The Bad Batch Spoiler Review: Tribe

This review contains spoilers for The Bad Batch episode “Tribe”

Here at The Geeky Waffle, while we are fans of The Bad Batch, we are also in support of the Unwhitewash TBB movement.

This movement is from the Twitter user @unwhitewashtbb and is being led by “fans of color, disabled fans, neurodivergent fans, and Jewish fans.” It’s to bring awareness of the racial discrimination that is baked into the very fabric of this show. The Batch is designed to be “elite clones” and yet their skin tones are very white. All clones are designed after Temuera Morrison, who is a man of color. If the only clones that are perceived as white are considered “elite” and “the best” while regular clones who still appear as people of color are seen as “lesser,” these kinds of design choices have very real consequences on young audiences. @UnwhitewashTBB cites in their title card the hurtful implications this has on minority groups. The card, linked here, goes into great detail about how and why this is a problem. Go read it thoroughly.

It’s important that the creators hear the concerns of fans and work to rectify them. To be clear, whitewashing characters of color should never happen in the first place. It’s a choice that begins in the design phase, which makes it faulty and wrong from the start. We will continue to help hold the creators accountable so mistakes like this don’t happen if we get a season three as well as for future Star Wars projects.

Please follow @UnwhitewashTBB for more information.

The king has returned in this week’s emotional episode of The Bad Batch. “Tribe” brought back Gungi from the Clone Wars in one of the most beautiful episodes of the season. We’ve known of Gungi’s return since the season two trailer dropped as it was one of the more jaw-dropping moments. But if you need a bit of a refresher, I wrote an article about who this Jedi is over on Dork Side of the Force.

I want to start off by talking about the production of the episode. “Tribe” is stunning to look at, probably the best animated Star Wars has looked up to date. Kashyyyk is eye candy every moment it’s on screen. The visual storytelling with Gungi and the Wookiees is stellar since they have to rely on their physicality to help communicate with the Batch. Kevin Kiner’s score has been a feast for the ears all season long, and he did not disappoint this week either. This is the best The Bad Batch has been with the quality of a single episode that hasn’t been a season opener or finale. It was fantastic work on behalf of the crew.

Gungi’s very presence in “Tribe” is a source of drama that lets the characters drive this episode. The tension is palpable as he has every good reason not to trust the Batch after Order 66. When he sees Echo, he snarls at him. To Gungi, the Batch are the people who killed the Jedi and put him on the run. Who knows if the rest of the kids from the youngling arc are even alive. Gungi is on guard because there is a very real fear of these clones.

The Batch have the opposite reaction to Gungi. At first, they see a child in danger. I love this thread that it doesn’t matter what’s going on, they will drop everything to save a child. When Gungi pulls his lightsaber though, that’s when everything shifts for them. This isn’t just any child; this is a Jedi which means they have to tread carefully. Not only does helping a Jedi put them in extra danger, but as mentioned above, but Gungi will also be slow to trust them.

There is also probably a heck of a lot of guilt with the Batch about what happened to Caleb Dume in the series opener. Especially for Hunter, who could not fully help Caleb at the time. Hunter watched in horror as his reg brothers murdered Caleb’s master. All he could do was keep Crosshair at bay. The same fear that Gungi looks at the clones was the same as Caleb’s. There is uncertainty, no trust, anger, and grief. Clones are monsters to these padawans who only want safety.

It fits in really nicely with the emotional button of the episode. What Hunter and the Batch want for Omega and children like her is safety as well. This series is pushing more and more for these clones to join the Rebellion. After “Spoils of War” and now “Tribe,” Echo’s constant push for them to do more is truly starting to sink in with Hunter. If his goal is to have a galaxy safe for Omega to live in, they’re going to have to join this fight at some point.

“Tribe” is the Batch dealing with the mistakes of others when it wasn’t their fault. They weren’t the ones who issued Order 66. They weren’t the clones who probably came after Gungi and his friends. But they, Echo especially, are the ones who take the brunt of Gungi’s initial ire. Echo has the face of a reg, so I’m sure that causes so much pain to Gungi just to look at him.

What I love about “Tribe” is the work the Batch put into healing these rifts. They take the time not once but twice to work to put out the fires on Kashyyyk. They put in the physical labor to help save the homes of this group of Wookiees. They sit with Yanna and her tribe to learn their customs and share food with them. When the Republic changed to the Empire, the clones went from allies to enemies in subjugating Kashyyyk. It wasn’t the Batch’s fault but they put in the time and effort to start healing between the two groups.

Now, why is this important? I could see a possible storyline where the Empire does away with clones for good. No more jobs. No more work. The clones could become like the veteran clone on the streets in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Worlds like Kashyyyk would probably scorn them and turn them away. It puts extra focus on one of the messages of “Entombed” last week. They’ve served their purpose as Palpatine’s tools, so what’s left for them now when the “tools” are now discarded? The Batch is helping to smooth that transition. If they continue to spread this message of healing and show that the clones are in fact good people, then it could save a lot of clone lives in the end. Like Gungi, future clones could find that safety as well. I could see if a rogue clone happened to wander in this particular village of Wookiees, they would have a safe place thanks to the actions of the Batch.

