Crosshair is assigned to a squad under Commander Cody, tasked with rescuing an Imperial governor from Desix, a former Separatist planet struggling to remain independent from the Empire.
Tropes:
- Adaptational Sympathy: In Legends, Cody remained loyal to the Empire after its establishment, butting heads with the regular recruits while stationed on Kamino. Here, Cody is heavily implied to regret carrying out Order 66 and (as far as he knows) killing General Kenobi, and the events of this episode inspire him to defect when Grotton orders an unarmed Ames to be executed after he had just talked her down.
- All for Nothing: Cody mournfully takes in the sight of the memorial, now knowing that all the Clones who died during the war only died to enable the rise of the Empire.
- Arc Words: After Crosshair refers to the defecting clones as "traitors", Commander Cody hesitates for a moment before replying that "good soldiers follow orders", showing that he's beginning to doubt whether that's true. This doubt has solidified by the end of the episode.
- Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work: Cody clearly doesn't want to execute Ames, but Grotton is threatening to punish him if he refuses to do so. Before he can decide, Crosshair does it instead.
- Bait the Dog: The only reason Grotton entertained Cody's desire to resolve the situation peacefully was just to get Tawni Ames to let her guard down. Once she lets him go, Grotton throws out any pretenses of peace and orders Cody to execute the ex-governer. The moment Crosshair kills Ames, Cody realizes he's nothing but a puppet to a tyrannical Empire.
- Being Evil Sucks: Crosshair's Imperial service costs him one of the few friends he had left after the execution of Governor Ames spurs Cody into desertion.
- Beyond Redemption: Cody definitely feels this way towards Crosshair, who coldly executes Ames. After it transpires, Cody subtly tells Crosshair he made his bed, now he must sleep on it.
- Book Ends: Aside from the opening, which has the Nu-class attack/transport Shuttle Grotton arrived in entering Desix being used by Cody, Crosshair, and the remaining Clones in leaving the planet after Grotton's rescue and Ames's death while taking the TK Stormtroopers Grotton came with for medical attention, the episode starts and ends with Crosshair alone, trying to have a meal in the mess hall, and being summoned to Rampart’s office for a new mission.
- Boom, Headshot!: Many of the Battle Droids Crosshair disables are terminated by way of headshot.
- Call-Back:
- Rampart mentions Crosshair's stranding on Kamino. According to Crosshair, he was left adrift on the platform next to the wreckage of Tipoca City for 32 rotations before the Empire retrieved him.
- Cody brings up the Bad Batch's desertion, and Crosshair mentions that regular clones have likewise defied Order 66 and forsaken the Empire.
- Governor Ames mentions she was a friend of Mina Bonteri, and the failed motion to open peace talks between the Republic and the Separatists that Mina and Padme worked on to try and stop Clone production in its tracks.
- Cody once again faces down Commando Droids, and they are once again as formidable as they were in that episode, but ultimately no match for the clones.
- Call-Forward:
- Grotton ordering Ames' body on display in the town square is what would later happen to Cassian Andor's adoptive father Clem.
- This won't be the last time Separatist Battle Droids would try to fight off the Empire only to have their asses handed to them.
- The shot of the Venator-class Star Destroyer hovering over the capital of Desix with Imperial Nu-class attack/transport Shuttles loading and offloading troops is similar to the shots of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer over the Holy City on Jedha in Rogue One.
- Rampart and the Clones referring soon-to-be ex Governor Ames and her forces as Separatists is what Colonel Shakara Nuress of the 204th Imperial Fighter Wing would later refer the Rebel Alliance as during the events of Alphabet Squadron.
- Costume Evolution: Like all the clone troopers, Cody has been made to abandon his former color scheme (yellow, to echo Obi-Wan's hair) in favor of the dull gray of the Empire. However, he briefly looks like his old self while reassuring a family that "we're here to help" while standing under a yellow streetlight.
- Day of the Jackboot: One of the final scenes of the episode is a montage of the newly-arrived recruit Stromtroopers seizing control of the capital city, forcing the people from their homes and organizing them into work details in the fields under the watchful eye of their new Imperial overlords. Commander Cody is visibly distraught as he watches it all happen.
- Dead Guy on Display: Though we're spared the sight, Governor Grotton orders Governor Ames' body to be displayed in the town square after her execution.
- Death Glare: Governor Grotton fixes Cody with a withering stare when he hesitates to execute Governor Ames, and as more Imperial forces arrive on Desix, stares him down again, implying that he intends to report Cody's hesitation.
- Deconstruction: The episode turns the usual Clones vs. Droids setup on its head. Rather than the clones liberating a world from Separatist control, they're taking the planet to install an Imperial occupation. The Separatists this time around aren't led by profit-seeking corporate tycoons, but by a governor of the people who is trying to defend her planet's independence from a hostile takeover, and it's the Battle Droids who are fighting to protect the people from hostile invaders. There are a few moments where the episode takes musical cues from The Clone Wars but they're undercut by the fact that the clones are not the good guys this time, and none of the troopers involved come out of the mission for the better. In fact, Crosshair's unfettered adherence to the Empire drives Commander Cody to go AWOL, leaving Crosshair alone once again. The Clones don't even get to enjoy their victory before they're shuttled off-world and replaced by recruited Stormtroopers.
