1x12 Rescue on Ryloth

[7.7/10] With last week’s episode being a Rebels prequel (a “Hera Begins” one at that), this one puts much more focus on the clowns, and the choices they make direct the story in ways that are both exciting and meaningful.

The one that stood out to me the most is Howzer, the Clone Captain assigned to Ryloth. He’s an unlikely choice because we know the least about him of any of the clones in this episode, but that’s part of what makes him interesting. He’s tugged at on two sides here. Admiral Rampart tells him to follow orders, something we know that “good soldiers” do, whereas Cham and Eleni accuse him of betraying the people he was sworn to protect.

In the end, Howzer makes a stand. He questions whether what they’re doing for the Empire -- occupying the people rather than fighting Separatists -- makes moral sense, and gets a few of his comrades to lay down their arms rather than continue perpetrating the Admirals’ will. We don’t know what the state of his inhibitor chip is, but it’s a sign that some of the clones still had their wits about them after Order 66. The simple fact that they didn’t instantly turn into foot soldiers for an evil Empire is heartening in its way after The Clone Wars, serving as a reminder that the good men who fought for the Republic retain their goodness even as the institution they serve takes on a more sinister form.

We also get an interesting choice from Crosshairs, who follows his orders from Admiral Rampart to the letter, but who knows his enemies well enough to know it’s the wrong choice. I like having Crosshair as the baddie because, as demonstrated here, he’s smart enough to know the Bad Batch’s tactics, smoke them out and catch them on the draw in a way no normal Imperial commander can. The irony is that it requires a little freelancing from him, benign his orders just enough so that he doesn’t fall for the same deception the other troopers do. I particularly like the long looks he shares with other clones, reflecting a certain shared understanding or even an implicit warning, even as they stand in different positions.

And of course, there’s Hunter and Omega. Hunter doesn’t want to get involved in the titular Ryloth rescue, no matter the lucre on offer, because it’s too dangerous. He wants to be strategic and decides that the risk isn’t worth the reward here given the preponderance of enemy troops stationed on the planet. But Omega pulls him in the other direction, understanding Hera’s desperation and the need to help the helpless, something she says is the duty of a soldier.

It’s fairly simplistic storytelling, but it works in the grand themes of Star Wars -- choosing to do what’s good and right even when it’s not what’s easy or convenient. Of course, Clone Force 99 eventually decides to get involved. But it comes when Omega reminds Hunter of his principles, the same ideals that have him return the Syndullas’ money to them rather than accepting it,even after the rescue, out of a recognition of need. The Bad Batch is finding their new purpose after the end of the Clone Wars here, and it’s increasingly becoming apparent that it will be looking after their own little family, and becoming protectors for those in need, spurred by Omega’s influence.

(By the way, it’s heartening when Omega refers to the other Bad Batchers as her brothers, even as that term’s been used quite a bit in this corner of the Star Wars Galaxy).

What’s more, the actual plan is a good one! The show picks up on the details of the Imperial refinery set up in the last episode, having Omega and Hera poke around and cause trouble there. That not only gives us an excuse to see Hera’s first (amusingly rocky) flight, but cleverly draws all Imperial attention away from the palace. There’s some amusing lines from Tech about Hera’s moves being just unpredictable enough to work, and the rest of Clone Force 99 taking the opportunity to sneak in and free the Syndullas (with an assist from Howzer) works in terms of strategy.

Overall, this episode hinges more clearly on some big choices from the clones, in all their forms. I appreciate that, particularly from the new guy, as each in their own way chooses to follow what they believe rather than what their orders are in this moment.