In Plato's Republic, Socrates lays out the ideal city, which is an image of the ideal soul. According to Socrates, the ideal city is ruled by philosophers, just as the ideal soul is ruled by reason rather than the passions. Socrates himself is the quintessential philosopher, whose life is guided by reason. After his trial, which is depicted in Plato's Apology, the city-state of Athens executed Socrates by forcing him to drink the poison hemlock.
The Bad Batch takes place during the aftermath of the fall of the Republic, which – like Plato's ideal city – was theoretically supposed to be ruled by reason and philosophy in the form of the Senate and the Jedi. The show begins with the Jedi being executed by representatives of the state, leaving the galaxy to be ruled by the passions of fear and greed. It is highly appropriate, then, that one of the primary villains of the series is named Dr. Hemlock, after the substance that killed Socrates.
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Characters: Dr. Hemlock
Shows: The Bad Batch
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Concepts: names
Influences: Greco-Roman / Plato
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