- Defector from Decadence: In response to the murder of Governor Ames at Crosshair's hands by Governor Grotton's order, Cody deserts the Empire.
- Defiant Captive: Grotton is this, telling Tawni Ames and her Battle Droids lackeys that he is the legit governor of Desix, since he just got the job, and that the Empire would never agree to her terms of her planet's freedom once he himself is freed.
- Double-Meaning Title: At first glance, the title refers to Crosshair, who appears to have permanently cut ties with his old squad, after personally executing his new one, and was left stranded on the platform for 32 rotations, before being rescued. However it can equally refer to Cody, who's clearly feeling isolated by the start of the episode, mentioning that some clones are beginning to question the Order, in a clear attempt to get a read on Crosshair's attitude, having heard about how the rest of Clone Force 99 disobeyed it. Throughout the mission he insists that he's only trying to help the locals, and deserts after Crosshair executes Governor Ames, whom Cody promised peace.
- Downer Ending: Though the mission is successful, Crosshair's cold execution of Governor Ames convinces the disillusioned Cody that the Empire isn't all it's cracked up to be and he goes AWOL, once again leaving Crosshair alone and without any bonds among even his fellow clones.
- Dramatic Irony:
- Governor Ames tells Governor Grotton that the Republic's transition into the fascist Empire proves that Count Dooku was right about the Republic's corruption, not knowing that Dooku and his master Darth Sidious were the ones who masterminded the Empire's creation in the first place (though the former himself was lied to by Sidious, who allowed him to think what he was doing will be for the greater good).
- Ames mentions the failed peace treaty championed by Mina Bonteri, saying it was rejected by then-Supreme Chancellor Palpatine; Ames is unaware that not only would Dooku have never allowed the treaty to be passed, but he had Bonteri killed not long after, since said treaty would've stopped more of Cody and Crosshair's "brothers" from being recruited to fight those evil Separatists and later the Jedi, who tried to kill Palpatine.
- Cody is all but said to regret carrying out Order 66 and presumably being responsible for the death of Obi-Wan, and believes he personally chose to do it. He is unaware of the inhibitor chips that forced the clones to carry out the order, and of the fact that Obi-Wan survived.
- Elite Mooks: The Droidekas and the Commando Droids prove to be a handful for Crosshair, Cody and their squad, with the latter being the last line of Ames' defense against the Empire.
- Evil Costume Switch: Downplayed. Cody changes the colors on his armor from orange to grey after the Republic was dissolved, but though he's initially loyal to the Empire, he's hesitant about whether or not they're doing the right thing. Later it becomes Subverted when he's had enough of what his superiors are doing and goes AWOL.
- Evil Is Petty: While Grotton is rightfully aggrieved at being taken hostage, he feels the need to not only order Governor Ames' execution after she's been convinced to release him unharmed, but to have her body displayed in the town square out of pure spite.
- Exact Words: Commander Cody refuses to execute Governor Ames, having agreed with her to settle things peacefully just seconds earlier. Governor Grotton retorts that he made no such promise and repeats the execution order, which Crosshair eventually carries out.
- Face Death with Dignity: After Grotton orders her execution, Governor Ames blithely replies "so much for peace", but neither runs nor tries to defend herself before Crosshair guns her down.
- Foreshadowing: The Imperial Defense Recruitment Bill is mentioned by 2 Clones, with one mentioning he hopes it never passes in the Imperial Senate. Said Bill is a major plot point 4 and 5 episodes later.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Even among other clones, Crosshair seems highly unpopular; once he sits down to eat in the commissary, two clones at the same table immediately get up and leave. Only Cody gives him the time of day, and even then, he's clearly unsettled at Crosshair executing Governor Ames and deserts by the end of the episode.
- The Guards Must Be Crazy: Unsurprisingly, the Battle Droids do a terrible job checking for survivors of the crash. Only one droid examines a single clone's corpse, briefly peers around the dark, cluttered interior of the ship, and reports there were no survivors. This gives Crosshair and Cody time to retaliate and regroup.
- Heel–Face Turn: Cody carried out Order 66, but has regained enough of his personality and morals to question it and ultimately defect from the Empire.
- I Have This Friend: Cody mentions that "some clones" have started questioning Order 66, trying to get a feel for how Crosshair feels about the Empire.
- Insistent Terminology:
- Rampart identifies the clones by their CT number, and is ignorant of the names they've given themselves to be as dismissive of them as possible. Even Palpatine bothered to learn the troopers' names for at least the implementation of Order 66.
- Rampart and the Clones refer to Ames and her forces as "Separatists", even though the Confederacy of Independent Systems is no more, and Ames is simply trying to maintain her planet's independence, as they left the Republic and don't want to be part of the Empire.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Cody gives a speech to Ames saying that resisting the Empire will only cause suffering for her people, and that she'll do more good working with the Imperials to try to make the system work better for the people of Desix than fighting against it. She listens and releases Governor Grotton, who immediately orders her execution, proving the Empire is just as violent and despicable as she thought it was.
