It’s been a long time coming, but now that The Bad Batch Season 2 has arrived on Disney+, we can finally dig into what it brings to the Star Wars Universe. If you’ve made your way through the first season and are just as excited for more Clone Force 99 antics, then read on for our spoiler-free review.

Who are the Bad Batch again?

Clone Force 99, better known as the Bad Batch, is an experimental clone squad formed during the Clone Wars. This expert group of clone troopers was redesigned with genetic mutations that give them enhanced abilities, making them more agile and stronger than regular clones. They are brought together to carry out dangerous missions for the Republic during the Clone Wars.

So where is The Bad Batch on the Star Wars timeline?

While the first season of The Bad Batch takes place somewhere in the middle of Episodes II and III, the second season takes place after Episode III.

If you haven’t watched Season 1 yet, go do that now. But if you just need a refresher, here’s what happened. When we last saw Clone Force 99 in Season 1, they had just ignored Order 66 – Emperor Palpatine’s secret command to kill all the Jedi — and decided to leave The Republic. The end of Season 1 was also marked by the destruction of the cloning facilities on Camino (seen in Episode II) at the hands of the newly formed Galactic Empire.

Fan favorites return

Expect the return of several fan-favorite characters such as Commander Rex and a few short cameos from multiple characters throughout the season. These moments are a great addition as they help to remind us of how far back these characters reach in the Star Wars Universe and serve as an excellent reminder that we’re still deeply entrenched in the same world.

Season 2 is also important for its focus on the young and mysterious Omega. A key element to this arc of the story is her journey of self-discovery and understanding of who she is and how she can contribute during the adventures of Clone Force 99. It’s a great character development arc, and it is one that will certainly be interesting to watch as the series progresses.

Palpatine is still terrifying

It wouldn’t be a proper Star Wars series without the looming presence of Emperor Palpatine. His character is still as sinister and menacing as ever, and while his appearance is brief throughout The Bad Batch Season 2, those moments remind us all why we fear Darth Sidious so much.

Some of its best moments happen when Clone Force 99 is not on screen

While Clone Force 99 is still the main protagonist of The Bad Batch (hence the series name) some of its most powerful moments come when the crew isn’t on screen. We are presented with some extraordinary insight into how the clones were treated and used as pawns by The Empire. These moments also serve a much bigger purpose, adding to the overall lore of the Star Wars Universe.

How the Stormtrooper came to be

Season 2 is important to the lore of Star Wars because of its ability to bridge the gap between the Clone Trooper (of Episodes I, II, and III) and the Stormtrooper (of Episodes IV, V, and VI). We are presented with more of a more nuanced view of how The Empire shifted from a Clone army to a conscripted one.

An epic score

Anyone who’s watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars will know the amazing work of Kevin Kiner, so we were glad to hear more of that in The Bad Batch. His use of music to drive the emotion of a scene or character is remarkable, and it helps to bring out the heart and soul of this series even further. For The Bad Batch Season 2, his music takes a dramatic, epic sound, reminding us of the music of Mass Effect or 2001: A Space Odyssey.

A slow burn for the die-hard Star Wars fan

We’ll make this clear: The Bad Batch Season 2 isn’t for everyone. It’s all about the slow burn, really taking its time to build up its characters and the overarching storyline. It takes up to the halfway mark of the season for the main story arc to finally get going, so that can be frustrating for viewers looking for action-packed episodes. However, the draw of a new story arc with our beloved squad certainly makes it worth it for the fan who’s already invested in their stories.

Overall, The Bad Batch Season 2 has a lot to offer and is certainly worth the time of any die-hard Star Wars fan. It also ties in perfectly with other Star Wars content available on Disney+, such as The Clone Wars. For fans who want to dive even deeper into Star Wars lore, it’s a worthy watch.

The Bad Batch Season 2 is an exclusive series to Disney+. The first 2 episodes just dropped today, and will be released weekly until the season finale on March 29th.