Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021) Trailer Review

With the Bad Batch's first episode set for just over a month away on May 4th, Disney have released another trailer for the show and there is some more information in this trailer that is worth discussing. 

The Bad Batch will be on the run from the Empire. 

It seems that at least at first The Bad Batch will be enlisted to The Empire and training on Kamino but that isn't going to stick. The trailer shows them deciding to turn on the imperials and go on the run, the question will be how. Because of their genetic modifications maybe there control chips don't work and they decide they don't like what the Empire are doing. 

Grand Moff Tarkin will be a major villain 

We have seen Tarkin as a part of The Clone Wars and he is transitioning into his usual role here as a leading member of The Empire. It seems he is the one in charge of the remaining Clones and has a specific interest in The Bad Batch. He is also the one we see ordering there capture, with Tarkin such a huge character in Star Wars it will be interesting to see what his plans are and exactly how much he will be involved. 

A Young girl is joining the team

The trailer also shows a young girl escape Kamino with the team. It is curious as to who this exactly is and why she joins the team, she isn't a clone so it is going to be interesting to see how she plays into the story. My guess is that she might be a force sensitive that The Empire have kept alive and that is the real reason Tarkin is after the group. 

Ming Na-Wen is voicing Fennec Shand again

This was pretty much confirmed but this trailer confirms that Ming-Na Wen will be reprising her role from The Mandalorian as Fennec Shand. How she factors into the plot is currently unknown but it will be fascinating to see whether she is a villain or a hero or a more ambiguous character. She has teetered on both sides of morality and with this being a younger version of the character I think she could be after the team for The Empire at least at first. 

Captain Rex is also back

Probably the biggest moment in the trailer is the return of the much loved Clone Wars character Captain Rex. The last time we saw him was after having his control chip taken out escaping the Empire with Ahsoka Tano. He is reunited with the team here and hopefully he plays an important role here as there is still plenty of things for him to do between now and his appearances in Star Wars Rebels. 

Could we even see Ahsoka here? 

With Rex's conformation, and with the characters huge popularity maybe Ahsoka Tano will make an appearance. Similar to Rex there is plenty of moments in her story that haven't been explored and this could be a chance to do that. The show will have to explain how Rex and her split up and maybe having Ahsoka help out could lead to new storytelling aspects. 

A young Saw Guerrera comes into contact with the team

Another pretty big surprise is that a younger Saw Guerrera will be in this show. He won't be voiced by Forest Whittaker as this is a younger take on the character but as we saw in The Clone Wars this version of the character is a radical and it seems like he is starting to create his Rebellion that we have seen in Jedi: Fallen Order, Rebels & Rogue One. How he is linked to the team is unknown but maybe he extends an offer to them to fight the Empire together. 

Overall

Overall, I am so excited for this show. I loved the final season of Clone Wars and this feels like a direct continuation from that and seeing characters like Guerrera, Shand and Rex return adds to that anticipation.