Guys, I think we've seen all the trailer clips, which means we'll be going in blind now. I'm feeling like it'll be rough from here on out. Buckle up, It's about to get traumatizing 🤕😷

Edit: Most, not all trailer clips

An Emotional Rant

Mild spoilers ahead (season 2 & 3)

I'm going to be a bit emotional and a bit dramatic for a second, so bare with me. Also, please feel free to leave comments, as community is something I think I need right now and would love to know I'm not alone in how I feel.🖤

My mind keeps returning to Tech and how much I miss his character. He was such a huge source of comfort for me, and I related to him so deeply. I really don't know what to expect for the rest of this final season. I so desperately want him to be alive and for this series to end on a good note with the entire batch back together (alive, safe, and happy). Yet, knowing Star Wars, I'm quite uncertain of how this will conclude.

I do not exaggerate when I say that I am genuinely hurting so badly over this. It's to the point that I don't think it's healthy. I feel hollow, and I'm striken with grief. Part of me wants to believe that he'll return because it's the only thing that makes sense for his unfinished story. The other part of me is anticipating disappointment via leaving him dead. I've put so many theories out there (see my other posts if you're interested), and I don't know what to believe anymore. On one hand, I think CX-2 is Tech. On the other hand, I believe it's Cody, and yet, I'm also suspicious of a redherring. The waiting is actually destroying me. I don't think I've connected this strongly to a character in a very long time. So I think that's why it's hurting me so much.

Anyway, any nice comments would be uplifting and appreciated as I want to know I'm not alone in how I feel. I just miss my boy 😔

The Bad Batch Season 3 - A New Theory and the future for Tech

Spoilers ahead!

Hey you guys! So I've previously discussed how I believe that the operative character could be Tech and how that affirms my winter soldier theory. However, I am here to retract that statement as I do not believe that it makes sense narratively, as it would either copy Crosshair's story or Echo's story. I propose a new theory: the operative is not Tech, but rather Cody. Let me explain why.

Firstly, we now know (via Crosshair's confirmation) that the program Hemlock is running does not work on defective clones, as they attempted and failed to integrate Cross into said program. This would rule out Tech as he was also a defective clone.

Secondly, and more prevalently, we know (from Rebels) that some event needs to push Rex over the edge and make him quit his efforts of saving other clones. I suspect that this event could be an encounter with a brainwashed Cody, and perhaps a botched operation to Tantiss resulting in a lot of casualties.

Thirdly, why do I think it's Cody? While it's true that we were told in season two how he went "awol" (albeit by an unreliable source), that doesn't necessarily mean he escaped, it just means that he defied the Empire. We also know that this operative program is designed to repurpose defiant clones. I also want to point out how the operatives voice, while warped through a modulator, sounded like a reg, instead of a higher pitched, vaguely English accent.

Lastly, Tech has been mentioned only once in this season, briefly in conversation. Yes, Cody isn't mentioned at all but I'll get to that. The end of season two, in my opinion, felt like a lazy write off of Tech's character (in an attempt to elicit reactions from fans), that essentially served as a "wrap up" of his story (more on this in a moment). Cody's story is still a loose end though. It's also important to mention that in the EU, Cody was used as the template for the dark troopers.

Now onto the discussion of where this leaves Tech. Well...I think he's dead for good. Trust me when I say that deeply hurts me beyond words. I have related to and deeply bonded with Tech's character, so to me, his death was very real and painful, and I'm honestly still having a hard time with it (I was literally sobbing about it the other day). Unfortunately, I just do not believe that the writers of this show are capable of what the writers of Lucasfilm era Clone Wars were capable of (please dkm, this is just my personal opinion). I'm sorry but I just don't have faith in Disney, not after the sequels and most (if not all) of the live action shows they've put out. Yes, Tech should, logically, 100% be alive...if they were good writers. He has a potential love interest, a family and a potential peaceful life to live on Pabuu to return to. There are so many plot holes that would remain unanswered, and would be extremely disappointing. Tech's story is largely unfinished. Should he be dead for good, it will show the utter lack of writing talent that Disney possesses and a lack of care or respect for fans.

Apologies for the spicy takes at the end. Again these are just my personal opinions and experiences. No hate to anyone who enjoys any of those shows/movies.

The Bad Batch - Season 3, so far

Spoilers Ahead!

Hey you guys, I'm back! So before I hop into any discussion, just a quick debrief on what's going on for me in regards to tbb: I've been trying to control my excitement and hope for this final season, as I don't want to set myself up for anymore emotional damage (it'll happen anyways). That's not to say I'm not excited or hopeful, but I'm just very nervous and still healing from the heartbreak of you-know-what.

