Growing Up Skywalker

“The Solitary Clone” and “Faster” (The Bad Batch S2, Ep. 3–4) are such beautiful love letters to the prequel era that we forgot we weren’t watching The Clone Wars for a second. 

In our recap, we talk about the many blasts from the past we get in these episodes: podracing (!!!!), callbacks to the Funding the War Arc with Mina Bonteri, hanging out with Commander Cody, more emotional trauma in front of the clone trooper memorial on Coruscant, and allllll the Separatist battle tech. On the less fun side, we also get a callback to the unfortunate prequel-era habit of killing off Star Wars’ coolest and most powerful women (more on that during Bae Watch).

To skip to your favorite segments, check out the timestamps below.

And join us next week to recap “Entombed” and “Tribe” (Bad Batch Season 2, Episodes 4–5). 

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:13:53 “The Solitary Clone” Discussion

00:22:17  Calling Back to “Heroes on Both Sides”

00:26:25 How Strong Is The Empire Anyway?

00:31:07 The Bad Batch As a Samurai Story 

00:38:35 “Faster” Discussion

00:50:36 Bae Watch

01:00:54 End Credits

The Batch is back, back again! In the SEASON 2 PREMIERE (!!!) we talk about war, peace, love, death, capitalism, exploitation, and Count Dooku’s tragic backstory. Also, everybody’s sweet new character designs.

“Spoils of War” and “Ruins of War” smash-open Season 2 of The Bad Batch with business as usual. Except…business is about to get unusual. In a few months, Cid predicts that the Empire will be knocking down her door on Ord Mantell, and the Bad Batch’s vagrant lifestyle will be over….unless they loot Count Dooku’s palace on Serenno and use his former war chest to start a new life. 

But just like the light shifts through a kaleidoscope, jobs for the Bad Batch rarely go as planned. And these two episodes give us some deep looks into how far the Batch has come, and where they might be headed in the future.

Join us next week to recap “The Solitary Clone” and “Faster” (Season 2, Episodes 3–4). And check out episode timestamps below!

00:00 Plot Overview

13:57 Season 2 Themes Discussion

27:29 Piracy/Exploitation/Capitalism 

34:53 Dooku’s Exploitation of Serenno

40:41 The Whitewashing 

47:01 Easter Eggs

51:51 Bae Watch

56:20 End Credits

It’s finale time! The final episode of Bad Batch Season 1 sees the Batch literally (or, well, at least figuratively) reborn in fire and blood, shot straight out of the test tubes that grew them back into the world for a second chance at life.

We talk about the finale, “Kamino Lost,” and also discuss Season 1’s themes: purpose, togetherness, liberty vs. order, fascism, and whether or not you understand that your life is what you make it. Yes, these are all themes in a kid’s show, and yes, they are all beautifully wrought. We crown Baes for the episode and overall Baes for Season 1. And we laugh a LOT.

Next week, join us for the first two episodes of the newly-dropped Bad Batch Season 2 (!!!)—”Spoils of War” and “Ruins of War” (Season 2, Episodes 1–2).

And check out timestamps for each chapter of the episode below!

Timestamps:

00:00 Plot Overview

The first two episodes of the Bad Batch Season 1 finale (“War-Mantle” and “Return to Kamino,” Episodes 14–15) are just as thrilling as you might expect. What you might not expect is to be a little heartbroken by their revelations.

These episodes pit Hunter and Crosshair together like two magnetic poles, each fighting for the direction the Bad Batch will go. We see a new kind of Imperial army forming—this one filled with voluntary recruits. We also say hello to an old friend…and goodbye to an old haunt.

Join us next week for the thrilling conclusion to Season 1: “Kamino Lost” (Episode 16). And then it’s onwards and upwards to Bad Batch Season 2!

We said “Reunion” was the best episode of S1 of The Bad Batch. Then we said it about “Devil’s Deal.” And now we’re saying it again about “Rescue on Ryloth” (S1, Episode 12) because holy shiznibblets!!

This week, we’re recapping “Rescue on Ryloth” and “Infested,” which is pretty unfair to “Infested,” tbh. (But it does have some thoughts on trust fund babies, which are always appreciated.)

We follow Hera Syndulla as she and the Bad Batch lie, cheat, steal, and explode their way into the prison where her parents are being held for false accusations of trying to assassinate Orn Free Taa (relatable). And then we follow Cid and the gang as they reclaim her office/bar, which has been taken over by a minor crime-lord-in-training. These episodes were not created equal, but we sure laughed a lot talking about them (and cried a lot watching one of them), and Nepotism Baby Roland Durand will always hold a place in our hearts, if only for having a really dumb name.

Join us next week as we discuss the PENULTIMATE! two episodes of Season 1: “War-Mantle” and “Return to Kamino” (The Bad Batch Season 1, Episodes 14–15).

