#tbb 2x12 the outpost

[nimata-beroya]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

[nimata-beroya]

See, this is one of the gazillion details that were in the episode and i was talking about i my review. And you're on point @jealous-sloth77. Absolutely! The lost of his helmet symbolizes that he's exposed, both what he expresses and what he sees without filter. Now, it's him and the naked truth about the Empire and himself.

Crosshair's Helmet

Okay, I know a lot of people have already talked about this but I just wanna drop my own thoughts on the significance of Cross' helmet.

That helmet has always been a significant symbol for Imperial Crosshair ™️. With it on, he's the perfect soldier. With it off he's more vulnerable and open (even if it isn't always obvious).

Let's chuck out a few examples!

Helmet On

Killing civilians.

Pretty much everything he does on Ryloth.

Initially confronting the Batch on Kamino when his men are surrounding CF 99 in the training room.

Shooting the person in Solitary Clone (I have completely forgotten their name oops).

The first half of the mission with Mayday where he is opening up a little bit but is still reluctant to let his guard down.

Helmet Off

Being singed by the ion engine.

The rest of the S1 finale after he's killed his fellow imperial soldiers and is running around with the Batch (including when he stays on the platform).

Talking to Rampart in his office when Crosshair is feeling particularly bitter and cynical of what he's being asked.

Watching Cody leave.

The entire last half of the mission with Mayday including when he shoots Lieutenant dickhead.

I'm not gonna list every moment because I'm sure you get the point. The helmet is very symbolic for where Crosshair is and his relationship to the Empire.

You see it in Episode 12 in particular. Right at the beginning, Lieutenant Asshole tells Crosshair "you're not in uniform", at which point Cross puts the helmet on. He's not "in uniform" without it, he isn't a true representative of the Empire without it. That piece of armour symbolises Crosshair's entire identity as an imperial soldier.

And then he loses it and that's when the real vulnerability kicks in. It's been creeping in throughout the episode, with Cross giving away minimal details of his life to Mayday but when the avalanche hit, he lost the helmet and the fear truly set in (I'm sure you could also make some inference about the avalanche symbolising how Crosshair's entire life came crashing down on him yada yada).

From the moment that helmet comes off, every emotion is on display. Crosshair doesn't choose to hide his emotions, nor does he try to play the perfect solider. He starts to break down, he rebels against orders. Crosshair isn't playing the Empirial puppet.

And I think that this moment is going to be a tipping point for Crosshair. Not just because he shot Lieutenant Fuckface but because he lost his helmet. This isn't a case of him taking it off and momentarily showing his vulnerabilities. It's gone. He isn't getting that back.

Crosshair's life as a soldier for the Empire is gone, buried. While the Empire still have him in their hands, they can still pull the strings, but he isn't going to be their loyal lapdog anymore. At least not by choice.

I truly think we're going to see a new phase for Crosshair. One that leaves his loyalty to the Empire dead and buried.

°•°•°•°

Tagging @eriexplosion @phis-writing @saturn-sends-hugs @nimata-beroya and @snarkyfina because I'm sure they all have their own great takes on this topic! :)

[artfulacrostic]

memes for The Bad Batch 2x12, "The Outpost"

*SPOILERS*

+BONUS:

[lestats-ovaries]

TW: discussions of war and death

at this point I'm sure most people have seen Jennifer Corbett's recent post featuring a gif from the new All Quiet on the Western Front movie:

I haven't really seen any discourse about this on tumblr, but as someone who has A) seen the new All Quiet movie, and B) is very familiar with the book, I want to fill anyone who isn't familiar with them on what is specifically happening in this photo, and what it could mean for The Outpost.

For context, the guy in the photo is Paul, the main character of All Quiet on the Western Front.

To explain some of the current discourse I saw under the original post on twitter, a lot of people think this is referencing the frenchman scene, where Paul mortally wounds a frenchman and then desperately tries to save him, only for said frenchman to die.

But, that's actually not the part of the movie where this screenshot is from.

Right at the end of the movie, Paul's last surviving friend, Katczinsky, gets shot. Paul carries him for miles until they reach a doctor. There, the doctor tells him Kat had died hours earlier, leading Paul to realize he was carrying his dead body that entire time.

After that, Paul quietly lines up to march into battle one last time, now completely alone after watching each of his friends die one by one. And that is where the screenshot is taken.

