The launch of a new Star Wars show brings with it worldwide attention and interest, and the launch of The Bad Batch – a direct successor to the long-running seven seasons of The Clone Wars – has done just that. Kicking off on the world of Kaller during the timeframe of Revenge of the Sith, we join Jedi Master Depa Bilaba and her young padawan Caleb Dume as enemy forces close in on their position. What better time for the warriors of Clone Force 99 – Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, Tech, and Crosshair – to arrive like a wrecking ball and save the day. Indeed, their bombastic entrance gives the impression that nothing is beyond their skills, that is until Emperor Palpatine enacts the galaxy-changing spanning Order 66.

Thrown into a rapidly altered galactic society, these unique clones have to not only figure out why they haven’t been triggered to follow that dire directive, but why a young clone on Kamino called Omega holds such interest. Here the show makes a brave choice. Introducing new central characters is always a risk, but more so when that character is a child. Omega could easily be an annoyance, a fish out of water who experiences the galaxy and everything that’s not of Kamino for the first time with wide-eyed wonder. Instead, a spot-on performance by Michelle Ang elevates Omega into an instantly likeable character, and quickly enough we find ourselves rooting for her.

Our lead characters in place, they need adversaries, and who better than the future Grand Moff Tarkin – at this point a mere Admiral – to question their skills, then their loyalty, and rightly so as a mission to Onderon sets the Bad Batch on a different road. With some surprises along the way, superb animation, and a thrilling score, the stall is set for adventure!

Where to Watch: Disney+