Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Retrieval
February 22, 2023 8:37 AM - Season 2, Episode 10 - Subscribe
The stranded Batch wait for rescue.
In which Gonky gets to be the hero! He deserves his own spinoff.
I can't put my finger on why but Benni's throat tattoos (if that's what they were) really bothered me for some reason. Maybe it looks like a breathing stoma?
posted by orrnyereg at 8:57 AM on February 22, 2023
I can't put my finger on why but Benni's throat tattoos (if that's what they were) really bothered me for some reason. Maybe it looks like a breathing stoma?
posted by orrnyereg at 8:57 AM on February 22, 2023
I was hoping for something more like Die-Hard-in-a-Mine, with Gonky in the role of John McClane.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:25 AM on February 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:25 AM on February 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Gonky really is the breakout star of this show.
posted by orrnyereg at 11:48 AM on February 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by orrnyereg at 11:48 AM on February 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Not bad, as general parables for capitalism go.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:43 AM on February 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:43 AM on February 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Welp, I was 1000% wrong about Hondo and I supposed Benny(sp?) was an improvement, though, unsurprisingly, he and Omega got off on their own adventure. I did enjoy the episode, but there's a question of how much or how much longer can Omega continue to serve as this always optimistic, always altruistic, guide post for the show. I dare say, she's basically the Star Wars equivalent of Pollyanna, which in one sense, is completely fine, but at the same time, rejects growth.
With that said, there's definitely something about Omega, from her name, to her existence within the show, that the show has not yet revealed. Essentially Boba Fett's twin sister, she has exhibited something akin to a Force sensitivity - such as reacting to bad feelings, sensing something worth looking into, or being drawn, for example, to the cavern full of explosive whatever in the mines in the previous episode.
Or maybe, Dave Filoni just wanted an 80s/90s sitcom with a preteen/teenage girl and four dads, and she's just the child for the fathers to bounce off and for plots to swirl around.
This episode was yet again beautifully animated. The only time I paused was when Mokka was eating, it seemed like someone had hit fast forward or something. I understand they wanted to show him as a glutton, but him simply feasting at a table of plenty while throwing the scraps to the others would have been sufficient from my point of view.
Left unresolved was the weird favoritism for the older finder or whatever they're called. In implied some kind of reciprocity, but what exactly was left to be guessed by the viewer. Definitely had Oliver Twist reflections with Mokka as the Fagin as the "father figure" of a group of young thieves. I'm not super familiar with the story, so perhaps the older kid played into a role from that story. Again, did Benny attempting to help Mokko play into something from Oliver Twist? His end was definitely high on the "kill 'em off like a Disney villain" readings scale.
Really, this was an episode that asked you not to start squinting too closely at the setup in the mining city other than to understand, it's the strong, exploiting the weak, or as Halloween Jack commented, a parable for capitalism. All right, I'll go ahead and say it. I don't feel the writing was really that great this episode. To a degree, I feel this episode existed entirely for Benny to say "if you need a thief, here I am for the future!" Which means, yes, we'll see Benny again for the season finale or whatever.
Lastly, no episode guide up for this episode or for the last. There may be something worthwhile pointing out, but not that I particularly noticed.
posted by Atreides at 11:23 AM on February 23, 2023
With that said, there's definitely something about Omega, from her name, to her existence within the show, that the show has not yet revealed. Essentially Boba Fett's twin sister, she has exhibited something akin to a Force sensitivity - such as reacting to bad feelings, sensing something worth looking into, or being drawn, for example, to the cavern full of explosive whatever in the mines in the previous episode.
Or maybe, Dave Filoni just wanted an 80s/90s sitcom with a preteen/teenage girl and four dads, and she's just the child for the fathers to bounce off and for plots to swirl around.
This episode was yet again beautifully animated. The only time I paused was when Mokka was eating, it seemed like someone had hit fast forward or something. I understand they wanted to show him as a glutton, but him simply feasting at a table of plenty while throwing the scraps to the others would have been sufficient from my point of view.
Left unresolved was the weird favoritism for the older finder or whatever they're called. In implied some kind of reciprocity, but what exactly was left to be guessed by the viewer. Definitely had Oliver Twist reflections with Mokka as the Fagin as the "father figure" of a group of young thieves. I'm not super familiar with the story, so perhaps the older kid played into a role from that story. Again, did Benny attempting to help Mokko play into something from Oliver Twist? His end was definitely high on the "kill 'em off like a Disney villain" readings scale.
Really, this was an episode that asked you not to start squinting too closely at the setup in the mining city other than to understand, it's the strong, exploiting the weak, or as Halloween Jack commented, a parable for capitalism. All right, I'll go ahead and say it. I don't feel the writing was really that great this episode. To a degree, I feel this episode existed entirely for Benny to say "if you need a thief, here I am for the future!" Which means, yes, we'll see Benny again for the season finale or whatever.
Lastly, no episode guide up for this episode or for the last. There may be something worthwhile pointing out, but not that I particularly noticed.
posted by Atreides at 11:23 AM on February 23, 2023
Welp. After reading the synopsis of Oliver Twist, the only comparables are Fagin gathering a group of thievin' kiddos. Though, the tendency of Charles Dickens to soap opera up his writing with surprised relatives and secret fortunes could definitely be inline with George Lucas' thrill of everything bumping into everything else.
posted by Atreides at 2:22 PM on February 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Atreides at 2:22 PM on February 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
I loved the visuals in this episode, particularly the first shots of the well. It felt like my favorite kind of sci-fi artwork come to life.
