Review: ‘The Bad Batch’ Episode 10 – ‘Retrieval’ Is a Tale of Two Crews
This week, we find our crew still stranded and a bit disheveled, looking for any angle to retrieve their stolen ship. After tracking the Marauder to an old Techno Union ipsium mine, the Bad Batch discovers the mine is under new nefarious management. The team must choose to put their trust in an unlikely ally in order to have a chance at escaping the desolate planet.
Spoilers ahead…
With the Havoc Marauder having been stolen by a mysterious thief, the team is working to repair a skiff in the hopes of making it to the nearest town… all to the soundtrack of an epic vent from Wrecker. While Tech explains the plan to revive power to the energy cells, Omega is reminded of Gonky, who remains on the Marauder. While Wrecker is skeptical of the plan, Omega attempts to activate the gonk droid’s tracking device.
Swipe cut to the Marauder flying shakily toward an ipsium mine. We are introduced to the young ship thief, Benni, harboring the captive Gonky. Upon landing the stolen ship, we witness Benni ravenously consume a partially eaten ration found on the floor of the Marauder, suggesting there is more to his situation than frivolous stealing. Just then, the doors fling open and out steps a cane-toting, claw-handed alien, named Mokko, with a crew of young workers and droids. We learn through an exchange between Benni and Mokko — or as I like to refer to him, “Space Fagin” — that Benni and his fellow subordinates work for Mokko in an Oliver Twist-esque arrangement. Each forced into a life of thievery in servanthood to the miserly master. In return, Mokko stingily rewards the “top earner” with tiny portions of water rations and food to eat, of course keeping nearly all the goods and rations for himself.
Successfully tracking Gonky, the Bad Batch sneakily approaches Benni, taking him by surprise. After a feeble attempt at escape, Benni is cornered and questioned about the location of the Marauder. He nervously agrees to lead the crew to their ship. Tech devises a plan to time the exhaust stacks as an entry point to the mine. Benni is less than thrilled with the idea.
There is a story thread beginning to emerge between the short exchanges of Omega and Benni. While both are products of their circumstances, Omega has subscribed to the ideals and mission of her adopted crew, while Benni remains there only as a means of survival.
Displaying yet another perilous feat, Hunter is the first to rappel into the exhaust stack. A frightened Benni suggests bailing on the mission, and is met with a persistent Omega stating “we don’t do that.” After narrowly escaping being incinerated, Hunter makes it into the compound followed by the rest of the gang. Benni then leads the crew through a massive mine shaft riddled with exhausted young workers under the watch of armed droids — the whole sequence puts off some serious Temple of Doom vibes. After finding the ship in need of a hyperdrive repair, the homage continues as Omega conjures a Short Round likeness while escorting Benni to the central tower in order to shut down the ray shield in hopes of escape.
I’m continually thrilled by the scoring of Kevin Kiner. This episode in particular sets a very adventurous tone musically, all while harkening back to the Indiana Jones films. His work delivers on a weekly basis, setting the sonic space for each episode.
Benni and a disguised Omega enter the mess quarters, joining a group of workers in an effort to ascertain an access card to the central tower. Mokko awards the top earner status to Benni’s apparent rival, Drake. Omega is provided a closer glimpse into the conditions her peers are subjected to, and becomes further disenchanted by their arrangement with Mokko.
Utilizing the pick-pocketed access card, Benni and Omega infiltrate the central tower control room. While Omega is scanning for the shield code, Benni, after sneakily sounding the alarm, confides that he is envious of how she is treated and accepted by the Bad Batch. Showing an act of genuine kindness, Omega offers her ration to Benni in gratitude of his help. Benni nervously eats the ration while awaiting the impending security.
Back at the Marauder, Tech draws an interesting parallel between Mokko and the Empire, stating he “appears to be using his power and means as leverage over this workers.” The Bad Batch crew and Omega are simultaneously discovered, and their escape plan seems to be unraveling quickly.
We reach the climax of the episode as tension boils to a bridge showdown nearly frame for frame to The Temple of Doom (which I’m not complaining about). Amidst the fray, Benni emerges from the control room exposing Mokko’s lies about the degraded ipsium. Confirming the truth, Drake and the oppressed workers advance on Mokko, leading to his ultimate demise. Aaaahh!
In the final act, the team is reunited with Gonky… and Wrecker with his tooka doll. Benni explains to Omega his plans to stay in the mines for now, with Mokko gone and a system providing an equal share of profit among the workers. The episode ends with a sweet moment between Omega and Tech. The young clone is coming to the realization that the Empire isn’t the only oppressive presence in the galaxy. Tech offers a consoling retort: “There are many like us out there as well, and that, is something.”
Omega is coming of age, and the Bad Batch is finding a new rhythm without Crosshair and Echo, of which she is quickly becoming the tonal center. Similar to episode 5, Entombed, the creatives behind episode 10 used troupes and homages to the Indiana Jones franchise plus a touch of classic coming-of-age literature. Between “Space Fagin” and the final bridge showdown, this episode ranks among my personal favorites thus far.
Zak is a musician and professor of music in Columbus, Ohio. He and his family share a love for Star Wars and can often be found printing 3d helmets, building lightsabers or watching their favorite show, The Mandalorian.
