Also, When Hunter Is Looking At Crosshair Only The Skull Half Of His Face Is In The Shadows, And When

Also, when Hunter is looking at Crosshair only the skull half of his face is in the shadows, and when they start arguing later, his face is completely engulfed in Crosshair’s shadow. But when they make up, they both face towards the sun shadows behind them.

Perhaps symbolizing they've only been half of Clone Force 99 with Crosshair’s shadow looming over them, but now that they've made up they can look towards better times.

Oh my gosh...how did I not notice this??

Y'all remember the lighting Joel Aron (one of the guys that makes the Bad Batch) mentioned regarding Hunter and Crosshair? How symbolic it was gonna be?

The shadows on their faces look like each other's tattoos!!!! 😭💜

I can't even with this!! I'll never recover 😭💜 I love this so much!!

Episode 12 open discussion under the cut 👇🏼 BEWARE SPOILERS.

The loss of Crosshair’s helmet is so significant. The fact that he didn’t even bother to look for it, even more so.

The animators have always used helmets to represent a dichotomy. Pre Order-66, it was a symbol of a soldier’s individualism, as most troopers opted to paint their helmet to their liking; something to make them easily distinguishable from their brothers. Post Order-66, helmet-wear was used to signify the loss of a soldier’s autonomy. Yes, obviously for cranial protection as well (keep the melon safe during battle, you know), but once Order 66 was issued, aside from Batch members, seeing a clone trooper without their helmet on was a very rare sight.

In Season 1 Episode 1, Crosshair opted to keep his helmet on during the flight back to Kamino after Order-66 on Kaller, and through the halls of Tipoca city until they reached their barracks. I think the writers and animators were trying to symbolize that he had lost a large portion of his control.

Through the rest of the first season, Crosshair was largely hidden behind his new imperial helmet; one that was completely lacking resemblance or connection to his past as a member of CF-99. I think his Imp helmet was something that, at least in the beginning, he wore proudly; it was a symbol of his new role, his new rank, his future, his new ideology.

But in The Solitary Clone (S2 E3), after a poignant discussion with Cody, we see Crosshair look at his helmet with implied contempt, regret, and even possibly, repulsion. This was new.

In the first minutes of Season 2 Episode 12, we see him reprimanded by an imperial superior officer for not wearing it, which I found interesting. Keep in mind, Crosshair was also helmet-less when he met with Cody before their mission to Desix. Same scenario: waiting by the ship for a debrief from his commander before leaving for the mission. But this time, the writers opted to emphasize that his face was exposed.

Now, his helmet is completely gone. In a mission gone sour, it was eaten by an avalanche. And I found it very interesting that Crosshair’s first thought after emerging from the snow, was to find and save Mayday, a reg commander who he’d met only hours previously, and who took all of Crosshair’s imperial ideology and challenged it. He carefully puts Mayday’s helmet back on him, but doesn’t even spare a thought for his own.

In the final minutes of E12, we see Crosshair, and his face in all its glory, shoot his Lieutenant. An angry murder noodle move, yes... but also a desperate, frustrated one.

The presence of Imperial Crosshair feels diminished. The reemergence of Bad Batch Crosshair feels imminent.

*pls note that I used the term “reg” to reference Crosshair’s previous intolerance for regular clones, and was not meant in any derogatory sense*

+Cad Band could be the one hunting Omega, like, because he has a long history of ‘dealing’ with Jedi, why not hire this guy to hunt down force-users?

This weeks episode theories ✨ 🧠

So we have two ✌️ episodes this week!!! “Identity crisis” and “point of no return”. Let’s start with Identity crisis!!!

Identity crisis:

More than likely this is an omega centered episode (based on what she experienced with Ventress). Even though omega is told she isn’t force sensitive I think she finds out that she is. I think it would be interesting if she finds this out in a dream or through a force vision experience (like Luke on Dagobah where he fought the vision of Vader). I do think either Cad Bane or CX-2 (or both) show up as a prelude to the empires presence on pabu. Aka we see omega struggling with her identity and at the same time we see cad bane and CX-2 infiltrate the island. The bad batch have all their attention on fighting off bane that CX-2 is able to do whatever he wants and HE is the one that calls in the empire.

