Commentary — ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Proves Clones Are The Most Tragic Star Wars Characters
by Frank Martin
It’s undeniable that Star Wars is built on tragedy. An entire planet was destroyed in the very first film. The Empire is positioned as an authoritarian force that ruins lives everywhere it goes. But an argument could be made that of all the different aspects of the franchise, the clones are the most unfortunate. Sure, the Jedi were almost completely wiped out with an entire generation of children slaughtered in a place they thought was safe. Nevertheless, the Jedi were an organization in control of its own destiny, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch illustrated this was something the clones were never afforded.
For a long time, the clones were painted as villains within the Star Wars universe. The troops, created in secret, fought alongside the Jedi during the Clone Wars, and The Clone Wars animated series elevated them as heroes when they were voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. They are also the executioners of the Jedi, turning on them during Order 66. Thanks to chips implanted in their brains, they became faithful servants to the new regime and furthered the Empire’s agenda.
The Bad Batch portrayed the clones in a sympathetic light. It highlighted that Order 66 was just a singular event that turned the clones against the Jedi. They still had a conscience that was tested in the early days of the Empire. This led to a lot of clones being imprisoned and experimented on. They were beings who were created and had no say for their role in life. They were soldiers through and through, which meant that their fall was all the more tragic as the Empire began phasing them out. They were never viewed as true life forms, just machinery; the same way that the Separatists viewed their droid army. It’s a truly tragic and unfortunate aspect of Star Wars that has only recently come to light.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is now streaming on Disney+