Onto this season so far. A very strong start with the first three episodes (haven't watch ep 4 yet). They wasted no time getting right into it and I'm honestly surprised that Cross and Omega escaped as fast as they did. I'm glad they didn't waste too much time on their escape. I will say though, things are feeling sadder than ever, with so many characters out of the picture. Echo is with Rex, Tech is...well I'm not too sure, to be completely honest (more on this in a min), and Cid backstabbed the gang. All I can say is that I anticipate more sadness but I'm cautiously optimistic for a mostly happy/good ending.

okay, now onto the elephant in the room. my previous theory post of Tech being alive and having a Winter Soldier situation is looking to be more real by the day and that makes me deeply uncomfortable. It was just a theory (a game theory) I made up, albeit using my English degree to hyper analyze the story, but sometimes (most times) my big brain is a burden. I honestly don't know what's worse: Tech dying, or Tech surviving and becoming something horrible (probably the second). Which brings me to this random ah dude:

There is actually no logical reason for this dude to be shown 3 separate times in an episode for it to not be important later. He also stands with the sass of our beloved engineer, not to mention his helmet and outfit contains small stylistic callbacks to Tech's armour (maybe I'm just delusional though). Which makes me violently ill, to say the least.

Anyways, whatever happens, we're all in this together besties. God speed

My Thoughts on The Bad Batch

Hey guys. So, with the announcement of the third season being the last as well as the interview with Dee Bradley Baker and Michelle Ang, It breaks my heart to say that Tech is probably dead. Despite all of our very plausible theories of his survival, it is apparent that the writers/creators have ended his story. At this point, I think I've kind of accepted it in the same way I learned to accept Fives' death. It still hurts to watch, but I know it's a reality I cannot change. It's just really disappointing to see his story never be finished.

If I'm being completely honest here, while I love Star Wars deeply and I wholeheartedly applaud all the people who have poured their blood, sweat and tears into each project, I feel like the writers have lost a bit of their mojo. This is just my take on this, but The Bad Batch has always felt like it lacked in some way, storywise (in comparison to TCW), like it wasn't ever truly reaching its full potential. The same can be said with The Mandalorian; I love it, but I don't know where the story is going or what the end goal is. Sorry if that was a hot take. It's just how I've felt for a while, and I wanted to express that.

I am (mostly) at peace with Tech's death. I hope the remainder of the batch will be reunited by the end of the series, but I'm not holding out too much hope; I don't want to set myself up for failure.

Wonderful art, thank you op. This is exactly how I've hypothesized his survival.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ISNT WHAT HAPPENED??? this is the scene i saw, what show were y’all watching???

+bonus

Please...make this happen...😫🤧

Escape plan. doing this really quick because.. canon? what? ( fit toothpick thanks to Tech that always carried those even if Crosshair wasn't with them. )

.

.

Tech is alive because he will help save Crosshair and Omega. He had a Parachute, they took him and he is now with Omega and Cross. ESCAPE PLAN.

THIS! Very well said.

Regarding Tech and one reason I think we’re all reeling:

So, we’re all pretty hurt right now. Even if you’re firmly in the “Tech lived” camp, which I am, it still hurts—it still feels like a death, and something that needs to be mourned, even if or when he makes it back. I’ve seen a lot of people say it feels like they’re grieving a friend, not a fictional character. And one reason for that, beyond Tech being a well-developed, beloved character, beyond him being a fantastic piece of representation, even beyond the way that our brains can react to fictional characters the same way they do to real people, is that Tech’s story is so unfinished.

He’s developing this amazing relationship with Omega. He has the chance of staying on Pabu in peace and being something other than a soldier. He maybe discovered a passion for racing. He’s branching out and appreciating the galaxy beyond the war, the republic, the separatists, the Jedi, and being allowed to appreciate how broad it is in ways he hadn’t before. He’s falling in love with someone who’s falling for him. He’s pushing to get his brother back and reunite his family. And then—

His story gets derailed. The batch’s story gets derailed—by something none of them could have accounted for. No one expected there to be someone else infiltrating Eriadu. But there was, and it sends the whole trajectory of his life, all of their lives, figuratively and literally—they’re on a train when this happens, guys—off the tracks. Suddenly Tech has to let himself fall to give his family a chance. It’s fast, it’s brutal, and it’s almost nonsensical. It shouldn’t need to happen—but it does. And that’s how loss happens in real life, a lot of the time.

