All 15 Ways The Bad Batch Season 3’s Latest Episode Just Ripped Off The Mandalorian

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3, episode 12.

While delivering an epic new addition to its final season, Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 has just copied one key episode of The Mandalorian season 2. The Star Wars animated series has proven itself to be one of the best thus far in season 3, with vital connections to Emperor Palpatine’s Project Necromancer and the heartfelt redemption of Clone Force 99’s Crosshair. It has also created thrilling tie-ins to The Mandalorian – but now that Omega is wanted by the Empire for her M-count, the series may be taking these similarities a few steps too far.

The Bad Batch season 3, episode 12 “Juggernaut” has long since been predicted to share some similarities with The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7 “Chapter 15: The Believer,” particularly due to its focus on the “turbo tank” juggernauts. The Bad Batch‘s “Point Of No Return” taking after The Mandalorian‘s “Chapter 14: The Tragedy,” however, set this episode up to be nearly a direct copy of “The Believer.” This has since proven to be true, as there are 15 total ways this stellar episode of The Bad Batch has copied one of The Mandalorian‘s best episodes.

15

The Heroes Have To Use An Ally’s Ship

Clone Force 99’s Havoc Marauder Was Blown Up Just Like Din Djarin’s Razor Crest

At the start of “Juggernaut,” Clone Force 99 is at a crossroads with no ship to pilot and no way to communicate with Echo for help. Their ally Phee Genoa, however, shows up with AZI just in time to offer her assistance, particularly due to her deep connection to the late Tech. Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair then rely on Phee and her ship for assistance in their next move, with Phee and her ship’s role being the drop-off and pick-up.

This is also where Din Djarin is at in “The Believer,” with his trusty Razor Crest having been blown up by Moff Gideon. Boba Fett and his Firespray gunship become a key part of Din’s operation, as Boba is seeking to fulfill his end of the deal he made with Mando to get back his armor. “The Believer” sees Boba remain inside his gunship for most of its duration as he both drops off and picks up Din Djarin and Migs Mayfeld, exactly like Phee does in The Bad Batch.

14

An Imperial Prisoner Is Sought After

The Bad Batch Needs Admiral Rampart Just Like Din Djarin Needs Migs Mayfeld

The biggest key in Clone Force 99’s plan is to free an Imperial prisoner who should have the coordinates to Mount Tantiss: Admiral Rampart. A former foe of the Bad Batch, Rampart was imprisoned after the destruction he ordered upon Kamino in The Bad Batch season 1 finale was made public. He is, however, one of the only people who the Batch – particularly Crosshair – knows for certain has been to Mount Tantiss before. Thus, Rampart and his freedom are essential to Clone Force 99 achieving their end goal.

Migs Mayfeld plays this role in The Mandalorian, an ex-Imperial who was also once a foe of Din Djarin’s. Having been locked up in a New Republic prison ship by Din Djarin himself in season 1, episode 6 “Chapter 6: The Prisoner,” Mando makes a plan to seek out Mayfeld for information after Cara Dune looks him up on the New Republic prison registry. Without Mayfeld, Din would have no way of getting the coordinates to Moff Gideon’s light cruiser, which makes Mayfeld just as essential to Din’s operation as Rampart is to Clone Force 99’s.

13

The Setting Is An Imperial Mining Facility

The Erebus Facility Mines Something Just Like The Morak Facility Mines & Refines Rhydonium

The facility visited in The Bad Batch on the planet Erebus is brand-new to the Star Wars galaxy, but it’s made clear in the episode that it’s responsible for mining something that will be of Imperial use. Rampart is shown struggling with attaching and detaching tubes of some sort, much to the frustration of the prisoner he’s partnered up with. It’s unclear what this material is, but Crosshair refers to the facility as “the mining structure,” proving that it is in fact related to mining.

The Morak facility visited in The Mandalorian is a refinery, though it also requires the collection of rhydonium ahead of time – a similar process to the Erebus facility, no doubt. The juggernauts serve the purpose of transporting the unrefined, and presumably mined, rhydonium to the refinery, where it is then prepared to serve the Empire in whatever sinister way they please. The key difference between these two facilities is that whatever Erebus works with is much less volatile and explosive than Morak’s rhydonium, causing less of a risk to the characters.