I loved the scene where mokka was eating. I was delighted that he was *so hungry*, just so gosh dang hungry.
posted by rebent at 5:44 PM on February 23, 2023
I loved the scene where mokka was eating. I was delighted that he was *so hungry*, just so gosh dang hungry.
posted by rebent at 5:44 PM on February 23, 2023
Why is it only boys? Where are the human adults, and the girls? It's a very strange setup.
posted by orrnyereg at 7:21 AM on February 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by orrnyereg at 7:21 AM on February 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
With that said, there's definitely something about Omega, from her name, to her existence within the show, that the show has not yet revealed. Essentially Boba Fett's twin sister, she has exhibited something akin to a Force sensitivity - such as reacting to bad feelings, sensing something worth looking into, or being drawn, for example, to the cavern full of explosive whatever in the mines in the previous episode.
She also showed a talent for strategy regarding that one holo-chess-type game, last season. I think that the reason why people were so keen on capturing her last season might have been that she was the prototype for an improved clone... and if she were actually Force-sensitive, and if that was a reproducible trait, well, that would be a galactic game-changer.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:11 AM on February 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
She also showed a talent for strategy regarding that one holo-chess-type game, last season. I think that the reason why people were so keen on capturing her last season might have been that she was the prototype for an improved clone... and if she were actually Force-sensitive, and if that was a reproducible trait, well, that would be a galactic game-changer.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:11 AM on February 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've been wondering if Omega was some manner of super-clone since her first introduction, given the Biblical connotation of her name. But we've seen so little concrete evidence to support it that, at this point in the series, I would be mildly surprised—and impressed—if it did actually turn out to be the case, because that's a slooooow burn. So slow it would give Lucas hives XD
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 3:40 AM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 3:40 AM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
We still don't know what her "enhancement" is. My personal theory is an unusually large capacity for learning/imitation. She's only been with the Beebs for a year or so and look at all the things she can already do, while still only a tween.
It's inevitable that she's going to end up in the Mandoverse, right?
posted by orrnyereg at 10:29 AM on February 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's inevitable that she's going to end up in the Mandoverse, right?
posted by orrnyereg at 10:29 AM on February 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
It seems like good money that Omega will pop up at some point. Of everyone on this show, she is most likely to make that transition in the same manner that virtually everyone from Rebels is popping up in Ahsoka. Given the Bad Batch was announced in 2020, a year after Mandalorian premiered, it definitely was developed in the atmosphere of possibility that individuals/characters in that show could eventually cross over.
There's an argument to be made that Filoni, who is definitely someone who values and cherishes animation, also feels that lack of legitimacy for his characters until they appear in live action (perhaps it's the reach of the medium?). Omega being the very center of his currently produced show would indicate that she's important to him, so the transition to live action becomes even more likely. We already know that the cloning storyline for Grogu is somehow continuing...and well, key word being cloning!
posted by Atreides at 12:42 PM on February 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
There's an argument to be made that Filoni, who is definitely someone who values and cherishes animation, also feels that lack of legitimacy for his characters until they appear in live action (perhaps it's the reach of the medium?). Omega being the very center of his currently produced show would indicate that she's important to him, so the transition to live action becomes even more likely. We already know that the cloning storyline for Grogu is somehow continuing...and well, key word being cloning!
posted by Atreides at 12:42 PM on February 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Where are the human adults
Presumably it hasn't been running long enough for anyone to grow up since he enslaved these kids, or (grim alternative) no-one lives that long.
I've been wondering if Omega was some manner of super-clone since her first introduction,
...if she were actually Force-sensitive, and if that was a reproducible trait, well, that would be a galactic game-changer.
Remember how in The Mandalorian, the Imperial remnant is using Grogu's blood in some sort of mysterious cloning program? I assumed Moff Gideon is trying to induce force-sensitivity in clones and Omega could be the original force-sensitive clone experiment that he's trying to reproduce.
This episode was yet again beautifully animated.
The first shot of the abandoned town was so good you could probably plop it in Andor season 2 without anyone realising.
It seems like good money that Omega will pop up at some point.
She's a Mandalorian (by genetics if not by birth). The next season of The Mandalorian seems to be set on Mandalore and feature a lot of Mandalorians. That whole show is about a Mandalorian and a Jedi. If they had a chance to introduce a force-sensitive Mandalorian... Hmm.
(Mandalorian Mandalorian Mandalorian Mandalorian)
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:57 AM on February 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
Presumably it hasn't been running long enough for anyone to grow up since he enslaved these kids, or (grim alternative) no-one lives that long.
I've been wondering if Omega was some manner of super-clone since her first introduction,
...if she were actually Force-sensitive, and if that was a reproducible trait, well, that would be a galactic game-changer.
Remember how in The Mandalorian, the Imperial remnant is using Grogu's blood in some sort of mysterious cloning program? I assumed Moff Gideon is trying to induce force-sensitivity in clones and Omega could be the original force-sensitive clone experiment that he's trying to reproduce.
This episode was yet again beautifully animated.
The first shot of the abandoned town was so good you could probably plop it in Andor season 2 without anyone realising.
It seems like good money that Omega will pop up at some point.
She's a Mandalorian (by genetics if not by birth). The next season of The Mandalorian seems to be set on Mandalore and feature a lot of Mandalorians. That whole show is about a Mandalorian and a Jedi. If they had a chance to introduce a force-sensitive Mandalorian... Hmm.
(Mandalorian Mandalorian Mandalorian Mandalorian)
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:57 AM on February 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
...Omega could be the original force-sensitive clone experiment that he's trying to reproduce.
And the fact that the Empire annihilated Kamino would explain why he doesn't have the exact details of how she was created and has to keep experimenting.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:58 AM on February 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
And the fact that the Empire annihilated Kamino would explain why he doesn't have the exact details of how she was created and has to keep experimenting.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:58 AM on February 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
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If this show did those moral-of-the-story tags at the start of each one like Clone Wars did, then this one's would be "Look for the helpers."
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 8:54 AM on February 22, 2023