Four years ago today,Star Warsofficially brought the Clone Wars era to an end inStar Wars: The Bad Batchby sealing the fate of the Republic entirely. Beginning right whenOrder 66is enacted,The Bad Batchseason 1 functions very much as an epilogue toStar Wars: The Clone Wars, specifically forClone Force 99.
Throughout season 1, clone troopers and other crucial elements of the Republic are slowly phased out as the Empire supplants them, but it all comes to a head inThe Bad Batchseason 1 finale. This crucial episode premiered four years ago today, and in retrospect, it clearly marks the end of the Clone Wars and the Republic.
The Destruction Of Tipoca City On Kamino Sealed The Republic’s Fate
Clone Force 99, including their wayward member Crosshair, were all trapped inside Tipoca City on Kamino when Admiral Rampart ordered an orbital bombardment of the city. This destruction, however, was so much more than just danger for the Bad Batch.It was the end of the Republic as we knew it.
Prior to Order 66, the clones were utterly faithful to the Republic,often using “For the Republic!” as a war cry before giving their lives to protect it. That loyalty remained as the Republic transformed into the Empire, albeit against their will due to theinhibitor chips. They believed wholeheartedly in who they were fighting for.
By destroying Tipoca City, the Empire brought a swift end to the future of the clone army, in line with Project War-Mantle - which saw the Empire transition to using conscripted stormtroopers instead of clone troopers.This also helped the Empire to gain control over cloning, as pointed out by Tech inThe Bad Batchseason 2.
Hunter, there is far more to this than we realized. From what I have gathered, I suspect the Empire did not destroy the cities on Kamino to end cloning. They merely wanted to control it.
Ultimately, however, by securing the fate of the clone army, the Empire also sealed the Republic’s fate as a whole.The clones were the last line of defense for the Republic and its noble cause, especially after being forced to enact the Jedi Purge during Order 66, and their fate was tied directly with the Republic’s own.
The Clone Wars Truly Ended With The Clone Army Itself
It may seem obvious, but the Clone Wars truly did end with the destruction of Tipoca City and the future of the clone army.It was the bookend to Palpatine’s grand plan of being able to shoehorn conscripted soldiers who had been successfully swayed by propagandathat would make them loyal to his sinister cause.
Palpatine knew he needed genuine loyalty to fight for his Empire, and he knew exactly how to gain it. In turn,he also had to end the threat of the clone army, and in the process, he was able to control the cloning process for his own purposes- which, as we would learn, mostly had to do withProject Necromancer.
The Bad Batchseason 1 finale was intense and sobering, not only for its crucial family moments, but also for the reality that it truly marked the end of the Republic.The Bad Batchwould go on to show how the Republic’s end impacted the galaxy, most notably the clones, but that turning point began four years ago today.
