- Title: Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Aftermath
- wiki: link
Opening at the end of the Clone Wars, the first episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch catches up with Clone Force 99 (all voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) on Kaller with the genetically mutated clone squad riding to the rescue only to see the rest of the clones turn on Depa Billaba and her Padawan. Returning to Kamino confuses the clones even more where the discover an Empire has risen, the “regs” have gotten more dickish than usual, and Admiral Tarkin (Stephen Stanton) has arrived to reexamine the role of a clone army within the First Galactic Empire. The look of the series mirrors the group’s appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as the fan-favorites begin their own series of adventures.
I’ll admit to being more interested in the show after realizing it would take place after the events of Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith rather than more episodes during the Clone Wars. There are plenty of cameos here, and while I think it makes sense to tie in Caleb Dune, and showcase events alluded to in Star Wars Rebels, the actual effects of Freddie Prinze Jr. doing a child’s voice comes off as really bad auto-tune. The extended first episode sets up events to push the clones away from the Empire, introduce Michelle Ang as the team’s new member Omega, and set the stage for their life on the run. While mostly confused by Order 66, the episode allows one member of the crew to be affected by the programing creating turmoil within the Bad Batch and the creation of an enemy to pursue them across the galaxy.