Why does Hunter shoot Crosshair in The Bad Batch episode 15?

The Bad Batch episode 15 “Return to Kamino” was action-packed, but it was also emotional as Hunter and Crosshair finally talked about the events that have unfolded all season.

“Rescue on Ryloth” introduced the idea of the sniper working to bring Clone Force 99 in after he was granted permission by Rampart to do so. But, it wasn’t entirely clear what Crosshair’s plans would be for his former team.

Spoilers ahead of “Return to Kamino.”

Now we know he wanted to recruit them. Tired of being without the Batch and smarting from being abandoned by them, Crosshair orchestrated a situation that would bring them all together again. His plan consisted of reasoning with Hunter, his former team leader, to remind him that they’re brothers.

Crosshair’s talk with Hunter clearly affected the both of them, and the sniper’s conviction about reuniting the team only increases when he’s reunited with the rest of the Batch.

The most dialogue Crosshair has ever spoken is in “Return to Kamino” and it’s not all ruthless decision making and carrying out orders. It’s him reaching out to his brothers and giving them a chance which they never did for him.

However, after he’s killed his own TK troopers, Crosshair’s time to convince the Batch to join the Empire runs out thanks to Omega bringing the droid bots online.

She’d intended on rescuing her fellow Batchers after they were captured like Hunter. But, the young clone inadvertently set up a situation for the Batch, including Crosshair, to fight together once again.

Fighting beside each other, however, doesn’t keep Hunter from shooting Crosshair at the end of their battle with the droids.

Does Hunter shoot to kill or stun Crosshair in The Bad Batch?

Hunter’s choice to shoot Crosshair gives the Batch the opportunity to give the sniper the chance he said they never gave him. He stuns him; he doesn’t kill him. With an unconscious Crosshair, the team is working to get off Kamino.

We won’t see the aftermath of that decision until Part 2 of the finale premieres on Friday, August 13, but Hunter’s choice to try with Crosshair was a welcome sight. The leader of Clone Force 99 recognized his brother’s hurt, and also listened to him. Not about joining the Empire, the Batch would never do that, but he listened to Crosshair’s desire to reunite with the team.

Not to mention, though the sniper admitted he no longer has an inhibitor chip and has been working with the Empire anyway, it’s important to Hunter to know when that happened. It’s likely the chip was removed after “Reunion” because that’s the episode where Crosshair sustained injuries to his head.

While Crosshair doesn’t think it matters when his chip was removed, it obviously matters to Hunter, so we’ll likely hear more about what’s been going on with the sniper in the finale.

The Bad Batch episode 15 is streaming now on Disney+.