#‘Bright-eyed hopeful optimist ray of sunshine melting the hardened adults hearts after years of war’ kind of stereotype

[corellianhounds]

I know there’s only so much you can put in an episode but sometimes characters will just straight up not do what the next logical thing should be, based on the context and established character up to that point

Season 1 of TBB has Rex showing up at the bar and greeting Omega and the crew, but when he realizes none of them have had their inhibitor chips removed he immediately goes on high alert, making it a point to block Omega from them and have his gun at the ready, telling them they’re all ticking time bombs liable to hurt anybody around them, even her

Hunter defuses the situation by getting everyone calmed down and asking Rex what he suggests they do

“Good question,” says Rex. “I’ll be in touch.”

And then he just… Leaves? Leaving Omega with them? Rex you just said they were all a liability and potential threat to the kid, you should be taking her with you

I know that would distract from the focus of the episode but if they’d made it a two parter it would have been good to see that standoff play out the way it logically should have. Hunter and the rest of the crew defensive as Rex stands between them and the girl. Rex wary and on edge, Omega worried behind him.

It goes one of three ways:

Option one: Rex insists she go with him for the time being and they rendezvous later, which none of the squad nor Omega like, and as they argue and tensions rise Rex starts to dig his heels in (warranted or not) and the squad starts to get the sense he might just take her from them. Everyone continues to get more and more agitated until Hunter or Wrecker does something impulsive in an attempt to get Omega back with them, which causes Rex to make a snap decision, stunning one or all of them and pulling Omega with him out the door even as she fights back, trying to get back to the squad

Option two: He and Hunter have a very tense conversation where Hunter demands more information before they make any decisions at all, compelling Rex to take them somewhere more private as he relays his experience and impresses upon them the gravity of the situation. Hunter and the squad exchange glances, and Hunter pulls Rex aside further out of earshot of Omega, discussing what would be the best option for her and for them. When they come back they lay everything out and it’s clear that Hunter has decided the best course of action is to voluntarily send Omega with Rex. Omega is understandably upset, but with everything explained, she understands why it has to be this way, and though she doesn’t know Rex it’s clear the rest of them trust him completely. Of anybody it could have been, Hunter says to Rex, We’re glad it’s you.

That would have been the option most in line with the tone of the show.

But the next option is still fun to play around in and could have been done well still within the show’s tone if they had wanted to go this way: this one is similar to the second, except when it comes down to sending Omega away— Omega is vehemently against it regardless of the explanation, to the point she’s fighting to stay with the squad, and it comes down to Hunter having to pick her up and go put her on Rex’s ship as the rest of them watch uneasily, trying not to be affected by her calling for their help.

Rex is gritting his teeth as he starts up the engines, hearing the kid arguing with Hunter behind him, and it breaks Hunter’s heart to have to do this (especially when Omega starts to tear up, pleading with him to let her stay), but the things Rex told him— some of them they maybe couldn’t even tell Omega— have forced him to steel his resolve: it would have been easier if she accepted their decision, but at this point Hunter’s not as wrapped around her finger as he will be later, and he still needs to make the decision that is best for her, even if he doesn’t like it. It could have been good to see him resist the urge to give in.

What that means, however, is that we would have gotten to see Omega’s obstinate refusal to listen to Rex during the entire flight and regrouping phase, fighting him to the point he has to lock her in the brig just to keep her from sabotaging the ship and trying to make her escape. After that they can start to have some conversations, which could set up their character dynamics or storylines/information for the future. Omega eventually comes around to his side of things, still mad but at least cooperative and now willing to listen.