Review: The Bad Batch Episode 13 - Into The Breach Sees Echo Return in Solid But Forgettable Installment

We're on the straight and narrow with The Bad Batch now, as the gang comes up with a plan to rescue Omega. While this episode is undoubtedly integral to the main plot, it still ended up feeling like a forgettable 'mission of the week' story.



That format isn't necessarily a bad thing -- they have to show us how the Bad Batch make it to Tantiss somehow and there's only two episodes left after this -- but it felt a bit isolated from last week's episode and the content just didn't get me as excited as it has done in previous episodes. There's definitely some tension as the Bad Batch are forced to adapt their plan, especially towards the end, and Rampart does provide some genuinely fun comedic banter, but the episode lacks the twists and turns necessary to make things truly exciting.



The biggest surprise this week was that Echo has returned to help get Omega back, with the roster almost back to what it was in the season premiere (miss you, Tech). Echo gets some great moments to shine here and is pretty integral to the mission. I really enjoyed seeing him in action again, and it looks like he'll be on board for the rest of the season now.



We also check in with Omega as she looks for a way to escape Tantiss again, but this is mostly just getting things in place before she actually escapes later in the season.



This isn't a bad episode by any means, but it's probably one of the least memorable in the series. Rampart banter aside, I imagine this is one most fans will skip on future rewatches.



Spoilers ahead...







The episode picks up with Omega inside The Vault on Tantiss. She's immediately looking for a way to break out, but has to let Emerie Karr take her blood first. While we know Emerie will eventually turn heel by the end of the season, that can't happen until she has to react to Omega escaping or the Bad Batch arriving, so we see her trying to reassure Omega -- and herself? -- that the children here are safe and under good care. Omega nabs one of the sharp implements used by the droids while Karr's not looking, which will become a key tool in her escape.



She gets the lay of the land from the other children and lets them in on her plan. Using the stolen rod, she manages to unpick the modular blocks on her cell wall and uncovers a shaft that they'll be able to climb down when the time comes. There's a moment of tension as one of the other scientists comes to investigate as soon as Omega heads to her room, but she gets everything put back in its place in time.



This other scientist is basically the model of what Emerie Karr is supposed to be: unfeeling, science-first and no morals whatsoever. It would seem Karr's clone background is what sets her apart from her colleagues. It wouldn't surprise me if the two characters come up against each other when Omega tries to escape and the Bad Batch arrives.







The rest of the episode is with the remaining members of the Bad Batch, who are actually looking pretty strong. They rendezvous with Echo on that old Kaminoan cloning facility from the first season where Fennec Shand and Cad Bane were duking it out, and apart from Tech and Omega, the gang's back together again.



Rampart explains that the only way to get to Tantiss is to dock at an Imperial orbital station over Coruscant and get the coordinates uploaded to their ship's navicomputer from there. His banter with the Bad Batch is pretty fun. Neither party trusts each other and their relationship is just as entertaining as you'd expect when two enemies are forced to work together. He often sighs and questions their plans, and they're not thrilled about bringing him along either.  He doesn't betray them on board the station, but I suspect that moment will come when they reach Tantiss; I don't think a redemption arc is coming for the former vice admiral.



When they board the orbital station, they're immediately greeted by a grumpy Imperial officer who wants to know why their ship has docked in his bay unscheduled. Rampart plays his role perfectly here -- wearing a captain's uniform, he assumes the role of arrogant Imperial perfectly, acting like he belongs and confidently threatening anyone who dares questions him. He's probably the most entertaining part of the episode.







Echo gives him a run for his money, sneaking into the hangar bay with the science vessel once it becomes clear that they have to nab the coordinates from a ship already scheduled to head to Tantiss, rather than sending them to their own. He narrowly avoids the attention of a clone commando and infiltrates the ship via the hoover funnel that sucks up droids. I appreciated the creativity on show, an excellent example of what Echo brings to the team. I wish they'd shown this sort of thing back when he was on the team regularly; it would have helped differentiate him from Tech.



The rest of the team rush back to their ship and exit the station, waiting for Echo to disable the science ship's sensors so they can latch on their shuttle and join them in hyperspace. This was where the tension really ratcheted up for me, as I started to wonder if only Echo was going to make the trip and would have to open the way for the other three in the next episode.



That doesn't happen, but it would have made for a more exciting cliffhanger if it had. He manages to deactivate the sensors and the Bad Batch make it just in time. The episode ends as they jump to hyperspace, with next week presumably seeing them arrive on Tantiss. This wasn't a classic episode by any means, but it had some highs and moved the story along.

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