The return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is welcome with one of the strongest non-trilogy storylines. Technically, we only had the beginning of the Clone Wars, Attack of the Clones (2002), and the end of it, Revenge of the Sith (2005). The full Clone Wars was told in Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005), the animated shorts by Genndy Tartakovsky (canon to me until contradicted by the current series), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), it was theatrically released so also a Star Wars film, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2014).
These last two entries were created by Lucasfilm Animation under the watchful eye of George Lucas so they reach the highest level of canon. Side note: it took me some time to get over Prequel Bias and watch the film which I love. The series goes a long way to providing a full story about the cost of war, how it affects both sides, and of course the toll on the soldiers. So now with Disney+ we have the fulfillment of the season that was dropped with Disney moving on with Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018). If you still have the spark of the Star Warrior, I would urge watching all of the Clone Wars.
These last two entries were created by Lucasfilm Animation under the watchful eye of George Lucas so they reach the highest level of canon. Side note: it took me some time to get over Prequel Bias and watch the film which I love. The series goes a long way to providing a full story about the cost of war, how it affects both sides, and of course the toll on the soldiers. So now with Disney+ we have the fulfillment of the season that was dropped with Disney moving on with Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018). If you still have the spark of the Star Warrior, I would urge watching all of the Clone Wars.
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STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- “The Bad Batch” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.
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The episode opens with the title logo and the all to familiar music of Kevin Kiner, it is reassuring to see the return of Star Wars! The theme of the episode is shown and then the wartime narration of Tom Kane describing the Battle of Anaxes, a Core World, and we are informed that it is a Republic shipyard. We see glimpses of Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker. Also, the spider-like face of Admiral Trench (Baker) introduced in the season two episode ”Cat and Mouse.” (2010). He is part of the Harch species with a pale, giant tarantula head with large mandibles by his cheeks.
Two Republic gunships head for a hangar in a sweeping shot with clone troopers and war machines, this was the level of animation that was in the earlier episodes. This moves to the control room with Mace Windu (TC Carson) and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) discussing strategy. Then, Commander Cody and Captain Rex walk up. We get the voice of Dee Bradley Baker voicing all of the clone troopers in the style of Temuera Morrison. Rex is a fan favorite who debuted in the Clone Wars film. Cody was introduced in Revenge of the Sith. Rex suspects that the battle droids are predicting the clone trooper tactics and are ready for them. Of course the Jedi are commanders because their tactics are not predictable.
Two Republic gunships head for a hangar in a sweeping shot with clone troopers and war machines, this was the level of animation that was in the earlier episodes. This moves to the control room with Mace Windu (TC Carson) and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) discussing strategy. Then, Commander Cody and Captain Rex walk up. We get the voice of Dee Bradley Baker voicing all of the clone troopers in the style of Temuera Morrison. Rex is a fan favorite who debuted in the Clone Wars film. Cody was introduced in Revenge of the Sith. Rex suspects that the battle droids are predicting the clone trooper tactics and are ready for them. Of course the Jedi are commanders because their tactics are not predictable.
Cody volunteers a mission taking a squad behind the droid front line to reach a Cyber Center. We get Rex looking at a picture of his squad; a very stirring moment for the clone soldier. Rex hesitated to tell the generals that he believes Echo is alive, but Cody reminds him that he fell in “The Citadel” battle (2011). He says that the battle plans used by the droids were made by Echo and himself. Long time fans like myself are holding out hope that this clone trooper is alive. Cody notes that they will be working with Clone Force-99. We have seen several squads of clone troopers, this squad is new, their renegade status explains why we haven't seen them.
The troopers are joined by ARC troopers Jesse and medic Kix. A shuttle recklessly flies in scattering troopers. Cody explains that they are “defective clones” and dub themselves the Bad Batch. Out of the shuttle walks the squad including Wrecker is a giant of a clone, bald, and he has one blind eye. The leader is Hunter with a half-skull tatoo on his face, red bandana, and Rambo-like hair. Tech has googles that give him a steampunk look with a thin face and slightly balding hair. Cross Hair is the silent type, he has a targeting scope outlined around his eye and white hair.
The troopers are joined by ARC troopers Jesse and medic Kix. A shuttle recklessly flies in scattering troopers. Cody explains that they are “defective clones” and dub themselves the Bad Batch. Out of the shuttle walks the squad including Wrecker is a giant of a clone, bald, and he has one blind eye. The leader is Hunter with a half-skull tatoo on his face, red bandana, and Rambo-like hair. Tech has googles that give him a steampunk look with a thin face and slightly balding hair. Cross Hair is the silent type, he has a targeting scope outlined around his eye and white hair.
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STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- “The Bad Batch” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.
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The clone trooper missions are a large part of the animated series. They are usually tied to one of the Jedi, Obi-Wan or Anakin, but this adds a new element to them. The only downside is that a group of strange clones is really needed in more episodes. A group of different clones is exactly what new viewers need to distinguish between them. They board a Republic gunship and Cross Hair shows some attitude towards Regs, their term for regular clones. A battle droid has spotted the gunship and calls down fire from dwarf spider droids equipped with cannons that extend insect-like from their faces. The gunship crash lands. Cody is trapped under the gunship. Wrecker goes all The Rock and lifts the gunship over. He likes that the lander explodes.
The Bad Batch has their own tactics. Wrecker hauls a piece of wreckage to deflect droid blasts while Tech scans their perfect strike point, Cross Hair inputs the coordinates and throws a grenade that electrifies an area. This is what was needed at the beginning of the clone war, a wide-area weapon that disables droids. The tactic also reminds me of Spaceballs (1987) with Barf the Mawg tearing off some pipes to take out a group of soldiers. Hunter’s weapon of choice is a knife that short circuits droids. His tracking of the electro-magnetic movements of the droids me of Billy, the Native American hunter in Predator (1987). What doesn’t make sense is that this is Anakin’s style of fighting. He should be involved in working with this group. A very strong episode that might be an introduction to the series for some viewers.
The Bad Batch has their own tactics. Wrecker hauls a piece of wreckage to deflect droid blasts while Tech scans their perfect strike point, Cross Hair inputs the coordinates and throws a grenade that electrifies an area. This is what was needed at the beginning of the clone war, a wide-area weapon that disables droids. The tactic also reminds me of Spaceballs (1987) with Barf the Mawg tearing off some pipes to take out a group of soldiers. Hunter’s weapon of choice is a knife that short circuits droids. His tracking of the electro-magnetic movements of the droids me of Billy, the Native American hunter in Predator (1987). What doesn’t make sense is that this is Anakin’s style of fighting. He should be involved in working with this group. A very strong episode that might be an introduction to the series for some viewers.
Five Lightsabers out of Five!
#CloneWars, #TheBadBatch, #DeeBradleyBaker, #TCCarson, #MattLanter
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