Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s Unlikely Alliance Between Omega and Asajj Ventress Elevates the Entire Franchise’s Portrayal of Morality

In 1999, when The Phantom Menace was released, audiences saw a new side of Star Wars. No longer was the vague talk of the Republic, well, vague. Instead, it was front and center, with entire sequences occurring in Naboo’s grand negotiation chamber, where the nuances of government and laws were discussed at length. In an attempt to demonstrate the evolution of the galaxy and Palpatine’s rise to power, George Lucas emphasized what can happen when a totalitarian leader is given too much control, and the endless damage that can happen when that power is unchecked.

The animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch attempts to bridge the gap between the overtly political and, perhaps more importantly, the way in which political systems have an undeniable affect on the livelihood and identity of everyday citizens. The “Bad Batch” is Clone Force 99, an experimental group of rogue clone troopers whose mutations set them apart from their standard clone counterparts. Throughout its first two seasons, the series has demonstrated the dangers of surviving past your expiration date; as clone troopers are now of little use to the Empire, they must count on each other for survival.

In Season 3, clones continue to become even more obsolete, their purposes now relegated to scientific testing for the secret “Project Necromancer.” Omega, a young female member of Clone Force 99, is considered of extreme value to the Empire after it’s discovered that she possesses the high M-count that Palpatine requires for his cloning project. After escaping imprisonment, Omega and Clone Force 99 are joined by notorious assassin Asajj Ventress in Episode 9. Last seen on screen in The Clone Wars, Ventress’ reemergence came as a surprise both to viewers and to the Bad Batch themselves. Clone Force 99 are skeptical of the “villain”—and for good reason. Where her allegiance lies is anyone’s guess, but in the episode, Ventress attempts to provide some training to Omega in the ways of the Force to confirm or negate her abilities.

With the original trilogy, Star Wars began as a clear battle between good and evil. The “Light” side versus the “Dark” side. It is a “black and white,” “us vs. them” model, one that segments mortality into easily-digestible categories, often removed from more nuanced conversations surrounding the gray areas of human complexity. In those early days of the franchise, it was usually obvious where everyone’s allegiance stood. But in the years since, Star Wars has tinkered with morally gray characters. From the concept of Dark Jedi (which took its root in Legends) to examples in The Clone Wars and Ahsoka, this kind of character has shattered the illusion of binary morality that Star Wars used to represent. 

The Bad Batch continues this evolution, with characters that are filled with nuance. At the end of the episode, Crosshair tells Ventress “I still can’t figure out what side you’re on.” Her response? “My own.” People familiar with her character won’t be surprised by this, as she is often known to work for the good of herself. Still, her relationship with Omega is not the first time she has found an unexpected confidant. In The Clone Wars Season 4’s “Revenge,” Ventress went so far as to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi following his duel with Darth Maul, only complicating her self-centered front and demonstrating that there is more to her than meets the eye. Carrying the tagline of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” that episode highlighted the importance of conspiring with people with whom you may fundamentally disagree, under the common goal of working against a mutual enemy. 

At this point in the timeline, that mutual enemy is the Empire, the overpowering and stifling system of government intended to silence and destroy those who don’t align with their vision for the future. In The Bad Batch, when Ventress helps Omega find her abilities, this philosophy is once again brought to the forefront. Despite Ventress’ “dark” exterior, there are tangible benefits in utilizing her own abilities and knowledge for the greater good of fighting against the Empire. A more difficult situation than dealing with somebody who is distinctly “evil,” Ventress’ actual morality is ambiguous. But working with her is a necessary price the clones must pay if they want to help Omega and, potentially, themselves.

By framing Ventress through Omega’s eyes in Episode 9, the series establishes her as politically and ethically savvy, all while showing the audience both herself and this potential villain in a new light. Omega understands the gravity of this tentative alliance, perhaps even more so than her colleagues in Clone Force 99, with their (rightfully founded) suspicions. But Omega isn’t repelled by Ventress’ dubious morality, and is instead drawn to both her power and prowess in navigating her own potential strengths as she learns more about who she really is. 

By being accepting of those outside her faction, Omega perfectly understands the complexities of war, and how all motivations and goals need not necessarily align in order to further a much larger agenda. Omega doesn’t know Ventress’ complicated background, nor does she need to. All she knows is that Ventress is willing to help her in that moment and that their common enemy is the same. In The Bad Batch, Omega offers an example for how to approach others with open-mindedness, allowing people to step out of the strict confines of “good” and “evil” in pursuit of a much larger and more important goal. 

In Star Wars, the last thing the Empire wants is for people to band together in an attempt to overthrow their system or bring about a loss in power. But, even among those who don’t agree with one another, finding a common enemy can be powerful and productive. When the government takes away the identity and purpose of the clones, they may be forced to work with those whom they disagree with or who don’t fit neatly in their “camp.” Ventress may have selfish motivations, but ultimately she is not interested in aiding or abetting the Empire—just like Clone Force 99. Despite their varying dispositions and approaches, this common enemy is enough for she and Omega to work together under the condition of “the enemy of an enemy is my friend”. And, with this forward-thinking mindset, this unlikely pair has the chance to make a difference that will spark real change in the galaxy.

Josh Sharpe is the current TV intern at Paste. His other bylines include TheaterMania and Collider. To hear about his thoughts about film, TV, and musical theatre, follow him @josh_sharpe22 on all socials.

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