Warning! Spoilers for The Bad Batch episode 16 follow below.
While Star Wars: The Bad Batch has focused on Omega, Hunter, Wrecker, Tech and Echo most episodes, there’s no denying that one of the most fascinating characters has been left out of most of the adventures: Crosshair.
Originally a part of the Bad Batch (and still a part of the Bad Batch in our hearts), the sharpshooter clone committed himself to the Empire at the very beginning of the series. And since then, the rest of the Clone Force has been forced to outrun Crosshair and the Empire, out of fear of what will happen.
But, in episode 14, Hunter sacrificed himself to be captured so that his team could escape. But naturally, by episode 15, the team came back to his rescue. As the team pleaded for Crosshair to join their side again, telling him that his inhibitor chip was responsible for his actions, Crosshair proved them wrong. He had his inhibitor chip removed already, so his commitment to the Empire was all him.
Then, it became that familiar Star Wars song: join me (on the Dark Side), and together, we can be a great team. Crosshair showed that he still wanted to be brothers with his team, just under the Empire. But the Clone Force wasn’t buying it. That’s especially seeing as the Empire had already abandoned them on Kamino all while Admiral Rampart ordered the cloning facility to be destroyed — with Crosshair knowingly still there. So, what became of Crosshair after all this?
Does Crosshair rejoin the Bad Batch?
During episode 16, “Kamino Lost,” we do see Crosshair begin to soften up. With Kamino on the verge of complete destruction, he realizes that sticking with his old team is the only way out. For the entire episode, we then see them work together as a team again. He may disagree with some of their choices. But in the end, we see his heart show when he helps rescue Omega and AZI from the treacherous sea.
Unfortunately, that’s his last act of kindness. Once they make it back to the landing platform where their ship is stationed, that’s where the group parts ways. Crosshair is offered the opportunity to come back to them, but he refuses. It seems serving the Empire is still in his future. And he’d rather be stranded on Kamino, waiting for the Empire to save him than do the right thing and join his brothers.
At the very end, after Omega speaks to him, it does look like Crosshair has some sign of conflict on his face. He cooperated so nicely with his team during the entire episode, that we’re sure he felt the pull to the Light by the end — he was just ignoring the call.
Like most Star Wars media, there’s still the potential for his redemption in the future. But we’ll have to wait until season 2 to see what happens to Crosshair next.
Keep up with Dork Side of the Force for more on The Bad Batch.