Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6 recap: Familiar allies

In Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6, ‘Decommissioned’, Clone Force 99 are tasked with finding a valuable droid. But what should have been an easy mission gets complicated very quickly.

The Disney Plus show has been reintroducing characters from the expanded Star Wars universe. We’ve already met Fennec Shand from The Mandalorian in The Bad Batch. This sixth instalment brings more characters from The Clone Wars into the story.

All hints point to the newest entrants having further entanglements with Clone Force 99. Perhaps not in subsequent episodes, but definitely in the future.

So, who are these familiar allies and how do they cross paths with the titular Bad Batch?

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6 – Heist Gone Wrong

Being rogue soldiers isn’t easy for Clone Force 99. In Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6, Cid sends the team on their first official mercenary mission for her—recovering a decommissioned tactical droid.

Star Wars fans will remember how menacing and capable the tactical droids were in battle. Designed to learn on the go, the tactical droids were often put in charge of battalions of droids, without any human counterparts. That’s how well they were programmed.

It’s no wonder Cid’s buyer wants one of these droids—the information it could have on the clones would be priceless.

So, where can they find these droids? In a decommissioning facility on Corellia! All Star Wars fans know that Corellia was the erstwhile home of Han Solo. But turns out the planet has quite the smelting industry going.

Infiltrating the facility is the easy part, despite all the police droids. Finding the tactical droids is far more difficult. Especially since all but one has already been destroyed.

As the squad close in on nabbing at least the head of the droid, they are pipped to the post by an unlikely adversary. The squad soon realises that they’re up against two thieves who are very good at their jobs.

The Clone Wars fans will recognise these thieves—Rafa (Elizabeth Rodriguez) and Trace Martez (Brigitte Kali), friends of Ahsoka Tano’s when she had left the Jedi Order. I love how this show is bringing back these characters!

The scuffle between Clone Force 99 and Rafa and Trace alerts the police droids, and a small problem becomes bigger than any of them can handle. When a misfired shot causes a massive leak, the entire facility shuts down and the doors are bolted. Is there any chance of escape?

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6 – Escape Plans

With Crosshair loyal to the Empire, the role of lookout keeps being tossed around the various members of Clone Force 99. We saw Echo take on the task in the previous episode, and in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6, it’s Wrecker’s turn.

Except Wrecker seems very uncomfortable with heights. Does it have to do with his constant headaches? We aren’t sure. But when the only way to escape lies in Wrecker’s hands, he has to overcome his fear of heights to save the team.

Of course, it means jumping to a platform without a bridge, which leads to Wrecker hitting his head yet again. But this time, he doesn’t get up as easily. In fact, he keeps repeating a phrase, almost like he’s being activated.

Are these headaches being caused by the inhibitor chip? If that is the case, Wrecker must address it with his team. And Clone Force 99 are going to have their work cut out if they don’t want to lose another member.

Despite all this, Wrecker manages to restart the facility and open the doors. But that also restarts the conveyor belt with Omega on it.

It’s not Star Wars if there isn’t a protagonist in jeopardy on a conveyor. Omega actually ends up in the smelting pit mere inches away from death by a heap of junk. She’s finally saved by Rafa and Hunter in the nick of time.

With more police droids than they can handle, the team come up with a truly outrageous plan—they activate the tactical droid and use it to command the decommissioned droids. It’s so illogical but it works. Unfortunately, the tactical droid head does get shot to smithereens.

Clone Force 99 are just happy to be alive, but Rafa and Trace are devastated—that droid could have been the key to fighting the Empire. Looks like the sisters have chosen their side in this fight.

Before parting ways, Hunter leaves Rafa with a gift—Tech had downloaded the tactical droid’s data and Hunter gives the information to Rafa. She and Trace are fighting the good fight and Hunter thinks its necessary to help. What’s Cid going to say about all this though?

As the episode closes, Rafa and Trace report to someone about the data they’ve found and the rogue clones who could be helpful. Who are they speaking to? The coat looks like Bail Organa’s, and he was an original member of the Rebellion. But this is a question for another day.

Final Thoughts – Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6 is Action-Packed and Meaningful

The show is really hitting its strides now. Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6 was well-packaged, with plenty of action and a connection with the Rebels.

I really hope we get to see Rafa and Trace again, and maybe even Ahsoka? I liked how easily Rafa and Trace fit into the team—they don’t exactly like Clone Force 99, but the dynamic is enjoyable.

Also, I love how Omega becomes friends with everyone. She believes the best in people and that’s wonderful, but she’s also ready to defend herself when the need arises. Omega could certainly do with friends like Rafa and Trace.

The squad are making their first forays into being mercenaries, but they aren’t very good at it. Is this going to be a problem? Are they going to get better? Could we see them join the Rebellion instead? So many questions but we’ll have a long wait for those answers.

What did you think of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 6? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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