12

The Prisoner Is At A Labor Camp

Rampart Works In Erebus’ Mining Structure Just Like Mayfeld Works At The Karthon Chop Fields

The Bad Batch fuses its Imperial facility setting with its Imperial prison, which it designates as an Imperial labor camp. This is why Rampart has a role in whatever’s being mined on Erebus; the Empire uses prison labor as a means of collecting its resources, which was also seen when Cassian Andor unknowingly built pieces of the Death Star in Andor on Narkina 5. It’s the labor camp that Clone Force 99 focuses on, as they have to use a more covert way of getting the Imperial prisoner they need for their mission.

Mayfeld is also in a labor camp at the start of “The Believer,” though interestingly enough, the camp he’s in is run by the New Republic – perhaps proving that the Republic still utilized some of the same prison systems as the Empire it replaced. Mayfeld’s labor camp is located at the Karthon Chop Fields, where he helps to deconstruct Imperial equipment such as TIE fighters to create scraps that can be repurposed. He, however, is taken away quite easily by New Republic Marshal Cara Dune, thus Mando acquires his prisoner much earlier than Clone Force 99 does.

11

The Facility Is Built Over A Cliff With A Long Bridge

The Erebus Facility’s Structure Is Just Like The Morak Facility’s Structure

When the Imperial facility on Erebus is first shown in The Bad Batch, a few details about its structure are made clear. First, it focuses on the long bridge that the juggernauts must drive over to access the actual facility. This acts as foreshadowing for a later struggle in the episode, but it also shows how difficult this facility is to access – something that’s built right into this structure. Adding on to that is its position on the side of a cliff, which drops off into an endless sight of rock and makes the facility even more remote.

The Morak facility is extremely similar in its structure, from the long bridge to its position on the side of a cliff. Morak’s bridge, however, is not nearly as long and remarkable as Erebus’, and a battle ends there rather than beginning there. Its cliff drops off into water rather than stone, and Din and Mayfeld are even at risk of falling into it at one point. Still, these resemblances in structure between the two facilities are uncanny, even with their subtle differences.

10

The Team Of Allies Go Over The Facility’s Schematics En Route

Clone Force 99 & Phee Study Erebus Just Like Din Djarin & His Allies Study Morak

Once Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and Phee have set off for Erebus, Phee pulls up the holographic schematic of the facility, pointing out the perimeter to them so they can visualize where she’ll have to drop them off. Their crew stands around the schematic to further discuss their plan, all of which is done during their hyperspace journey to Erebus. With Phee being the one to describe the facility and, in some ways, establish the boundaries of their overall plan, she and her schematics take on a very similar role to Boba Fett.

Boba’s also the one who pulls up a holographic schematic of the Morak facility on his Firespray gunship in The Mandalorian. Despite the larger size of Din’s crew in comparison to Clone Force 99’s, they still all gather as best as they can around it, allowing Boba to introduce it and identify what’s being refined there. Boba is even the one who keeps Mayfeld in check when he attempts to crack a joke about a member of the crew being as volatile and explosive as the rhydonium itself, something Phee would not have hesitated to do as well.

9

The Destination Is Chosen By An Ex-Imperial

Crosshair Names The Erebus Facility Just Like Migs Mayfeld Names The Morak Facility

Prior to their discussion of the Erebus facility, Crosshair is the one who mentions it, just after he’s suggested – much to his hesitance – that they should seek Admiral Rampart for the coordinates. Though no longer affiliated with the Empire, it still stands that Crosshair is an ex-Imperial soldier, even if he’s since pledged his loyalty to his brothers and his sister once again. These Imperial connections are what give Crosshair the idea of acquiring Rampart on Erebus, none of which would have been possible had it not been for his Imperial history.

This ex-Imperial history is the entire reason why Mayfeld is sought out by Mando and his allies in The Mandalorian. Mayfeld’s ex-Imperial history is first mentioned in his introductory episode, “Chapter 6: The Prisoner,” and it leads to one of the show’s funniest lines about stormtroopers and their poor aim. This becomes key in “The Believer” as Din finds himself needing information only someone with Mayfeld’s Imperial history could possibly have. Crosshair thus plays this part of Mayfeld’s role in The Bad Batch, with both being detached from their Imperial history.

8

The Ex-Imperial Is A Sharpshooter

Crosshair Was One An Imperial Sharpshooter Just Like Migs Mayfeld

Funny enough, the similarities between Crosshair and Mayfeld don’t stop at their Imperial histories. Crosshair is quite literally named for his sharpshooter abilities, with his aim and his fierce sense of loyalty being the main reasons why he was selected out of the rest of the Bad Batch to lead Imperial troopers. While Crosshair’s sharpshooting has since suffered due to his trauma and PTSD from experimentation on Mount Tantiss, he’s still a remarkable shot, and no doubt is still the sharpshooter he’s always been.

