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In Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s season finale, Clone Force 99 gains a new member who might be integral to their survival in the second season.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1, Episode 16, “Kamino Lost,” streaming now on Disney+.
On Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Clone Force 99 seemed to solidify their new roster after Hunter affirmed that Omega could stay with them in “Cut and Run.” However, the team gains a new member in the Season 1 finale, “Kamino Lost.” No, it’s not Crosshair; the new team member is AZI. AZI first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars when he helped ARC Trooper Fives discover the truth about the inhibitor chips. While AZI may or may not remember his previous heroism, he plays a pivotal role in saving Clone Force 99 from Kamino’s destruction. As a result, he will now accompany them as they move on from Tipoca City’s destruction.
Throughout “Kamino Lost,” AZI shows why he is a good fit for Clone Force 99. AZI’s first act of heroism comes at the episode’s beginning. Crosshair becomes trapped underneath debris in a rapidly flooding compartment, and AZI and Omega work together to free him. While Crosshair initially does not show much gratitude, the rescue influences his actions later in the episode.
When Omega leads the team through the underwater tunnels to Nala Se’s laboratory, AZI makes sure they safely make the journey. First, he uses his welding tool to cut a safe opening into the debris for the team to travel through. Then, AZI temporarily brings power to the tunnel to restore the tunnel’s defenses when a sea monster notices the team and tries to eat them. As such, the team gets through the tunnel safely, an outcome that AZI deems “satisfactory.”
Once they reach Nala Se’s laboratory, AZI reveals that he is losing power. Still, the team’s plan to escape ultimately hinges on AZI. They use watertight medical capsules to float to the surface as AZI guides them through the debris. AZI activates his power reserves to accomplish this task. He is mostly successful as he guides; however, Omega’s capsule becomes trapped.
Earlier in the episode, AZI tells Omega that “[her] safety and well-being is [his] primary mission objective.” This stated objective sounds similar to AZI’s assessment of his programming in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In “Conspiracy,” he states that his highest priority is keeping his patients alive. However, AZI’s statement in The Bad Batch seems far more specific and mainly focused on Omega. This moment indicates that Nala Se may have adapted AZI’s programming to make him also serve as Omega’s protector.
When Omega gets trapped, AZI goes back to save her, letting the other team members float to the surface on their own. While he may have assessed a clear path, this decision highlight his focus on Omega. AZI uses the last of his power reserves to cut Omega free. As he shuts down, he tells her, “Your path is clear. I have completed my objective.” While these lines would have been extremely poignant last words, Omega is unwilling to give up on AZI or let him sacrifice himself for her. She leaves her capsule to save them. However, Crosshair uses a grappling hook to save them both as repayment for his earlier rescue.
While AZI is powered down at the episode’s end, the implication still remains that he will now join Clone Force 99 on their adventures. Since AZI is primarily a medical droid, this means the team will have a dedicated medic. While his memories are still in question, AZI may also hold important information on Kamino and the clones that may be useful as The Bad Batch heads into its second season.
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