‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Season 3 Finally Reaches the Series’ True Potential

This spoiler-free review is made possible by advanced screeners of Episodes 1-8 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3 provided to Agents of Fandom by Disney and Lucasfilm for review purposes.

The first two seasons of Star Wars: The Bad Batch have been an enjoyable but uneven ride. The found family trope shown with Clone Force 99 has always been the highlight. However, the series has struggled to find exactly who its audience is, and how it fits into the larger Star Wars universe.

Thankfully, Star Wars: The Bad Batch has finally found its groove in Season 3. The emotional beats and great character arcs between the main cast continue to be the best part, and Dee Bradley Baker is once again incredible as the entire group of clones, and Michelle Ang continues to shine as Omega.

Additionally, The Bad Batch Season 3 latches on to a darker tone that suits the series very well. The show ties into the larger Star Wars lore in a very meaningful way, and the bigger stakes and scope will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Star Wars: The Bad Batch delivers the best season of the series to date and rivals the prowess of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Review: A Bigger, Darker, Wild Ride That Is Worth the Watch

Since the inception of the series, Omega’s role in the grand scheme of the story has been unclear. She’s a clone with clear differences from the others, but it’s not exactly explained how or why. This finally begins to change throughout the first eight episodes of Season 3. Omega’s role becomes clearly defined as her new purpose drastically increases the season’s stakes.

Omega’s journey is the highlight of the season. Complementary to this, there are also plenty of heartfelt moments for Hunter, Crosshair, and the rest of Clone Troop 99, and Crosshair continues to play a major part in the series after his redemption arc began back in Season 2. While he has made some poor decisions since Order 66, his character growth is a highlight of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3.

The darker, more emotional tone the series has taken on as of late has significantly benefited the storytelling. Although the group spends a large portion of the season apart, their roles in each other’s lives are prevalent throughout each episode.

‘The Bad Batch’ Season 3 Delivers Epic Appearances From Fan Favorites

The official trailer revealed that Emperor Palpatine and Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) will be appearing in the series. However, plenty of other notable characters from previous Star Wars shows and movies appear in The Bad Batch Season 3 as well. While the plot primarily focuses on the main cast, the additional appearances of popular characters significantly enhance the story.

The biggest difference between the first eight episodes of the third season and previous seasons is the epic upgrade in stakes. The story connects to the extended Star Wars universe and provides added clarity to various other projects. However, despite the larger scope, Season 3 still wonderfully maintains the chemistry and focus on Clone Troop 99.

‘The Bad Batch’ Season 3 Is Top-Tier Star Wars Animation

When The Bad Batch debuted, the purpose of the series was unclear. Sure, it was entertaining, but it was tough to discern the vision back in Season 1. Fast-forward to the present, and now Season 3 is a pivotal part of Star Wars lore. It’s the best season of the series to date, and it’s not particularly close. If the first eight episodes are any indication, the third season of The Bad Batch is set to be among the best seasons of Star Wars animation.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3 is now streaming on Disney+. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest Star Wars news, reviews, and theories. For deep dives into The Bad Batch Season 3 subscribe to the Agents of Fandom wherever you get your podcasts.