Wrecker about crosshair MAKES ME ANGRY LIKE??? YES?? DONT BE MAD AT HIM ITS NOT HIS FAULT??? SAVE YOUR FUCKING BOY??? -- oooo then the rest of bb doesn't comment about it literally gsjrkgbdkfbg why do they not care about him???? Like it seems they legitimately dont care about crosshair, even though theyve been together for so long like even before the show came out they
had history together and were all really close. I know people argue "oh well its just difficult to save him and its unrealistic for them right now" but so what? Even if they aren't trying to save him they should at least CARE about him. --- Which is also like the thing with echo and fives!!!! Like Echo didn't seem to care much at all when Rex mentioned fives even a little! Or even about seeing Rex that much!! Dave I'm gonna need some answers my guy, cause you humanized these characters but then you dont make them act that way so like whats up. - Lucky hunters abilities came in handy - Back to crosshair for a second im predicting they 100% arent saving him this season. There was a poster released part way through the season and he's not even on it... makes me so sad. - "I'd do the same for you." ;-; that didnt need to get that deep - CROSSHAIR BETTER NOT START SHIT WITH HOWZER - Howzer helping Hera's parents or at least implying that is good but that also means im right so far and therefore worried >> -- HES GOING TO GET FUCKING CAUGHT I BET TALKING TO THEM LIKE THIS AT SOME POINT AND HOW MUCH DO YOU WANNA BET ITS GONNA BE CROSSHAIR THAT CATCHES HIM --- Cham stfu its literally so obvious that howzer is trying to be genuine, also if he's kind of undercover for him like what the fuck do you expect howzer to do if he has to play along with the empire to keep his cover?? "Won't make that mistake again" Fuck off like honestly. ---- #stopbeingmeantohowzer2021 - "A little help" and the gentle "Hey" ahh love it - I'm really enjoying this whole them fighting in the ships sequence - "Stay here and guard the capitol" SCARES ME -- Please for the love of god bad batch don't get howzer killed --- or plot B Bad batch maybe run into howzer but save him and take him with you at least temporarily ---- oh god.... bb is helping heras parents escape and that means howzers gonna get in trouble.../probably replaced by crosshair - Crosshair is smart but thats also badddd - The scene of howzer and crosshair looking at each other is killing meeeeeeeee - Ohhh is howzer gonna stop them before they go out the door? -- YES HE IS SEE WHAT A GOOD BOY HE IS - (please fucking listen to him I beg) - Aw dude I just had a thought that breaks my heart... howzer cares about his squad and "trying to get through to them" but what if his squad is clones as well and the chips... that hurts me so badly... -- Like we all know howzer is a sweet boy by now but ughhh like the thought that he doesnt want to leave them even though they are doing whats wrong shows just how much he cares and I really hope he doesn't get into trouble because of what he's saying to them, but you know he totally would do it because he seems to care about them so much and :( bad batch more like sad batch --- This is the kind of compassion I wanted from bb for crosshair hunter kind of looks back at howzer as they leave him and I doubt itll mean anything but I really hope that maybe seeing how much howzer cares will make hunter care a little too... - *sigh* howzer is getting left behind by them which we know why but yeah... now he's definitely going to be in trouble... I just hope they don't hurt him... - OH GOD HOWZER BABY DONT -- He's making a speech and I know he's trying to sway them but you know damn well this is gonna go so badly for him because of the chips and crosshair is watching so you know howzer is gonna get fucked here and I know what hes trying for but I really wish he didnt just do that because now its blatantly obvious he's gonna be against them ;-; - Wow ok im kinda shocked people are siding with him (I guess cause theyre not all clones right) but I feel so bad for themmmmm - Crosshair missed multiple shots? Uh what? I didnt think that was possible lol - bb please come back for howzer and the others at some point.... -- I guess maybe if hera's parents are going to organize rebels against the empire maybe they will help them but I somewhat doubt it... - Ok I know that crosshair requesting to hunt them was supposed to be this big moment and all but I
can't help but feel like its a little underwhelming (but dont get me wrong still cool vibes) because he's kind of already been doing that anyway?? Or has tried to several times?? So I don't get why its a big deal, however, I do have a possible prediction: We know that bb got their chips removed, (crosshair doesn't, I know that) and so that eliminates the idea that they will get caught and actually go bad like crosshair, but it does leave a possibility where maybe they get captured and then *pretend* to be bad? And that could lead to a better possibility of helping crosshair (they wont) or maybe howzer and the other rebels or something? Cause I also feel like its significant that they brought up how the war will eventually come to them and bb will be a part of it no matter what eventually, and it makes obvious sense theyd be on the rebels side of it, so maybe something like that goes on, idk.
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