Star Wars: The Bad Batch
The series is about how even soldiers created for war can choose humanity — if they find those worth fighting for.
Disney+ launched "The Bad Batch" in spring 2021 — a spin-off of "The Clone Wars," which follows an elite squad of genetically modified clones after Order 66. The premiere on May 4 (Star Wars Day) opens the story of Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, and Crosshair — "defective" clones with unique abilities who refuse to serve the Empire and become mercenaries.
The series is created by Dave Filoni and Jennifer Corbett, and works as a "military drama in space": there are no Jedi (almost), there are professional soldiers trying to find their place in a world where their brothers have become the infantry of tyranny. The tone is mature and dark: character deaths, moral dilemmas, encounters with bounty hunters (including Fennec Shand from "The Mandalorian"). The 3-season format concludes with a finale in May 2024.
If you watched "The Clone Wars" and are curious about the fate of the clones after the fall of the Republic, or "The Mandalorian" for mercenaries and bounty hunters — "The Bad Batch" will fill the gap between eras. For comparison with other "post-war" series, watch "Andor."
3 seasons, finale on May 1, 2024.
Recommended for understanding Clone Force 99, who first appeared in Season 7 of "The Clone Wars."
A young female clone, the "sister" of the Bad Batch, possessing unique abilities.
A more mature tone, focus on military operations rather than the "family" of the crew.
Rated PG, but the themes of war and betrayal are mature — better for teens 12+.