#genlock val

I think this is the best episode in the season so far. I really enjoyed the characterization in it. Let's get to it.

Cammie

Okay so it seems obvious that they're pulling a Rogue One situation. If this is meant to be the definitive end to the Gen:Lock story, alot of what happened before now makes alot of sense.

I absolutely LOVED Cammie's story. I don't think it had the time it needed to breathe, but for what it's worth they made it work. Given all that we've learned this season the progression of her character from moment to moment seemed very plausible to me. She summed it up pretty well with the idea that she needs an "us."

Here's my thing with the discourse from this week:

This person (who I'm anonymizing for obvious reasons) would be right if what the Union was planning on doing was "genociding humanity." Let's break it down.

The Union does not think they are genociding humanity. They think they are giving humanity a new home in the face of climate collapse. We can call it a lie or a fantasy, but so too follows for all religions because the Omnifaith is literally every religion. It's obviously not a 1-to-1 because the real world doesn't have magical glowy nanobots to yeet your body away, but like if we're willing to suspend your disbelief that far to separate these fictional circumstances from the real world ones, I just don't understand how a person could come to a conclusion as if they aren't.

There is already proof that they are not just murdering people. Gen:Lock as a concept is just temporarily killing yourself to pilot a mecha. It's why one can't "exceed uptime," if one does, their brain will literally be unable to revive their consciousness. They never explicitly say this but I think it's pretty clear. They are not just "falling asleep," their entire person is moving from place to place. And if all it took to "die" was uploading their consciousness into a digital framework, disregarding your body, Gen:Lock is a weaponized, repeated and voluntary suicide they've been participating in since Day 1. If anything Gen:Lock exceptuonalizes the concept, making martyrdom of it. I don't think there's too much here to there for Cammie, who helped develop the thing.

But okay fine. Fine. Maybe the Flow is worse because it's not reversible. There's no returning to your body when you ascend like in Gen:Lock. Two things: the flow literally brought Yaz back to life (although I don't know if she's aware of it), and Brother Tate -- who wholeheartedly believes in his message -- was brought to and fro as well. But even beyond that, Chase cannot return to his body. And moreover, he chose to be stuck in his bot brain forever. Does that mean Chase committed suicide? I think it's more complex than that.

And you might be asking "why doesn't the show just show what it is like in the Flow?" Because the Polity is based on science, which is a necessarily evidence based field. But in contrast to that, the Union is based on faith. Evidences of faith are not literal. It wouldn't be an interesting story if we just got to saw whether or not they were right or wrong. Showing all these people that believe in it is the evidence. But in case that wasn't enough there's alot more i.e. them actively developing it to be more sustainable.

I don't think the show is saying Cammie's suicide was a "good" thing. I'm not down for ascribing moral quality of any kind to suicide. But I don't think the show is glorifying, but the show's characters definitely are. I think the show is simply showing that Cammie did what felt right to her. Why she did what she did and the coercive qualities of the Omnifaith are all important in this conversation! And I think ultimately Cammie didn't even think she was committing suicide, or at the very least she wasn't in a place to acknowledge it. But I think this rough discourse is what makes her story work.

Other G:L

Chase please go to therapy.

Val please go to therapy.

The fact that Yaz mindshared Kazu's DEATH is soooooooooo interesting and should've been way more than just a "talk." Girl's been paid dust.

...oh yea Kazu yea I guess we don't care about him anymore lol

Polity

Marin's characterization this episode was absolutely flawless. Her little speech gave so much context to her as a character. I can finally get behind watching her now that I know. She's not paranoid or cold. She loves her nation and its people. But she values their lives over their choices, and that leads her down a dark path. She's just got a bad case of "tough love." I feel like I've met the exact type of person her character is hyperbolizing.

Union

Wash rinse repeat.

No Man's Land

The gays keep winning. I don't have much to say about Sinclair, but his conflict is nice. Even they struggle with helping others when it's at expense to themselves. I think what Chris says in response is the theme of the whole episode:

"You give people a choice. That's your third option. And she's made hers."

Conclusion

I'm so ready for this show to end. In both a "I wanna see where this is going" and a "if I have to look at one more discourse I'm gonna explode" kind of way. I'm excited for next week though, which is at least better than the last.

Okay I'm honestly ecstatic that this happened. I know several people are mad or feel it wasn't something that's needed. But listen.

People need this. It's a thing. People aren't always cis gender and it's okay to be either way. You can feel male, female, both, neither, or some mixture at any moment in time.

With Roosterteeth making Val/entina cannonly genderfluid, they set a huge mark on history. For people to understand each other and THEMSELVES we need to be understanding and let the media give those people who feel like this a role model and someone to look up to.

