As we ease into the opening season of The Bad Batch and the characters continue to unfold, it’s a very welcome discovery to realise that no, this isn’t going to slot into the predictable adventure of the week routine but instead tell us not only more about the characters we’re sharing this journey with but also the galaxy they inhabit. Clone Force 99 have spent their days fed, watered, supplied, and given a bunk to lay down in but now, out in the galaxy and following their own destiny, things are somewhat different. Coaxium doesn’t magically appear in the fuel tank and food doesn’t materialise into their bellies and so the decision is made to head to Pantora, the primary moon of Orto Plutonia in the southern Outer Rim to land, change their transponder to avoid detection and restock on supplies.

Of course, this is a Star Wars adventure, so things don’t go according to plan. While bartering to raise cash, Omega goes wandering off, only to be tracked by Fennec Shand, known best for her appearances in The Mandalorian some three decades later. As explained in the previous episode, Omega – as are all members of the Bad Batch – is wanted by the Kaminoans who are desperate for DNA to replace their depleted supplies of Jango Fett DNA. As property they ‘belong’ to the Kaminoans, hence the hiring of Fennec Shand, and presumably other bounty hunters, to bring them in.

The Mandalorian made clear just what a threat Fennec Shand can be in the post-Return of the Jedi era, but thirty years before in her youth she’s like the Terminator, coming again and again as Clone Force 99 and Omega’s own ingenuity evades her. The chase through the Pantoran streets and skies is exhilarating, the depth of animation and character quality is incredible and the accompanying music thrilling, which gives hope to seeing other familiar and unfamiliar worlds shown in such superb detail. Four for four so far, let’s hope the show continues at this high level of quality.