Now, that's not to say the episode is going to follow Kat's story, or have a frenchman-style crosshair redemption plot, or even resemble any part of the movie. All Quiet is probably the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, and TBB is literally a children's show.

My guess is that the running theme of trying to save someone only for them to die/being completely alone is what the episode is going to center around, which would be tonally in line with The Solitary Clone and just in general Crosshair's arc.

Or yk the photo was just for effect, considering the episode is going to "push Crosshair to his extreme in a heartbreaking way" apparently, we really don't know until wednesday.

Regardless, have fun theorizing!

[nimata-beroya]

If I had a nickel for every time that an imperial spent a night huddling with someone else for warmth in a snowstorm, during which they realized how bad the empire is, I would have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice.

[nimata-beroya]

MY THOUGHTS ON TBB 2×12 "The Outpost"

I don't know how I'm going to articulate all the thoughts I have about this episode because my mind is still reeling. But I'll do my best. I absolutely ADORED it!! I think it became my favorite ever (despite all the emotional damage that inflicted on me). It's very satisfying regarding Crosshair's storyline, and DBB was right to consider it the best.

I love all the symbolism and parallels to previous episode, but it terrifies what will come next. But I'll talk about that later. Let's start at the beginning…

There he is, my poor baby!!! I just want to hug him!!

I knew it was happening, but watching these clones getting forcibly retired is sickening. Much more with that bored and patronizing tone of that imperial officer.

Oh! So, this is the lieutenant. Nolan, ugh! I hate him already. And HOW DARE HE TO CALL CLONES USED EQUIPMENT??!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Hehe! I like that some things never change. I'm talking about Crosshair napping during the flight. It's something he did in the unfinished TCW arcs. It's nice that they used it here.

OOOOHHH!! New clone!! I love him already, and his beard is the best!!!! Oh, a Commander? Commander what?!

Hey!! Why are those names familiar? Are they familiar? [Later google search came back with nothing, which means they're new, but call me crazy, but I think I heard those names before]

OMG! I love this commander so much!!!!! Roast that lieutenant!!!

lol Crosshair's grunt when the commander says he knows the lieutenant 2 hours too long. That's my boy!!!!

Mayday! Mayday, will you marry me? 😍😍😍

Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Cross hesitated, but he gave his name and not his number!! 🥺🥺🥺

Ouch!!! Poor baby, his eyes! But even so, he makes the shot 😍

Oh, they aren't dead yet, and went inside the cave.

UGH!! you can't even give them a second to mourn!?! Please tell me that this lieutenant will die in this episode. Pretty please?!

oh, so he didn't get too far.

Cross, baby, I adore you, but you're a bit hypocritical, don't you think? You're perfectly fine with anyone else leaving their own behind when circumstances call for it, but when it comes to your bothers and you, it's a whole different tune you sing. just sayin'

"Remind me not to die on your watch" 💀

NOOOO!!! no no no no no!! don't tell me he stepped on a... yep he did 😖😖😖 Cross, my darling, I very much want you to survive this season. STOP STEPPING ON LANDMINES!!! TYVM!

I knew there was a reason why I love you so much, Mayday. Keep throwing Crosshair's words back at him. He deserves it. And also, deactivate that bomb please, now!!

It makes me sick, all the abuse and neglect that the Empire has for the clones. It's just heartbreaking 💔💔

😭😭😭 Crosshair reluctant to talk about CF99

Crosshair!! Don't provoke an avalanche, please.

Stormtrooper armor?! That's it? I should've known that it was something as stupid as this 🙄

I told you!!! AAAAAAHHHHH RUUUUNN!!!! No no no nono !!! Crosshair!!! Mayday, noooooo!!!

😭😭😭😭😭 My baby carrying Mayday!! See, this is the golden heart I knew you always had and that so many people denied it. You're all bark but not bite. You're the softest softie ever!! 😭😭😭😭🥰 They're huddling for warmth 😭😭😭😭😭

😭😭😭 The desperation in Crosshair's voice pleading the Lieutenant for help for Mayday 😭😭😭😭😭

WHY?!!! Why Mayday had to die? NOOO!! 😭😭😭😭😭

And FUCK YOU!! Lieutenant!! You deserve the slowest and most painful death 🤬🤬

As painful as it's to hear this, Crosshair needed someone to spell it out for him, loud and clear, to make him experience this, leaving no room for excuses or interpretation, of how little the Empire values the clones. My heart bleeds for him, but it was necessary to push him over the edge.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S MY BOY!!!!! This is so satisfying!! Gawd! Thank you baby for killing that karking idiot!! Now, kill the rest and go back to your brothers, c'mon!

