The Bad Batch Just Slipped Some Dune And Jurassic Park Easter Eggs Into The Star Wars Saga
07-03-2024
This article contains spoilers from "Star Wars: The Bad Batch", season 3, episode 5 "The Return."
The latest episode "Star Wars: The Bad Batch", gives us the first experience with core members who survived from Clone Force 99. There is a lot of distrust between the two. Crosshair offers to help them decode Imperial secret plans to learn more about Mount Tantiss's Empire operation. He gives the location of a place he is familiar with where they may be able decode the plan. Though Hunter is loathe to trust their comrade-turned-enemy-turned-comrade, they all decide to head to the abandoned Imperial Depot on the ice planet of Barton IV, which first appeared in "The Bad Batch" season 2, episode 12, "The Outpost" (itself one of the season's best episodes).
This episode gives us the chance to witness the creative genius of the "Star Wars" team, who have taken elements from "Dune" as well as "Jurassic Park," to create some "Star Wars" that is first rate.
Ice Wyrms and Dune
The show's characters are faced with a brand new Barton-specific threat in the form giant Ice Wyrms as they attempt to recover the Imperial encrypted data pad Omega took. The sensors that are spiked in the ground are designed to repel these Wyrms, which are highly sensitive to vibrations. The Ice Wyrms attack, rushing below the surface of the Bad Batch when the power is cut off.
The Wyrms look like the Sand Worms from "Dune." The vibrations from the Fremen's thumpers that they use to summon them in "Dune" attract the Sandworms, not repel as was the case with "The Bad Batch." The Ice Wyrms that travel through the snow are akin to the Arrakis sandworms. This is a cool comparison and an homage to a science fiction franchise that has been a source of inspiration for "Star Wars" since the very beginning.
There are many parallels between "Dune", and "Star Wars". Like "Star Wars", the world of "Dune" is ruled largely by an unseen imperial. Both films feature a rising hero on a desert world, but "Star Wars'" Arrakis replaces Tatooine. Spice is a valuable product that's linked with a powerful criminal lord in both films (Jabba in Star Wars and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen respectively).
One could argue that Luke and Leia's lineage was inspired by the twins of Paul Atreides, who were born in the movie "Dune: Messiah", after their father had become a religious figure who commits genocidal acts and before walking off into the Desert.
Jurassic Park
The Outpost isn't just a clever tribute to "Dune." The season so far has included many great references to Steven Spielberg’s "Jurassic Park." Last week, in "A Different Approach", Omega and Crosshair escaped through a depot filled with animals, similar to the containers that contained Velociraptors at "Jurassic Park's" opening. Omega, when she needed to distract, even let all of the animals go, which caused the "Star Wars'" version the Gallimimus stampede in Spielberg’s classic.
The reference to "Jurassic Park", in the episode "The Bad Batch," is more subtle. The power cuts out as the batch is decoding Imperial's data pad. The sonic spikes around the base lose power as well, forcing them to cross over the snowy wastes and reset the breakers. Only problem: the Ice Wyrms have taken over the wastes and are ready to devour our heroes.
It is the exact opposite of what Dr. Sadler experienced in the first "Jurassic Park." film. To get the safety and locks systems back on line, Dr. Sadler must cross the jungle the Velociraptors claim as their hunting grounds. Both cases result in a dramatic sequence which raises the stakes of the story and places the characters at risk.
Perfect timing
It's hard to believe that "Dune: Part Two", the sequel to "Star Wars: The Bad Batch", was released in theaters on the same day as an episode from "Star Wars: The Bad Batch". It could be a coincidence, but the timing is too perfect. It's obvious, and everyone would be able to make the connection fairly quickly.
It's still fun to see references in the galaxy far, away, like "Jurassic Park", and "Dune". It's the incorporation of classic sci-fi elements into "Star Wars", which is why it has such a loyal following among film geeks. The property has always had a deep understanding of genres and their history, and it's been able to remix those influences with the most sophisticated ways.
Disney+ will debut new episodes from the "Star Wars: The Bad Batch's" final season on Wednesdays.