2x13 Pabu

[7.5/10] Could The Bad Batch be headed for its endgame? It seems unlikely. There’s a ton of irons left in the fire, from the bad blood with Cid, to the newly-introduced Dr. Hemlock and his experiments at an Imperial cloning facility, to the Empire hunting Omega, and so on and so on. Could you tie all of those things up in three episodes? Sure, but it would take a lot, and feel like tamping something down when it’s just getting started.

Still, the disappointing Star Wars Resistance shut down after only two seasons, despite having some loose threads still waving in the wind. And more to the point, Phee taking Clone Force 99 to Pabu, an island paradise far away from the Empire’s notice, seems like a legitimate possible endpoint for our heroes. The planet purportedly has no resources that would lead outsiders to bother them, and welcomes refugees to its shores who want to live a different sort of life. With questions from Phee about whether Omega might need a more stable environment, and such a welcoming environment from the jump, this could be where the Bad Batch chooses to settle down permanently, ending their adventures with a certain happy ever after as recompense for years and years of war.

Granted, it seems pretty clear that Omega’s presence is going to bring the Empire to Pabu’s shores eventually. But in the meantime, I like the fact that the first half of this episode is as much about atmosphere as anything. It’s about painting Pabu as a wonderful place apart. Omega finds a friend her own age, something Phee underlines as important. Hunter contemplates whether this is a place he could be a father to her, give her the kind of peace away from dangerous missions with duplicitous lowlifes like Cid that she deserves. Wrecker seems to get on with the town Mayor, suggesting a friendly partnership (and full stomach) that he could get used to. And Tech and Phee seem to be melting a little bit beyond their cordial relationship, with Phee emphasizing how much she must like them to bring them here. There’s a communal, peaceful air to all of this.

Much of that owes to the sheer atmosphere crafted by the animators, directors, and other craftspeople at play here. Pabu feels like a warm paradise, with gorgeous vistas, sunlight landscapes, and attention to detail in the homes and implements of the people of Pabu. You get, on an instinctual level, why someone would want to stay here, beyond the explicit warm welcome and other thematic beats here. It’s a real tribute to the slow pace and soothing rhythms the show adopts to underscore that fact.

Of course, it can’t all be peaceful in Star Wars. So naturally, there’s a tidal wave coming. I’ll admit to finding it super convenient that there just so happens to be a tidal wave right when The Bad Batch shows up, but I’m willing to forgive the contrivance of it. The ensuing set piece is good. Omega is in danger when sailing on her friend’s boat, which creates some peril for them to escape and race to shore, while Hunter springs into action to rescue them. Tech and Phee helping the villagers from below the retaining wall requires some ingenuity and teamwork, which is always good. And Wrecker carrying the town’s resident old man up before it’s too late, and rescuing the mayor, is a nice beat for him too.

Again, much of this plays as a touch too convenient, but you can see why the Bad Batch would be valuable to the community, to help rescue and rebuild, and you can see why they might want to settle down in such a supportive community, which promises the possibility of freedom from the fight they’ve been having for so long. I don’t know if it’ll last. The lucrative prospect of more adventures, more dramatics, more episodes, and more subscribers seems to augur in favor of the contrary. But with all the time spent on making this a potential destination for Omega, Hunter, Wrecker, and Tech, you could be forgiven for thinking The Bad Batch might be listing toward The End.