Friday, May 28, 2021

The Batch versus Monsters

A decent episode of The Bad Batch last night, not as good as last week's but not bad. It was written by Tamara Becher, who is credited in the episode as Tamara Becher-Wilkinson. Interestingly, if I'm not imagining things, I think her imdb page was labelled Tamara Becher-Wilkinson when I looked at it last night. She was credited as just Tamara Becher in projects before 2013 and now it looks like she's Tamara Becher again. Did she decide the release of last night's Bad Batch was a good occasion to finalise her divorce?

This was her first Star Wars project but she's written an episode of Netflix's Daredevil series and two for Iron Fist. Like the hiring of Kari Skogland for Falcon and the Winter Soldier, this shows Disney might be looking at the Netflix Marvel series as a proving ground for writers and directors. It also shows a difference in the kind of writers being hired for The Bad Batch--so far there have been no writers whose top credit is writing for Rugrats, as there was on Rebels. Last night's episode was good, but I suspect Mike Michnovetz received a prominent story editor credit because there were some glaring plot holes, one of which was too prominent not to receive a bit of lampshading at the end.

I'm speaking of the fact that the Batch (Dee Bradley Baker) were hired to retrieve a rancor held captive by slavers but were led to believe their mission was to rescue a child. There's no real reason for their employer to deceive them on this point and it was obviously set up entirely for dramatic effect. It too obviously didn't make sense so some lampshading had to come courtesy of Hunter. He points it out to their employer, Cid, who only gives a musing, mysterious non-response, and moves on. The suggestion is that she had her own secret reasons, but, of course, if she actually wanted the job done, there's no reason she would have impeded her own agents, and if she didn't want it done--what does she have against a baby rancor?

Otherwise, Cid is one of the highlights of the episode, voiced by guest star Rhea Perlman. I believed her as an underworld deal broker.

The mission itself was somewhat less entertaining, with the entire Bad Batch being apprehended without injury, another deeply implausible development that simultaneously undercuts our impression of the Batch as a capable squad and the galaxy as a dangerous place. I really liked the monsters in the episode, though, and the fight between the rancor, who's named "Muchi" and a big flying lizard is pretty cool. I would have preferred some better sound effects when the rancor smashes its head but at least director Steward Lee makes it exciting and fast paced.

Although Omega (Michelle Ang) shows her skills in this episode, first sussing out Cid's identity and then single-handedly rescuing the squad, she's kind of broadly written and the only scene I felt really connected with her as a character is when she was chatting with the gonk droid. I am glad the droid is being used for more than a sight gag.

The Bad Batch is available on Disney+.

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Distinctive teeth unite the mouths of mice.
To build a room, the mush requires sand.
Tomato songs reveal the singer twice.
A cache of bricks requites the Wall's demand.
Familiar hair reminds the rain to drop.
The longest leaves were waiting round the bend.
With clapping hands we greet the local cop.
The shoulder totes a metal box to send.
Fatigue requites a question asked in rote.
The roses strayed beyond a temple door.
We piled books and shoes to fill the boat.
The apple hides its seeds to heat its core.
The flowers taught a monthly lesson here.
In planters rare we shared a frothy beer.

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