The Bad Batch becomes the Syndulla Show in mid-to-late S1 and that is fantastic and we are fangirling so hard.

“Common Ground” and “Devil’s Deal” (The Bd Batch Season 1, Episodes 10–11) are mirror images of each other, each giving us a front row seat to the Empire taking over the galaxy. But coups, curfews, military occupation, civilian disarmament, and forcible manipulation of political figures all take a backseat to the real stars of the show: Cham, Eleni, and Hera Syndulla (!!!). Also, Chopper. Also, Omega. Also, Cid. Also, everyone in this show is the best and we love them so. freaking. much.

Join us next week for more Syndulla stanning as we recap “Rescue on Ryloth” and “Infested” (The Bad Batch Season 1, Episodes 12–13). After that, there are only two more podcast episodes before we hit Season 2!

This week, we're excited to bring you a Crossover Connection special. Instead of us, this week you can listen to the phenomenal FSF Popcast interview of Anna Graves (aka Duchess Satine from The Clone Wars). We are obsessed with Anna Graves and we are obsessed with the FSF Popcast: your one-stop shop for all things nerdy (and never dirty).

Notes from The FSF Popcast:

Episode 31 - The Duchess of Mangalore ft. Anna Graves

If you're a fan of Star Wars Clone Wars, then you are familiar with Anna Graves. Anna voiced Duchess Satine Kryze amongst other characters in the series as well. But with as talented as Anna Graves is, Star Wars Clone Wars is not the only universe she has lent her voice to. She has portrayed characters in the Metro Video Game Series, Star Wars Rebels, Voltron, Jumanji Video Games, and so many others!  Enjoy the show!

To find out more about Anna Graves - please visit the following

Instagram - @gravypic

Twitter - @gravyvoice

Her website - www.annagraves.com

For RSWOF Merch - https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/31938193-rswof?store_id=1397534

100% of all proceeds Benefit Wish Upon a Teen For direct contributions - www.wishuponateen.org

Join the FSF Popcast Discord! https://discord.gg/cpry4fCDTq

FSF PopCast on Twitter and Instagram - @fsfpopcast Buy us Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/fsfpopcast

For more on our show partners - Big Boy Graphics - www.etsy.com/shop/bigboygraphics

Bridgework Studios  - https://www.teepublic.com/user/bridgework-studios

Level Up Sabers - https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2018189&u=3289465&m=124959&urllink=&afftrack=

Once you hit the middle of Season 1 of The Bad Batch (“Reunion” and “Bounty Lost,” episodes 8–9) the hits start coming and they don’t stop coming. We get revelations about Omega’s origins, a terrible run-in with a former friend, and a knock-down, drag-out fight between two legendary bounty hunters.

The stakes are high, but we laughed a LOT and loved these episodes for their drama, their cinematic mastery, and deft callbacks to about a million Clone Wars references.

Join us next week to recap “Common Ground” and “Devil’s Deal” (The Bad Batch Season 1, Episodes 10–11). After that, there are only three more podcast episodes before we hit Season 2!

PS: This episode celebrates Star Wars Podcast Day, the annual Feb. 7 celebration of the date the first-ever Star Wars podcast premiered in 1999. Check out #SWPD2023 for more!

The Bad Batch is officially a show about parenting and we’re okay with that.

In “Decommissioned” and “Battle Scars” (The Bad Batch Season 1, Episodes 6–7) we get the good, the bad, and the unintentional, as far as parenting goes. Good: Hunter rescuing Omega from a lava-fired slag pit in a droid decommissioning factory. Bad: Wrecker’s inhibitor chip finally snapping him into an Order 66-fueled fugue state. Unintentional: RAFA MARTEZ showing up having become a much better influence on her lil sister, Trace…all thanks to Ahsoka being herself in Season 7 of The Clone Wars.

We also talk about bow and arrow safety, what Rex is up to, and the increasingly narrow line between droids and clones.

Join us next week to recap “Reunion” and “Bounty Lost”  (The Bad Batch Season 1, Episodes 8–9).

We cackled our way through a recap of “Cornered” and “Rampage” (The Bad Batch S1, Ep. 4–5) because the Bad Batch is FUN, y’all.

This week, we talk about the new reality the Bad Batch faces: no snacks, no gas, no summer job. And also, their ship is on a watchlist and there’s a smoky-eyed bounty hunter after Omega.

The Bad Batch has to play hot potato with their young protege across the entire city of Pantora (!!) and also take a job from the sassiest Trandoshan who ever sassed. We talk about the Bad Batchers’ parenting styles, Clone Wars references of yore (Zygerrians, anyone?) and space doggos. It is truly and deeply delightful.

Join us next week to recap “Decommissioned” and “Battle Scars” (The Bad Batch Season 1, Episodes 6–7).