STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH is the perfect entry point into the rich Star Wars animated universe

Following the huge success of The Mandalorian on Disney+, Lucasfilm and Disney continue to expand the Star Wars universe with The Bad Batch. The new animated show continues where The Clone Wars and Rebels left off and offers something for both Star Wars diehards as well as casual viewers new to the burgeoning Star Wars animated universe.

The Bad Batch focuses on a team of engineered clones that have been tweaked to each excel in their own areas. Crosshair is an excellent shot, Tech has a great handle on…technology. All in all, the five clones make up the sort of supergroup that we’re used to seeing in Marvel and DC films but still feels new and exciting for Star Wars.

Originally introduced in The Clone Wars series, the new show begins after the events of the Clone War, with the members of The Bad Batch trying to navigate through a rapidly-changing world. Emperor Palpatine is transitioning the Galactic Republic into the Empire, and the legions of clones are expected to fall under his new scheme to rid the universe of the Jedi. Early on in the first episode, the team encounters a Jedi and Padawan that makes some of The Bad Batch question their allegiance to the new Empire, spurring them on a quest to decide who and what they truly believe in.

Head writer Jennifer Corbett clearly conceived the show with diehard fans in mind. The first few minutes of the pilot may leave you blindsided if your Star Wars knowledge only encompasses the theatrical films and The Mandalorian, but after a few beats with the characters, The Bad Batch develops a rhythm and pace all its own.

The CG animation is in line with Clone Wars and Rebels, with clear-cut action sequences and expressive and well-defined character designs (we’ve come a long way from the Droids and Ewoks cartoons of the ’80s). The show even maintains the wipes and transitions from the original trilogy, a fun nod that long-time Star Wars fans should get a kick out of.

The show’s 70-minute series premiere does a great job of explaining who these main characters are, and the repressive reach of the newly-formed Empire they are struggling against. Best of all, The Bad Batch acts as a trojan horse for the entire animated Star Wars universe, offering fans an easy way to jump into the extensive runs of Clone Wars and Rebels which are now only a click away.

The first episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch is now streaming via Disney+. New episodes drop every Friday starting on May 7.