Star Wars The Clone Wars: A Series Like No Other

Best boys ♡

Just two bros chillin… For the lovely @wiseowl18 !! Based on their post S2E2 fic (check it out if you’re in need of some brotherly bonding!! hehe): https://archiveofourown.org/works/41771844/chapters/111487651

Zuko Crosshair Alone

Spoiler Warning: TBB season 2 episode 3

Content Warning: discussion of depression

Im not going to lie, Crosshair sitting by himself was a bit too real for me. Like, I'll be in a lecture and no one wants to sit with me (to be fair though, everyone avoids everyone).

I also just wanted to say that, regardless of whether or not you like him, you have to feel for Crosshair because he is so alone. Sure, you can say that these are the consequences of his actions and yes, I agree. But it doesn't negate the fact that it is a very sad state to see someone be in. He is turning out to be quite the tragic character and it reminds me of a few other characters from other series; specifically Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Sasuke from Naruto, and Red Hood from DC Comics. Moreover, this episode (at least to me) really embodied what depression can look like. He's a shell of who he once was, he doesn't know what he wants, what/who he cares about or what to do with himself. The days seem to blur together and most importantly, he's completely and utterly alone. No one to rely on, no one to fall back onto. And that really just spoke to me on a personal level.

I go into a lot more detail about this episode and how I personally think it's a masterpiece so if you're interested, go check that out. It's divided into two parts:

Part 1

Part 2

So anyways, yeah. Me too bro, me too.

If I think about it for too long, I'll literally burst into tears. Please, for the love of all things good in this world, let Crosshair return to his family. Let them be a happy family again. I'm begging. I cannot take much more of this shit. My mental state is decaying as I speak.

Also, if anyone dies, I'm going off the grid and living in a forest. That will be the 13th reason. I won't emotionally survive. I'll never recover.

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.

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.

Here are just a few of my sketches of Tech and Crosshair. I need to draw more Cross though. Anyways, enjoy!

1) [Soft-style] Tech

2) Tech (in my style)

3) [soft-style] Crosshair

Per usual, please do not share without permission and credit. Reblogs allowed

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.

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.

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

I love Crosshair, I really do. He is such a complex and tragic character; he has so much potential. But it's getting increasingly difficult to keep defending him when he keeps making the absolute worst decisions (bordering on crimes against humanity). He needs to get off that Imperial za and get some sense slapped into him.

The irony in all this is that for someone who is supposed to be an enhanced, dare I say superior, clone commando, his ability to analyze his situation and see the bigger picture is next to nonexistent. Moreover, it's even more ironic when he keeps saying "good soldiers follow orders"... like when did he ever follow rules? (As a former member of a group of clones whose whole purpose was to do things differently and that also means not following the rules all the time)

Please...let him be happy with his brothers and sister again...and please let them all survive...I'm begging...I can't take much more of this...