Having been partially developed for the proposed seventh The Clone Wars season prior to the show’s cancellation in 2013, the inclusion of the Bad Batch story arc was revealed at the show’s revival panel at Celebration Chicago in April 2019, and the first appearance of this unique squad of four clone commandoes – also known as the Clone Force 99 – came at the start of the seventh and final season of The Clone Wars animated series.
The original episodes were re-written as four-part narrative that was broadcast at the start of 2020, and served as a platform to introduce this ragtag unit and launch a totally new spin-off animated series.
Shown exclusively on Disney+ streaming platform, The Bad Batch was set at the end of the Clone Wars and the dawning of the Galactic Empire. Witnessing – but not taking part in – Order 66, they were recalled to Kamino where they would begin their integration into the Imperial army. During retraining and indoctrination, their Kamino instructors began to suspect that the behavioral modification biochip genetic that each clone was fitted with had failed and their increasingly erratic behavior became worrisome for their new Imperial masters.
Lama Su: “They could be an asset to your new Empire.”
Wilhuff Tarkin: “Yet reports indicate they exhibit a concerning level of disobedience and disregard for orders.”
Nala Se: “A side effect of their mutation.”
Lama Su: “Yet one that has never hindered the completion of their missions.”
Faced with supporting an increasingly violent and suppressive regime, the Bad Batch disobeyed orders and absconded from Tipoca City with Omega, an enhanced human female clone created as a pure genetic replication of Jango Fett. Commandeering a nearby Omicron-class attack shuttle that had served as their modified transport – dubbed the Havoc Marauder – during the final stages of the Clone Wars, they found their way to the galactic underground, where they survived as soldiers of fortune, aiding those who had no one else to turn to.
If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them….maybe you can hire The Bad Batch.
As members of a group none of them had any previous experience in, they each had to explore their relationship within the family dynamic, and as the first season progressed their roles changed and their personalities grew so that each clone filled a niche in a very special unit – one that was less forces and more familial.
75314 The Bad Batch Attack Shuttle
Kids will love role-playing Clone Force 99 missions with this LEGO® brick-built version of The Bad Batch Attack Shuttle (75314) from Star Wars: The Bad Batch. It features large wings that move up and down for landing and flight modes, 2 spring-loaded shooters and an opening dual LEGO minifigure cockpit and rear cabin with space for 2 LEGO minifigures and weapons storage. Pull up the central dorsal fin to access the interior for easy play.
Thrilling action
The set has 5 new-for-August-2021 LEGO minifigures of Bad Batch clones Tech, Echo, Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair, a Gonk Droid LEGO figure, plus cool weapons and 2 buildable speeders to inspire imaginative play. Step-by-step instructions are included to ease the construction process.Awesome building toys
The LEGO Group has been recreating iconic starships, vehicles, locations and characters from the Star Wars™ universe since 1999. LEGO Star Wars is now its most successful theme, with fun gift ideas for creative kids and fans of all ages.
- Let kids role-play as Bad Batch clones, relive scenes from Star Wars: The Bad Batch and invent their own unique stories with this detailed, LEGO® brick-built Attack Shuttle (75314).
- Includes 5 new-for-August-2021 LEGO® minifigures of Bad Batch clones Tech, Echo, Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair with assorted weapons and Tech’s buildable backpack, plus a Gonk Droid LEGO figure.
- The buildable shuttle toy has adjustable wings for landing/flight modes, 2 spring-loaded shooters and a dorsal fin that lifts for easy access to the dual LEGO® minifigure cockpit and detailed cabin.
- The cabin has space for 2 minifigures and weapons storage. The set also includes a speeder with 2 stud shooters and another speeder with a clip for a blaster to add to the play possibilities.
- Perfect for fun, everyday play sessions alone or with friends, this building toy makes the best birthday present, holiday gift or special reward for creative kids aged 9 and up.
- The Bad Batch Attack Shuttle measures over 7 in. (20 cm) high, 10 in. (25 cm) long and 5 in. (13 cm) wide with the wings folded up and looks great displayed between playtime adventures.
- Thinking of buying this buildable 969-piece playset for a Star Wars™ fan who is a LEGO® beginner? No worries. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions so they can build with confidence.
