The latest Star Wars animated series Bad Batch has drawn much acclaim from fans as well as critics. Its unconventional approach to feature a bunch of elite clone troopers in a post-Clone Wars period marks a new chapter for the franchise.
After fans have their fill with the show's ongoing first season, they can resort to similar ensemble-driven sci-fi shows that resonate with values such as teamwork. Shows that give the spotlight to minor or supporting characters would also sit well with fans of The Bad Batch which focuses on a lesser-known trooper squad.
Doom Patrol (2019-) - Available On HBO Max
When it comes to shows starring a bunch of misfits, the titular team in Doom Patrol makes for a good 'bad batch' of heroes. The ensemble includes lesser-known or offbeat characters from DC comics including the likes of Crazy Jane and Mr. Nobody.
The show largely deals with these so-called 'superpowered outcasts' which is quite comparable to the lead characters of The Bad Batch who are similarly different from the other clone troopers in terms of their genetic mutations. The slight blend of lighter tones with the otherwise serious Clone Wars storylines is another similarity as Doom Patrol breaks away from other darker DC live-action shows like Titans.
The Orville (2017-) - Available On Hulu
The Bad Batch is an unconventional and fresh take on the Star Wars mythos. While other films and shows of the franchise focus on more morally righteous heroes, Clone Force 99 doesn't comprise such heroic characters.
Similarly, The Orville serves as an unofficial parody and tribute to the Star Trek universe. The heroics of Captain Kirk and Spock are replaced with more humanized and goofy storylines that highlight the imperfections of its space-traveling protagonists. Showrunner Seth McFarlane serves as the captain of the titular spaceship that ventures into outer space to explore alien races and planets.
Young Justice (2010-) - Available On HBO Max
While undertaking mercenary missions in The Bad Batch, the teamwork within the Clone Force 99 becomes quite evident. Each of the troopers uses their unique abilities to contribute to the mission.
This spirit of teamwork has been evoked in many sci-fi and superhero shows with Young Justice being a brilliant case study. Throughout its three seasons, the teenage DC characters of Young Justice mature over time as they deal with their internal conflicts and large-scale supervillain battles. It goes on to show how personal egos and morals can compromise a mission for any team, no matter how powerful its members might be.
Final Space (2018-) - Available On HBO Max
Astronauts, bounty hunters, aliens, and robots come together in this space-opera comedy that would serve as a light watch for fans of The Bad Batch, mainly because of its satirical take on other space drama franchises. And of course, like the Disney+ original, Final Space's lead ensemble is a crew of oddball characters.
The show kicks off with Gary Godspeed, an overly-optimistic astronaut who befriends an extremely powerful alien known as Mooncake. As a larger conspiracy is unearthed with Mooncake's origin, Gary and his crew go against all galactic forces. Final Space's funny quotes and satirical references present an amusing take on the space genre.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-) - Available On Paramount+
If there's a sci-fi franchise that can rival Star Wars in terms of popularity, it might be Star Trek. So, once Star Wars fans have had their fill with the animated series, Star Trek: Lower Decks can make for a good break. Further just like how The Bad Batch focused on lesser-known characters of Star Wars, Lower Decks too revolves around the unsung heroes like the low-ranking crew of a spaceship.
The first Star Trek comedy series offers a fun-filled take on the franchise which otherwise focused on starship captains and space fleet officers.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2015-2019) - Available On Disney+
Guardians of the Galaxy's action sequences and gags reinvented the MCU. Similarly, the animated series balances action and humor. It would also engage viewers of Bad Batch for the importance it gives to the underdogs.
With the Star Wars films and The Mandalorian, the clone troopers and stormtroopers have often been relegated to background characters. The Bad Batch finally gives them a chance to shine, just like the Guardians of the Galaxy who aren't as popular as other Marvel teams like X-Men and The Avengers. The series can be watched even by non-MCU aficionados as it is set in an alternate timeline.
Space Dandy (2014) - Available On Hulu
Space Dandy's titular protagonist is a bounty hunter who travels all across space, much like the trooper-turned-mercenaries in The Bad Batch. While such storylines are fairly common in the Space Western genre, Space Dandy is unique chiefly because of its over-the-top and raunchy humor.
Dandy is a charming 'space hunter' who's tasked with finding new alien lifeforms all over the galaxy. An anime produced by Studio Bones, it is notable for incorporating tropes from previous sci-fi anime classics like Cowboy Bebop and subverting them with a goofily entertaining approach.
The Expanse (2015-) - Available On Prime Video
Political conflict has been an integral part of Star Wars-related media and The Expanse explores similar political themes in the future from the perspective of a crew of a rogue ship and their partners. The anti-heroic of some of the protagonists matches the characterization of The Bad Batch's clone troopers.
As a civil war brews between Mars and Earth, a detective joins the crew in uncovering greater secrets that can change the fate of a colonized solar system.
Ben 10 (2005-2008) - Available On HBO Max
The leading clone troopers in The Bad Batch are all voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, the legendary voice-actor who has previously appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and many more.
Even though Baker's multiple roles in The Bad Batch are ones with speaking parts, he's also renowned for animal and creature vocalizations in several shows. Ben 10 is one such example that allows him to explore his range of acting. The show which deals with a teenager's adventures after finding an alien watch has Baker voicing multiple characters including the aliens Wildmutt and Stinkfly. All in all, fans of this Bad Batch alumnus would definitely enjoy Ben 10.
Dark Matter (2015-2017) - Available On Netflix
The clone troopers were all cloned out of the prequel trilogy character Jango Fett. Their origins definitely make the troopers devoid of any real identity as they search for questions behind their true purpose other than serving the Jedi Order (and later the Empire). The Bad Batch's troopers however engage in missions of their own and seem to gain greater free will.
The Syfy series Dark Matter similarly deals with six passengers wake up in a spaceship with amnesia. As the episodes progress, they deal with space mercenaries and dabble in civil wars with no clear idea on whose side they are on. The struggles of these amnesiacs to find their real identity forms the remainder of the premise.