No! wait! no no no don't pass out no no no!! AAAAAAAAHHHH!!

no!! You cannot leave it there!!!! NOOO!! wait! What?

OH FUCK!! OH FUCK!! OH FUCK!! OH FUCK!! NO NO NO NO NO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! nooo NO NO NO NOO!!!

Final thoughts

This episode was full of call back, parallels and foreshadowing in a way that previous episodes have not.

Let's start with the poetry of Crosshair changing sides on a snow/ice planets. First on Kaller, and now here.

Crosshair watching the ice vultures, probably remembering what Mayday told him earlier about those things finding a way to survive before shooting Nolan.

And of course, Crosshair carrying injured Mayday back to camp instead of "not bothering to carry deadweight" as he said a few times before, not just in this episode. Mayday's comment of not wanting to die on Crosshair's watch is funny the first time you watch the episode, but it takes a whole new weight by the end of it.

I'm sure there are one or two more I'm missing, and I'll remember later, but you get the idea.

And I'm TERRIFIED, like shitting on my pants scared, of what will happen in the next 4 episodes!! I'm not sure if I'll survive the waiting.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: if you haven't heard, I'm hosting The Bad Batch Appreciation Week this year, and we're on the prompt voting phase. If you're interested in participating/voting, check the link below.

[nimata-beroya]

AAAAHHHHH!!! I just found this out. We have dates and titles for all episode in season 2!!!

List of episodes and air dates:

• Jan. 4 - Episode 2x01 "Spoils of War" & Episode 2x02 "Ruins of War"

• Jan. 11 — Episode 2x03 "The Solitary Clone"

• Jan. 18 — Episode 2x04 "Faster"

• Jan. 25 — Episode 2x05 "Entombed"

• Feb. 1 — Episode 2x06 "Tribe"

• Feb. 8 — Episode 2x07 "The Clone Conspiracy" & Episode 2x08 "Truth and Consequences"

• Feb. 15 — Episode 2x09 "The Crossing"

• Feb. 22 — Episode 2x10 "Retrieval"

• March 1 — Episode 2x11 "Metamorphosis"

• March 8 — Episode 2x12 "The Outpost"

• March 15 — Episode 2x13 "Pabtf"

• March 22 — Episode 2x14 "Tipping Point"

• March 29 — Episode 2x15 -The Summit" & Episode 2x16 "Plan 99"

[lestats-ovaries]

that episode hurted,,,

[lestats-ovaries]

!!! spoilers for the outpost !!!

NO WAIT I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT THE KATCZINKY THING, WHAT THE HELL-

TW: discussions of war and death

at this point I'm sure most people have seen Jennifer Corbett's recent post featuring a gif from the new All Quiet on the Western Front movie:

I haven't really seen any discourse about this on tumblr, but as someone who has A) seen the new All Quiet movie, and B) is very familiar with the book, I want to fill anyone who isn't familiar with them on what is specifically happening in this photo, and what it could mean for The Outpost.

For context, the guy in the photo is Paul, the main character of All Quiet on the Western Front.

To explain some of the current discourse I saw under the original post on twitter, a lot of people think this is referencing the frenchman scene, where Paul mortally wounds a frenchman and then desperately tries to save him, only for said frenchman to die.

But, that's actually not the part of the movie where this screenshot is from.

Right at the end of the movie, Paul's last surviving friend, Katczinsky, gets shot. Paul carries him for miles until they reach a doctor. There, the doctor tells him Kat had died hours earlier, leading Paul to realize he was carrying his dead body that entire time.

After that, Paul quietly lines up to march into battle one last time, now completely alone after watching each of his friends die one by one. And that is where the screenshot is taken.

Now, that's not to say the episode is going to follow Kat's story, or have a frenchman-style crosshair redemption plot, or even resemble any part of the movie. All Quiet is probably the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, and TBB is literally a children's show.

My guess is that the running theme of trying to save someone only for them to die/being completely alone is what the episode is going to center around, which would be tonally in line with The Solitary Clone and just in general Crosshair's arc.

Or yk the photo was just for effect, considering the episode is going to "push Crosshair to his extreme in a heartbreaking way" apparently, we really don't know until wednesday.

Regardless, have fun theorizing!