5 ways Star Wars: The Bad Batch fell short as a series
3. Closure for Tech
The handling of Tech actually makes me mad. Yes, I will admit I have biases because Tech is still my favorite character in the show. Because hey look! This team can do groundbreaking representation by giving us the first on-screen neurodivergent character in the franchise. Gold star sticker for you, Bad Batch team!
And then they kill him!
At first, I really struggled with this choice. Tech, personally, meant so much to me and so many fans who got to see themselves for the first time in a Star Wars. I sobbed watching "The Crossing." It brought me to tears. In turn, I did have a visceral reaction to Tech's death. It felt more personal than some random character's death. In hindsight, though, it's an incredibly powerful moment. Oftentimes, neurodivergent characters are presented as cold and heartless. However, Tech always showed his love through his actions, not his words. His love for his family shone brightest with the ultimate sacrifice of his life. This is a beautiful conclusion for a neurodivergent character. So surely, Season 3 would honor this right?
And then the Batch never talked about Tech ever again.
Yes, I'm being sarcastic here because Tech was mentioned here and there in Season 3. However, the handling of Tech's death was incredibly unsatisfying, especially with the storytelling around the CX clones, which I will get to in a moment because they are a whole point of their own.
It goes back to the lack of communication among the characters and the missed opportunities in the narrative. When did Crosshair find out Tech was dead? How did he react? Did the realization that the Empire's actions, the organization he chose to work for, ended up murdering his brother? Is this guilt why he pushed away Omega in "Confined," because he felt he needed to be punished for his actions?
That's just one main character! We don't even know how Hunter, Wrecker, Omega, and Echo feel about losing their brother! And what about Phee, Tech's love interest in Season 2? She's just sort of fine that her almost boyfriend is dead. This would all make sense for the first season when they're emotionally stunted soldiers who haven't gone on character arcs. But in Season 3? What is happening here? Why have character arcs if you're not going to use them?
One conversation around Tech's death was all that was needed. Just one. One moment where his sacrifice was recognized in a satisfying way would have done so much. It would have provided some closure not just for the characters but for the fans too.
Instead, we got a lot of questions, mysteries, and pussyfooting around with the addition of the CX clones.