In Season 3, Episode 5 of the Disney Plus series The Bad Batch, titled “The Return,” the narrative unfolds with Omega (Michelle Ang) and Crosshair (Dee Bradley Baker) reuniting with Hunter (Dee Bradley Baker) and Wrecker (Dee Bradley Baker) after many months apart due to the former two’s imprisonment at Mount Tantiss.
The Bad Batch is at Pabu hiding from the Empire, waiting for Echo’s (Dee Bradley Baker) arrival so they can discuss Mount Tantiss and the experiments conducted on the clones there. While waiting for Echo, Omega meets Crosshair at the beach where he is doing sniper training with the help of AZI-3 (Ben Diskin). However, the sniper is struggling with his training because his right hand is constantly twitching from experiments and torture Hemlock conducted on him. Crosshair also has a difficult time re-adjusting to being part of the Bad Batch again because of his past betrayal. Nevertheless, Omega encourages Crosshair to regain Hunter and Wrecker’s trust by talking with them.
When Echo arrives, Crosshair and Omega share the intel they have on Mount Tantiss. Omega first explains that the clones were used for testing, and the scientists took blood samples from the clones for experimentation. Most of the clones are held in the detention wing, but there is no clue of what is in the vault. The young clone then gives Echo the Weyland Facility datapad, formerly owned by Nala Se, that is clarified by Hunter to possibly hold schematics, entry points, and maybe even the coordinates of the base itself. However, the datapad is not online because the most secure information is locked with Imperial encryption, and it is hard to crack it since Tech is not around anymore. Despite this problem, Crosshair adds that it should not be a problem since plugging the datapad into an Imperial terminal will bypass the encryption and he recommends a remote and understaffed Imperial facility. The location of the facility is on Barton-4, the winter planet where Crosshair murdered an Imperial officer for betraying him and a now deceased clone, named Mayday, before getting captured and taken to Mount Tantiss for experimentation.
After gearing up and packaging proper resources for the mission, the entire Bad Batch, including Batcher, head to the Imperial facility on Barton-4. The facility is low on energy, but they can relocate all energy to the computer depots before unlocking the Imperial encryption in the datapad. Crosshair leaves the group for a while to head to a room where clone trooper armor, including Mayday’s helmet, is left in a pile like trash. To honor the sacrifice of the clones who died defending the Barton-4 facility, Crosshair gently puts the helmets on a table like one would do in a brief funeral for multiple deceased soldiers. With the datapad unlocked, the Bad Batch realizes that there are actually more clones imprisoned in Tantiss than they estimated. Echo and Omega work to analyze and transfer the data with Wrecker guarding the two, while Crosshair leaves the facility to patrol the facility’s outside perimeter.
Hunter takes the chance to talk with Crosshair and ask why the sniper defected from the Empire. Crosshair tells the confrontational Hunter he killed an Imperial officer because the Empire betrayed him and the clones in favor of stormtroopers. The conversation escalates into an argument because of Hunter’s confrontational attitude. Crosshair scolds Hunter for allowing Omega to be captured, and he knows Hunter is just upset because Crosshair himself was the major contributor to Omega’s freedom, not Hunter. The argument is about to lead to a fight, but they are interrupted by a massive wyrm attacking the facility. Relocating all the power to the facility’s computers shut down the defense and sensor mechanisms surrounding the facility, allowing the wyrm to enter unimpeded to attack the protagonists.
As a result, the Bad Batch set their differences aside to defeat the wyrm by luring the creature outside the facility’s perimeter before reactivating the facility’s defenses. After the wyrm’s defeat, Echo is pleased Hunter and Crosshair worked things out by fighting together as a team against a common threat. However, the datapad does not provide the coordinates of Tantiss, but the information provided by Omega and Crosshair regarding the facility helps narrow down the search in locating the Weyland Facility and freeing the clone captives. The episode ends with Hunter accepting Crosshair back into the Bad Batch. Hunter understands how confusing it was when the Republic transformed into the Empire, creating mass confusion and dividing loyalties among clones like Crosshair. Hunter then advises Crosshair that they all made mistakes and that their only course to get better, since there might be hope for them, is to become more than what they were bred for: a soldier of war.
Crosshair Rejoins the Bad Batch
In Season 3, Episode 5 of The Bad Batch, titled “The Return,” directed by Nate Villanueva and written by Amanda Rose Munoz, the series delves into the complexities of loyalty, redemption, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in a galaxy torn apart by war and shifting allegiances.
The episode intricately examines Crosshair’s journey toward redemption and his eventual acceptance back into the fold of Clone Force 99, commonly known as the Bad Batch. The reunion between Omega, Crosshair, Hunter, Wrecker, and the rest of the team after their prolonged separation sets the stage for a series of emotional confrontations and revelations.
Central to the episode is the conflict between Hunter and Crosshair, emblematic of the broader ideological clashes that define the post-Clone Wars era. Hunter, staunchly loyal to the principles of the old Republic, struggles to comprehend Crosshair’s defection from the Empire, especially considering his unwavering allegiance following the execution of Order 66. The tension between the two characters serves as a microcosm of the larger turmoil engulfing the galaxy, where alliances shift and loyalties are tested amidst the chaos of political upheaval.
The thematic depth of the episode extends beyond mere interpersonal conflicts, delving into the moral ambiguities inherent in a universe ravaged by war and tyranny. Crosshair’s disillusionment with the Empire, fueled by betrayal and the realization of its nefarious machinations, reflects the internal struggles faced by many clones torn between duty and conscience. His journey toward redemption is not merely a personal quest for absolution but a symbolic reckoning with the collective sins of a war-torn galaxy.
Moreover, the episode masterfully explores the intricacies of identity and self-discovery amidst the tumult of conflict. Crosshair’s return to the Bad Batch signifies more than a mere reunion; it represents a profound reconciliation with his own sense of purpose and belonging. Through his interactions with Hunter and the rest of the team, Crosshair confronts the demons of his past and embraces the possibility of forging a new path forward, one defined not by allegiance to any single faction but by a steadfast commitment to honor and integrity.
As the episode draws to a close, with Hunter extending a hand of reconciliation to Crosshair, the narrative resonates with themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of camaraderie in the face of adversity. The Bad Batch emerges not merely as a ragtag group of soldiers, but as a beacon of hope in a galaxy consumed by darkness—a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who dare to defy the forces of tyranny and oppression.
In essence, “The Return” stands as a testament to the transformative power of redemption and the enduring resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds—a poignant reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope prevails.
Rating: 9/10