What's the harm to you??? If you honestly habe a problem with it then the problem is you.

Val/entina is valid.

If you haven't seen my other 6 reviews literally click #darglreview in the tags and read them all because I said ALL this, review done.

I just love when my faith in a narrative is rewarded.

Some favorite lines:

"[*Gen:Lock has invaded the building*] Oh. I know those guys. Back to work." - Henry Wu

"Don't let your hubris confuse *our* end with *the* end." - Dr. Jha (girl pick up that gun)

"*Sees a man get chopped in half* Oh man well now I feel really bad." - Migas

"I've had this scar for a long time, I'm just embracing it now." - Julian Chase

The entire Val/Kazu scene

Final Ranking: 8/10

Hahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa YES. What a finale! What. A. Finale! I refuse to get over this what a freaking redemption arc this show had. Thoughts in semi-chronological order because I can't be bothered to structure my excitement.

Yaz! Yaz character development! Yes!!!! She said things! She *did* things!!!

I VERY much like the route they've gone with our heroes. This is such a thoughtful reimagining/interpretation of the G:L technology from season 1.

Oh poor Henry....

I really appreciate how they did not try to play to both sides in this series. They did not "meet in the middle," so to speak. Yes both sides had valuable input to the overall good outcome, but as Dri said: Sinclair gives people a choice to make. That's the third option.

Speaking of, Sinclair knocked it out the park this episode. I appreciate that he doesn't hesitate to do what needs to be done, even if what he did kinda....messed things up. All of the characters' actions this episode felt so...in character.

Marin's death was tragic in that she actually had good reason to keep those Holons alive. She made her choices, and in the end it didn't matter, but she did what she felt was right until the end of it all. I appreciated that. Also her final scene with Holcroft while Sinclair is mercing her command central was hilariously timed and also really well written.

Holcroft suuuuuuucks. I mean we knew that but he suuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

Dr. Jha??? Queen. Royalty of the highest order. Absolute monarch. The reigning champ. "You don't have the grace to be a martyr." !!!!!! None of you can touch.

HE RECLAIMED THE NEMESI! THE SCENE REVERSAL OMG

GIANT MAGICAL GIRL MECHA???????? GIANT MAGICAL GIRL MECHA??????????????????????

Odin looks uggo I'm so sorry. Did he need toes??

Despite the fact that Brother Tate was the world's largest cult leader/technological innovator (kersplat) he was really right about some things (still went kersplat).

Val x Yaz? Are we all getting the vibes? Just me?

I've seen alot of complaints about this show not doing anything to address climate change and instead opting for a digital solution to all their problems but there's two things to remember here:

Season 2 introduces Earth to be already "beyond saving (which I think the show bucks a little bit but I'll get there). The world is not being "threatened" by climate disaster. This is dystopia.

The nano can be injured, and it survives by eating organic matter, so even if everyone is uploaded with Un:Lock, I think the answer to their problems will be a little more complicated than just letting the planet die. But if this season has taught me anything it is that people will, without a doubt, come up with the least favorable interpretations of things they do not like possible. We've all been guilty of it. But I'm so glad I kept warm by this dumpster fire. I never wanted it to be perfect. I just wanted it to be authentic. And personally I think that despite the numerous gaping potholes in the road? These writers? The animators? This team of individuals, they got there.

There truly is something spiritual about the process of becoming the nano. Chase's resurrection is one of this show's most impactful scenes. He is G:L tech. He is Twilight. He is everything. But most importantly, he is real. And he does not "earn" ascension through suffering, like Brother Tate or even Weller believed. He received it through love, and acceptance, and commitment. And I mean, for as much grimdark this show went through, that's a truly hopeful message.

I said it at the start of these reviews and I'll say it again: I'm glad this show exists. It should not exist lol. But I'M GLAD that it does. Thanks for reading.

Final Ranking: 10/10

Eh. Alright.

G:L

One day we're gonna have to talk about the Chase to therapy pipeline.

Yaz and Val are still nothing. I mean c'mon there's only 3 of Team G:L left, I shouldn't still feel so detached from the ones alive.

Migas is so fun to watch....wait is he dead lol

It's nice to have a reminder that Chase is the only one trapped in his body.

Cammie.....? (that reveal scene was garbage)

Calaban not being able to live in his own body because of his extensive wealth of knowledge and overall importance (which the show refused to capitalize on) is just so...sad.

One day we're gonna have to talk about the Chase to Calaban to therapy pipeline.

Polity

Miranda and Marin's interactions are some of my favorite in this season.

Even if she's pretty irredeemable at this point that doesn't make Marin any less nuanced, and I consider that a positive because in Season 1 I felt no thoughts head empty over her.