In the trailer I notice that CX is approaching the storm troopers and is not WITH them, that’s why I think he infiltrates the island alone. The house cad bane is in looks kind of like pabu idk. 🤷. Anyway, I do think the empire invading pabu is a cliff hanger at the end of this episode.

I am curious on which CX clone this is. It’s more then likely CX-2 but it’s obvious that there are more then 3 shadow clones. I don’t think CX-2 would return to the empire after failing a mission, I think he would be immediately terminated if he did. I think CX-2 being on pabu is him completing the mission. I think the shadow clones pursue a mission until it’s completed or they die trying.

It would have been interesting if the injuries and fall CX-2 sustained in the other episodes undid his brainwashing or idk jogged a few brain cells for him to start questioning his purpose and who he was and THAT would be the identity crisis. (Cause I’m like 80% certain it’s tech after the early reviews responses lolllll) buuuut I doubt. I think it could be explored in the future tho.

Point of no return:

This whole episode is the invasion of pabu and omega getting taken. I think the “point of no return” is the bad batch joining Rex on his clone rebellion group. It makes sense to me. Like once they join that group there is no going back, they are 100% enemies to the empire. (They always have been in some way, but not to this extent being actual rebels) I say this because the only way they’re going to find tantis is if they work together with Rex/echo and the other clones. They’ll need help and Rex and echo need help too. That’s why we see the batch going on missions. Though I also suspect that phee is working with them on finding all the pabu civilians??? I think they rescue Shep in the trailer.

I am highly HIGHLY suspicious of whether tech comes back or not. I think the most popular topic of discussion at the moment is whether tech is alive or not and some of the reviewers said that many of us would be very happy. Also I think the yellow heart is a little wink I’m not sure.

If tech does come back I’m assuming it’s closer to the end of the show. Like OOO SURPRISE I’m no longer brainwashed and hemlock didn’t factor that into his evil plans and now I can help omega escape from the inside muwhahaha iddddkkkk I went from being 50% about him returning to 80%!!!

I’m bringing this back but I really do think he will cause it’s The bad batch!!! The theme song has hardly been played and when it has it’s been fractured (since tech and echo are gone) I firmly believe that the finale will be the gang all together! THE CALVARY HAS ARRIVED!!!! IDK I’m delusional

One of Those Days

(Bad Batch Pirate AU)

Also posted on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53673571

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Hunter emerged from below deck sweaty, as usual, but today was hot, like sunburn in 2 hours hot—and that's saying something for a Fett. Yeah… it was one of those days.

The Maurader was small by battleship standards, big enough to do some damage but still manageable by a crew of 5. The Marauder lived up to its name, and that's all the Bad Batch really needed.

Hunter let the Seawind blow his hair majestically for a blink before the winds receded. He glanced up at the Crowsnest unsurprised to find it empty, no matter how much Crosshair likes that thing, nobody wants to be closer to the sun on these days, Hunter thought. He looked back down to see Crosshair under the gangway getting sprayed by seawater periodically, nice spot. Hunter had gone below to raid the water barrel, and rations only to find the barrel nearly empty and all his meilooruns gone. He'd still spent some time looking around but found no trace of the treats.

“What's the crow doin’ out of his nest?” Hunter teased

Crosshair growled softly but remained unmoved.

Hunter smiled slightly running his hand through his gorgeous but sweaty hair and looked around once again. The others were splayed around the deck similarly, Wrecker sittin’ shirtless in the biggest slice of shade around next to a bucket, (probably for a bucket bath), Tech seated closer to the bow (for Seawind?) wearin' only loose pants and his crimson vest he’s so fond of, and Echo placed in between Wrecker and Tech’s spots—but still wearin’ his worn 501st blue coat, he must be dyin’ in that thing.

Hunter brisked over to Echo’s spot.

“Ahoy,” Hunter said

“Ahoy,” Echo responded

He was positively drenched in sweat and his face was a slight red.

