Celebrate Star Wars Day with 'The Bad Batch'

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — It’s Star Wars Day 2021 and Disney+ have just released the 70-minute premier of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” to their streaming library.

You might be wondering who The Bad Batch are and where this group of ruffians fit into the Star Wars Universe timeline.

The Bad Batch are a group of clone troopers who suffer from genetic mutations. These mutations give them special abilities that are summed up by their names: Hunter, Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker. Echo is an honorary member who is half-robot, half-clone. They're outcasts, freaks of science and are viewed by other clones as fundamentally flawed. They were featured in a four-episode arc in the seventh season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” animated series and come directly from the notes of George Lucas.

Because clone troopers are traditionally identified by number, not by name, the group is officially known as Clone Force 99. Colloquially they are the Bad Batch. A name they wear with a sense of pride. If something impossible needs doing these are the soldier you turn to.

Chronologically, “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” overlaps with the end of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” and leads into the period known as the “Reign of the Empire.” “Solo: A Star Wars Story” also takes during this era. Basically, “The Bad Batch” fits between the prequel and original trilogies.

If you are new to the Star Wars Universe, this is not the best starting point as its first two episodes lean heavily on the events of “Revenge of the Sith.”

When “The Bad Batch” was announced, I wasn’t completely convinced that we needed to spend more time with Clone Force 99. Having watched the first two episodes, I’m genuinely intrigued by the possibilities of where the narrative could go. The galaxy is a big place filled with new characters, planets, and conflicts. Where the next 14 episodes will take us is blissfully unknown.

The first episodes of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” is now available on Disney+. Additional episodes will be released every Friday beginning May 7, 2021.