- There are LEGO® Star Wars™ sets to thrill people of all ages, whether they want to recreate memorable scenes, role-play their own stories or just build and display the impressive construction models.
- LEGO® components comply with rigorous industry standards, meaning they are compatible and connect strongly for robust builds.
- LEGO® bricks and pieces are dropped, heated, crushed, twisted and thoroughly analyzed to ensure that they satisfy stringent global safety standards.
 |  |  |  |  |
| 9+ | 969 | 650 | 75314 | 5 |
| Ages | Pieces | VIP Points | Item | Minifigures |
Comprised of eight bags, the model can be assembled in under three hours if the builder has no distractions, or closer to four if The Bad Batch is running in the background.
The first bag sees the completion of the two speeder bikes, as well as Crosshair and the Gonk Droid. The second bag contains the cockpit, while the third bag has the Tech minifig, the main crew compartment, and the base of the wings. Bags four, five and six finish off the wings, engines and tail wing, plus the remaining minifigures.
Completed, the model is pretty impressive – especially with its wings in the lowered position (though this does make it awkward to display) – and all it really needs is a set of landing gear.
Gambling that the Havoc Marauder was going to be an important carriage in the opening series, LEGO went to extra lengths to make this set as authentic as possible by including adding some of the personal touches that the Bad Batch used to make their shuttle a more homey place.
“These decorations are actually posters that the Bad Batch have hung on the walls of their ship. The designs are taken directly from the show. I love that the Bad Batch has decided to decorate their ship and make the space their own. It’s a fun detail that I think sets them apart from standard clones.” explained senior LEGO graphics designer Madison O’Neil.
Though the main crew compartment is nowhere near large enough to hold the entire squad – much less provide a safe haven for Omega – but as long as they don’t mind the lack of social distancing there is enough room to squeeze in a trio of clones.
Straddling the brief moment in the timeline of the Clone Force 99 after Echo had been rescued (during the seventh The Clone Wars season) and before Crosshair had decided to remain in Kamino and fight for the Empire (in the opening episode of The Bad Batch), this set contains five minfigures: Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo and Crosshair as well as a brick-built Gonk Droid.
Knowing that these were going to be fan favorites, a lot of effort was put into capturing each of the squad mates’ style and characteristics. Says O’Neil, “Each member of the Bad Batch has a distinct personality and a unique set of armor. Also, despite the fact that they are clones, they each have unique facial features whether that be scars, face paint, goggles, tattoos, and even cybernetic implants. We wanted to make sure to capture all of these fun features in the minifigures, and we created a few new elements to help with that as well.”
Working far in advance of the show’s February release on Disney+ meant that the LEGO team didn’t know how some of the set’s aspects and features fitted into the TV series’ action.
“Seeing Crosshair’s new set of armor for the first time made me very excited to watch the new Bad Batch series! I can’t wait to see how and why he gets it.”
Also falling into the we’re-including-it-but-we-don’t-know-why category are the two speeder bikes. Added to give the set extra play features, it wasn’t until the fourth episode (Cornered) that the smaller, green speeder appeared.
“The two speeders are included because we wanted to add some extra value to the set. We know that the speeders will be seen in the show, however, we do not know exactly in which context they will be seen. I guess we will have to wait and see like everybody else.” said the LEGO Star Wars team’s creative director, Jens Kronvold Frederiksen.
Initial fan negativity towards this set arose when grainy images surfaced a few days ahead of the set’s official announcement, which came with clearer imagery. During the intervening five days members of the community took the opportunity to have their say about the set’s color selection and the shape of the cockpit, and in time attitudes became less vocal.
Unlike the release of The Mandalorian collection of sets, which came in a nonsensical order and kept 75292 The Razor Crest (aka The Mandalorian Bounty Hunter Transport) back for a mid-season release, LEGO timed 75314 The Bad Batch Shuttle to coincide with the streaming of the spin-off TV series, and when the set was released on August 1st it quickly sold out on LEGO.com, and other retailers reported promising sales figures.
Available to buy now, this $99.99 set can be purchased at LEGO.com, Amazon.com, Target, and Entertainment Earth (preorder).
Be the first to comment