Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2 episode 16 review: ‘Plan 99’
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2 episode 16, “Plan 99 .”
After Tech executes plan 99, the Bad Batch was not only shattered, but it seems like every member was injured physically besides their emotional damages. The Bad Batch was put into a desperate position, and in a moment of desperation, they return to Ord Mantell and Cid. After an entire season’s worth of warning about Cid’s complete lack of loyalty, the Bad Batch makes what may prove to be a fatal mistake.
The aftermath of Plan 99: Omega’s isolation
After what can only be described as a stunning defeat on Eriadu, the Bad Batch seems to have almost given up on their mission to fight against the empire and save Crosshair. Wrecker and Hunter approach Omega with an offer to stay on Pabu permanently, a choice that would mean not only leaving Crosshair but also leaving Echo to fight the empire without his squad’s support. This choice is an admission of defeat and one that indicates that the remaining members of the Bad Batch finally realized the risk may be too much for them to be successful in protecting Omega.
Cid’s Betrayal
After the Bad Batches run to Ord Mantell, Cid makes a fateful decision that she wants to make a quick buck and turn in the Bad Batch. While she certainly was in a good amount of danger, the empire has yet to actually identify where the Bad Batch was operating from. She also has likely profited hundreds of thousands of credits from having one of the best commando squads in the galaxy in her employ. Cid’s betrayal also did not seem malicious, and her attitude was almost that of a defeated warrior surrendering to an opposing force. Ultimately this is simply the confirmation that Cid was only ever in it for herself, and she leaves everyone else to solve their own problems.
An unexpected sister: Emerie Karr
After Cid’s betrayal, the Bad Batch valiantly attempts to fight their way back to success, but after Sorch captures Omerga, even Echo’s heroic run didn’t allow them to catch up in time. The Bad Batch is left reduced to only three members, but those three members are now completely devoted to catching Dr. Hemlock. As for helping Nala Se, Crosshair, and Omega the only person in a position to help is Emeria Karr. The reveal that Emeria is another female Jango Fett clone raises tons of questions, from if her aging is accelerated, to who made her, and everything in between. We do know that she is a doctor, so she seems well-established in the cloning program, and she even was amicable to Crosshair during his escape. She may be the key to saving Omega and Crosshair, but only time will tell her true allegiances.
Final Thoughts
The beginning of this season may have been a tad slow, but the season overall was one of the best-executed and most emotional Star Wars narratives we have seen so far. From Commander Cody’s desertion to Tech’s Demise, and even the decommissioning of the clones we see how the Republic’s fall impacted all of our favorite characters. If the clones had simply been discarded as useless property it would have been a travesty, but to know that they have become simple pawns and lab rats demonstrates the evil of the empire. Star Wars: The Bad Batch season two clearly shows the pure evil of the empire and answers our overreaching questions set in the context of a group of soldiers slowly becoming fathers. If season three is anything like season two, we can expect another soul-crushing tale of desperate victories.
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