As I’ve been pretty much screaming all season, a theme of this show is the clones finding a new path. It’s brought up again at the end of “Tribe.” Yanna tells Hunter that they all need to find a new path forward. This week just again reinforces the importance of episodes like “The Solitary Clone” and “Faster” which is setting up more and more the importance of exploring the clones outside of their purpose. This theme is a topic that my fellow Geeky Waffle Candace and I discussed at length over on YouTube about how none of this season of The Bad Batch has been filler. Season two is about the growth of the characters but it’s also been hammering home this theme of finding their new path in particular. You can see that video here.

I really loved watching Gungi in “Tribe” because the episode did showcase some of the effects the Jedi had on him. He has few memories of his homeworld, but he wants to go back to his people. He lost his Jedi community so there is a drive to find his Wookiee people. It’s fascinating seeing how he watches the other Wookiees and connects with a spirituality that’s not unlike his Jedi teachings. If all things have the Force, then it’s not a far step to commune with the trees. Bridging those two sides of himself was a poignant moment of connecting his past with the Jedi and the future living with his people. He’s also a lot more confident than he was in Clone Wars like Gungi giving the Batch commands of not shooting the spiders as well as taking the lead in the fights. I love seeing his growth from his last appearance.

Omega really was the MVP of the episode. While a clone, she’s the only one who doesn’t have their more traditional look. She’s also a child and could connect with Gungi on that kid level. She is the heart of this team to reach out and comfort the Jedi. Hunter recognizes her strength here too. He’s the one who gives Omega the food for Gungi so she can open a conversation to build trust with him. This episode absolutely let Omega shine in an important leadership role.

I also have to muse about a fan theory that’s been churning for some time now. There are arguments to be made about Omega being possibly Force sensitive. I’ve always been on the fence about this debate. I can see both sides of the argument. But I do think “Tribe” might be one of the strongest arguments for it. In the opening scene, she immediately tells Echo that there is something off about the station. She’s fast to connect with Gungi and gain his trust. When he uses the Force to pull his lightsaber to him, Omega’s brow furrows making her look at him as she lowers her bow like she could feel him using it before seeing it. She’s open to the ways of Kashyyyk. And that final shot of Gungi showing Omega how to commune with the trees, there’s something there. It could be as surface level as she’s respecting his culture, but it could be the beginning of her own skills starting to grow. We know from the Sequel Trilogy that Palpatine wanted to make a Force sensitive clone for himself. The scientist on Kamino valued Omega above all else as they worked with Palpatine’s machinations. If it is revealed that Omega is a clone, “Tribe” is an episode we could point back to for some of this groundwork.

Last but not least, this episode tied back in a ton with the unfinished Clone Wars episodes that featured the Batch on Kashyyyk. Wrecker mentions they have a history there. A lot of Dave Filoni’s concept art was utilized in this episode like how the Wookiees ask the trees for permission and the cat-ape creatures they ride on. The spider animals were straight from Star Wars: The Old Republic video game and did appear again in the unfinished animatics for Clone Wars. Even the Trandoshan leader Venomor was originally the bad guy in the original episodes. So it was really cool watching the crew blend together a lot of the things we didn’t get to see in Clone Wars and bring them back into The Bad Batch.

Some random thoughts to round out Tribe:

-WHERE ARE THE OTHER YOUNGLINGS!? I was hoping we would get some questions answered on whether or not the other younglings from Clone Wars made it out of Order 66. Though, I guess no word is better than a confirmation of their death. It keeps that door open they could still pop up. I like to imagine that Katooni met up with Hondo again, and he got her to safety.

-I do wonder if this is Omega’s first encounter with a Jedi. She could have possibly run into Shaak Ti on Kamoni prior to Order 66, but there’s no real indication one way or another.

-I want to ride on those big kitty ape things. I also want plushies of them too. Give them to me, you Corporate Mouse! I know you want me to throw my money at you!

-Brah, Venomor’s death is BRUTAL. He deserved it for sure, but I was definitely a bit creeped out by it.

-The Vanguard Axis is a cool new group of scum and villainy. I love this idea of a droid crime organization!

-I know it was in the trailer, but I still got goosebumps when Gungi ignited his lightsaber.

-I was a bit put off to see Echo turn down the Wookiee courtesy. He’s been the moral compass of the group all season and is usually the first to connect with people after Omega. It just felt like a weird character beat for him that could have been used for say Tech or Hunter.

-Wrecker living his best life and connecting with the Wookiees was such a delight.

I really loved “Tribe” and the return of Gungi. It’s been the episode I’ve wanted to see since I saw our sweet Jedi boy in the trailer. Next week is the midseason spectacular as we’re getting two episodes “The Clone Conspiracy” and “Truth and Consequences.” Hold onto your hats because I have a feeling that next week is going to be BIG! See you then!