Summary
- Crosshair's redemption in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 is a unique character journey not often seen in the franchise's history.
- Unlike past Star Wars redemption stories, Crosshair's journey is a slow process with real consequences and complexities to explore.
- The compelling aspect of Crosshair's absolution arc lies in his need to face those he has wronged, setting up a compelling narrative for the series.
The redemption of Crosshair in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 is the type of story audiences have desired since 1983. The Bad Batch season 3's Disney Plus release provided three new episodes that centered heavily on the aftermath of Tech's death and Omega's capture. With several members of Star Wars: The Bad Batch's voice cast returning for the show's final season, the premiere episodes wasted no time setting up what is sure to be an explosive culmination of the beloved show.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch has quite an interesting cast of actors that features multiple Star Wars veterans, as well as a few newcomers.
From the beginning of the new episodes to The Bad Batch season 3 premiere's ending, large portions of the story focused on the characters of Omega and Crosshair. The two clones were shown reckoning with their capture by Dr. Hemlock, even planning a daring escape as vital information is provided regarding the resurrection of Star Wars' Emperor Palpatine. Through these story threads, Crosshair's redemption teased in prior seasons began to come to fruition in a way that differs from Star Wars norms and provides a story many have wanted for 41 years.
Redemption Has Been Part Of Star Wars Since Return Of The Jedi... But There's A Catch
Most tales of absolution in the galaxy end at the specific point of redemption.
Over four decades ago in 1983, Return of the Jedi introduced the concept of redemption to the Star Wars franchise. In the final film of George Lucas' original trilogy, Darth Vader saw the pain Emperor Palpatine was inflicting on his son - Luke Skywalker - and took a stand against the Sith Lord. Vader lifted Palpatine above his head and threw him down the Death Star II's reactor shaft, becoming Anakin Skywalker once more and redeeming himself for the terrible actions he committed as an acolyte of the Sith.
Since this plot point, redemption has been one of the mainstays of Star Wars' storytelling characteristics. From the likes of Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress of the prequel era to Kylo Ren/Ben Solo of the sequels, absolution for one's sins is a norm for Star Wars characters. That said, most of these redemption stories have come with a caveat, that being the ease with which one receives forgiveness in the eyes of the Force.
Concerning Anakin Skywalker specifically, many have often criticized the Skywalker Saga by pointing out that Vader's redemption was simply too easy. The belief is often held that Vader committing one selfless act and destroying the Emperor - if only for a few decades - should not absolve Anakin of the myriad crimes, horrors, and atrocities the Sith Lord committed for over 20 years. However, the Force granted him the ability to manifest within the cosmic Force, reverting him to Anakin Skywalker after his murder of the Emperor.
Most instances of atonement stories in Star Wars since 1983 have been one-off events rather than extended processes.
As a result of this, Anakin Skywalker's redemption was depicted without the character living with consequences. Anakin did not have to face any loved ones, make amends, or confront those he had wronged due to his death shortly after redemption.
The same can be said for Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, while Quinlan Vos and Reva's stories of redemption have been frustratingly thin directly after their absolution. While Asajj Ventress' story of redemption is set to continue in The Bad Batch season 3, most instances of atonement stories in Star Wars since 1983 have been one-off events rather than extended processes.
With all of this redemption history in mind regarding Star Wars, herein lies why Crosshair's absolution arc in Star Wars: The Bad Batch is so compelling: it is exactly what others have not been, a process.The Bad Batch's season 1 premiere immediately painted Crosshair as a complex figure, one torn between following orders and staying loyal to his brothers. With Crosshair serving as a subservient, albeit unsure, lapdog dog for the Empire in The Bad Batch season 1, he was an incredibly well-written antagonist when the show began.
The Bad Batch season 2 then began Crosshair's slow process of redemption through stories like his journey with Commander Cody and Mayday. This continued when he was captured by Dr. Hemlock in Star Wars:
The Bad Batch season 2's ending, thus bleeding over into The Bad Batch season 3's premiere. What makes the latter so interesting is that Crosshair still has a long way to go to find redemption. He still believes he deserves to be imprisoned, and makes cutting remarks to Omega. Despite that, he helps his sister regardless to prove he is on the right path.
Crosshair did not become immediately redeemed in the eyes of himself, the characters around him, or the audience when he shot an Imperial in The Bad Batch season 2.
Unlike the redemption arcs of Anakin Skywalker or Ben Solo, the writing of Crosshair's journey is a process. Crosshair did not become immediately redeemed in the eyes of himself, the characters around him, or the audience when he shot an Imperial in The Bad Batch season 2. It was not an instant fix that saw Crosshair become an undying force for good in the galaxy, but a crossroads of events both before and after this point that prove everything he has gone through will contribute to the slow undertaking of atoning.
Crosshair Will Need To Face Those He's Wronged
The consequences of Crosshair's actions will soon catch up to him, unlike prior redeemed Star Wars characters.
To further separate Crosshair's redemption arc from the others mentioned, the former will soon have to face the people he has wronged. The Bad Batch season 3, episode 3's ending seemingly set up Crosshair and Omega to seek out Hunter and Wrecker. Since The Bad Batch season 1's premiere, Crosshair has only encountered his brothers in life-or-death situations, leaving little time for the solitary clone to reckon with the consequences of his actions.
If The Bad Batch season 3's setup is anything to go by, Crosshair will soon have to confront those he has betrayed and wronged in the past. Given the loss, pain, and suffering his brothers have suffered at the hands of the Empire, it would be incredibly unlikely for Wrecker, Hunter, and Echo to immediately forgive Crosshair.
Something that could further their anger is the death of Tech which, while not caused by Crosshair directly, could be pinned on him due to the illogical thought patterns spawned by grief and their brother's ties to the Empire.
While the argument could be made that the Batch has forgiven Crosshair in the past, such as when they escaped Kamino or when he warned them about Omega's capture, these were both necessary alliances. Neither situation allowed for slower, quieter moments in which tensions could come to the surface regarding Crosshair's betrayal and wronging of his brothers.
Nevertheless, confronting those he has wronged will be one of the final steps Crosshair needs to accomplish to achieve atonement, providing Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 with the compelling redemption process the franchise has been missing for four decades.
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