3x14 Flash Strike

[7.5/10] So here’s the weird thing about “Flash Strike” -- it’s a good episode! The tripartite storytelling of the nucleus of Clone Force 99 working their way to Tantiss base with Rampart, Echo sneaking in and linking up with Emerie, and Omega forming a team of her own not only keeps the action lively, but shows the talents of all the members of our crew. The action is composed nicely and well-staged, and the pacing and developments are all good.

Somethough, though, it just doesn’t feel momentous enough for the penultimate episode of the series. Sure, the grown clones are making their way to the center of the action, and Omega has a plan to get out, and most notably, Echo and Emerie are now working together to help the “subjects”. But “Flash Strike” largely feels like a well done piece-moving episode rather than something with the kind of drama or intrigue or character to truly set up a series finale.

I don’t know how to judge it, because as a standalone episode, it does everything it sets out to do quite well. But as a piece of a larger story coming to its conclusion, it’s a little disappointing.

Still, I liked the individual pieces. The main Clone Force 99 crew is largely action, but it’s all good action. The crew getting shot at by Imperial fighters and dropping down into the forest via cables makes for a nice set piece, especially with Rampart’s reluctance. (My only regret with this series is that Rampart makes for a hell of an ingredient in the Bad Batch stew, and I wish we’d gotten more of him forced to be a member of the team before now.) The run-in with the big cat-like creature is a little standard, and the creature’s design isn’t very convincing, but the group trying not to be spotted as they make their way in, only to escape a creature that takes out the stormtroopers who were pursuing them, is some good stuff.

Most of all, I appreciate that Hemlock isn’t a dope here. He makes the right moves, shooting down our heroes’ shuttle and sending out patrols to look for them and wanting thorough checks for the troopers coming in on the science vessel. He’s a formidable opponent, which will make the moment when he’s inevitably defeated more satisfying.

Echo working his way into the base was good material as well. His putting on stormtrooper gear and borrowing a droid hand to get info on Omega gives him a good mission apart from the rest of the group. And I particularly appreciate the most character-focused part of this one, namely Emerie finally completing her face turn. They’ve been building to this for a while, and Emerie having heard about the Bad Batch from Omega, and Echo having heard about her, giving them a basis to connect as allies and fellow clones, is a nice note for her, even as I suspect we have more to come.

Omega’s part of this is good too. Her whipping these poor scared kids into a team that can use a little guile to help themselves and each other. While Omega skulking through the shafts has been done before (hello Jedi: Fallen Order fans), there’s good tension in the rest of the kids trying to cover for her during an emergency, stalling Dr. Scalder in the hopes that Omega will make it back in time. And once more, it’s nice to see Omega having become this savvy mini-commando, recognizing the sound of laser blasts and knowing how to use her skills to her advantage.

If this were a random episode of Bad Batch, I’d have no complaints. Everything it sets out to do, it does well. I just wish this felt more like a prelude to something thrilling rather than just another day at the office for the show.