The premiere episode of Star Wars' newest show, The Bad Batch, had so much to love, setting up for a promising next couple of months of TV for fans, especially those who loved The Clone Wars, of which this is a direct sequel to. Of all the animated Star Wars shows thus far, The Bad Batch has had the best premiere episode, and that bodes well for its future, as it seeks to live up to two other of Dave Filoni's smash-hit animated shows.
Already one episode, and one hour in, The Bad Batch is littered with easter eggs, references, and callbacks to both The Clone Wars and Rebels, some of which are simple fun, while others will have narrative significance for episodes to come.
Caleb Dume
Undoubtedly the most controversial part of the premiere was the entire opening scene, a scene which 99% of fans will not bat an eyelid at, but one which hardcore extended canon fans have and will take issue with.
It sees Caleb Dume and his master Depa Bilaba on Kaller when Order 66 is given, an event detailed in the "Kanan" comic, which this episode makes some retcons and changes to. Nevertheless, it is the most evident callback to one of the animated shows in the entire episode, except for the opening title logo, which burns from The Clone Wars into The Bad Batch. It harkens back to Kanan telling the Grand Inquisitor of his master's final words to him, "run," which is upheld here when she screams at him, "Run, Caleb."
Lula
The Loth-Cat is one of the most prominent creatures in Star Wars animation, debuting in and being such a crucial part of Star Wars: Rebels, acting as a constant presence on Ezra's home planet of Lothal.
In what is more of an easter egg than a reference, a Loth-Cat plays a key role in the premiere episode of The Bad Batch in the form of Lula, Wrecker's teddy that he is very attached to, and which Omega saves for him.
The Citadel Rescue
The Citadel Arc from The Clone Wars is one of the show's best and arguably most underrated, as it sees a group of heroes, including the show's three main Jedi and a few beloved clones, try to rescue Even Piell and his Captain.
Tarkin is said Captain, and when he arrives on Kamino, Echo recognizes him as such and tells the rest of Clone Force 99 that he was there at the Citadel, making clear to the rest of the group that Tarkin's opinion on clones (as well as Jedi) was low, something made clear in the arc.
The Incident On Skako Minor
Of course, what the Citadel arc is most remembered for is what it did to Clone Force 99 member Echo. While trying to escape the Citadel, Echo was caught in the middle of an exploding ship.
Fans and characters alike believed this was the end for one of the show's most beloved clones. Then, Rex got a feeling that was spot on; Echo was alive, used as a pawn by the Separatists, turned into more machine than man. The series premiere references this event by talking about the incident on Skako Minor; the place Echo was held all that time.
Saw Gerrera Working With The Clones To Save Onderon
Saw Gerrera makes an appearance as the leader of the so-called insurgents Tarkin sent Clone Force 99 to hunt. He tells the group about what is going on, about a new war, and references the clones once helping him free Onderon.
The episode mentions Anakin and Ahsoka alongside Rex, helping train Saw and his sister Steela and their band of rebels to fight against the Separatists and take down their corrupt new king. The clones helped free Saw's people and his planet in The Clone Wars, and he let Clone Force 99 know he has respect for the clones for that, but that this new war was coming.
The Clone's Battle Simulation
To know for sure if the clones were worth their price for the Empire or if they should move to other kinds of soldiers, Tarkin arrived on Kamino to test the clones, putting Clone Force 99 in a harsh battle simulation.
This simulation took place in the training arena, which was seen in The Clone Wars used by the beloved Domino Squad on their way to becoming true soldiers in the war. Both were in battle simulations that took them to their limits, and both squads were great in doing so, even though Clone Force 99 does have an advantage since they had done it a thousand times.
"Well, I Guess I'm In Charge Now."
The B-1 battle droids provided a lot of laughs throughout The Clone Wars, and audiences got what may be one of the last on-screen looks at them at the beginning of The Bad Batch's premiere.
In what is a deep cut, after Wrecker destroys the droids armored tanks, one droid dejectedly states that he is now in charge. This is a callback to a battle droid who announces that he is in charge after General Grievous leaves during "Downfall of a Droid." That moment from The Clone Wars became quite the meme, and it was funny to see it referenced again here.
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One of the most heartbreaking yet incredible and vital arcs of The Clone Wars came at the start of season 6 with the conspiracy arc, which saw Fives uncover the secret of the inhibitor chips.
In that arc, while on Kamino, Fives befriends and is aided by a medical droid by the name of AZI. AZI pops back up in The Bad Batch as a friend of Omega, helping her sift through the barracks of Clone Force 99.
"Good Soldiers Follow Orders."
Speaking of the conspiracy arc, that entire excellent story kicked off with a clone trooper by the name of Tup seemingly losing his mind and killing his Jedi General. While doing so, he kept repeating one phrase frantically; "good soldiers follow orders."
In this episode, it appears something is a bit more off than usual with Crosshair, who fans have had their suspicions about for months. The telltale sign that his inhibitor chip was intact and was having some effect on him came when he himself muttered the exact same phrase.
J-19
At the end of the premiere, after escaping with Omega off of Kamino and wondering where they could possibly go in the Galaxy, Hunter proclaims he knows a guy and sets the course for the J-19 sector.
This may seem like nothing, but in fact, the J-19 sector is actually Salucami, a planet seen in The Clone Wars, specifically when Rex finds himself injured and in the care of a farmer and his family. That farmer? Cut Luquane, a deserter clone. With episode two seemingly titled "Cut and Run," it seems more than likely Cut will be the next clone that Clone Force 99 encounters.