The season begins with The Bad Batch, which has Rex and Cody enlisting the assistance of Clone Force 99 to recover the Republic's strategy algorithm from Admiral Trench. Clone Force 99 is an unorthodox but elite squad of defective clones who are also known as the Bad Batch - hence the episodes title. The squads name is also a touching tribute to 99 who was introduced and subsequently died defending Kamino in the first two episodes of season 3.
The Bad Batch is a very solid return for The Clone Wars. The episode gives us plenty of action and avoids being derivative of previous episodes, which Disney has struggled with in its big budget films so far. The big reveal at the end of the episode, which is considered a possibility throughout but finally confirmed, is definitely intriguing. I can't wait until next weeks episode, which will further explore this idea. I'm also keen to see more of Clone Force 99 who are just as intriguing on their own - could there be a spinoff movie about their adventures?
Review of The Bad Batch
