Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale recap: That sinking feeling

The Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale, “Kamino Lost,” is an unexpected end to the season. The episode is almost entirely a survival tale with several tense moments that keep the viewer engaged.

In the previous episode of the Disney Plus show, Clone Force 99 was reunited, but this was not a happy occasion.

They learned that their errant brother Crosshair was not being influenced by his inhibitor chip—he was acting off his own volition and dedication to being a soldier who follows orders.

To make matters worse, the squad was trapped on Kamino while the Empire fired upon the planet and the central city. When last we saw them, Clone Force 99 was imprisoned in a fast-sinking city. Do they survive?

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 Finale – A watery grave

The Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale starts off with the team running to find shelter as the facility they’re in plummets into the ocean. Wrecker is still carrying an unconscious Crosshair when the squad is briefly split up.

Due to a power outage, Omega, AZ and Crosshair are trapped in a section that’s sinking rapidly. Omega and AZ are all right, but Crosshair is trapped beneath debris. It takes some sharp shooting by Omega to free Crosshair.

On the other side of the secured door are Hunter, Tech, Echo and Wrecker, desperately attempting to open the door. Their side is relatively dry, but Omega and the others are completely underwater. With some brute strength and determination, Wrecker manages to open the doors enough for Omega and the others to escape.

But this is only the start of their troubles. The area they’re located in plunges to the ocean floor. They all hang on for dear life, but AZ gets knocked out by falling debris. Thankfully Omega catches him before he’s lost forever.

After careening through the deep waters for an interminably long time, the facility finally hits the bottom. At least they’re on stable ground. For now.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale – The tunnel beneath the ocean

Tech leads the team to a safer location. Surprisingly, it’s their old quarters. It’s intact and secure unlike the rest of the cloning facility. But the team knows that they can’t stay here for long. As always, Omega’s the one with the plans in the Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale.

Omega spots a transport tube below the quarters. If they can figure out a way to reach it, the tunnel will lead them straight to the Marauder, and they can fly out to safety. Crosshair scoffs at the idea—the Bad Batch are taking orders from a kid!

But, since no one has any better ideas, they follow Omega. AZ cuts a hole in the ground and the team jumps through to reach the tunnel.

There’s a problem though; the crash to the ocean floor has left cracks throughout the tunnel. Without power, the tunnel is not secure. Clone Force 99 gingerly makes their way through when a giant ocean monster attacks. More problems!

Soon the tunnel’s flooding and the team are scrambling to safety. AZ activates the power which electrocutes the monster, but short circuits the system. They can’t use the tunnels again.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale – Tensions bubble up

The team safely reach Nala Se’s private lab in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale, which is where they made a quick pitstop in the previous episode. Tech reveals that Omega is older than the team—she was cloned before them, but because she doesn’t have rapid aging, she seems younger.

That explains why Omega was there when the squad was created, and the reason she was desperate to reunite with them. They’re her brothers. But Crosshair is still bitter.

As far as Crosshair is concerned, Hunter threw away all their hard work when he disobeyed the Empire. And now he’s led them to their deaths.

Hunter and the others aren’t that nihilistic. The lab is only a temporary sanctuary, but the team come up with a new, albeit, idea. There are bacta tanks in the lab that the team can use to escape.

They set a number of charges against the window and gather inside four intact bacta tanks—poor Hunter is trapped with Crosshair. Omega detonates the charges, flooding the lab and lifting the tanks into the ocean.

To ensure the tanks aren’t hit by debris, AZ keeps reorienting them. But despite his efforts, most of the tanks get dinged a bit.

Just as it looks like escape is at hand, huge pylons crash into Omega’s tank and send her tumbling. AZ is able to extricate the tank from the pylons, but he begins to run out of charge as he’s pushing the tank back up towards the surface.

The rest of the team make it to the top and immediately notice Omega isn’t with them. Omega, who has the biggest heart, refuses to abandon AZ. She leaves her tank and tries to grab the droid, but droids are heavy, and the two begin sinking.

As Omega struggles to swim with AZ, Hunter declares he’s going in to retrieve her. But then, Crosshair points a blaster at him… and fires.

Take a breath! Crosshair fires a rope and reels both Omega and AZ to shore. They reach the platform with the Marauder and for the first time, the team understands the full scope of the devastation. There is nothing left but water. The Empire has destroyed everything.

You can catch the full season of The Bad Batch every Friday on Disney Plus.

Hunter asks Crosshair to return with them; even though they want different things, it doesn’t mean they need to be enemies. But Crosshair is unable to see reason. He thinks he’s a soldier meant to serve the Empire. Hunter thinks blind allegiance makes Crosshair a pawn.

They agree to disagree and Clone Force 99 left, but not before Omega makes one last plea to Crosshair. Clone Force 99 are Crosshair’s brothers. Omega considers him a brother too. But despite everything, Crosshair chooses to remain on Kamino, absolutely alone, awaiting the Empire.

Elsewhere, Admiral Rampart is pleased to hear about the decimation of Kamino. His star captive, Nala Se, is brought to a new facility where the manager is excited to work with her given her cloning prowess. We don’t know why, but we can only assume this is how Emperor Palpatine’s clones are created.

Final Thoughts – Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale was surprisingly cerebral

I can safely say that ‘Kamino Lost’ didn’t go as planned. I guess I expected some action and perhaps some resolution. Instead, the episode felt like a bridge between this season and the possible central story that will be explored in Season 2.

I liked the finale though—it was suspenseful and tense. There wasn’t much action, but it never seemed to drag. It didn’t, however, capitalize on its setting.

I would have liked the Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 finale to have been a little more atmospheric. They certainly tried to lean into elements of a shark film with the enclosed spaces, the constant threat of the encroaching water, and even the attack by the big goober fish. This would have really stood out had it captured a horror vibe.

Despite my wish for the finale to do something a little different than just pull at our heartstrings, I confess that the show has been compelling. After a rocky start, Star Wars: The Bad Batch got into its groove by connecting the dots to the other franchise properties.

Over one season, I feel like we already know and love these characters, and we’re desperate for Crosshair to be redeemed. I think Season 2 will be even better as it can eschew unnecessary introductions and hit the ground running. I can’t wait!

What did you think of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 Finale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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

What did you think of the Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 Finale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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