The latest episode of The Bad Batch, “Crossing,” leaves our heroes in a bit of a tough spot. Their ship, The Marauder, has been stolen, leaving the Batch stranded on a planet ravaged by deadly storms and scrambling to find shelter in an uninhabited space port. They’re desperately trying to safeguard the mineral deposits that Cid sent them to recover, and it just so happens that mineral, ibsium, is highly explosive.
It’s a real out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire sort of episode, as the Batch narrowly escapes from an I-killed-Mufasa sort of animal stampede only to get stuck in a storm only to become trapped in a mine only to nearly drown in an underground cavern only to find an abandoned space port only to have their hopes of rescue dashed by Cid’s less than forthcoming rescue plan.
The episode is a real cliffhanger. But here’s my biggest worry: Where’s Gonky? Is he alright?
As a recap, Gonky is a defective GNK-series power droid that first appeared in the final season of The Clone Wars. While he was mostly used as a stand-in for dumbbells for Wrecker, he and Omega have developed a bit of relationship: two so-called defective friends. That, and he’s a good flat surface for drinks or card games.
For an episode that is focused on unpacking the slow dissolution of the Clone Force 99 family, it’s a little unsettling how Gonky isn’t mentioned at all. Omega is devastated by Echo’s decision to leave with Rex, and the theft of The Marauder is only icing on that sour cake.
“It is merely a mode of transportation,” Tech says. He’s already given up on ever recovering their ship.
“The Marauder’s our home!” Omega shouts back. “We already lost Echo; we can’t lose that, too!”
Listen: I’m as worried as anyone about The Marauder. I was bummed when the original Phantom was destroyed in Rebels. I was dismayed when the Razer Crest was wiped off the face of Tython.
But here’s the thing: You can blow up the Razer Crest; you can steal The Marauder. But don’t take Gonky!
Either he was on The Marauder and has now essentially been kidnapped, or the Batch has been willingly leaving behind a key member of the squad at Cid’s all along. We saw Gonky last week in “Truth and Consequences,” so he hasn’t fully tapped out of that galactic mission lifestyle.
Droids are beloved members of Star Wars families across the galaxy. Think about young Leia’s relationship with Lola in Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Poe Dameron’s friendship with BB-8. We don’t just forget about these characters—or let them get kidnapped.
So, here’s what I’m hoping. I’m hoping it’s good ol’ Gonky who re-commandeers The Marauder and rescues our clone heroes. And I hope he rubs it in their face.
Sure, we’re all sad Echo left; but Gonky stayed. The least the Batch can do is remember that.