Dri's "I'll do what needs doing"....yikes. You can really see the absolutism and desperation beginning to settle over everyone.

Can I just say how happy I am to see that someone responded to the "voices in character's head" moment with something other than "I didn't say anything?" Like YEA obviously, the character is struggling!! Miranda in general this season has just been an absolute joy.

She really ain't give a DAMN bout Jodie tho-

RTASA

Holcroft is an interesting character but he's still a bore to listen to.

I'm glad the show is doing the work of explaining all the things I spent like 30 minutes typing up last week *eye twitches*

This new ooba dooba Holons plot is lime source but it made me realize something:

Nothing has happened. In this whole season nothing has happened. Nothing that mattered anyway. We've changed locations, we've had alot of character development, but nothing has actually moved the plot forward. This is the first thing that has actually happened.

Sinclair is being tortured...honestly thought he'd be a bit more important than that-

I absolutely love Ms. Marketing Lady. I have no clue who she is but her energy....I wanna know more. Like the human race is about to perish but yesss girl get those ratings increase those sales. Her voice acting was infectious.

Union

Omg I have at least TWO separate thoughts on the Union this week...none of them are good lol

A more effective introduction to the Union would have been Dr. Jha switching to his side. We know her, we love her (or at least Weller did). So her switching sides would:

pique our interest for what the Union truly has to offer and

further distance itself from season 1

Alot of my problems with this season is that for some reason it felt the need to justify its own separation from the first. Like just do it. Commit! It's fine!

Who the hell is the spy in the Polity? Are we ever gonna find that out? Does it even matter anymore?

So like...Brother Tate can't seem to decide on whether or not the Flow is good and it'll save everyone or if he needs to ask for forgiveness for it.

I'm more surprised by the fact that I've seen people on the hellsites are reacting genuinely affronted towards the religion everyone has been staking their entire civilization upon having a semblance of genuine merit. Like. Seriously? Do people just believe mass cult suicide is only wrong because their faith for which they were doing it wasn't good enough?? Is there no problem with that outside of them being potentially WRONG about their religion??? Sounds like some are looking for more validation than the Union....

Yea this episode was neat. Fighting was still kinda lame. But whatever.

LOVED this episode. Very needed. I finally feel like this story is going somewhere. Let's get into it.

There's finally enough on every front to to divide sections into plotlines instead of characters!!

Gen:Lock Team

YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. Everyone is going through it still, but I love the way it is being presented in this episode as a loss of boundaries. Delicious content. The ways it manifests range from funny to depressing, sometimes even both. I really like the example where Chase walks in on his ex doing the naughties because he's literally got door knocking trauma now. Absolutely hilarious. There's also hologram discrimination now? I mean Chase is the only living hologram there is. I guess it only really applies to him. The entire universe is gaslighting him.

I appreciate the fact that Yaz is now getting some more time to develop. She's been vulnerable about her position, but I don't think she can bear anyone else committing the world's most cynical suicide, which I think makes Cammie in this chapter suuuper interesting.

Of course she just wants to know more about the tech. Of course she's curious about how it works and how people live when they're not lonely. In many ways the mind-share is just Cammie's way of coping (also no more nightmares). Her inability to stand alone is an issue that's been foreshadowed since the very beginning. I appreciate this direction. She's been trying to develop the G:L program to look exactly like the Union's Nirvana in a sense. But the space she refuses to provide anyone else is beggining to cause...problems, speaking of which:

KAZU. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All of the privacy he wants, all the things his subconscious has been burying? He can't do that on the cloud. All of his thoughts are everyone else's. But I'm obsessed with the fact he put on a robe in a dreamscape instead of like...actual clothes. Hilarious.

Val doesn't have much outside of Kazu, but what he gets is still cute.

Migas is gay. Sorry. He is.

Polity

Marin is a ❤️piece of garbage❤️ . Also, again, nothing in G:L has good security like this is sad. Also also, are the other Chase's not on the G:L network anymore? Also also also, these new Holons still have no reason to exist. I still don't know what the point of them is. Also also also also, does anyone know Leon is dead yet?

Miranda is great in this episode. She's such a realist it hurts. It's not necessarily a mindset bred from logicality either. Everything she does: the promotion within her ranks (can she really, just do that???), the passionless sex with Jodie, all of it is just her taking a deeply cynical control over her reality in order to keep moving forward. Just because she's not angry at Chase anymore doesn't mean she's over him. He's everywhere. She literally can't escape him. And ironically enough, Chase wanted Miranda to be his escape. She's still the first he went to with new info. Still where he goes when he can't be alone. They both want to move on, and they want to do so separately, but they can't. At the very least, they don't know how. Boundaries!!