Sometimes there’s closure, and sometimes the people we lose get to live out their whole full lives, but not always. A lot of the time, they had plans. They were just going about and being themselves. The walk out the door and you think nothing of it and then—they’re gone. And now there’s so much left to do, so much unsaid, so many things that will never happen because they’re gone. You come home after hearing the news and their room is empty. There’s a half eaten bowl of cereal they left on the table. Their favorite chair is empty. There’s no satisfying conclusion or narrative closure—it’s just life, interrupted, suddenly and brutally, in a way that’s impossible to understand. That’s often how it is. And right now, for the batch characters, and for us, that’s Tech. He has everything to live for—and then he’s ripped away.

Now, this is something that rarely happens in fiction, because it’s incredibly unsatisfying. Maybe because loss is so sudden and cruel in the real world, we want our fictional deaths to come with purpose and feel like a natural conclusion. And while the unsatisfactory nature of Tech’s “death” is one of the many (many) (seriously there are so many) reasons why I don’t think this is permanent, it does (for now) put us on the same emotional footing as the characters in a way it wouldn’t if it had happened in a narratively satisfying way. We’re not just sad, we’re grieving him right alongside them. It feels unfair and wrong because it is. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! This wasn’t supposed to happen! And no, it wasn’t. But things got derailed on Eriadu.

Freefalling From Great Heights - A Discussion & Analysis

Hey guys. So, I lied about getting off socials LOL I really need to go full on film theory here and talk about the fall. I do want to preface though and say that I am not a woman of science (I’m an art girlie), therefore I won’t be able to make any sort of proper calculations. Without further ado, I’m going to break down the whole fall and discuss how Tech could’ve and probably did survive. 

First and foremost, I want to go back and take a look at the most clear shot given to viewers of the height between the tram system and the perceived ground level. In this picture, we get a brief glimpse from Wrecker’s POV of how far down it is from the trams. 

While it looks quite high, considering they are practically in the clouds, it is important to note the amount of foliage this planet has; a vast amount large trees, specifically tall pine trees.

These types of trees are not uncommon in biomes that include bodies of water. Consider the images below.

 While it is not definitive, it can be safe to assume that there could have been a stream or body of water below in that valley. However, even if this was not the case, the trees are large enough that they can dampen a fall, even if it is from a great height. This leads me to my next point: 

How high of a fall can humans survive?

An NCBI article covers the case of a rock climber who had fallen from a total of 300 feet and survived. Though she suffered many severe injuries, she was able to recover after extensive medical care. According to this article, the way in which a person falls is imperative to survival. In particular, if a person is falling vertically, they can survive an average fall height of 23 feet and 7 inches (7.2 meters) with minor to moderate injury. Survivable injuries have a threshold of around 20-25 feet. Yet the rock climber was able to survive at even greater heights. That being said, according to an article by Arnold & Atkin Trial Lawyers, 20 feet and below can still prove to be fatal. Moreover, fatal falls usually are between 21 and 40 feet. Considering all the information thus far, it would seem that Tech is exceptionally fucked. But stay with me folks, I’m not done cooking yet.

While it is not common, humans have, in fact, survived free falls at extreme heights. Take for example Vesna Vulović, a Serbian flight attendant who holds the Guinness world record for surviving the highest freefall without a parachute: 33,330 feet (10,160 meters). She was in a coma for days and spent several months hospitalized. She suffered a fractured skull, three broken vertebrae, broken legs, broken ribs, and a fractured pelvis, leaving her temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. Despite all of this, she made a nearly complete recovery, only continuing to walk with a limp. 

In another case, Nicholas Alkemade, a British tail gunner of the Royal Air Force during World War II, survived a freefall of 18,000 feet (5, 490 meters). His fall was broken by pine trees and a soft snow cover on the ground. 

While the first case can be safely considered as a miracle, it's the second case that is interesting. The pilot survived a freefall from a height he should’ve died from. Yet, due to the large trees and the snow on the floor, his fall was cushioned and allowed for him to survive. 

Now, taking what we discussed and applying it to the Star Wars universe, the chances of Tech surviving is definitely in our favour. Firstly, we know there is a lot of foliage (bushes, grass, etc.), and there are also massive trees. But we must remember that this isn’t just some random, unprepared person that is falling. This is Tech, a highly skilled, highly intelligent, and well equipped clone trooper. It is also important to mention that he is wearing a helmet and a chest plate, which provides protection to critical body parts. Knowing him, Tech could have very well put his gear to use and used a grappling hook to attach to a tree and create momentum from his fall to swing onto the ground. He could have also gotten into the falling tram and found a way to cushion his fall. But let’s say he does neither of these things (perhaps due to the speed at which he was falling), Tech can still survive if he falls vertically into the pine trees and foliage, which will cushion his fall, just like Nicholas Alkemade and the rock climber, respectively.

