Order 66 in the Star Wars universe is one of the most devious plans formulated by Emperor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious. Order 66 seemed like a simple way of identifying Jedi traitors with the help of biochips inserted in Clone Troopers.
But the then Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, who was secretly Darth Sidious, conspired against the Jedi Order. These chips made the troopers obey any and every order. Palpatine took advantage of this and executed Order 66, which made Clone Troopers go against Jedis and kill them.
But, The Bad Batch seems to be a little more aware than the average clone troopers since they are some of the most intelligent troopers in the galaxy.
So, did they have inhibitor chips, or were they above it all?
The Inhibitor Chips In The Bad Batch
Yes! The Bad Batch did have inhibitor chips. However, since these clones were defective, the biochips did not function properly in them. Cut Lawquane, a clone deserter, tells The Bad Batch and Omega about the inhibitor chips.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch begins with the aftermath of the clone wars. The Bad Batch (the defective clones) are Hunter, Tech, Crosshair, Wrecker, and Echo! When Order 66 is set in motion by Emperor Palpatine, Jedi Master Depa Billaba is killed by her clones, but her Padawan Caleb Dume is not.
The Bad Batch receives the orders, but only Crosshairs has the urge to kill the Padawan. So they let Caleb go.
This is the first place that hints at the inhibitor chips in The Bad Batch. As circumstances unfold, The Bad Batch realizes the war is over, and the Republic is no more. Instead, there is an empire. Here’s where The Bad Batch encounters another defective clone, Omega.
Later on, we see Crosshairs’ chip being enhanced, and hence he turns on his squad.
As the story progresses, The Bad Batch and Omega try to seek refuge with a clone deserter named Cut Lawquane. Unfortunately, they were arrested for not obeying orders but managed to escape. Here’s where The Bad Batch comes to know of the inhibitor chips in them and how it is rigging their system and making them follow orders.
Much ahead in the series, we find out that the chips don’t work well with The Bad Batch. This is because they are defective clones, and hence the chip inserted in them malfunctions. This explains why they decided to let go of Caleb or why they had some sort of consciousness while taking orders or executing a job.
However, with all this said, there’s one exciting thing. Omega doesn’t have any inhibitor chip in her. It is revealed that she is the exact replication of Jango Fett, which means that she is the only source for building fresh clones.
Many theories are floating on the internet as to why this clone doesn’t have an inhibitor chip. One is that since Palpatine might need more clones in his control as part of the army, he’ll need source material to make the clones, and hence Omega doesn’t have the inhibitor chip.
Another theory is that the Kaminoans tried to make their first force-sensitive clone. One thing that points to it is that she hasn’t aged like the rest of the clones and remains childlike.
However, these are merely theories. I’m sure the reveal and Omega’s origins can answer the question for us and, in fact, even shape The Bad Batch’s story arc. But we’ll only have to wait and find out.
How Did They Remove The Chips And Survive Order 66?
The Bad Batch are the defective clones, hence the inhibitor chip malfunctions. Thus they disobey and survive Order 66. Later Rex extracts the inhibitor chips from Wrecker and others from The Bad Batch.
After knowing about the chips in their heads and the Emperor’s forces looking out for them, The Bad Batch is essentially on the run. During this time, they’re led to Rex, who was also a clone just like The Bad Batch. Or actually different than them because he was not defective and he served in the Republic army.
Rex is wary of the chips and is concerned that the chip hasn’t been removed yet. So they sneak off to a Jedi cruise on Bracca to find medical supplies to remove the chips from all their heads.
However, Wrecker is agitated and starts attacking his own team members. He almost murders Rex and even Omega, who is merely a young girl. But, of course, he is then subdued, the surgery happens, and the chip is removed from his brain.
After this, one by one, they all get their chips removed to be completely safe from Order 66. This is essentially how they disobey and survive Order 66.
However, it’s not a happy ending for The Bad Batch yet. They’re still not safe from the emperor, and only the next two episodes can tell us how it will all unfold! I’m rooting for The Bad Batch and hoping for a good ending for these misfits. But will they get it? I guess the two remaining episodes of the season will tell us that.
About Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an American animated show created by Dave Filoni for Disney+. It is both a sequel and a spin-off of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The series’ renewal was announced right before season 1’s two-part finale.
Dee Bradley Baker reprises his role as voice actor for all the clone troopers from the previous Star Wars animated projects. Additionally joining him are Ming-Na Wen, Stephen Stanton, Andrew Kishino and Michelle Ang.
The Bad Batch follows the elite and experimental troopers of Clone Force 99 as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars. Choosing to become an independent group of mercenaries the show will see them undertake dangerous missions.
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