The latest episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch is something of a gamble. Episode 11 chooses to tell a story largely divorced from The Batch, set on the planet Ryloth. Instead, fans are treated to an insight into the Empire's manipulative transition from establishing order to seizing control.
Perhaps "Devil's Deal" benefits from last week's filler episode which stalled the show's momentum, but this dose of world-building is so rich that it energizes the show. Crosshair is a menacing presence, lurking in the shadows as Rampart oversees the uneasy peace with the familiar Syndulla family, including a young Hera and Chopper.
Last week, it was Raxus. This week, it's Ryloth. The Empire continues to linger in the background of meetings and political rallies like a malevolent benefactor. Indeed, this could almost work as an episode in a series about the Empire. Rampart is bemused that the new refinery that's creating jobs hasn't cemented their popularity. The population are restless, but Cham and Eleni Syndulla, attempt to defuse tensions. Leader of the Twi'lek revolution, Cham explains that they owe a debt to the Clone Troopers whom they battled alongside during the Clone Wars.
It's a fascinating complexity in the aftermath of the war and another tool that the Empire employs to control the systems that it claims to have freed. There's a sense of loyalty to those who have spent so long fighting alongside them, though the majority of these clones have been altered thanks to Order 66. Similarly, the promise of employment after war is tantalizing, but ultimately the Empire profits. How long before the guise of employment is replaced with slavery? Rampart notes that the Syndulla's daughter is absent from Cham's address to the public, with Eleni retorting that Hera has 'other concerns'.
In true Hera style, those concerns happen to be investigating the new imperial refinery from a safe distance - or spying on, depending on your allegiances. It's a genuine delight to see Hera and Chopper back, even if the latter doesn't get involved in as much mischief fans are used to. The duo are caught trespassing by Clone Troopers, who can probably count themselves lucky this isn't ten years later when Chopper would likely have zapped them.
Curiously, Captain Howzer is lenient and doesn't report the incident to his superiors, perhaps another Clone with a faulty inhibitor chip. This brings Cham and Hera together for a touching father-daughter moment. It becomes apparent that Cham's transition from empowered revolutionary to neutered leader is born from his want to see Hera avoid the same life as he had. He acquiesces with the Empire, even as the infrastructure which had protected them during the Clone Wars is stripped away.
Having instructed his citizens to hand over their weapons, the planet forgoes any means to defend itself. Gobi can't abide this approach, stressing that Ryloth should be protected by its own people - not Clones. This broadens the understanding of the manner in which the Empire is able to manuever itself into control without overt violence, a far more insidious approach that corrodes a planet's defenses from the inside.
Similarly, it shows how weapons dealers profit from both sides of the war, one of many reasons why The Bad Batch is the perfect bridge between the Prequels and the Original Trilogy. In response, Gobi decides to secure some weapons off-world and smuggle them back onto Ryloth. Though Hera knows she shouldn't be dragged into it after her latest escapade, she's lured by the promise of flying lessons. It's a costly decision, much to the delight of Crosshair who latches a tracking device to their ship before it leaves to meet with their contact.
Those turn out to be The Batch, hired by Sid to deliver the goods for Gobi. This should set alarm bells ringing immediately with fans, knowing that Crosshair's tracker is in place he could easily be in pursuit. However, the episode allows for a moment of levity as Hera and Omega cross paths. Watching the two enthuse over their shared love of becoming pilots is bittersweet. With Omega's technical approach and Hera's reliance on feeling, the two would make a good pairing. The Star Wars expanded universe excels at examining how war displaces children, unpacking the mental toll that trauma can take. It was sweet to see two kids dream together in amongst all the turmoil.
Sadly, there must be consequences for Hera's jaunt. Being the daughter of the planet's leaders, she's a prize prisoner. Crosshair disables their ship as it returns to Ryloth, while the Empire positions itself to seize Ryloth. Rampart carries himself with Thrawn-like poise throughout this episode, allowing events to unfold as he positions his pieces on the board accordingly. His slippery nature makes him a perfect fit for a live-action villain in the series. He counts on the fact that Gobi's men will report back to Cham and Eleni, forcing them to act. The Syndulla's are happy to oblige as they attempt to free Hera. While their initial attack is successful, this plays right into the hands of Rampart as he orders Crosshair to snipe the Senator Taa, before arresting the Syndulla's for an attempted assassination on the senator. Luckily Hera escapes, though it remains to be seen how long she'll last on the run.
Despite taking a massive gamble this week, The Bad Batch managed to deliver one of the best episodes of the series so far. Moving away from both The Batch, and Crosshair, as central figures allowed for a closer examination of the Empire's methods. Fans have seen plenty of snippets throughout the season so far, but this was a methodical look at the type of tactics the imperials deploy in order to seize power. Seizing Hera Syndulla, on the other hand, will cause them far greater difficulty.
New episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch are available to stream every Friday on Disney Plus