‘The Bad Batch’ Season 3 Finale Review: A Beautiful and Well-Deserved End Of an Era

Star Wars’ The Bad Batch has ended and with that, the end of the Clone Wars era. Arguably the best era of Star Wars, The Bad Batch is more than just a show about a few clones with “deficiencies”. It’s a show about choosing your own path, embracing your individuality, and family. For a small little show to follow the legacy of The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch has carved its own pocket out in the fandom and it’ll be felt within this world for a long time.

How ‘The Bad Batch’ Became Great

Admittedly, The Bad Batch wasn’t my favorite Star Wars show – something I touched upon in my review for the premiere, so I won’t spend time on that now. Season three has exceeded expectations. The animation is absolutely beautiful, the storytelling is tight and streamlined, and the stakes seem higher than ever. With essentially only Rex, Gregor, and Wolffe having plot armor (since they’re in Rebels), the viewers had no idea if any of their favorite characters would make it out of The Bad Batch season three.

While there were only a few filler episodes in season three (one of them being about Asajj Ventress, which was just so satisfying for a fan), the final stretch of episodes was on a mission. Find and save Omega. And honestly, this final stretch of episodes could have been a mini-movie. Each episode led up to the finale and a reminder that this was the end.

Such a Great Season

Let’s step back for a second and talk about the boldest thing season three did. It made Crosshair a standout character. Previously, Crosshair was the wayward son. Having decided to side with the Empire against his fellow Bad Batchers, he admittedly was my least favorite character. However, everyone on the internet can agree that Crosshair had the best arch and redemption in this season. His bond with Omega and his own personal journey was some of the best writing that this show has had to offer.

And while the show is primarily about the Bad Batchers, it was also nice seeing some of the other clones. While we don’t know where Cody is, it was great seeing Wolffe (a personal fav), Gregor, and Howzer was an absolute standout. This season was a reminder that the clones were one of the best things about Star Wars and the idea of not getting anymore of them is frankly disheartening.

Omega Is the Heart of the Show

Omega also was such a wonderful character this show. While most viewers loved Omega from the start, it’s the personal opinion of this reviewer that she wasn’t my favorite. However, just like Crosshair, Omega grew up this season. Not only was her bond with Crosshair beautiful to watch, but seeing her taking on such a mature role was great. We have always been told the clones were brothers, but the theme of family was never better earned than it was during The Bad Batch. And while Omega seemed like just a kid in the beginning, she is the glue and lifeblood of the Bad Batch.

Season three’s finale was incredibly satisfying and kept fans at the edge of their seats. It was incredibly worth watching the entire season for. To see one final battle and for the episode to be titled The Calvary Has Arrived, which was Wrecker’s first line in The Clone Wars; was a nice touch that showed fans that they are cared about. Season three felt not only like a love letter to fans of the show, but fans of the clones in general. And to see a show end on a hi…actually, no spoilers. Sorry! I know there was a lot of anxiety about the finale, but you’ll have to see it yourself.

What’s Next?

Star Wars’ next project is Tales of the Empire and while this is exciting because it’s in the same art style and is from the perspective of the Empire as opposed to the Jedi, it is sad to know that there will be no more Bad Batch. While the show ended well, we still have so many questions. What about Omega? Such an amazing character created specifically for this show – it’s odd to think we won’t see more of her. And what of the other clones? As mentioned before, we need more Wolffe, Gregor, Cody, Howzer, and Rex!

What do you think of The Bad Batch season three’s finale? Were you satisfied by its ending and do you want to see more of these beloved characters?