Think of the Clones

We were treated to a double dose of The Bad Batch last night. Two episodes of political intrigue premiered. I enjoyed both episodes but found the first, written by Manifest writer Ezra Nachman, much better than the second, written by Star Trek: Picard writer Damani Johnson.

The first episode, "The Clone Conspiracy", seems like it may have been influenced by Andor though it reminded me more of the arc on Clone Wars when someone was assassinating senators. I kind of wish there'd been some kind of visual distinction between the senate chambers between then and now, though obviously the U.S. senate hasn't changed that much in the past hundred years.

Beginning with a nice hook in which one clone trooper (Dee Bradley Baker) is shot for daring to question the massacre on Kamino, the episode shifts to following Senator Chuchi (Jennifer Hale), another returning character from Clone Wars. Now she's the lone voice supporting clone rights. One wonders where Mon Mothma is in all this.

It's not until the second episode, "Truth and Consequences", that the Batch themselves finally show up. I didn't get caught up in their effort to steal footage of the Kamino massacre and I thought it was silly for Omega (Michelle Ang) to tag along with the senator. It felt kind of like Ezra witnessing the duel between Obi-Wan and Maul on Rebels--there was no reason for her to be there other than some vague worry that children wouldn't be interested unless there were a point of view character closer to their own age.

Phil LaMarr returns to voice Bail Organa. Normally I like LaMarr but for some reason he gives the character a thick Spanish accent which Jimmy Smits doesn't have.

But it was all worth it to get an appearance by the Emperor voiced by Ian McDiarmid. It was satisfying that he'd twisted our heroes actions to suit his own ends. McDiarmid's voice made it all seem twenty times cleverer than it was. It's nice he seems willing to play the character so often. I hope he shows up on Andor next season, I really want a scene between him and Mon Mothma.

The Bad Batch is available on Disney+.