Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 5 Ending Explained
Contains spoilers for "Star Wars: The Bad Batch"
The newest Disney+ series "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" is continuing to fulfill its purpose of bridging the gap between the Clone War and Galactic Civil War eras. The Empire is firmly in power — and is in the early stage of phasing out the former Republic clone army in favor of a military comprised of conscripted soldiers of various backgrounds. Meanwhile, Clone Force 99, aka the Bad Batch, travels the stars searching for dwindling safety and refuge that's seemingly impossible to find, especially considering their status as some of the new regime's most wanted fugitives.
The previous "Bad Batch" episode, "Cornered," focuses on the Bad Batch's search for resources on the planet Pantora — something they can't manage without some form of misfortune coming their way. The bounty hunter Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) arrives on the scene to cash in on the bounty placed on Omega's (Michelle Ang) head, resulting in an episode full of the action and tension "Star Wars" built its name on. Much like the past few episodes of the series, "Cornered" concludes with the titular team heading back out into the vast expanse of space, now even more uncertain of the danger they're all in.
This week's episode is no different, adding yet another chapter to Clone Force 99's post-Republic story that further solidifies their transition from loyal soldiers into novice mercenaries. This is the ending of the fifth "Bad Batch" episode, "Rampage," explained.
Making underworld connections
At the start of "The Bad Batch" Episode 5, an armored-up Clone Force 99 are making their way to Ord Mantell to hopefully find out more about Fennec Shand and why she came after them on Pantora. Echo (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) cites an old informant of the Jedi, Cid, as someone worth speaking to on the matter — though Echo admits he's never actually spoken to or seen Cid in person. This makes the crew uncertain of his plan altogether, but thankfully, Omega and her newly acquired wrist communicator deduce that the witty Trandoshan they encounter is in fact the Cid of reputation.
Cid explains to Clone Force 99 that since the Empire took over and the Jedi were eradicated via Order 66, business has been slow. Therefore, if the Bad Batch crew wants to get any data out of her, they have to give her a hand with a job in exchange. She refers to them as "mercenaries," taking them aback at first, but they soon come to the realization that the label is fitting regardless of their feelings on it, seeing as they're no longer soldiers. As Cid tells Hunter (also voiced by Baker) in the episode's closing moments, the only way they'll be able to evade capture or even death at the hands of bounty hunters is with plenty of money and allies — both of which she can supply.
Given the emphasis placed on Cid and Hunter's chat — and the squad's need for work, resources, and connections — it's fair to assume Cid and her business dealings will become a valuable asset to them from here on out.
The return of the Zygerrians
As noted before, Cid offers up a rescue job to the Bad Batch in exchange for information on Fennec Shand and, potentially, her employer. Seeking answers, the Bad Batch collectively accepts and are sent off to a Zygerrian camp to rescue a kid named Muchi. For those unfamiliar, the Zygerrians are a race of cat-like aliens that were a focal point of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" Season 4. Their empire once relied heavily on the sale and trade of slaves — a practice outlawed at the time — and they began a desperate campaign to revive it once the Empire took over.
Though they aren't as organized nor as resourceful as they are in "The Clone Wars," the Zygerrians in "The Bad Batch" prove quite the challenge for the titular team — so much so that all of them apart from Omega wind up in the Zygerrians' custody to be worked as slaves under the penalty of death should they not comply. Luckily, Omega leaves her post on the Havoc Marauder to help set her friends free and is incredibly successful. In fact, she does such a great job that she manages to release the being they came to rescue in the first place (albeit not fully understanding that was the case).
Here's Muchi
With the Zygerrians distracted by the shock collar-bound Bad Batch, Omega sneaks around the camp to find a way to release them. Her initial attempt to secure their gear is unsuccessful, as she very nearly blows her cover, so she improvises in a big way. Shortly before the Zygerrians spot her, Omega unlocks a massive cage housing an adolescent rancor that does what rancors do best: wreak havoc and destroy everything and everyone in its path. Come to find out, this is Muchi, so it's up to Clone Force 99 to not only escape the Zygerrians but also get their target back to Cid.
By using Wrecker (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) to wrestle Muchi into a worn-out daze, the crew is able to successfully deliver the young rancor to their client. Shocked yet delighted they could pull it off, Cid turns Muchi over to Bib Fortuna — in exchange for financial compensation — so the creature can be delivered to the crime boss Jabba the Hutt. The obvious implication here is that this is the very same rancor Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) encountered in the basement of Jabba's palace in 1983's "Return of the Jedi." We didn't know we needed an origin story for the big carnivorous beast, but it couldn't have been more welcome.
Wrecker's mysterious migraines
A major story point of "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" that's slowly burning in the background concerns the lovable lug of the squad, Wrecker. It begins in "The Bad Batch" Episode 3, when the Havoc Marauder plummets toward the surface of the Ordo Moon and Wrecker bumps his head during the trip. Afterwards, he's seen rubbing the spot on his head where he got hit and complaining about the pain. Wrecker has since done this a handful of times since, including in "Rampage," so one can't help but wonder what's going on with him.
There are two very important things to note when deducing what's happening with Wrecker. For one, the past few episodes of "The Bad Batch" have seen him suffer from repeated blows to the head, ranging from Fennec Shand slamming him into a metal pipe to Wrecker himself combating a reckless rancor. Secondly, Wrecker only ever nurses his injury on the right, uppermost side of his skull — a region that "Clone Wars" fans will recognize as the approximate area where the inhibitor chips are planted in the brain of every clone trooper.
As we know, most of the Bad Batch didn't fall in line with Order 66 for whatever reason, but could this constant head trauma ultimately result in Wrecker's chip activating at random? Or is it already active, and he's trying his best to fight his programming? Only time and the remainder of "The Bad Batch" Season 1 can tell.