Furthermore, based on all that has been discussed and considered, the chances of survival of a freefall from that height, while seemingly impossible, is in fact, possible and likely. 

Sources:

The Bad Batch - Where Do We Go From Here?

I'm so depressed by this that I forgot how to function normally. I feel numb and then I burst into tears. I don't even know how to cope or move forward. It just doesn't feel real and I'm disoriented because this just feels like a really bad dream. I honestly feel stupid for being so affected by this, but it blood hurts. So damn much. Going forward, I'm not even sure what to expect for season 3. Everything just feels so hopeless now. I don't know anymore.

Tech is NOT Dead - A Theory

Okay before I go MIA in order not to kms, I need to put my theory out there.

Maybe I'm just coping here in my delusions of grandure, but I don't think Tech is actually dead. They're going to Winter Soldier his ass. Why? Because his death was lowkey out of pocket. Why did they dedicate the whole season to him, give him a love interest, character development, and make him a canonical character with asd (in other words, be fantastic representation for a community that rarely gets any), just kill him off? It's not adding up. That's waaay too much effort just to throw it all away like that. And why did Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Hemlock) feel the need to confirm his "death" by showing the goggles when both the batch and we, the viewers, saw him "die." That's suspicious as hell, if you ask me. I'm thinking they recovered him and brought his ass to Tantiss.

If Hunter can fall and break his ass but still survive, then so can Tech. NO BODY, NO PROOF.

Okay, see you guys later. I'll be in therapy🫡😮‍💨

The Bad Batch s2ep 15 & 16 - Season Finale

I will not be reviewing these two episodes, at least not for a while. I apologize to those who cared to read this week's review and discussion.

I have not felt this much emotional distress and pain in such a long time. Frankly, I am not okay. In order to preserve my mental health, I will be stepping away from this platform for an undisclosed amount of time.I encourage all folks to take care of themselves as well. Please reach out to family/friends/health providers if you need support. 🫶

these two episodes were rough. This was the very last thing I ever expected to happen, but honestly, I should've known better. The foreshadow was right in my face, and I was foolish to ever be hopeful.

TBB s2e13 Review & Discussion - Pabu, A Tropical Getaway

Per Usual, Massive Spoilers Ahead! 

Today’s episode was truly lovely. It was a nice break from the heartache that has been the last two episodes. I absolutely adored seeing Omega be a kid for once and have a friend her age. I also loved seeing the Batch just truly relax for once. The tsunami was genuinely scary to me. I never enjoy having to watch a natural disaster in a show simply because of how real an issue it is. It was unsettling to say the least. This episode also set up the possibilities for TBB to have a place to restart their lives and live peacefully, which is a good thing to keep in mind. That being said, I don’t think they are going to do that just yet, there is still cause for them to join the fight (SAVE YOUR BROTHER DAMMIT!)

Cid. Oh Cid. How the mighty have fallen. I used to enjoy her character as this dry and witty “auntie”. But as we have all come to realize, she is quite cruel and uncaring. This is not to say she is a bad character, because frankly she is written so well. But I’m just happy the Batch finally cut ties with her and are going on their own. I will say, though, that I am a bit surprised at how sudden it happened. She is totally going to sell them out to the Empire.

Alright, I’m going to address the elephant in the room. This fandom, while it has its good sides and I love that, needs to chill tf out. There is literally no reason to be going feral over fictional characters like this. it’s not that big of a deal. Everyone is allowed to have their interpretations, their ships and their likes/dislikes without warranting aggression from one another. You're allowed to be upset by today's episode as much as you're allowed to be happy with it. So please, let us remember that the point of a fandom is to bring people together, not push them apart. 

Anyways. With that being said, here are my thoughts on Tech and Phee. On the lowest of keys, I’m ever so slightly vibing. Initially (as in her first two appearances, earlier in the season) I was put off by her character because I thought “oh, here is yet another pirate…”  I had not been fond of the idea of her being a love interest to Tech simply because I could not gauge her character well enough at the time and therefore did not want to jump aboard the ship. This episode was fantastic in developing her character. I still don’t feel particularly inclined to jump aboard this ship, at least, not yet. However, because this episode gave Phee agency, morality, and drive, (which I seriously appreciated and I love that for her), I can now gauge her character far better and can understand how she and Tech could maybe be a thing in the future if that’s the direction the writers choose to go in. In my personal opinion, I doubt the writers will pursue this sub-plot and if they do, it won't be on a grand scale, considering the focus of the main story. And if I'm being honest, I'm not exactly sold on the idea of there being romance in TBB; that's just me though. But back to Phee, the fact that she is going out of her way to retrieve artifacts important to Pabu’s culture (even if they have no monetary value) just shows the viewers that she is more than just some pirate and that she values things that go beyond money. We live laugh love character development in this battalion.

