Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10 recap: Tough Calls

In Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10, “Common Ground,” Clone Force 99 are tasked with a rescue mission. The target? Not someone they would want to save.

We’ve been seeing a lot of the immediate fallout of Imperial rule in this Disney Plus show. The Empire swept in and made sweeping changes, but what of the people who were crushed under their thumb? Turns out there were more people opposed to the Empire than originally thought.

When the Empire arrives on the formerly-Separatist planet Raxus, viewers get an inkling of how the Empire really took over the galaxy. Through force and intimidation. But while many planets in the galaxy had little choice but to capitulate, the Senator of Raxus, Avi Singh (Alexander Siddig), refuses.

Instead of accepting Imperial rule, the Senator incites his people to rise up. Taken into custody, Singh’s trusty droid, GS-8 (Sian Clifford), sweeps into action and calls for help. The person on the other end of the call? Cid, Clone Force 99’s current employer.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10 – Old Wounds

Clone Force 99 aren’t pleased at being given a new mission so soon after their last one. But they still have a massive debt to pay off in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10—they have no choice but to do as Cid asks.

But Hunter is also cognizant of the fact that two bounty hunters are after Omega. She needs to lay low. That means being benched for the mission. The child takes it exactly as badly as one would expect.

Meanwhile, the Bad Batch have other concerns. While Raxus is a planet they had always wanted to visit, rescuing a Separatist senator rubs them the wrong way.

Star Wars fans will remember that the Separatists were as much enemies as the Sith in the prequel trilogy and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Most clones spent their careers fighting Separatists. No matter how noble Senator Singh’s intentions are now, the Bad Batch don’t want this mission.

But the debt is incentive enough for them to take the gig. Clone Force 99 are met by GS-8 on Raxus and they manage to infiltrate the Senator’s home where he is being held.

The team work like a well-oiled machine even under the most stressful circumstances. They commandeer a walker, all while keeping the Senator and his droid safe. Even when the walker is damaged, Hunter and Wrecker hold the incoming stormtroopers at bay long enough to escape.

It helps that the Senator knows his city well. He points them to a dead end, which actually hides a tunnel that will lead them back to the Marauder.

The Senator hesitates at the final moment, though. Leaving one’s planet in Imperial hands isn’t an easy decision. But the Senator wouldn’t be allowed to live—his best bet for saving his people is to escape now and join the Rebellion. With one last look at Raxus, Senator Singh boards the Marauder.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10 – Child’s Play

Back on Ord Mantell, Omega isn’t taking her benching well. It doesn’t help that Cid’s way of occupying the child is to make her scrub the parlour.

Omega isn’t just upset because she’s been left behind in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10—she’s frustrated at feeling useless. Omega is part of the team and she wants to help, not to hinder.

The Bad Batch have become more accustomed to having Omega in their squad. So much so, that during the mission, Hunter even asks for Tech and Omega to handle one set of guards, even though Omega’s not there! That’s how integral Omega has become to Clone Force 99.

But Omega does find a way to be a part of the team even when she’s separated from them. While watching Cid play—and lose—a game of Dejarik, Omega shares her strategies for winning. Omega is really good at this!

So good, in fact, that Cid puts Omega to work—playing more customers in the parlour and winning for Cid. And Omega gets to keep 60% of the winnings.

By the time Clone Force 99 return with the Senator and GS-8, there is a massive crowd at the parlour, watching in awe as the child prodigy defeats player after player.

Hunter is annoyed that Omega has called so much attention herself, but Cid scolds him for being ungrateful. Omega’s strategic playing has won her enough money that she’s wiped out the Bad Batch’s debt. They can start off with a clean slate now. Talk about being an invaluable team member!

Final Thoughts – Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10 Pulls Back the Curtain Further

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10 was action-heavy, more in the vein of Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes. The animation was slick and made the episode so much fun to watch.

I’m not sure how I feel about Senator Singh having a very obviously Indian name and features when Raxus itself has few nods to the Indian subcontinent. Star Wars has had a long history of coopting South Asian elements poorly. Perhaps if we meet Senator Singh again, things might be better?

I am thrilled to see Alexander Siddig in the voice cast. A Star Trek alum in the Star Wars universe, Siddig imbued Senator Singh with a great deal of nuance. I do hope we see the Senator again.

The show has hit its stride, but that opening interlude on Raxus makes me wonder whether we need to see more of what’s happening around the Bad Batch. The team is interesting, but so is the galaxy. Will we get to learn more about the galaxy while still giving Clone Force 99 room to grow?

What did you think of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 10? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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