“What brings ya here?” Echo asked

“Ya can't be wearin’ that coat in this heat, it's hotter than Mustafar’s seas out here.”

Echo’s face instantly turned from relaxed to cold. Hunter couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that, what's up with him?

He hasn't taken off the coat since he got it from Rex, but he can't be wearin’ it in this heat.

“Aye,” Echo said cooly

They both paused staring. Echo made no effort to move.

“Echo…” Hunter said “You’ll get heat stroke in that, just take it off and you can have it back later”

Echo’s face then laced with sorrow, and he faced away staring at the deck. Hunter stood there for a moment waiting for him. Why’s this coat got him in such a ruffle?

Echo silently shrugged off the coat, then clenched it in his good hand. He wore a long-sleeve wool shirt underneath, Hunter raised another eyebrow to that.

Echo sighed pulled out a canteen from one of the pockets and reluctantly handed Hunter the coat. He lurched slightly from the weight of it. Wait a minute…

He padded the coat pockets.

“It was you!” Hunter accused

“What?” Echo said defensively

“You took all my meilooruns and hid them in your coat!”

Echo shrugged and smirked slightly.

“Is that why you refused to take it off?”

Echo’s barely playful manner evaporated again, and he scowled and turned to look at the sea.

“Take them, there were only 2 left,” Echo said bitterly “Wrecker ate the rest”

Hunter eyed him carefully, this was strange, even for Echo.

Even so, Hunter turned and walked over to the barracks coat in hand. Which was barely a few meters away, the Maurader was small and saw the others eyeing him from their spots on the boat. Wrecker was the first to approach him.

“Hey Cap’n, What's up with Echo?” Wrecker asked glancing at Echo

Hunter shrugged, “I can't say, it's got somethin’ to do with this coat though”

“Aye,” Wrecker agreed softly “Do you know why he’s wearin’ that thing in this heat?”

“Don't know that either, but it's drenched in sweat” Hunter commented “he also took my last meilooruns, but I don't think that's the reason”

“Maybe we should dunk him in the sea to cool him down”

“Actually that could drown him,” Tech declared walking over “his metal legs would haul him down and though I have developed countermeasures for said disaster, I would not recommend testing it”

“And I don't reckon he’s in the mood for such antics at the moment” Hunter added

The others nodded glancing at Echo.

“Do you reckon a bucket would work?” Wrecker asked mischievously

Hunter chuckled at that, “If you do try such a thing, be sure to do it smartly, or he might actually shoot you this time”

The others smiled at that memory, good times.

“I'm serious lads, you should leave him be”

With that Hunter spun and entered the barracks, a dark and smelly place, but that's a privateer’s life.

Though Crosshair was given the gift of impeccable eyesight, Hunter had been blessed with fabulous hair and the ability to see in the dark so he walked effortlessly to Echo’s hammock.

Since Echo had joined they'd worked to make a space for him, and anyway, Echo wanted to be further away from them for his reasons. Echo’s hammock was in the far corner next to his personal storage chest.

Echo would probably stab Hunter with one of his own knives if Hunter ever tried to learn the 501st pocket space trick—Hunter once saw Echo pull three pistols, a canteen of water, a dictionary, a whole meiloorun, and an entire toolbox out of his coat while the thing looked completely normal. But Hunter’d still like to know what stirred Echo so much. It was a pretty regular coat, worn, with patches and stitches here and there, but other than that, well cared for. He studied it a moment longer flipping open the collar—that’s strange— a single number, 5, was embroidered in it. Maybe it's a worn-out rendition of 501st? Hunter shrugged pulling out one of the meilooruns and tossing the coat onto Echo’s hammock making his way back on deck.

Hunted walks back up the stairs, and immediately gets dunked by a whole bucket of water. He yelps,

“Wrecker!!!” Hunter exclaims

To which Wrecker responded with roaring laughter. Okay, that was actually pretty refreshing, plus now the sweat is out of his hair. But that won't stop him from getting Wrecker back somehow.

Well said, and I'd like to add something.

