"The Solitary Clone" is the best episode of The Bad Batch

 

 Image Courtesy of Star Wars Official Twitter Account

 Sometimes a break from the expected is all it takes to revive a show. This week's episode of The Bad Batch, Season 2 is titled "The Solitary Clone" and works to reinvigorate the show's story. It's a layered exploration of a character, in this case, Crosshair. 

The episode takes us far away from the rest of the Bad Batch, and that's probably what makes it so good. Not to take anything away from the wholesome bonding between Omega and her brothers, but "The Solitary Clone" is the Andor of The Bad Batch season 2, providing it with equal amounts of focus on characterization, political turmoil, and the gray area between good and bad in Star Wars. 

For those within the Star Wars fandom who feel that Andor is the only show that dares to explore the darkness and the vileness of the Empire without resorting to humor and making clowns out of Imperial officers and Stormtroopers, episodes like "The Solitary Clone" work as a reminder that serious, thought provoking Star Wars has always existed alongside the silly, childlike elements meant to appeal to a wider audience.

Crosshair is assigned a mission by Vice Admiral Rampart, but he is to work under the command of a well known, fan favorite clone, Commander Cody. Cody, whom we last saw in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, turning on Obi Wan Kenobi at the order of Emperor Palpatine, now finds himself unwilling to continue following orders of the Empire blindly. This is a look in the mirror for Crosshair who wants nothing more to be a good soldier and continue following orders blindly.

Crosshair is our favorite anti-hero, working through angst from his self imposed isolation from his loved ones. What exactly does Crosshair want? What will it take for him to finally free himself from the shackles of the Empire? That seems to be what this seasons sets out to answer.

The animation department department at LucasFilm deserves a lot of credit for the intricate micro expressions they're able to convey Crosshair's face. We're able to see guilt, confusion and conflict in a character who is otherwise quiet, introverted and rather unexpressive. The writers do a brilliant job at making Crosshair the most compelling member of The Bad Batch. This episode ensures that everyone, regardless of whether they like Crosshair or think his actions are justified, will be keen to know what exactly he will do next.

The animation of the planet of Desix  and background score by Kevin Kiner are absolutely stunning. Without getting too spoilery, I have to say this episode stands out not only as the best episode of The Bad Batch so far, weaving mature storytelling with poignant moral dilemmas, but one of the best episodes of a Star Wars animated show overall. It's up there with some of the best episodes of Rebels and The Clone Wars. The political tension on the planet of Desix, and the mind games Vice Admiral Rampart plays with Crosshair, by interrupting him every time he is in the middle of a meal, feels like something taken straight out of the an episode of Andor, in particular, the Narkina 5 arc. 

Lastly, it must be said that Star Wars fans who avoid animated series such as The Clone Wars, Rebels and The Bad Batch because they think it's kids stuff should really reconsider, because some of the best Star Wars has come from these shows, and they have laid the foundation for live action series such as The Mandalorian, Ahsoka and many more to come.