7.5/10. Great episode, cozy vibes all the way.

The Bad Batch s2e12 Review and Discussion - The Breaking Point of Crosshair

Massive Spoilers Ahead!

That was by far one of the greatest episodes I think i've ever watched. I don't even know where to begin and I do not say this lightly - I have been thoroughly broken by this show. I am genuinely heartbroken at this point.

First and foremost, the music was on point. It hit every single emotion it wanted to convey and it complimented the themes of this episode perfectly. Kevin Kiner remains to be one of the best composers, in my opinion.

Secondly, the symbolism that was the lone ice vulture flying above Crosshair's head throughout the episode was just poetic. It really got the message across to the viewers that Crosshair is utterly and brutally alone. He is nothing more than something that is “expendable” in the eyes of the Empire. This episode made that evermore clearer to Cross.

Thirdly, the new clone introduced in this episode, Commander Mayday, was a perfect way to SHOW (and not just tell) Crosshair the tragedies, the mistreatment and the injustices that the clones are facing. Throughout the entire episode, both Cross and the viewers were reminded of just how poorly the clones are being treated. Mayday's inevitable death was the final moment for Crosshair; It genuinely broke him (and me, frankly). The lieutenant (I forgot his name because idfc) really rubbed it into Crosshair’s face about what the clones mean to the Empire.

The emotions that we get to see Crosshair experience throughout this episode really show just how broken his spirit is; he has reached his breaking point. He was left both physically and emotionally devastated by the end of his mission; losing yet another companion, another brother. Someone whom he was just beginning to confide in, especially to feel less alone. I also found it quite fascinating to see him express distress when the ship blew up and caused him a sort-of sensory overload. A bit of an ode to the Batches enhanced features.

 I appreciated the little details of him shivering in the cold as he and Mayday made their way back to the outpost; huddling together to survive. on top of that, his facial expressions really showed just how lost, distraught, devastated and broken he has become. Truly, what a masterful episode. Crosshair shooting the lieutenant by the end of the episode was his moment of “going awol,” albeit, in the most devastating and heart wrenching way. 

The ending of this episode was rather concerning. I literally have no idea what that lady poked his neck with nor do I have the faintest idea as to why he's on Tantiss but I'm very nervous about it. I hope he isn't being brainwashed again or [arguably] even worse, becoming the prototype of a dark trooper. Istfg If this happens, You’ll be hearing from my therapist and my lawyer, Filoni. For the love of all things decent in this world, please let him go home to his family. 

This episode, once again, cements exactly why I love Crosshair's character so much. Truly a terribly tragic character and I ate that shit up. I'm shellshocked.

 20/10. Feelings have been hurt.

Admittedly, I'm not a KOTOR girlie. However, I appreciate a good romance when I see one. And this is 😙🤌🏻

I don’t think words can adequately describe how much Revanasi means to me…their relationship is built on mutual trust, respect, love and appreciation. That these two broken people found each other, chose each other and made a life together – argh it makes my dead soul feel things

The Crossing - TBB s2e9 Review and Thoughts

Spoilers Ahead!

Okay, so this episode was absolutely fantastic. The character development for Tech was just wonderful and I honestly felt so seen as a fellow neurodivergent person. I also really appreciated the bonding between big little brother Tech and little big sister Omega.

But let me be real for a second. If the reason why Tech is getting so much screen time and development is because he's going to die by the end of this season, I'm going to be mortified. I know many folks fear this, as do I, but looking at it from a literary standpoint, I find that it would be highly illogical for the writers to kill any of the main cast...at least in this season. I'm also so devastated that the marauder was stolen, I hope they get it back because Lula and Gonky are on there!!!

Anyways, great episode. 9/10☆

Lucasfilm? Hey Lucasfilm? Hi. Hi girl. Listen. We need to talk. You gotta stop this shit. I can't keep doing this. We haven't even gotten Cross back yet and you're already sending off another batcher? Are you trying to kill us all? At this rate, this whole fandom is going to be in therapy forever. I don't appreciate this. Not one bit.