After checking in on Hunter and Wrecker’s progress finding Omega, we wrap up the three-episode premiere of Star Wars: The Bad Batch by heading back to the Mount Tantiss Mad Science Facility.
As always, the recap portion of this review will contain plenty of spoilers along with some brief explorations of Star Wars lore. The order of events has also been streamlined a bit for the sake of clarity.
Raising the Stakes
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+)
As Omega starts another day assisting Emerie Karr, she notices a significant increase in military activity than usual. Emerie is also aware of it, but assures her young charge that they’ll be informed if anything significant is happening. She then takes a blood sample from Omega just as Nala Se and Hemlock walk into the lab. Hemlock informs them that the facility is getting a surprise visit from a very important guest. Because of this, Nala Se will accompany him to greet their visitor while Karr oversees the lab.
Nala Se tries to insist on staying in the lab, but Hemlock firmly replies that Emerie can handle things. The Kaminoan scientist becomes even more pressed after watching Emerie walk out with the sample of Omega’s blood. After a commando comes in to discuss logistics with Hemlock, Nala Se tells Omega that things will get extremely dangerous for her once the sample is tested. She follows that up by telling her to go to her lab, steal her datapad, and use it to flee the facility immediately.
Once Omega gets there, she tries to feign small talk with Emerie. Thankfully, her clone sister makes things easy by assuming Omega is sick and giving her the rest of the day off. She even checks out enough so that Omega can steal the datapad without being noticed.
Palpatine Pop In
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+)
The VIP turns out to be Emperor Palpatine, who lands at the Tantiss facility and disembarks with two Royal Guards. He’s greeted by Hemlock, Nala Se, and two clone commandos (including our old friend Scorch). Palpatine expresses his eagerness to learn about the progress of his secret projects.
Hemlock begins leading the Emperor into the heart of the facility while explaining how they’ve made significantly more progress than previously expected. Palpatine is pleased, but his main concern is how things are going with Project Necromancer.
Hemlock then leads him down an exceptionally well-guarded corridor to a vault field with “specimens.” He explains that with more time and additional resources, he’s confident in his lab’s ability to produce one with a sufficient M-Count (i.e. midi-chlorian) replication. Palpatine responds that this project is the most important key to securing the Empire’s future before assuring Hemlock that he’ll be given everything he needs to complete it.
On his way out the door, Palpatine reminds Hemlock to keep the base secret since even the Empire at large would consider his work to be pretty unsavory. He also assures him that he’ll ascend to the position of Minister of Science in due time.
*Side Note: We first heard about Project Necromancer in ‘The Mandalorian’ — specifically the penultimate episode of Season 3. During a meeting of the Imperial Remnant’s Shadow Council, it was mentioned that the project was being overseen by Commandant Brendol Hux. Captain Gilad Pellaeon even expressed optimism that Admiral Thrawn‘s return would provide Hux with enough time and resources to complete it.
Although it’s never been confirmed, the working assumption for most folks (myself included) is that Project Necromancer was what Palpatine used to help create a body for himself — a plotline that was heavily explored during the Sequel Trilogy’s final chapter.
This scene in ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ helps us check some new boxes:
- Palpatine was definitely involved in Project Necromancer while he was still alive.
- Hemlock is going to either have the project taken away from him or bite the dust soon (probably the latter).
Chutes and No Ladders
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+)
Omega heads to Crosshair’s cell with her stolen datapad and gets to work busting him out. He’s not thrilled about her winging a rescue operation, but still goes along with it — leading to an exceptionally cool moment with him beating up a pair of TK stormtroopers. Once they make it into the base, Crosshair becomes even more disgruntled after hearing that the Emperor is there and that his shuttle is the only one that isn’t grounded.
Omega then reveals her plan to find the crashed shuttle from episode one and use its coms to contact Hunter and Wrecker. Once again, Crosshair isn’t thrilled but still goes along with the idea.
Elsewhere, Emerie finds Omega’s cell empty, but has a pretty good idea where the young clone is. Sure enough, she discovers them in the lurca hound kennel, where the pair have destroyed a sentry droid and are preparing to use Batcher’s empty chute to escape. Omega asks Emerie to come with them, but she refuses, forcing Crosshair to stun her.
Crosshair and Omega barely make it past the time ray shields and outside just in time to watch the Emperor’s shuttle leave. When Omega reveals that he doesn’t have the coordinates of the crashed ship, Crosshair wisely suggests they follow the one flying above them to see if that leads them in the right direction.
Change of Plans
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+)
Hemlock’s elation over the Emperor’s visit evaporates after learning of Omega and Crosshair’s escape. He immediately orders a retrieval squad and the lurca hounds to hunt them down. Emerie is concerned that such measures would kill them, but Hemlock isn’t messing around anymore. To drive that point home, he expresses his suspicions about Nala Se’s involvement before ordering her to be thrown into a cell.
Back outside, Crosshair and Omega are nearly killed by a dryax before it’s swarmed by a pack of lurca hounds. Omega then manages to find the shuttle, but can’t get the ship to power up. At this point, the normally cynical Crosshair tells her that they still have one of the Bad Batch’s 99 plans that could help them.
As the shuttle of clone commandos descends on their location (thanks to the ship’s failed attempt at powering on), he begins taking them out while Omega sneaks beneath the ship. She’s nearly discovered by one of the troopers, but is saved by Batcher. She then stuns the pilot and gets the ship close enough to let Crosshair board. He jumps on board and takes over the cockpit while Batcher jumps in, as well.
Hemlock sends a squad of V-Wings after them, but has the group back off after Emerie tests Omega’s blood and discovers that it contains the necessary M-Count for Project Necromancer to succeed. The pair are allowed to jump into hyperspace with Hemlock vowing to capture and return Omega to the Tantiss facility alive.
The Verdict
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+)
While not as atmospherically effective as the season premiere, “Shadows of Tantiss” is still a thrilling episode that moves the series’ narrative in an exciting direction.
I know some folks are annoyed at shows from this era trying to help the Sequel Trilogy make more sense, but it still makes for an interesting plotline. What’s even more interesting to me, however, is watching how Omega and Crosshair will interact during their time alone together. I think we all know a reconciliation is coming, but getting there should be a powerful journey — especially with the physical ailment Crosshair is dealing with.
We also now have the big question about Omega being potentially Force-sensitive. It’s not a story angle I would’ve picked, but the creators behind this series have earned enough trust to give it a spin. Let’s just hope it doesn’t lead somewhere that is narratively ridiculous.
Meanwhile, Hemlock continues to be a fantastic villain. Even with Palpatine lurking around, the dude still holds his own in the creepy/evil department. Combined with the ticking clock effect with the centrifuge (which was a really nice touch), everything about him and the spaces he inhabits makes your skin crawl.
I’m still not sure what role Emerie Karr has to play other than having a thin link to Omega and a telegraphed redemption plot…which would be fine if she also wasn’t so boring.
Thankfully, enough good stuff happened in this episode that her presence was barely noticeable (even while trying to stop Omega and Crosshair from escaping. I’ll also fully acknowledge how contrived it is that Batcher showed up to save them and jumped aboard, but as someone who recently lost their dog, I can’t help but be happy about it.
Now we begin the countdown to one of the most intense reunions ever — which will hopefully include some great adventures along the way.
Next Episode: ‘A Different Approach’
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