The following contains spoilers for The Bad Batch Season 2, Episode 16, "Plan 99," streaming now on Disney+.
The Bad Batch Season 2 came to a shocking conclusion in the season finale, "Plan 99," which ended on a cliffhanger evocative of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. The season finale saw Clone Force 99 trying to locate where the Empire's Advanced Science Division was keeping their former comrade, Crosshair. Their mission put them on the radar of the Imperial chief scientist, Dr. Hemlock, who is leading the Empire's research into cloning. Hemlock's research requires the expertise of the Kaminoan scientist, Nala Se. Captured by the Empire, the Kaminoan Prime Minister Lama Su previously told Hemlock that the key to securing Nala Se's cooperation was Omega.
After a mission to an Imperial summit on Eriadu went horribly wrong, costing Tech his life and seeing Omega injured, the Clones returned to Cid's Parlor on Ord Mantell. Here, they hoped Omega could get the medical attention she needed. However, while Omega recovered, Cid alerted the Empire to the Clones' presence. Hemlock ultimately gets his wish and is able to capture Omega, though the rest of the Bad Batch escape the Empire's grasp. It leaves them faced with a mission to recover Omega, echoing The Empire Strikes Back's cliffhanger ending, which saw the heroes tasked with rescuing the lost Han Solo.
Omega's Fate Recalls the Original Star Wars Trilogy
The Empire Strikes Back saw Han Solo's past catching up with him, as Boba Fett joined forces with the Empire in order to finally collect the bounty on Han's head. By the film's end, Han has been frozen in carbonite and taken by Boba to Jabba the Hutt. Omega may not have been trapped in a block of carbonite, but her capture by Hemlock mirrored Han falling into the hands of the Empire and ultimately Jabba. In both instances, the heroes were betrayed by a less-than-trustworthy ally -- the self-serving Lando Calrissian handed Han Solo over to the Empire, while the Bad Batch had already been warned that Cid would eventually turn on them.
Both Omega being abducted by Dr. Hemlock and Han Solo being taken by Boba Fett served as the foundation for a cliffhanger ending, leading into a new story about an effort to rescue the captive hero. This made for an unexpected ending to The Bad Batch Season 2, foregoing the Bad Batch's anticipated reunion with Crosshair and ending the season with a damning defeat. Similarly, after the uplifting ending to A New Hope, the final scenes of The Empire Strikes Back were a shock to Star Wars fans in 1980, with the Empire emerging victorious and the Rebels on the back foot.
What's Next for Omega and the Bad Batch?
The similarities between the ending to The Bad Batch Season 2 and The Empire Strikes Back mean that some sense of where The Bad Batch is heading might be gleaned from the opening act of Return of the Jedi. After Han Solo was taken away by Boba Fett, the following film opened with his friends' efforts to rescue him. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, Lando and the droids all ventured to Jabba's palace on Tatooine to enact an infamously complex rescue plan, which ended in a spectacular battle on Jabba's sail barge. Season 3 of The Bad Batch is similarly likely to revolve around the team's efforts to recover Omega from the grasp of Dr. Hemlock.
Of course, there are some key differences this time around. Most pressingly, while Han's Rebel comrades knew he was being taken to Jabba's palace, Omega's brothers have no idea where Hemlock's headquarters are located. However, whereas Han was rendered helplessly comatose in his carbonite prison, Omega may be able to send out a communication to the rest of the Bad Batch, or else attempt escape herself. She is also not alone in Hemlock's facility. As well as Nala Se, she is accompanied by the captive Crosshair.
The second chapter of each Star Wars film trilogy tends to end on a darker note, setting the stage for a more hopeful conclusion in the following installment. The Bad Batch appears to be following suit with the Season 2 finale. As if to reiterate its Empire Strikes Back Connection, the finale even concludes with the revelation that Omega has an unexpected villainous relation; Imperial scientist Emerie Karr is a Clone and thus, Omega's genetic sister. Perhaps Omega can follow in Luke Skywalker's footsteps, by helping her Imperial sister find redemption, just as Luke redeemed his villainous father, Darth Vader.
The Bad Batch Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+.