WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the series premiere of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, "Aftermath," now streaming on Disney+.
One of the big surprises in the first episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch is Omega, the young female clone rescued from Kamino by Clone Force 99. She was a figure of great importance among the Kaminoans: ostensibly a “lab assistant” whom the scientist Nala Se seemed protective of. The precise reasons for that protectiveness remain unknown for now -- and will presumably be answered later in The Bad Batch -- though the episode dropped some serious hints. However, fans have developed numerous theories about who she is and why she matters so much, including one that posits her as a clone of Emperor Palpatine.
The Star Wars theory has been largely debunked by the details of the episode itself, but the sources of the theory make some intriguing points. While it won’t bear out without some serious revision to onscreen statements, the core of it suggests that Palpatine may get involved regardless.
The theory starts with the physical resemblance. Omega possesses spikey, short hair similar to Palpatine’s. Also, her escape with the Bad Batch mirrors certain aspects of Rey’s family and their escape from the Empire. Her status as an orphan certainly matches with Rey as well, and with the details about Rey’s parentage taking place mostly offscreen, in-canon space exists to explore the Emperor’s children.
Furthermore, Omega exhibits a keen intuition into other people’s emotions -- such as her understanding of Crosshair’s struggle with Order 66 -- that suggests Force sensitivity. Her sudden accuracy with a blaster during the Bad Batch’s escape adds further weight to the notion. It suggests a link to the Emperor’s desire to create a clone body for himself as seen in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. Indeed, canonically, clones aren’t able to use the Force since they lack midi-chlorians. Omega’s Force abilities would be explained if she were a clone of Palpatine created as part of the process that led to his ultimate resurrection.
Unfortunately, that runs against more established facts about the character, starting with her name. Omega is the end of the Greek alphabet, cementing her status as the last clone of Jango Fett. She has Fett’s eyes and Kiwi accent, and her accuracy with the blaster can be explained away by her genetic proclivities. Clones tend to feel an affinity for each other, so her empathy with Crosshair may come naturally. Her status as the only female clone puts her firmly in the Bad Batch’s ranks since they were specifically created for their unique qualities.
None of that precludes Force sensitivity either. Part of her unique nature may include the presence of midi-chlorians, making her particularly valuable to the galaxy’s power players the same way Grogu is in The Mandalorian. The Palpatine theory overlaps with such details and likely points the way to others, though specifics will probably change with each new episode of The Bad Batch.
As The Clone Wars before it, The Bad Batch takes an immersive approach to the Star Wars timeline. The shows' strengths come in the way it interacts with previous material, fitting new pieces into the larger canonical puzzle, so it’s only natural to connect an ongoing plot point like Omega to what fans already know. The theory doesn’t have to be true to illuminate interesting details that may play a key role in later events. Omega may not be Palpatine’s clone -- and frankly, the show would be taking the easy way out if she were -- but if she’s Force-sensitive, then the Emperor might take a keen interest in her regardless. In that regard, The Bad Batch may end up having its cake and eating it too.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker and Ming-Na Wen. A new episode arrives each Friday on Disney+.