Review: ‘The Bad Batch’ Episode 4 – ‘Faster’ Ups the Ante With Cid
The fourth episode of The Bad Batch, titled Faster, aired today, and with it came another up close and personal view of the seedy underworld of Ord Mantell. Written by Matt Michnovetz and directed by Steward Lee, Tech fans will once again rejoice at the continued exploration of a character that was primarily given witty one-liners in season 1.
In stark contrast from last week’s Imperial update on Crosshair, this week we receive action of a different sort as Tech, Wrecker, and Omega lend Cid a helping hand at the race track of Safa Toma on Ord Mantell. As was revealed in the trailer, we know Tech gets behind the wheel at some point, and it’s a delight to watch how this unfolds.
While the action places Tech squarely at the center, the real character dive is all about Cid. We’re well aware of Cid’s morally questionable business decisions, but she’s always managed to stay just shy of the hard line. She doesn’t trade in spice (as far as we know), although she has no compunctions about stealing it and endangering Omega’s life to save the parlor, as seen in Season 1, Episode 13 Infested. This episode hints at a darker past for Cid and sets the stage for a potential crossroads for her and The Bad Batch.
The “riot races”, as they’re called in Safa Toma, provide a colorful and rousing backdrop for this character development, and are a new experience for Tech, Wrecker, and Omega, once again proving to them just how sheltered their life as clones has been so far.
Spoilers ahead…
We begin the episode in Cid’s Parlor over a game of dejarik, immediately establishing a gambling theme as Omega bests Wrecker for the second time, eliciting a “double or nothing” challenge from Wrecker. We’ll see this come up again later. I was hoping we’d revisit Omega’s dejarik prowess in this season, and even though it’s a quick scene, I was happy to see she’s keeping her skills sharp.
Hunter and Echo are out on a “mission”, which we quickly learn is a delivery errand for Cid. Tech expresses irritation at what he views as a waste of The Bad Batch’s skill set, demonstrating to viewers discontent among the group outside of Echo’s moral compass, and further emphasizing this narrative fulcrum for the season. Eventually, the gang will be forced to take action against the Empire. But not today, today we’re riot racing!
Once at the track, we’re introduced to Cid’s racer, TAY-0, a swaggering, self-assured droid — played by Ben Schwartz — who is quick with retorts and the comedic heart of the episode. We later learn that many of the racers are droids, including spectacularly painted protocol droids, a commando droid, and a B1 battle droid with the body of a protocol droid; a fun callback to C-3PO’s unfortunate mishap during the first battle of Geonosis in Attack of the Clones.
We then meet Millegi, a fellow underworld entrepreneur and successful racing crew leader who clearly goes way back with Cid. Later in the episode, Millegi warns The Bad Batch about Cid, hinting that she previously betrayed him and can’t be trusted. However, viewers can tell from the start that there’s water under the bridge, and when Cid quickly agrees to her and Millegi’s old side bet, it’s obvious to Tech, Wrecker, and Omega that there’s more emotion at play for Cid than there is business acumen.
When TAY-0 is, literally, tossed out of the race by Millegi’s star racer, Jet Venim, Omega is quick to step in and offer Millegi a double or nothing bet on Cid’s behalf. A foolhardy plan that even has Wrecker leaning in with concern.
It’s fun to see Tech’s skills applied to the world of riot racing as he, Wrecker, and Omega work together to repair Cid’s speeder. When TAY-0 gets struck by an errant racer and is busted apart for the second time in the episode, Tech steps up to take his place. Having analyzed all angles of the race closely in true Tech fashion, he is able to take educated risks that cinch a narrow victory. Kiner’s cyberpunk-style synth beat throughout Tech’s race is a fun departure from the typical orchestral backdrop we get in Star Wars, and really amplifies the experience, making it feel more like a video game than an animated series in the heat of the moment.
Gazing in satisfaction at the crowd chanting his name, Tech gives his newly formed fans a small wave, a surprising move for a character that we rarely see smile or enjoy anything. As Omega learns about the priceless joy a simple toy can bring (Season 2, Episode 2 Ruins of War), so too does The Bad Batch experience the joy in new and normal experiences – winning, not in battle with lives on the line, but for the sake of being the best.
Some fans may roll their eyes at what will likely be dubbed “a filler episode.” In defense of the lowly filler episode, these stories are often given the crucial task of ground-floor character development. Yet another instance of Omega sticking her neck out for Cid, tied with Cid’s shifty glances throughout the episode, only serves to increase our suspicion of her loyalty, while hoping that she comes through for the team in the end. Whatever conflict is in store for The Bad Batch and Cid, it will hit harder now that we’ve seen this shared triumph. And who can say no to TAY-0, a droid whose hubris may even put Chopper to shame. I rest my case.
When she isn't watching her friends and family's eyes glaze over at the mention of The Clone Wars, she's at the park with her dog, Melvin, or on the couch with a book in one hand and a drink in the other. Physically, she lives in Ohio; spiritually, she lives in Naboo.
