The Bad Batch Season 3 has arguably been the show's best season so far. The writers have the audience hooked, but the last few episodes bear an uncanny resemblance with the plot of another hit season of Star Wars television: The Mandalorian Season 2.
Here's what makes these shows so similar.
A gifted child that the Empire wants
Both shows feature a gifted child with overprotective guardians being chased by the Empire for their blood. While Omega escaped captivity once already, Grogu was tossed around by the wrong hands for decades, until Din found him. Omega is wanted because her blood acts as a binder to replicate M-counts, and Grogu for his high M-count.
Omega and Grogu were tested by former Jedi
The Mandalorian Season 2 features a meeting between Din Djarin and Ahsoka Tano, where the latter tests Grogu's Force-sensitivity, and The Bad Batch Season 3 features the appearance of Asajj Ventress, who tests Omega's. While Ahsoka refused to train Grogu, Asajj Ventress is quite ready to take Omega off her brothers' hands.
Shady Ex-Imperials could prove helpful
In Chapter 15 of The Mandalorian, "The Believer," we saw Din Djarin working with Migs Mayfeld to obtain the coordinates to Moff Gideon's cruiser from the planet of Morak. Like Din, Clone Force 99 has sought the help of a not-exactly-trustworthy character in Admiral Rampart. Both have their reasons for helping our heroes save their kids. Migs Mayfeld was a former sharpshooter in the Imperial Army and witnessed firsthand the Empire's atrocities. He was traumatized by the events of Operation: Cinder on the planet of Burnin Konn and wanted to help Din Djarin as a way of getting even with the Empire.
Now, Admiral Rampart. who was sent to Erebus labor camp after his arrest following the destruction of Tipoca City, will work with Clone Force 99 to locate the coordinates to Mount Tantiss. After the events of Season 2, where Rampart was framed and imprisoned for following orders, he has reason to want revenge.
The Bad Batch finale might be "The Rescue" Part 2
Omega surrendered and was taken back to Tantiss. There's a growing possibility that the last few episodes will lead to a Mandalorian Season 2-style finale in which Clone Force 99 and their friends will locate Tantiss and rescue Omega, similar to Grogu's rescue from Moff Guidian's ship in "Chapter 16: The Rescue."
Asajj Ventress could have a Luke Skywalker moment
Will this end in an emotional reunion between Omega and her brothers, right before Asajj Ventress whisks Omega away for training, the same way Din Djarin reveals his face to Grogu in the emotional final minutes of Season 2? Could Ventress play a role akin to Luke Skywalker's in the series finale? There's a very good possibility that the answer to all these questions is 'yes.'
This season of the show probably got a little inspiration from Mando, and coincidentally, all these shows will lead to the return of Palpatine in the sequels, which ties them together.
The Bad Batch Season 3 is streaming now on Disney+.