One clone can save an entire planet.
However, it's Anakin who really shines here. Following up on that fascinating scene between Anakin and Padme in Episode 2, now we get to see a much closer glimpse of how close Anakin is to falling to the Dark Side. His attack on Trench's command center purposely calls back to Episode III with the low angle shot of Anakin igniting his lightsaber. That scene is basically a mashup of Anakin's Youngling killing spree and his slaughter of the Separatist leaders on Mustafar. It's chilling to watch him callously torture Trench, even openly admitting he's willing to cross lines ordinary Jedi never would. If this season succeeds at nothing else, at least it'll bridge that final gap between the animated series and the movie where Anakin's arc is concerned. I can't wait to see how Ahsoka's return will impact a Jedi who's already clearly in a great deal of turmoil.
It's just a shame this episode doesn't do more with its clone protagonists. Echo at least gets his moment in the spotlight, saving the day and proving the Separatists can't reprogram his loyalty to his fellow clones. But that moment comes surprisingly early in the episode, leaving him with little to do but pass out and wait for Bad Batch to shoot their way to safety. At that point, the episode never really conjured the sense of danger and dread it should. The fact that all four members of Bad Batch make it through the entire storyline with nary a scratch seems like a questionable choice. It never feels like these characters were in any real danger.More disappointing is how little meaningful interaction we've gotten between Echo and Rex. These most recent two episodes barely gave the two any room to reconnect and to dig deeper into Echo's psychological ordeal. The ending does resonate as we watch Echo make his choice and throw his lot in with the outcasts, but it would have connected even more if this episode had devoted more time to Echo's feelings of alienation. This arc dragged on longer than it needed to, but only because it didn't take full advantage of the dramatic storytelling possibilities available. Let's hope these next two Ahsoka arcs are different.
"Unfinished Business" is nothing if not an entertaining finish to the Bad Batch arc. It's crammed full of epic action, once again showcasing just how much the animation quality has improved in the final season. It also makes strong use of supporting Jedi characters like Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker, with the latter taking a disturbing step closer to becoming Darth Vader. Unfortunately, that can't prevent this episode from ending the arc on a somewhat anticlimactic note. It doesn't do enough to explore the emotional toll of Echo's imprisonment and the full wight of his decision to part ways with Rex.
While full of epic action and great Jedi moments, The Clone Wars' Bad Batch arc still ends on an anticlimactic note.
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