The Clone Wars S7: E2–A Distant Echo Review

A Distant Echo is The Clone Wars Reborn!!!

Last week, Disney+ relaunched one of the best things to happen to Star Wars canon since George Lucas originally invented the Whils. The Clone Wars season 7 episode 1 introduced Clone Force 99, A.K.A. The Bad Batch. On a mission to recover stolen plans, Captain Rex and Commander Cody lead the Bad Batch through the jungles of Anaxis to discover that a long lost clone was still alive.

Now, Rex is hellbent on finding his formerly-fallen comrade Echo.

S7. E2: A Distant Echo Summary

After discovering Echo might still be alive, Rex and company make plans to invade Skako Minor to rescue him. Tensions mount as others in the squad remind the Captain that Echo may no longer be alive. Lead by General Skywalker, Rex and the Bad Batch head to Echo’s last known location to mount a rescue.

Tensions flair between the Captain and members of Clone Force 99 as the distinction between regular clones–Regs–and the Bad Batch are pointed out. Throughout the episode, the Republic forces have to face off against the natives of Skako Minor, new droids, and Wat Tambor.

A Distant Echo Review

A Distant Echo is the continuation of the Bad Batch storyline and focuses on what the previous episode touched on: humanity. The clones’ humanity. We’ve seen different story arcs through The Clone Wars 7 year run focus on the difference between clones and normal people. This episode allows us to see just how human the clones are. It shows the viewer that war carries with it a heavy toll. Considering that this show is still aimed towards children, it’s an important topic for the creators not to shy away from.

General Kenobi KNOWS!

One of the biggest questions that the Prequel trilogy doesn’t answer is whether or not Obi-Wan Kenobi knew about Anakin and Padme’s relationship. Moments in the movies and in The Clone Wars tease the idea that Kenobi knows more about the couple than he is letting on. In A Distant Echo, we get another such moment.

After his conversation with his wife, Anakin leaves Rex’s barracks to discover the captain stalling Kenobi. After a comical back and forth between former master and padawan, Kenobi shouts, “Say hi to Padme.”

Fans have long suspected that not only did Kenobi know about the secret love, but may have harbored the consequences of his own forbidden romance. His love for Mandalorian Duchess Satine is no secret and with her death at the hands of Maul, the Master Jedi may be living vicariously through his padawan.

There’s More to the Bad Batch

From the first moment they arrived on Annexes, we knew there was something different about the Bad Batch. In episode 1, we see how effective they work together, unique abilities, and a general dislike for working with “Regs.” But this first episode just gave fans a glimpse of who these new clones are and not much more.

In A Distant Echo, Clone Force 99 begins to shed the mystery of who they are. We see Hunter, leader of the batch, having less empathy than other clones would potentially. We see this first when he, Anakin, and Rex are speaking about what they could find on Skako Minor. This indifference for the life of other clones leads to a scuffle between himself and Rex.

We also get more development from the team’s mobile tank, Wrecker. Loud and obnoxious, we’ve seen just how much Wrecker loves to destroy clankers. This week, we see that he also doesn’t like heights. Well, it’s not heights so much as the higher he is, the more he dislikes gravity. This small detail makes the big brute more relateable.

Check out Talking Clones!

Season 7 of The Clone Wars airs on Fridays on Disney Plus. You can catch me and the crew from the Escape Pod Cast every week Sunday at 10 central for Talking Clones, where we review that week’s episode and discuss all things Star Wars.