Summary
Now thatStar Wars: The Bad Batchhas come to an end, I’ve been conducting a rewatch of the animatedStar Warsseries, and I’ve found that season 2 is much more difficult to watch after the series has made Tech’s death final.The Bad Batchhas easily become my favorite animatedStar Warsproject, and my second-favorite project of the entire franchise. Its excellent ending cemented this even further, despite the fact it confirmed that Tech would not be making a comeback after all.
The nature of Tech’s death seemingly left his true fate open to interpretation, especially with Dr. Royce Hemlock going back to retrieve Tech’s goggles. I was one of the many who secretly hoped that Tech was still alive after he enactedPlan 99, but it was proven inThe Bad Batchseason 3’s endingthat his sacrifice would stand. Even though I wholeheartedly agree that it was the right choice and his sacrifice has been honored, it’s still tough to process, especially as I rewatch the season where it happens.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Voice Cast - What The Actors Look Like In Real Life
Star Wars: The Bad Batch has quite an interesting cast of actors that features multiple Star Wars veterans, as well as a few newcomers.
Tech’s Death Is Extremely Hard To Rewatch Now
Knowing There’s No Chance Of Revival Makes It Hard To Process
It was already hard to rewatch Tech’s fate inThe Bad Batchseason 2 ending, but now that I know it won’t be reversed, it’s even harder. A fall like his made it easy to imagine that he could be revived in the way Bucky Barnes was inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, and that’s what many viewers hoped for with the mysterious CX-2 clone assassin inThe Bad Batchseason 3. Now that his death is final, however,there’s no more hiding behind those hopes. I have to watch it and know that it was truly the last time we will ever see Tech.
Tech (Clone Force 99)
A mutant clone created by the cloners of Kamino, Tech was a scientific genius who served as a vital member of Clone Force 99. He and the rest of his squad went rogue after Order 66 and the inauguration of the Empire, and eked out a living in the galaxy’s underworld. Tech tragically died on one fateful mission, sacrificing himself for his brothers.
The Tears & Desperation Are All Too Real In Retrospect
What always gets me about Tech’s death is the reaction ofClone Force 99, particularly Omega. The way she begs Hunter and Wrecker to go back for Tech once they’re on Ord Mantell is just gutting, as is her declaration that “Tech’s not gone, he… he can’t be!” Hunter and Wrecker’s own reactions are just as heartbreaking, especially with the former usually being so stoic. He lets his mask slip for a moment and portrays a striking grief, while Wrecker has to dismiss himself from the room in his own distress. It’s an utterly devastating moment for the squad.
Now that Tech’s death is final, it’s even easier to relate to the emotions Clone Force 99 experiences in this moment. I used to be able to watch this scene and be fine, but now, I find myself tearing up every single time.They lost so much when they lost Tech; he was, in many ways, a massive foundation and voice of reason for their family. The way season 2 gives him an extra focus also makes that loss even more difficult, which further proves that the ending isn’t the only part of season 2 that’s now hard to rewatch.
It’s an utterly devastating moment for the squad.
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It’s Hard To Rewatch Season 2 At All Knowing What’s Ahead
Even The Lighthearted Moments Are Haunted By Tech’s Fate
I’m nearly at the halfway point of season 2 in my rewatch of the series, and I’m already dreading what’s to come at the end of it. It’s easier to see the moments where Tech is highlighted specifically, which makes it even crueler when he meets his fate at the end of the season. One of the most fun episodes is “Faster,” which sees Tech competing in a thrilling race, but even that is hard to watch with the knowledge of what’s creeping around the corner.
At least in season 1, there aren’t any worries about what will happen to Tech or the others. That made the first season of the series an easy and highly enjoyable rewatch. Even though most of season 2 is just as adventurous and lighthearted,the knowledge of how it will end taints the rest of the episodes. It doesn’t ruin them by any means, as I have actually found during my rewatch that season 2 is even better than I remember it, but it does cast a dark shadow.
It almost feels wrong to enjoy it when I know what’s still to come.
I’m still having a wonderful time rewatching, especially with season 2, but it almost feels wrong to enjoy it when I know what’s still to come. What at least makes it better is knowing that Tech’s sacrifice isn’t for nothing. The ending ofThe Bad Batchmay have confirmed that Tech’s death is final, but it also confirmed that it meant something.If it weren’t for Tech’s sacrifice, his brothers and sister would never have gotten their peaceful life on Pabu, and that at least makes this tragicThe Bad Batchscene a little bit easier to watch again.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Cast
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an action-adventure animated series set after the events of The Clone Wars, following Clone Force 99 (a.k.a. the Bad Batch.) Finding themselves immune to the brainwashing effects of Order 66, the Bad Batch become mercenaries for hire while outrunning the empire, now seeing them as fugitives of the law.