Mayfeld was also once a sharpshooter for the Empire, which is how he was first introduced in The Mandalorian. Similarly to Crosshair, Mayfeld was a step above the regular stormtrooper due to his sniping abilities, though this isn’t a skill that’s seen until “The Believer.” Mayfeld makes the shot that destroys the entire Morak refinery after their mission is over, which proves his true loyalties in a way that mirrors Crosshair’s shot on Barton IV. These two ex-Imperials thus have another thread tying them together.

7

A Closer Look Leads To A Plan To Hijack A Juggernaut “Turbo Tank”

Clone Force 99 Decide To Hijack A Juggernaut Vehicle Just Like Din Djarin & His Allies

Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair prioritize getting Rampart’s precise location once they make it to Erebus, and in order to do so, they have to get closer. While Crosshair finds Rampart’s location at an Imperial terminal, Hunter takes a look around, and he settles on a plan for them to hijack the juggernaut – called a “turbo tank” by Wrecker – that carries Rampart. This, in the Bad Batch’s eyes, allows them to get to Rampart undetected, as facing a juggernaut alone would be not only dangerous but also a sure way of compromising their covert infiltration.

This is very similar to the way Din Djarin and his allies form their plan on Morak. Din requests a “closer look” once they’re flying into Morak’s atmosphere, which results in the group looking at the path of the juggernauts from a distance. The group then decides to send one of their own with Mayfeld in place of the Imperials who pilot the juggernauts, and Din, observing that the Imperials wear helmets, ultimately decides to be the one who does so. These plans, while similar in nature, are also made in a very similar setting.

6

The Juggernaut Hijacking Leads To A Fight

The Bad Batch Must Fight Off Imperial Forces Who Chase Them Down

Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair’s plan works smoothly until the Empire realizes their vehicle has made an unauthorized stop, which eventually makes them realize the juggernaut’s been compromised altogether. Imperial forces then charge Clone Force 99’s juggernaut, first attempting to do so on the bridge with a vehicle of their own before they send two attack shuttles full of stormtroopers after the Batch. This fight consists of troopers standing on top of the juggernaut before ultimately being thrown off, a similarity it shares with The Mandalorian‘s juggernaut fight.

Din Djarin Must Fight Off “Pirates” Seeking To Destroy Their Rhydonium

In comparison, Din Djarin’s fight on the juggernaut is against anti-Imperial forces, a band of “pirates” – who are actually rebels against the Imperial Remnant – that are attempting to destroy the rhydonium Mando and Mayfeld’s vehicle is transporting. This results in what is easily one of The Mandalorian‘s best fight scenes, with Din fighting off the pirates on top of the juggernaut using only hand-to-hand combat and whatever weapons he can take from them. This bears a strong resemblance to the fight in The Bad Batch, though at least Din’s juggernaut survives the ordeal in one piece.

5

The Juggernaut Is Piloted Over The Facility’s Long Bridge

Erebus’ Bridge Is Key To The Bad Batch Just Like Morak’s Is To Din Djarin & Migs Mayfeld

As pointed out before, the bridges of these Imperial facilities both play a key role, with one starting a battle and the other finishing a fight. For Clone Force 99, the Erebus bridge is a danger, as they are pursued head-on by another juggernaut while trying to cross it. Thankfully, Wrecker’s affinity for explosives makes it easier for him to aim for the vehicle’s tires, which creates a ramp for Hunter to vault the juggernaut off of. This is the official first conflict the Bad Batch’s juggernaut has with the Empire, thus starting their battle in the episode.

In The Mandalorian, the bridge is considered a “safety zone” for Din Djarin and Mayfeld, as it puts them close enough to Imperial forces to receive backup. Unfortunately, the rhydonium keeps Mayfeld from crossing at a speed fast enough to stave the pirates away, forcing Din to fight more and more forces on his own. When they reach the bridge, however, the Empire swoops in with TIE fighters to help, and Din and Mayfeld get to cross it with no problem – putting an end to their fight. While these bridges serve opposite roles, they’re both still significant in similar ways.