Union

Who is giving Brother Tate this information about the Mars thing??? I can't side with the Union, obviously. But their motives are as pure as they are...bad, and I think that's what I really like about them.

Also I'm still unendingly grateful that this faith has some merit to it.

The Proletariat

A TERRIBLE name. What does this have to do with Marxism? I mean in opposition to the Polity, I guess (I truly cannot stand capitalism Holcroft makes me SICK), but I don't see Sinclair's faction as the working class at all. He is destroying the two party system at least, as he should. Although, I don't know why exactly helping people escape the warzone is something neither party likes. Like what exactly is wrong with that in the eyes of Brother Tate or Marin?

Also, if not the Anvil, where is the base of operations? Is it just RTASA? I mean I'm fine with that, I guess.

Other

World building on TEN in this episode Las Vegas is so cool and terrible.

"I hear Australia still has trees" wow.

Sinclair's lil grappling hook thingie is so much fun.

The sex scene wasn't that bad -- or at least not offensively so -- and it's now all anyone is talking about and that angers me because the schadenfreude is drowning out actual discussion of the merit of this show as a show and not "what HBO did to it." Like I can both hate a corporation over a show and still have respect for the artists' direction. It doesn't have to be the same. If I don't like the direction on its most basic level (like the literal content rating) then the show doesn't have and never will have anything to offer me. Making such a fuss about cookies I want to be cake is beneficial to none and detrimental to everyone trying to actually engage with the thing. I'm generalizing here but it's the common sentiment I see reflected in G:L spaces and it's tired.

There's SO MUCH happening SLOW DOWN. God the pacing is BREAKNECK. They clearly have alot of ground to cover but this episode did it so heavyhandedly. I think the story is interesting but the question is ultimately if they have the time to tell it. But let's just start:

CHASE

MBJs voice acting is better but it's undercut by every single scene of this episode being on TEN with everyone screaming and fighting.

Chase is still afraid of mind sharing, probably even more afraid than before, to be honest. He says he's willing to die for this cause, but he's still 100% afraid of the ego death that continues to threaten him. There's even less escape from this fear now, because he's trapped in his own head. I want him to cry, but he literally can't.

His brand of cynicism is so patriotic. He and Kazu have alot in common in that regard, and ironically its what makes them bump heads. Speaking of:

KAZU

Gonna be honest, if it weren't for the implication that this came from a war propagandist TV show, Kazu's dialogue would make me want to launch myself into the ether. God they're laying everything on thick. These writers clearly know what they want to do, alot of them have worked in comics, but I feel like I'm reading a comic while watching it. What I mean is every single scene is just a drawing, a single unambiguous statement. And your eyes just see the drawing and immediately turn the page.

I do like how dark mind sharing gets. Like they're an unstoppable force when they work together, but that's not always necessarily a good thing.

God his facial hair cut it offfffffff.

VAL/YAZ

Val is fun. That's about all I have to say for him. This season premiere really shows that the two writing teams for the show and the comic were not on the same page about these characters' destinations. Alot of this premiere retcons the HELL out of the comics.

Firstly, Yaz is leader. Idk why Chase is leader in the show. He's not fit to lead. He's too insecure. And Yaz doesn't even feel like part of the team in this episode. Also I've never seen someone scowl so hard at a bunny 😭

CAMMIE

The highlight of the chapter. She wants to look on the bright side of everything, but for some reason it feels vaguely out of character. Like in season 1 Cammie was by in large the pessimist of the team (even though they all are) along with Val, but the both of them seem pretty cheerful this episode which is a bit weird. Honestly everyone had weird vibes this episode.

Retcon #2: Why is Chase living in this crappy old-life-simulator house?? In the comics Cammie built him a serene mindspace literally to get away from everyone else.

HOWEVER, I do enjoy the physicality by which their distraught emotional states manifests. The bunnies everywhere, Kazu's Robo-Shogun. Cammie builds them a comfortable setting for the mind-share to occur, but it gives them even less privacy than before. The rest of them can log off but Chase is physically stuck there, which makes his role in all this unique. Despite the retcons I do appreciate the direction.

CALABAN/WELLER/RTASA

Gotta say, I didn't expect him to still be relevant. I like how he still talks in the third person, but his delivery is a lot less robotic, which I don't love. Maybe he just got used to the robo brain? I dunno I don't like it.

Are there gonna be consequences to violating Dr. Weller-Code's privacy? Like why even bring it up if it doesn't matter? A nitpick but still. God everything moves so fast here.

CHIBI CALABAN MY BELOVED. Clever way to differentiate what Calaban is and what Weller is.