Their reunion will be, to put it squarely, strained. The last time they saw each other Crosshair wanted to squad back for what they used to be “You just don't get who we are, do you?”

And this time, (as you've put wonderfully,) they've both changed as individuals drastically, nobody is the same. Which, I think, leads them to build something new entirely. Not what they were, that's gone, what they are now.

That could be a good thing, or a bad thing, but I guess we’ll see how it shakes out in the end.

They Don’t Know: Where Our Characters Are at Going into TBB Season 3

Something I want us all to remember, partly in response to the leaked scene for TBB, and partly something I’ve been thinking about:

We, as the audience, know the full story (out of what they’ve chosen to show us so far) of what each of these characters has been through since season 1: Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, Omega, and Crosshair. We’ve seen them together, we’ve seen them separated into pairs, we’ve seen Omega’s times of being captured, parts of Echo’s stint with Rex, and we’ve seen Crosshair’s time and journey with the Empire.

The last time these characters all saw each other in the same space at the same time, was Kamino Lost. The end of season 1. The platform.

There is an entire season worth of character growth, experiences gained, lessons learned, and hardships endured, that each of our Batchers has gone through—that the others don’t know about.

And especially related to Crosshair—all the other Batchers know, is that he potentially did something that gained him the ire of the Empire and put him in Hemlock’s possession. And that he sent them a warning message on an old comm line that could or could not even have been him. That’s it. That’s all they know. They don’t know what he did, or what has been done to him. They don’t know about the 32 rotations (I don’t think). They don’t know about his mission with Cody. They don’t know what his thought processes have been. They don’t know he’s been tortured. They don’t know that he helped and tried to avenge a reg. They don’t know the physically and mentally weakened state he is in.

Hunter, in particular, doesn’t know what’s happened to his brother, where he is at, how he looks or how he’s feeling right now. He doesn’t know. He’s been trying to hold his family together in a changing galaxy like sand slipping through a clenched fist, and the last grains are threatening to fall through. All he knows is that every last one of his efforts to keep his family safe have ended with the opposite effect.

And Crosshair doesn’t know about Tech. He doesn’t know how badly his brothers have missed him, even if they don’t talk about it. He doesn’t know about Cid or what’s happened with her. He doesn’t know how the rest have been trying to survive this whole time. He doesn’t know the hard choices that have been made, the questions that have been pondered, the decisions that Hunter has stood between, the potential lives that had opened up for them that were brutally snatched away the second they landed on Eriadu. He doesn’t know they tried to save him, that they were (finally) coming back for him. He doesn’t know how much Omega has learned, and grown, the relationships she’s forged, the smarts she has. All he knows is that he gave his last efforts of love and care toward a family that he thinks abandoned him, one last-ditch effort to keep them safe, and it backfired. The very thing he was trying to protect Omega from is the very situation she ends up in.

He doesn’t know (Crosshair). He doesn’t know (Hunter). They don’t know.

And it will be a shock and a turning point when they finally see each other again, see how worn down and battle-weary and utterly traumatized they all are individually, how much has been lost, how much has been broken, how much things have changed in their second time period apart. And what they choose to do with the broken pieces of who they each are now, will determine how they can heal together, going forward.

We know. But they don’t, yet. Let’s give them grace as they each learn who each other is again. And hope they can give that grace to themselves and each other, as well.

Tech Returns?

So yeah, people are freaking out because there's only 4 more episodes left in The Bad Batch :( but more importantly is that enough time to bring Tech back?

If the answer is yes you might be delusional. Emphasis on might, it could happen, and Tech can live happily ever after with Phee but honestly, when has romance ever worked out in Star Wars?

If the answer is no then listen to this: Crosshair had two season’s worth of redemption, the tale of the brother who willingly killed and burned down innocents for the Empire of His own free will. If Tech is CX-2 then he could be the reverse of Crosshair, the brother stripped of personality who willingly(?) kills and burns down innocents for the Empire of free will(?) but instead of redemption they never get him back. Again they have to live with having their brother trying to kill them knowing they can't get him back.