In Season 3, Episode 10 of the Disney Plus series The Bad Batch, titled “Identity,” the narrative unfolds at Mount Tantiss where Dr. Royce Hemlock (Jimmi Simpson) is conducting his experiments with midi-chlorian Force users and brainwashed clone assassins. Hemlock is facing problems with Project Necromancer since he can no longer trust Nala Se (Gwendoline Yeo) to lead the project. His lab assistant, Dr. Emerie Karr (Keisha Castle-Hughes), convinces Hemlock to become the next chief scientist of Project Necromancer. He agrees and gives Emerie access to the Vault, where Karr is now responsible for keeping the three captive children test subjects, who were captured for their high midi-chlorian count, in line. Karr questions why they didn’t capture adults with high midi-chlorian counts, and Hemlock answers that adults with that high of a midi-chlorian count are rare, alluding to Order 66. Despite this setback, children are far easier to keep captive since they are easily manipulated and swayed during their imprisonment.
Hemlock additionally tells Karr that they need the children test subjects because midi-chlorians cannot be directly replicated from the source, which is why they need Omega. Omega’s blood is the only binder that’s proven to be compatible with the children test subjects’ DNA to recreate their midi-chlorian count. In other words, Omega’s blood is the key to replicating more midi-chlorians without needing a direct source, the children test subjects. Hemlock instructs Karr to continue testing on the test subjects in preparation for any possible solution for the success of Project Necromancer until Omega is recaptured.
Dr. Karr follows Hemlock’s instructions and performs tests on the three test subjects, befriending one designated as SP-54, whose real name is Eva. While talking with Eva, Karr is disturbed by how the Advanced Science Division is testing on children, which has never been done before since the test subjects they worked on were normally adults. Suddenly, one of the test subjects, SP-32, whose real name is Jax, attempts to escape but is violently knocked out via a stun blast by Commander Scorch (Dee Bradley Baker).
Disturbed once more, Dr. Karr seeks out the imprisoned Nala Se (Gwendoline Yeo) for answers regarding her work on Project Necromancer. Emerie tells the Kaminoan her shock of how the test subjects are children, like Karr herself once was, and asks Nala Se if she originally planned to discard them. The interesting part of Emerie’s question is that it alludes to the possibility that Emerie was once a test subject herself during her youth as a female clone and was discarded by the Kaminoans when she was no longer needed. Nala Se assures Dr. Karr that the Empire will never discard the children and will keep them in order to control them. However, the fate of the children lies in Emerie’s hands since Nala Se did all she could to keep the children safe and comfortable.
Since Hemlock is in need of more midi-chlorian test subjects, class 1 bounty hunters are sent out to capture children with high midi-chlorian counts and send them to a rendezvous point where the Empire can transport the children to Mount Tantiss in secret. One of the class 1 bounty hunters is Cad Bane (Corey Burton), who invades a household and kidnaps a baby with a high midi-chlorian count, showing the depravity of the evil Empire and those hired to work for them. Bane informs the Empire and Hemlock appoints Commander Scorch to retrieve the new midi-chlorian test subject. Emerie asks to personally oversee the acquisition of the new test subject, which Hemlock allows before being informed that Governor Tarkin (Stephen Stanton) wants to speak to him.
Hemlock heads to his office to talk with Governor Tarkin, who informs the chief scientist of problems regarding the financial impact Mount Tantiss is having on using Imperial resources. This concern escalates with Tarkin questioning the need for additional funds to be diverted to Hemlock’s work. Hemlock refuses to comment since Project Necromancer is classified, even to Tarkin. Tarkin becomes frustrated at not having privilege to this information and asks if there is any assistance he could provide. Hemlock recognizes Tarkin’s attempts to parasite control over his work and just states that he only needs funding, nothing else. This aggravates Tarkin even further because he hates what he cannot control. This leads to the governor threatening Dr. Hemlock that if Project Necromancer fails to yield proper results, it won’t bode well for the chief scientist and his work. Tarkin’s threat scares Hemlock, so he calls the clone assassin sent to capture Omega for an update. Luckily for the chief scientist, the clone assassin managed to get intel on Phee Genoa and her connection with the Bad Batch.
At a space station, Dr. Karr and Commander Scorch meet with Cad Bane. Karr is shocked that the new test subject is a baby, too young to be a test subject. This disturbs Emerie even more as she transports the baby to the Vault in Mount Tantiss. Realizing how wrong the Empire is with treating innocent children as test subjects, Emerie starts to empathize with the children. She makes Eva more comfortable by giving her Omega’s Bad Batch doll. Owning personal items in Mount Tantiss is forbidden for anyone, so Emerie gifting Eva the doll is the first step to her rebelling against the Empire with no hesitation.
Nala Se talks with Dr. Emerie Karr about Project Necromancer
Season 3, Episode 10 of The Bad Batch, titled “Identity Crisis,” delves into the darker depths of the Empire’s sinister experiments and the ethical dilemmas faced by those involved. Directed by Saul Ruiz and penned by Amanda Rose Muñoz, this episode presents a gripping narrative that explores themes of morality, manipulation, and rebellion.
The central focus of the episode revolves around Dr. Royce Hemlock’s ongoing project, Necromancer, conducted at Mount Tantiss. Hemlock, portrayed by Jimmi Simpson, finds himself grappling with trust issues regarding his colleague, Nala Se (Gwendoline Yeo), as he seeks to further his experiments involving midi-chlorian Force users and brainwashed clone assassins.
A key development arises when Hemlock appoints his lab assistant, Dr. Emerie Karr (Keisha Castle-Hughes), as the new chief scientist of Project Necromancer. This decision sets the stage for Emerie’s moral awakening as she confronts the harrowing reality of experimenting on children, a departure from the norm of utilizing adult subjects.
The episode delves into the intricate dynamics between the characters, particularly Emerie’s past as a potential test subject herself, hinted at through her poignant questioning of Nala Se. This exploration adds depth to Emerie’s character and underscores the personal stakes involved in the ethical quandaries presented.
As the narrative unfolds, tensions escalate with the introduction of class 1 bounty hunters tasked with capturing children with high midi-chlorian counts. The actions of these bounty hunters, exemplified by Cad Bane’s ruthless abduction of an infant, highlight the Empire’s disregard for basic human rights in its pursuit of power and control.
Governor Tarkin’s intervention further complicates matters, as he challenges Hemlock’s use of Imperial resources for Project Necromancer. Hemlock’s defiance in the face of Tarkin’s authority underscores the inherent power struggle within the Empire, where individuals vie for control and autonomy over their respective projects.
Amidst these conflicts, Emerie emerges as a beacon of empathy and resistance, symbolized by her act of defiance in gifting a forbidden item to one of the captive children. This gesture not only humanizes Emerie but also foreshadows her potential role in challenging the Empire’s tyranny from within.
Overall, “Identity Crisis” offers a thought-provoking exploration of the moral complexities inherent in the Empire’s pursuit of scientific advancement. Through its nuanced characterization and compelling narrative, the episode delivers a poignant commentary on power, ethics, and the enduring struggle for freedom in a galaxy under Imperial rule.
Rating: 9/10