Summary
A focused episode provides a major turning point for Crosshair and perhaps the beginning of a popular fan theory.
This recap of The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 12, “The Outpost”, contains spoilers.
After forgetting about Crosshair for several weeks, The Bad Batch finally checks in with him in the latest episode, “The Outpost”, another focused outing that depicts the Empire as so unrelentingly evil that even a military force bred to serve it – or at least the previous incarnation of it – can’t get on-board with its policies. After his heel turn in Season 1, Crosshair seemed destined to become a villain, and while he has in some ways, he still exists somewhat apart from the rest of the Imperial machine. This episode only widens that chasm.
The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 12 Recap
As tends to be the case, the Empire is here condensed into one single front-office functionary, Lieutenant Nolan, who doesn’t like clones and hasn’t led any combat missions but is nonetheless in charge of an operation to secure an Imperial depot on Barton-4, where local insurgents keep targeting high-value cargo.
Why do Crosshair and Mayday bond?
So, Nolan doesn’t like Crosshair, and he doesn’t like the clone in charge of the depot either. Then again, Mayday, who has been waiting for support for some time and isn’t quiet about the fact, doesn’t like Nolan either. The implication is that the Empire has been sending remaining clones on far-off assignments and basically abandoning them; even here, they’re only present planetside because they care about the cargo, the nature of which has been considered too secretive for Mayday and his men. The clones are risking their lives to protect something that they’re not considered important enough to know about.
Crosshair and Mayday, who are repeatedly sent out on scouting missions that they’re ill-equipped and outnumbered for, can’t help but bond. Mayday is under no illusions about how the clones have become surplus to requirements within the Empire, getting scraps of equipment while the Imperial Army enjoys its new toys. Crosshair knows this too, but since he abandoned his brothers to side with the Empire, it’s harder for him to accept. But he’s getting there.
When Crosshair and Mayday are caught in an avalanche, the latter ends up grievously injured, and Crosshair has to carry him all the way back to the depot. By the time they get there, Mayday is on death’s door and in desperate need of a medic, but Nolan denies him one. He dies right there on the floor, and Crosshair, in his anger, shoots Nolan dead.
What’s next for Crosshair?
As “The Outpost” ends, Crosshair regains consciousness and finds himself being injected with something by Emerie. This, it seems, might be the beginning of a long-held fan theory that Crosshair becomes the first Death Trooper. With his loyalty to the Empire now in question but his skillset still very much a useful asset, it makes sense that the Empire would coerce him into servitude – plus him in the iconic black armor chasing down Clone Force 99 would make a nice setup for the finale.
You can stream The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode 12, “The Outpost” exclusively on Disney+.
