‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Season 2 Balances Intensity and Adventure Beautifully

Animated Star Wars reveals like The Bad Batch, which returns to Disney Plus for season 2 on Wednesday, are a tough balancing act: they combine high-stakes tales that dive into unexplored elements of the lore and lighter adventures designed to develop characters.

It’s about satisfying grownup followers and entertaining younger audiences. These sequence have adopted this construction since The Clone Wars kicked off in 2008, with seasons that favor extra intense plot arcs proving probably the most profitable.

After a gripping opening, the primary season of The Bad Batch meandered via too many forgettable facet quests earlier than reaching a wonderful finale. Thankfully, season 2 would not observe the identical sample — a lot of the 14 episodes (of the 16 within the season) Lucasfilm despatched out to reviewers forward of launch have been fascinating.

Season 2 reunites us with the genetically enhanced titular clone squad launched in The Clone Wars‘ last season, together with mysterious younger feminine clone Omega. On the run from the Galactic Empire after going rogue, they function as mercenaries within the interval between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.

However, one in every of their quantity — the icy sniper Crosshair — remained loyal to the newly risen Empire and his relentless hunt for his former allies was probably the most compelling side of season 1. That’s additionally true of season 2, which focuses on his rising uncertainty in regards to the soulless totalitarian regime, and this electrical rigidity makes each second of the three Crosshair-centric episodes hit the mark.  

The remainder of the season follows his outdated Bad Batch buddies as they go on varied mercenary jobs, which begin out gentle and forgettable. A pod racing-centric leans a bit of onerous into silliness, however it’s saved by colourful visuals and a memorable efficiency from visitor star Ben Schwartz.

However, these facet quest episodes additionally serve a function that turns into more and more clear as season 2 goes on: creating the impressionable Omega’s character as she encounters new mentors and friends. Actor Michelle Ang infuses the child clone with an lovely sense of surprise as she explores the galaxy along with her clone dads.

We additionally get some wonderful callbacks to The Clone Wars, with the intelligent writing making certain those that have not watched that present (or have forgotten some particulars from its 133 episodes) will not really feel misplaced. The return of 1 13-year-old plotline is especially rewarding, because it connects cleverly to the Empire’s dastardly cloning experiments.

As at all times, the clone troopers — each those that’ve deserted the Empire and those who caught round — are this season’s coronary heart and soul. These guys are all voiced by the unbelievable Dee Bradley Baker, who manages to make each really feel distinct and particular person at the same time as he performs a number of roles in the identical scene.

Baker’s efficiency is significant in getting us to care in regards to the clones’ fates, since season 2 sees the Empire attempting to solid its military of Jango Fett duplicates apart in favor of conscripted troopers — together with one completely large second within the Star Wars timeline. You’ve additionally most likely by no means thought in regards to the thousands and thousands of ageing clones deserving pensions earlier than, however it’s extraordinarily cool that this present is subtle sufficient to deal with this matter.

Season 2’s artwork course is a delight all through, with our heroes and villains visiting all kinds of places. An episode the place the Bad Batch visits a distant island is not most narratively gripping, however it’s so stunning to take a look at that you will recover from the lighter plot. Watching the clones in motion is magnificent too — attempt to not smile when Crosshair fires down a tank barrel — with loads of dynamic camerawork and atmospheric lighting.

Longtime Star Wars animation composer Kevin Kiner’s soundtrack provides layers of drama and aural shade. He cleverly riffs on John Williams’ iconic themes whereas including loads of his personal work and prospers. The sound design is pitch good as properly, with a second the place Bad Batch chief Hunter’s voice modifications as he places on his helmet mid-sentence highlighting the workforce’s consideration to element.

The Bad Batch season 2 improves on the primary in each manner, putting the appropriate stability between intense moments and sillier antics. There are nonetheless a number of forgettable episodes, however the character improvement, delicate performances and gorgeous presentation make this probably the greatest seasons of Star Wars animation.