Crosshair’s raid on Saw Gererra’s camp in the latest episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch triggered the first silent shots of the Galactic Civil War.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1, Episode 3, “Replacements”, which airs on Disney +.
Star Wars: The Bad Lot did not waste time delving into Star Wars‘Galactic Civil War, or at least its origins. It began with the appearance of Admiral Tarkin in the opening episode, although it did not look like that at the time. With Crosshair’s assault on the Saw Gerrera camp on Onderon in Season 1, Episode 3, “Replacements”, there can no longer be any doubt: the first shots of the Galactic Civil War have been fired.
The bad lot is essentially a continuation of Star Wars, Clone Wars. However, with Order 66 completed and the Empire now firmly in control, the question remained how much role the nascent Rebellion would play in history. “Replacements” answered it in no uncertain terms. Thanks to Crosshair, the fate of the Bad Batch is now irrevocably tied to the start of the Rebellion, though exactly how it remains to be seen.
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The rift between the past conflict and the one to come was revealed this week, both on a small and large scale. The Crosshair regiment is the most obvious example. They are essentially the first Stormtroopers, who volunteered for the position of their own free will, and give the episode title a broader meaning as they step in to take the place of the Clones. They also demonstrate the same type of brutality seen by Stormtroopers in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Y Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, and their collective principles are essentially extinguished when Crosshair shoots the dissident in their ranks.
Likewise, Gerrera’s group represents the first real nucleus of the Rebellion or at least one of them. Politicians like Mon Mothma and Bail Organa are there too, as are surviving Jedi like Yoda, but they all have reasons to keep themselves or their motives hidden. Gerrera has no such scruples, and her outspoken defiance of the Empire in “Replacements” marks not only the beginning of open conflict, but also, with the execution of civilians by Crosshair, the imperative need to fight the Palpatine government.
More subtle cuts also arrive, informing the nature of the coming conflict. “Replacements” quietly points out that Stormtroopers are discounted replacements for Clones, which the Kaminoans do not hesitate to point out. While Crosshair’s squad may be a dangerous combatant, the seeds are planted for future batches of less-than-competent Imperial Legions. For example, the emphasis on loyalty and obedience over all other qualities is likely a contributing factor to the notorious inaccuracy of the Stormtroopers during the original trilogy. Similarly, the intrigues of the Kaminoans demonstrate how the Empire creates enemies where it had not previously existed and fuels a rebellion in the most elemental stages of childhood.
The Bad Batch is still as important to that as it is to Crosshair, making them major players in the next stage of Star Wars‘ story. In fact, his connection to his former squadmate almost ensures his participation in these larger galactic events, if only by rescuing his friend from himself. Furthermore, their status as Clones leaves them uniquely prepared to watch the transition from Republic to Empire: veterans of the previous conflict are forced to deal with a new war on entirely different terms.
It is a stricter approach than The Clone Wars, He used a wide variety of protagonists in all aspects of the conflict. But that doesn’t preclude the same epic reach and with “Replacements” The bad lot announces his intention to portray big events with far-reaching implications. There is nothing greater than the Rebellion, and the first shots speak of much more to come. That means fans will get a lot more detail about that still murky part of Star Wars story like The bad lot moves forward.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker, Andrew Kishino, and Ming-Na Wen. New episodes premiere on Fridays on Disney +.
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