Star Wars The Bad Batch

The previous Star Wars animated series, The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels were really great in their own ways.  This left me a little skeptical at first about "The Bad Batch", which is a sequel series.  It is mostly a sequel to The Clone Wars since it takes place before the events of Star Wars Rebels.  After all, it is just about a group of Storm Troopers who are technically clones of each other.  I thought that maybe this limited set of characters wouldn't be that interesting.  There is also the child character "Omega" who has joined their group.  My first impression of her presence was that it was an attempt to cash in on the immense popularity of "Baby Yoda" in The Mandalorian series, by adding a cute character that children could relate to.

I've never been so happy to be wrong.  This series has really delivered, more so as it has gone on.  The five clones are called "The Bad Batch" because they are all genetic deviations with their own individual characteristics.  Even Omega, the only female clone that we have seen so far, is a deviation intentionally made for some as of yet unknown but possibly sinister purpose.  These clones rebel against the newly formed Galactic Empire and strike out on their own.

Episode 11, available today on Disney+, is a huge change of pace, providing a backstory for the Star Wars Rebels character Hera Syndulla, showing her as a girl and the events that led up to her rebelling against the Empire.  Our favorite clones only make a short appearance to deliver some weapons to the rebels on Ryloth.  This results in a rich story that connects all three animated series.