Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5 recap: Monsters and Men

In Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5, ‘Rampage’, Clone Force 99 finds themselves in dire straits and it’s up to Omega to rescue them. Easier said than done when there’s a monster on your tail.

Star Wars fans have been enjoying the throwbacks in this Disney Plus show, and there’s plenty in this episode. From the location of events to a very familiar creature, fans will find themselves excitedly pointing out Easter eggs.

Following their run-in with a bounty hunter in the previous episode, Clone Force 99 wants to learn who’s chasing them. More importantly, who hired the bounty hunter in the first place? At this point, there are a few contenders.

But before they look for answers, the team needs to equip their newest member, Omega, with a comm device. It used to belong to the erstwhile fifth member of the team, Crosshair, but since his defection to the Empire, Omega’s joined in. And now, she can stay in touch with the squad. Since Omega has a habit of wandering off, this is a wise move.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5 – The Informant

While Omega enjoys her new gizmo—and who wouldn’t—Clone Force 99 steer towards Ord Mantell. Yes, Star Wars fans, that Ord Mantell, name-dropped by Han Solo himself in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Why are the squad going to Ord Mantell in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5? Because Echo knows of an informant there, Cid, who used to help the Jedi. The problem is that Echo’s never actually met Cid and has no idea what the informant looks like.

In a shady underground bar, the squad asks the nearest person where Cid is. Of course, that answer isn’t forthcoming. While the clones argue the next steps, Omega identifies the very same person as Cid.

Cid (Rhea Perlman) didn’t want to reveal her identity immediately, but the Bad Batch was a bit too quick to give up. They’re clearly not used to functioning outside of a war.

Information is always at a premium in this galaxy. Details about the bounty hunter will come at a price. Cid asks the squad to find Muchi, a child taken by the Zygerrian slave traders. She’ll share the profits 70-30. Doesn’t sound very fair but any money is a help right now.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans will recall the Zygerrians. They’d kidnapped Anakin Skywalker not so long ago—the Zygerrian queen had taken a liking to him. If the slave trade had survived under the Republic, it’s positively thriving under the Empire.

Clone Force 99 can’t wait to rescue Muchi, and any other slaves who may have been taken. Omega is learning a very harsh lesson about the outside world. But her enthusiasm for doing good is infectious.

Unfortunately, Hunter doesn’t allow Omega to join the mission to save Muchi. Omega is ordered back to the ship. Not for long!

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5 – The Captive

Clone Force 99 has a great plan to rescue Muchi in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5. It’s derailed within seconds.

While the team has accounted for the slavers, they don’t know about the brezak, the Zygerrians’ loyal flying reptile. The brezak rounds up the Bad Batch and they’re captured in no time.

The Zygerrians then search the squad’s ship, but Omega manages to escape in time. She finds the squad and something else. The Zygerrians have a massive cage with a very angry creature within. Would be a shame if someone were to unlock that cage.

The inhabitant of the cage is a very angry adolescent Rancor, who provides enough distraction for the team to escape their bonds and free the remaining captives, including Muchi. Except Muchi isn’t one of the humanoid captives. Muchi is the angry rancor!

That complicates things. The team still needs to nab the rancor and get her back to Cid. Fortunately, Muchi makes short work of the brezak, leaving Hunter to take down the lead Zygerrian.

When it comes to subduing Muchi, Wrecker fights her until Muchi gives up her alpha position. It takes him longer than usual—is this because of the frequent headaches he’s been getting?

With Muchi safe, Cid happily hands the rancor over to Bib Fortuna, right-hand Twi’lek for Jabba the Hutt. Is this the rancor who almost ate Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi? Apparently, it isn’t, but Jabba probably kept a few rancors in his palace.

This first mercenary mission didn’t go as planned but the squad won in the end. And now they’ve learned that the bounty hunter chasing them is Fennec Shand, an up-and-coming hotshot who’s obviously been hired by someone powerful.

Cid knows something is up if Fennec is after the squad. She won’t tell but she does give the team the option to continue being mercenaries. This is not the life they signed up for but what else is the Bad Batch going to do when they’re wanted by the Empire? We see a new career in the offing for this lot.

Final Thoughts – Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5 is Pure Adrenaline

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5 was a ton of fun. I loved the action. There was so much happening—chases, hand-to-hand combat, creatures fighting each other, as well as plenty of humor.

Omega has already become my favorite character on the show. She’s innocent but not naïve; she’s constantly learning and adapting. And she’s got an enormous heart, which is wonderful. Omega reminds me a bit of Ahsoka in the early seasons of The Clone Wars, except with a ton more wide-eyed curiosity.

It looks like Bad Batch has finally hit its stride and knows where it’s going now. So far, it’s been about setup—the dawn of the Empire and the end of the clones. With that context out of the way, we can see Clone Force 99 thrive in their new circumstances.

What did you think of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch is streaming on Disney Plus.