Things are getting confusing in Season 3 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. In Episode 6, it was implied in dialogue that the popular fan theory about Tech having been brainwashed into an Imperial Shadow Trooper was false, and then in Episode 7 so much time was devoted to that Shadow and the preservation of their secret identity that the only logical conclusion is that it must be someone we know — and if not Tech, who else? Episode 8 might reveal some more clues when it debuts on Disney+ on March 20, but until then, let’s indulge in some healthy speculation.
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Who is that Shadow Trooper?
The big question emerging from the latest two episodes is the identity of the Shadow Trooper who chased Clone Force 99 all over the place and was eventually sent plummeting off a waterfall. The popular fan theory is that it’s the presumed dead Tech, but is it?
In Episode 6, Crosshair explained to Rex and Howzer about the brainwashing program on Mount Tantiss. He said that the clones have their identities wiped and are programmed to serve the Empire without question, and that he wasn’t a suitable candidate because of his genetic aberrations. All of Clone Force 99, including Tech, were considered “defective” in this way, which would seemingly exclude Tech from being the Shadow Trooper.
However, this could be deliberate misdirection. Here’s what we do know about the Shadow thus far:
- They’re loyal to Scorch. When the Shadow had a clean shot on Omega, he didn’t take it since his orders were to keep her alive. So, even though the Shadow was not answerable to Wolffe and had no problem killing other clones, he did what Scorch said.
- They would have killed Crosshair. If Rex hadn’t intervened in Episode 7, the Shadow would have drowned Crosshair in the waterfall. There was no last-minute change of heart.
The above implies that the brainwashing the Shadow underwent on Mount Tantiss was completely successful.
Will we learn the identity of the Shadow in Episode 8?
While I’m sure this plot thread will come up again before the season’s over, I don’t think Episode 8 will reveal the identity of the Shadow. Looking over the episode order for Season 3, it’s hard to overlook that Episode 10 is titled “Identity Crisis”. Remember, in Episode 6, Crosshair said that the Clone X Troopers have their identities erased. If I had to bet, I’d say Episode 10 is where this story will be picked back up.
Wolffe Will Turn Against the Empire
Thanks to Rebels, we know that Wolffe eventually fights with Rex and Gregor against the Empire. In Episode 7, we saw the beginning of his disillusionment when Rex explained to him what the Empire had been doing to the clones on Mount Tantiss. Wolffe, while still remaining loyal to the Empire for now, let Rex and the others go free.
This will doubtlessly be a recurring thread through the remainder of the season, since we have to get from here, where Wolffe is still fundamentally loyal to the Empire, to Rebels, where he’s living in a vintage AT-TE with Rex and Gregor. Expect us to check in with Wolffe frequently as he becomes increasingly appalled by what the Empire is up to, leading to a big moment down the line where he switches sides.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3 Episode 8 Release Date/Where to Watch
Episode 8 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3 will air on Wednesday, March 20 at 12 am PT, 3 am ET, and 8 am GMT, exclusively on Disney+. It will also mark us officially entering the back half of the final season, which will have 15 episodes in total. Episode 8 will be titled “Bad Territory” and will have a runtime of 25-30 minutes.
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