'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Season 7 Episode 4: The Bad Batch and Echo take their final bow
Spoilers for Season 7 Episode 4 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' 'Unfinished Business'
'Unfinished Business' brings the four-part saga of the Bad Batch (all played by Dee Bradley Baker) and Echo (Dee Bradley Baker) to an end.
Echo, much changed from his robotic modifications both physically and mentally, finds a new home amongst the clones who don't quite fit in with an army that shares their DNA. The clones definitely have a few final tricks up their sleeves, however, and together, bring the battle of Anaxes to a definitive close.
The episode also had a little more room to spare for more non-clones as well, finally, with Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Mace Windu (TC Carson) making their appearances in battle. The 'Clone Wars' has just not felt the same without more Jedi on the frontline, and between Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi, 'The Clone Wars' is bringing back its strong connections to the movie.
The march to 'The Revenge of the Sith' continues as we see Anakin - who for most of this season has been a sympathetic and admirable general - lets his dark side show once more with the murder of Admiral Trench (Dee Bradley Baker).
It's a little chilling to see how quickly Anakin switches from hot-blooded killer to friendly general giving Wrecker a chance to make one final explosion and a reminder of how much war is home for Anakin. It's possible he may have found himself a good life in a more peaceful time, but he seems happiest, and the most comfortable, at the heart of violence, and that's never been more clear than in this episode.
Echo is the MVP of this war, which is fitting, given that the separatist forces were only doing so well thanks to his unwilling help, but it's clear that Echo can never go back to the way things were. The Bad Batch, though introduced almost two episodes before his full appearance, was not just a set of fascinating new clones, but the natural conclusion to his arc. The narrative weaving of Echo's story and the Bad Batch's is subtly and impressively done. The four-part introduction to Season 7 is a masterpiece of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' storytelling. Now that it's wrapped up its storylines, it's a reminder of just how well crafted the arcs of 'The Clone Wars' is - which is a favorable omen for the rest of the season.
The next episode of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' airs on March 20, on Disney+