These clones don’t follow orders.

The Bad Batch is a brand new entry in the catalog of animated Star Wars series and is now airing on Disney+. The story follows a group of experimental, misfit clones known as The Bad Batch as they travel the galaxy in the time following the aftermath of The Clone Wars series. Dee Bradley Baker provides the voice of all of the clone troopers as he did previously throughout The Clone Wars TV series.      

The Bad Batch is made up of clones Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair and Echo; the latter being an important character in multiple stories from The Clone Wars. The events of the first episode begin at the moment Order 66 (a top secret order identifying all Jedi as traitors to the Galactic Republic subject to summary execution by the Grand Army of the Republic) is given.

However, unlike the rest of the clone army, The Bad Batch don’t follow the order to execute the Jedi. Instead they exhibit what Admiral Tarkin (Stephen Stanton) calls “a concerning level of disobedience and disregard for orders.” Now that the republic army has changed, The Bad Batch stands out more than they used to amongst the new clone directive.      

They are eventually joined by Omega, (Michelle Ang) a young female clone with medical knowledge. She has been living on Kamino, the home of the clones, and decides to help them as they fight against the new empire. While on Kamino, The Bad Batch are met with a test from Admiral Tarkin, who is questioning the necessity of clones in the Galactic Empire’s army. When they see first-hand what the Empire’s missions are like – being sent to execute a group of civilians Tarkin refers to as Insurgents – they firmly decide to rebel.      

The first episode has good action, mystery and animation, along with a great soundtrack and voice acting. The Bad Batch will be faced with the numerous challenges that come with being rebellious clones in the Empire’s new galaxy, and the future of their endeavors is full of potential, especially given that a few familiar faces from The Clone Wars series are most likely going to return.

The series is slated to run for sixteen episodes and with a new one dropping every Friday on Disney+.