Review: ‘The Bad Batch’ Episode 14 – ‘Tipping Point’ Dawdles a Bit and Preps for Action
We’re back with Crosshair in Mount Tantiss, and his situation hasn’t at all improved. On Pabu, we’re shown a different story, demonstrating a stark contrast between Crosshair and the rest of the Bad Batch. We caught up with some more clones too, including some I was certain we’d see again and some I wasn’t.
Pabu continues to act as sanctuary and paradise for the Batch and the rest of the refugees on the island, but by the end of the episode Hunter and the gang will be forced to make a choice that has been dogging them since episode 1, will they act against the rising forces of evil or will they protect their own?
Despite being the final episode prior to the two-episode season finale next week, not a lot happens in Tipping Point. I hoped we would progress a bit further in the plot with this episode, or find out more concerning what’s driving Dr. Hemlock’s motivations in Mount Tantiss. We’ll have to wait for the real action next week.
The stage is set.
Spoilers ahead…
We begin the episode with Echo, Gregor, and Fireball’s daring rescue of a handful of fellow clone troopers being held prisoner inside an Imperial transport. It’s a fun scene with no real stakes, as I’m certain from the start they’ll succeed. Who are they rescuing? None other than the suavely styled Captain Howzer, notable for his righteous stand against Rampart’s forces in season 1, led by Crosshair at the time, on Ryloth during the escape of Cham and Eleni Syndulla. I’m shocked he’s made it this long, but also pleasantly surprised. During the rescue, Echo manages to retrieve a partial amount of information from the Imperial transport’s data banks — the data is heavily encrypted, thus enter Tech.
Meanwhile, at Mount Tantiss, Dr. Hemlock is intent upon retrieving information from Crosshair about the location of Clone Force 99. He offers Crosshair a “clean slate” in exchange for this information. Could this be a reference to the popular theory of the Empire turning Crosshair into a phase zero Dark Trooper? Perhaps. When Crosshair refuses, Dr. Hemlock is quick to use an interrogator droid to achieve his aim.
Let’s talk about Dr. Hemlock’s assistant, Emerie Karr. When chatter started to circulate after episode 12 The Outpost that there was more to Emerie than met the eye, particularly given her New Zealand accent plus a role as laboratory assistant in a cloning research facility, all eerily similar to Omega, I totally wrote it off. She’s a pawn, I thought, and no more. In today’s episode, the clues are there for all to see. Each shot on Karr lingers just a bit too long, giving the audience time to analyze her expressions and question her loyalties. When Crosshair shoots his stormtrooper guards and aims the blaster at Karr, her desperate pleas telling him he won’t be able to escape using her access card seem almost conspiratorial. I’m still not 100 percent convinced of her narrative importance, but she has a part to play yet in season 2, of that I am convinced.
Indeed, she is correct about Crosshair not being able to escape the facility, but not before he’s able to send out a warning message to the rest of the Bad Batch. Brief but effective, he sends out “Plan 88.”
Back on Pabu, we’re shown the rebuilding process on the island and everything is going smoothly. Wrecker is reeling in fish, and Hunter is discussing their future plans with Shep. Tech is giving Omega flying lessons; the Havoc Marauder plunging down in daring dives across the screen in a fun parallel to the bold flying we just saw Gregor perform in the opening scene. This brief glimpse of peace stands in juxtaposition to Crosshair’s imprisonment in Mount Tantiss, and raises the stakes for the group. They’ve always had to carefully protect their family unit, but their violent and nomadic lifestyle meant that a rescue mission was just another Taungsday. Now, they’ve been presented with a future and a home. More to gain, more to lose.
Omega’s reaction when Echo is on approach to the island is a much needed heartwarming moment in this episode. This warm fuzzy feeling quickly dissipates when Echo hands the data rod over to Tech. Outside of Echo’s brief comment about the Batch not being on Ord Mantell, the Cid plotline is tabled for today. I’m still holding out a modicum of hope that she’ll show up looking for the team next week.
A quick jump back over to Mount Tantiss shows Dr. Hemlock speaking with Tarkin. In a shift from Rampart’s sycophantic behavior, Dr. Hemlock holds his weight against Tarkin. Both equally calculating and capable of cruelty. Obviously, we’re rooting for Dr. Hemlock’s demise, but it was fun to see him push back against Tarkin.
We return to Pabu once again to find that Tech has de-encrypted the data rod, revealing that the Imperial transport was reporting to Dr. Hemlock, a formerly disgraced Republic scientist. That’s not all, as the ship’s logs also reveal that Crosshair was taken prisoner. Upon further investigation, Tech finds Crosshair’s distress signal, sent to one of their old communication channels. Now, the Batch are forced to weigh Crosshair’s previous betrayals against the possibility that he turned against the Empire. How far does that trust extend?
We’ll find out next week during the two-episode season finale. While you’re waiting, check out last week’s review of The Bad Batch season 2 episode 13 if you haven’t.
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.