- Ironic Echo: 2 Battle Droids shoot down the shuttle from the safety of their Armored Assault Tank with one saying nice shot to his comrade and giving him a high five. When Crosshair destroys the Armored Assault Tank by firing a shot from his sniper rifle into its gun barrel, Cody says the exact same thing to Crosshair, apparently amused.
- Killed Mid-Sentence: Inverted. Governer Grotton threatens Cody for refusing to carry out his order to execute Tawni Ames, and just before he finishes his threat, Crosshair fires a shot. Instead, it's Ames who gets killed.
- Kill It with Fire: The Clones under Cody's command do this to the remaining Battle Droids with one of them using a BT X-42 heavy flame projector.
- Locked Out of the Loop: While Obi-Wan Kenobi would have the Fifth Brother mention the Inquisitors did search for Obi-Wan for some time after the formation of the Empire before deciding as a group he was dead, Cody is implied to believe he was responsible for Obi-Wan's death on Utapau.
- Make an Example of Them: After Governor Ames is executed, Governor Grotton orders her body to be dumped in the town square as an example of what happens to those who defy the Empire.
- Manchild: Grotton is a clearly inexperienced, young Imperial who wants his governorship served to him on a silver platter. He condescendingly tells Ames her request for neutrality was declined and whines that he's the real governor for the duration of his captivity.note He then crosses into Psychopathic Manchild when he demands Cody execute Ames after she peacefully surrendered, and once Crosshair does it, he demands her body be thrown onto the square in front of her people and later glares at Cody for not following the order.
- Meaningful Name: Governor Grotton is "rotten" to the core; a whiny, wannabe tyrant who orders the execution and public display of the woman who took him hostage the second the clones rescue him. It's implied he would have torpedoed Cody's career for defying his orders, if the Commander didn't desert first.
- Metaphorically True: Regarding the Republic's transition into the Empire, Governor Ames notes that Count Dooku "must have seen it coming". In a way, he did — he was part of the elaborate scheme that led to its creation.
- Mythology Gag: The mission to rescue Grotton from Ames holding him hostage is similar to the 501st's Battle of Naboo, right down to a sniper ominously aiming at and shooting a female ruler who explored military options instead of letting an Imperial assume leadership without a fight.
- Ominous Floating Spaceship: A Venator-class Star Destroyer is visible in the sky over the capital of Desix at the end, overseeing the occupation of the planet.
- Out of Focus: The other members of the Bad Batch don't appear in this episode.
- Properly Paranoid: Ames is savvy enough to know that the Empire won't send an actual diplomatic envoy to negotiate Grotton's release and prepares accordingly.
- The Remnant: Desix's Battle Droid battalion either didn't get the shutdown command message after Anakin/Vader slaughtered the Separatist Council on Mustafar or were recommissioned later, prompting Rampart to send Crosshair and Cody to clean up the mess and save Grotton.
- Shout-Out: Ames says that, after Mina Bonteri's peace treaty was rejected by the Chancellor, she knew that peace was never an option.
- Smug Snake: Grotton is one of the young, untested variety. When Ames says she sued for Desix to remain neutral, he arrogantly tells her that her request was obviously declined given he's present to assume governorship. He spends most of his time as a hostage whining about how he's the real governor.
- Straight for the Commander: The battle for Desix is decisively finished when Crosshair manages to take out the Tactical Droid coordinating the droid battalion's defense. With it gone, the remaining battle droids lose their cohesion and become easy targets for the clones to mop up.
- Taking You with Me: Nova, one of the Clones under Cody's command, is shot by 2 Commando Droids, though his detonators kill them in return.
- These Hands Have Killed: Cody is heavily implied to have deep regrets about carrying out Order 66 and killing Obi-Wan (though the audience is aware that Kenobi did survive).
- Tranquil Fury: Crosshair doesn't lose his temper, but he's visibly seething when Rampart snarks that clone loyalty isn't as powerful as it used to be, given his issues with loyalty regarding the Batch. Rampart picks up on it and even asks if Crosshair has a problem.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Grotton gives Cody a half-hearted thanks for saving him before ordering him to execute Ames. Any gratitude he has evaporates when Cody refuses to execute the unarmed Ames.
- Villain Episode: The current lineup of the titular Bad Batch doesn't appear; the episode focuses instead on ex-Bad Batcher Crosshair and the squad's old ally Cody, who both serve the Empire.
- Villain Has a Point: Despite Grotton's whining at the Battle Droids and Governor Ames, he's correct to point out that the Separatists lost the Clone Wars and that they'll lose this fight, which is exactly what happens later in this episode.
- Villainous Rescue: A rare case of a villainous Minion squad sent to rescue a governor who's held hostage by Governor Ames and her Battle Droid battalion.
- We Used to Be Friends: Cody's relationship with Crosshair at the end of the episode is completely dissolved after Crosshair's execution of Governor Ames.
- You Are Number 6: Naturally, Rampart refers to both Cody and Crosshair by their designation numbers rather than their chosen names, and he doesn't even seem to know Cody's name when Crosshair uses it instead of his number. Even Palpatine could be bothered to remember the names of clones he was personally familiar with.
