I think this was my favourite Bad Batch episode yet. So much of it was tense and there were a whole LOAD of fantastic scenes, like Crosshair’s first standoff with the Batch in the artillery chamber, igniting the engine, and the very western style shootout with Bane. Those were amazing. I love TCW and Rebels, but in both of them, regular separatist droids and stormtroopers respectively rarely feel like a threat. One of the highlights of TBB so far - and this episode in particular - is that the Empire (or at least, Crosshair) is really on top of things. The Batch were being blocked at every turn until finally they managed to turn Crosshair’s strategy against him.
Omega being captured is another similarity with Mando to add to the list, but I genuinely feel it was done better here than it was in chapter 14. I felt more. And I can’t wait for next week.
I have preferred TBB over Mandalorian regarding both the menace value of the Empire and the kidnapping. The Stormtroopers are so useless in Mando they look almost lifted from Rebels (particularly in S2), and Omega’s capture felt less contrived than Grogu’s.
This is also one of my favorite episodes so far along with the pilot, chapter 3 and chapter 7. It was very pleasant to see Crosshair again, and Cad Bane showing up is a welcome fan-service.