Ryan Shoots First: The Bad Batch (S1 Ep12) “Rescue on Ryloth”
After last week the Empire is flexing its muscle on Ryloth and the Syndulas are in custody with Herra on the run. The episode starts with the Admiral questioning Cham about where Herra could be but they will not giver her up. We see Houser questioning the orders he says he will find Herra but The Admiral tells him another squad is on it, I assume Crosshair. As they walk off we see Chopper behind enemy lines doing some recon work for Herra. Meanwhile Crosshair and his squad are raiding her home. She tells Chopper they need to get a transmission out and fast. .
On the Marauder Omega is working on the Gonk droid and Herra sends a message to Omega and asks for her help. They decide to head back despite not really believing Herra after Omega insists. At the capitol the Admiral is telling the people about the assisination when the Batch recognizes Crosshair is there. Tech does recognize this is a full on occupation of a Republic planet unlike Raxis which was a Sepratist planet. A probe droid manages to discover them but Hunter takes it out quickly but not before Crosshair is made aware of the Batch’s presence. All the patrols double and Hunter decides the best course of action is to get Herra off world and cut their losses, this does not go over well with Omega and Herra.
Back at command Houser is warning the Admiral if they keep rounding up peaceful citizens they risk starting an uprising but the Admiral just says they’ll stop them too. Crosshair informs the Admiral the Batch is on the planet and Houser overhears. Back at the Base Omega convinces Herra if she can actually form a rescue plan Hunter is much more likely to listen and they get to work. Meanwhile Houser goes to the Syndullas to try and get them to tell him where Herra is and that he wants to help but they don’t buy it. Herra forms a plan to cause a distraction at the oil refinery to give them an opening to free her parents. Chopper is unable to take out the guns so Omega and Herra go off the book to take out the guns. Hunter and Echo break out the prisoners but Crosshair is onto them and doesn’t take the bait of the refinery ploy but Houser stops them before they walk into the ambush. They take an alternate room and Houser decides to stay behind to try and get through to his squadmates. He does manage to talk sense to a few but they are promptly arrested. They Cham and his family to safety and even tell them to keep their payment as they will need it. As the Empire assesses their losses Crosshair is granted permission to go on the hunt for the Batch himself as the episode ends.
Observations
- Clearly I am conditioned as soon as the camera panned to that box I thought “Here comes Chopper”
- The way the Gonk droid is sad when Hunter calls him defective… there is a larger conversation in Star Wars about Droid rights and wether they are sentient and can feel… L3 touched on it in Solo but so much further to go also a ton of landmines in that conversation.
- Ooooh Omega hit Hunter with the “That’s what soldiers do” and he’s shook.
- I made a TikTok about being calm and letting things play out and this sums it up. Fandom was all in a tizzy last week cause Orn Free Ta isn’t dead in the Lords of the Sith book so the lore keepers were crying foul. Just let things play out kids. Take a breath.
- Was cool to see Hunter do some hunting.
- One thing I love the show is doing is showing the contrasts between the Republic and the Empire, the Republic was calculated strategic and a well oiled machine. The Empire is already woefully over confident and rather narrow minded which we know will eventually be their downfall. Seeing the two actually butt heads during this transition is really cool.
- I love Omega’s thought process here, the lazy thing for the show to do would be for Omega to tell Herra to just believe or tell Hunter she REALLY misses her family and he will cave but she doesn’t. She tells her Hunter is strategic and if she can come up with a plan he will listen. Extra Mile there also great showing Herra developing her battle planning that will pay off in Rebels.
- Chopper is the Solid Snake of Star Wars.
- This show is really methodical and into the details. I love it but it is not hitting with some who just want big reveals and moments.
- I get they are short on time but I feel like Hunter could have given Houser a little info on the inhibitor chips and what the heck is going on.
- I’ve said it before but Crosshairs theme music is baller.