Cross Out

Wednesday's new Bad Batch felt like it followed on from the episode "The Solitary Clone" earlier in the season. It has the same tone and focuses on the same character, offering a resolution that I found a little disappointing.

Crosshair (Dee Bradley Baker) has been ordered to a remote outpost where a few clone troopers are barely getting by. Their supplies are running low and the outpost faces regular attacks from unknown assailants. The episode scrupulously avoids providing any motivations for these assailants, not even showing their faces. This is all to shore up sympathy for the clones, reminding me of the early days of Clone Wars in which the propaganda style, manipulative tone was interesting in the way of Starship Troopers.

In this case, though, it's to make us sympathise with the clones against the two dimensional evil Imperial officer called Nolan (Crispin Freeman). In the end, it's Nolan who finally shakes Crosshair's loyalty to the Empire. Which was really disappointing. Crosshair had been one of the more intriguing characters on the show and for his story to be resolved so cheaply was a real letdown.

The poor, bearded clone commander introduced in the episode is very sympathetic. But is he really more important to Crosshair than his former comrades or anyone else he failed to side with against the Empire? Oh, well. I do like the continued development of the clones as embittered war veterans.

The Bad Batch is available on Disney+.

Twitter Sonnet #1676

A solar turtle robbed the tortoise mine.
If having questions tipped a brain it's strange.
Along the ridge the faeries burned a sign.
A million hornets glowed across the range.
The nose was high upon the mountain school.
Another train was stopped before the snow.
A clock reflects the absent, timeless fool.
A frozen egg creates a baby show.
Afraid of eggs, the buttless chick departs.
Another dawn dissolves angelic night.
Sir Dum to Dee a timely fact imparts.
There's naught to wring from merry maiden's right.
Decisive storms would break the icy sky.
Incisive shards'll puncture ev'ry pie.