WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1, Episode 7, “Battle Scars,” streaming now on Disney+.
The last few episodes of The Bad Batch hinted and teased that Wrecker’s inhibitor chip is about to take effect. Although Tech said that Clone Force 99’s chips all malfunctioned, except for Crosshair’s, Wrecker’s headaches have continually gotten worse. Now, in “Battle Scars,” it finally happens. Wrecker’s chip takes hold of him, and it nearly proves catastrophic for the Bad Batch. However, it also explains why Order 66 was such an effective tool against the Jedi Order.
Just before Tech can sedate the behemoth of a clone, Wrecker throws him back and knocks away Rex’s blaster before the captain can stun him. Then, Wrecker goes on a rampage, trying to execute everyone for being in violation of Order 66. They all know that they cannot stop the overpowered clone, so they decide to lead him away from the medical equipment. What happens next is nearly tragic. Wrecker corners Omega and would have gunned her down if Rex had not found them in the nick of time and stunned Wrecker.
Wrecker would have killed Omega despite her having a blaster rifle in her hands. However, she could not bring herself to shoot her friend. Earlier in the episode, the two of them got their traditional post-mission snack together, and their relationship is rather endearing as the large clone looks after her. Then, all of a sudden, everything changed. Omega couldn’t process the transition fast enough to react defensively. If it had not been for Rex’s intervention, she would have been killed.
This is exactly why Order 66 was so effective and why Jedi easily fell to Palpatine’s plot. The Jedi had spent years fighting side by side with their clones, going through countless battles together, trusting each other and becoming friends. Then, just like for Omega, everything changed in an instant. The clones that they had commanded and fought with were shooting at them.
Sure, Palpatine clouded the Jedi’s perception of the Force, so they had trouble seeing the betrayal coming. However, the real reason that so many Jedi died was that they were shocked that their friends were shooting at them. Even their Jedi instincts and reflexes couldn’t keep up with their utter disbelief. Any Jedi is more powerful than even a group of clones, but combat doesn’t allow for hesitation. While many Jedi were still trying to understand what was happening, the clones were already ruthless shooting at them. The Jedi’s hesitation to kill their clones, just like Omega couldn’t kill Wrecker, is what gave Darth Sidious an advantage.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker, Andrew Kishino and Ming-Na Wen. New episodes air Fridays on Disney+.