Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs

I know, I know - the last entry makes it clear that the abundance of returning characters is both distracting and borderline impossible, but if you can get passed the convenience of their involvement, there's no denying that seeing so many characters back on screen is pretty delightful.

Granted, some of their roles could have been handled with more care and attention, but from the first episode's introduction of a young Caleb Dume to the Ryloth rebellion arc, The Bad Batch is far from short on moments that'll fill many long-time fans with unalloyed joy.

The best returning characters are certainly ruthless bounty hunter Cad Bane, who acts as a brilliant threat to the team for a thrilling two-episode clash, and Captain Rex, a clone currently on the run whose reconnection with the Batch leads to one of the most poignant episodes of the season.

Spreading the returning faces out into the recently greenlit second season would have helped, but all told there's no one who could possibly watch so many iconic characters turn up without feeling at least a little giddy.