Even in animation, Star Wars has never had a problem killing off important characters. Most of Domino squad was killed off in the Clone Wars, along with multiple Jedi, Savage Opress and Satine Kryze. However, the death that resonated most was probably Kanan Jarrus' sacrifice on Star Wars Rebels. He used the Force to push his friends out of the way, but in doing so, he had to let an explosion consume him.
So, it shouldn't be a surprise that Star Wars: The Bad Batch ended their second season with a devastating main character death: Tech. In its own way The Bad Batch own death scene imitated Kanan's fate. Tech presumably fell to his death to ensure the rest of Clone Force 99 could escape and survive their important mission. It was supposed to be an emotional sacrifice, but it looks like Tech's death may not be permanent. One member of Clone Force 99, Echo, was presumed dead in the final seasons of The Clone Wars, after all. He was rescued in the Bad Batch's introductory arc on Season 7 of The Clone Wars. The animated series also brought Darth Maul back to life. If the former Sith Lord could survive being bisected by Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace along with a fall from a great height, someone like Tech should be able to survive without breaking much of a sweat.
Updated September 20, 2023 by Joshua M. Patton: Fans of The Bad Batch cannot be blamed for thinking Tech may have somehow survived his perilous fall, and not just because this is a cartoon primarily for young children. Yet, Star Wars animated series are sometimes known to have more permanent stakes than other iterations of the franchise. There are things about Season 2 that strongly suggest Tech's story isn't quite over yet as the show prepares for its third and final season.
How Tech Died on The Bad Batch
In The Bad Batch's epic, double-episode Season 2 finale, Clone Force 99 went on a mission to Eriadu. The harsh planet is Governor Tarkin's homeworld, and he was hosting a meeting for several high-ranking Imperials. All the squad wanted to do was quickly put a tracker on Dr. Hemlock's ship so that they could follow him back to where the mysterious scientist was keeping their long-lost brother Crosshair. That wouldn't normally be a problem, but Saw Gerrera, from Andor and Rogue One, showed up with a team of insurgents. They wanted to blow up Tarkin's compound, but they were all compromised.
In the ensuing chaos, Gerrera set off his explosives even though they weren't all in place. The explosion knocked out the power on the suspended rail cars that the Bad Batch was using to get away. Trapped over an abyss, Tech climbed onto the track and ran to a terminal to try to reboot the system. While he was working, Tarkin sent air support, and the ships' blasters broke the cars apart. Tech got back just as the back car was splitting off and tried to climb to his friends, but he wasn't going to make it in time. Wrecker tried to help him up, but the added weight would have doomed them all. So, Tech said, "Plan 99," shot the last connection between the cars and plummeted to his death.
Tech's comment suggest Clone Force 99 had discussed in the past a plan whereby one of them might sacrifice themselves to save the rest of the team. As a team of special forces soldiers during the clone wars, they would frequently find themselves undertaking impossibly difficult missions. Whatever Plan 99 was specifically, it was probably put in place long before the crew even met up with Omega. However, since the team are now independent operators, Tech didn't make this sacrifice for the war effort or for orders. He chose to sacrifice himself purely out of love for his brothers and Omega. It's the kind of detail that makes a character's heroic death all the more heartbreaking.
Tech Might Not Be Dead, Here's Why
Tech fell hundreds of feet into a clouded abyss, and the rest of the squad simply assumed he was dead. However, for as many characters that Star Wars has killed off, there are just as many that have come back to life after similarly precipitous falls. Just look at Palpatine, Echo and the Sith Formerly Known as Darth Maul. So, it's reasonable to think that Tech might have found some miraculous way to survive. Perhaps the Force isn't done with him yet, and he managed to survive by dumb luck. Either way, there is further evidence than mere denial for fans to believe he's not out of the fight yet. After all, Tech was the member of Clone Force 99 who received the most growth and development in Season 2.
The back half of "Plan 99" showed the aftermath of Tech's death. The rest of the squad went back to Cid's parlor so that AZI-3 could help Omega. As many fans expected, Cid betrayed them and turned them over to the Empire. Dr. Hemlock personally showed up to capture Omega. To add insult to injury, he gave Hunter Tech's broken goggles. He said that they were the only thing that he could recover. Longtime fans of sci-fi and fantasy know that even with a body, death may not be permanent. With just some broken goggles? Tech might as well be as good as alive.
The mere fact that Dr. Hemlock searched for Tech is interesting. A cloning specialist, Hemlock would want to examine Tech's body because he was a mutated Clone. The appearance of his goggles means Hemlock found something. If he also recovered a body, Hemlock could use Tech's advanced DNA to create a new clone. He wouldn't have Tech's memories or feelings for the rest of the team, making him more "evil" than the hero fans love. But it could even be worse. If Tech was recovered alive, he might be turned into a Phase Zero Darktrooper -- an abomination of a cyborg. Both of those things would be terrible for Tech. There's an argument that it would be better storytelling if the death stuck, with his loss motivating the team to honor or, at least, avenge him. Yet, it's Star Wars, and it's really difficult to kill a central character off for good.
The Bad Batch Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming now on Disney+, and Season 3 is expected sometime in 2024.