4

Getting The Desired Coordinates Still Has A Catch

Hunter, Wrecker, & Crosshair Find Out That Rampart’s Knowledge Requires An Extra Step

Crosshair was right in his assumption that Rampart would know how to get to Tantiss, but upon interrogating the admiral at the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Rampart doesn’t have the exact coordinates. Instead, he has a way of finding them, which will require the Bad Batch to take an extra step before they can find Tantiss and free Omega. This unforeseen catch in their plan to obtain the coordinates will carry over into the next episode, but it happens around the same time as a similar catch snags Din Djarin’s plan as well.

Din Djarin Has To Choose Between His Beliefs & Finishing The Mission

The catch in Din Djarin’s plan arises when Mayfeld and Din get inside the Morak refinery. Seeking the Imperial terminal in the mess hall, Mayfeld starts to enter, but then catches the eye of his former commanding officer, Valin Hess. With Mayfeld refusing to take the risk, Din elects to, but he’s told that the terminal requires a facial scan. This leads to what is now one of The Mandalorian‘s most pivotal moments, with Din Djarin removing his helmet and thus breaking his Mandalorian Creed in favor of getting the desired coordinates. Both plans, then, contain notable catches.

3

A Leap Of Faith Is Made Onto A Ship Ramp

Clone Force 99 Must Make A Risky Jump Just Like Din Djarin & Migs Mayfeld

At the end of their juggernaut pursuit, Phee finally arrives for Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair, who all have to jump from the top of the juggernaut to Phee’s open boarding ramp. This isn’t difficult for Hunter or Crosshair, who are the first two to make it across, but Wrecker still has to account for the stunned Rampart. Once the prisoner’s been tossed over, Wrecker has to face his long-running fear of heights and make a leap of faith before the juggernaut is sent over the edge of a cliff. He does so and stays on board thanks to the help of his brothers.

This is similar to how Din Djarin assists Mayfeld in making a leap of faith into Boba Fett’s Firespray gunship. While running towards their pick-up on the roof of the Morak refinery, Din makes the leap onto the boarding ramp with ease, but Mayfeld is slightly more hesitant. Upon landing, Mayfeld is knocked down, but Mando helps his reluctant ally to stand before Mayfeld makes the shot that takes out the entire facility. While the former leap of faith had much higher stakes, it still feels much like an echo of the latter, particularly in how both are shown on screen.

2

Prisoners Are Freed During The Mission

The Bad Batch Releases The Imperial Prisoners Just Like Din Djarin Releases Migs Mayfeld

When first obtaining Rampart in the juggernaut, Clone Force 99 realizes that he’s not alone. The entire vessel is filled with other prisoners just like Rampart, and rather than stringing them along for the adventure, Wrecker and Crosshair opt to free the prisoners and release them to whatever awaits on Erebus. This decision is perfectly on brand for the Bad Batch, who certainly take some joy in reducing the Empire’s numbers and freeing prisoners who were likely locked up for nonsensical reasons.

Din Djarin is faced with a similar decision when his mission on Morak ultimately comes to an end. With Mayfeld having been responsible for the destruction of the Morak facility and thus the Empire’s horrifying plans with the rhydonium, it feels wrong for Din to send him back to the Karthon Chop Fields. Instead, in agreement with Cara Dune, Din decides to free Mayfeld on Morak, an invitation Mayfeld accepts with no hesitation. This willingness to free prisoners shows both the Bad Batch and Din Djarin’s true humanity, as well as their rogue and somewhat rebellious natures.

1

Everything Happens To Rescue A Force-Sensitive Child In Their Care

Clone Force 99’s Mission Is To Find Omega Just Like Din Djarin’s Is To Find Grogu

The biggest similarity between these two episodes is what rests at its core: a mission to gain coordinates to where their Force-sensitive child has been captured by the Empire. Both children are to be experimented on as a part of Palpatine’s Project Necromancer, which only ties the two missions even more closely together. The stakes in both these episodes, then, are very high, as one wrong move could lead to Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and Din Djarin all losing tabs on not only a child in their protection, but also a person that they love.

It makes sense that having a shared goal as similar as this would lead to these two episodes being very similar, but some of these parallels are downright uncanny. Still, this doesn’t change the quality of “Juggernaut.” The Bad Batch season 3 continues to prove that it’s some of the best, if not the best, of Star Wars animation, and this addition is no exception. It also further proves that this episode of The Mandalorian is truly one of the best, as it has been considered remarkable enough for The Bad Batch to very closely echo in many different ways.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch releases new episodes Wednesdays at 3 AM ET, 12 AM PT, and 8 AM GMT on Disney+.