Nerd Tutorial Podcast

Ep 103: The Legend of Zelda Review

 

Other Games

Hyrule Warriors (2014) Wii U, Switch, 3DS

A spinoff of the Dynasty Warrior game series from Koei Tecmo, the series follows several well known Zelda Characters in their efforts to push back the evil forces.  While the story is loose, the major draw of this game is the Dynasty Warrior game play, which sees hundreds of enemies being defeated by a singular individual over a large battlefield with ever changing objectives. 

 

 

CD-I Games

In 1989, Nintendo and Sony partnered together to create a CD based addon for their upcoming Super Nintendo System, set to release sometime in 1991 or 1992.  Prior to the announcement however in 1991, Nintendo decided to dump the contract with Sony and instead went with Phillips to develop their CD based addon.  The sudden announcement from Nintendo just prior to Sony’s announcement eventually led to the Playstation system in 1994.  Nintendo however, seeing the poor launch and reception of the Sega CD, pulled out of the agreement with Phillips for a CD based SNES Addon.  However, with the agreement desolved, Nintendo agreed to allow Phillips to develop games based off the Nintendo Licenses, which included Mario and Zelda.

 

As a result, three games were created by Phillips for their CD-I machine:

Link: The Faces of Evil

Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon

Zelda's Adventure

 

All three games are largely Action Adventure titles and not consider canon within the Zelda Timeline.  Both Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon were released at the same time, featuring Russian animation that universally hated by the fans.  Zelda’s Adventure, released 8 months after the first set of game, featured a top down perspective, and replaced the animation with live action, which is still considered horrible by today’s standards.  All three games are largely unplayable in the sense that they are not fun and are frustrating to play. 

 

 

 

In Other Media

The Legend of Zelda Cartoon

During the height of Mario Craze, there was The Super Mario Bros: Super Show, which aired during day time syndication in 1989.  A part of the original run was a series of Super Mario Cartoons, referencing at the time Super Mario Bros 1 and 2, with Super Bros 3 episodes later pushed to a 2^nd season.  The cartoons themselves were only about 12-14 minutes long, and were inner spliced with Live Action Mario and Luigi, played by Lou Albano and Danny Wells respectively.  The Mario Cartoons ran from Monday through Thursday, but on Friday, was a Legend of Zelda Cartoon instead.

 

The Legend of Zelda cartoon, much like the Mario cartoon, last only about 12-14 minutes, and a collection of thirteen were created for the series.  The events of the series largely related around the time between The Legend of Zelda and The Adventures of Link, and often related to Link battling the remaining forces of Ganon to defend the land.  The series was not without its comic attributes, as Link was constantly trying to get a Kiss from Zelda, along with the Tagline, “Excuse Me, Princess.” with the word ‘excuse’ exaggerated for comic effect, usually used when ever Link was sarcastically apologizing to Princess Zelda.  Contrary to most princesses as well, Zelda was actually very capable on her own right, often being engaged and participating in the action.

 

The series is mostly well known for Link’s Catchphrase, but was often a big interest among kids of their era, mostly due to the fact that it only happened once a week, and due to this, the episodes rarely looped upon themselves, so if you missed it, you wouldn’t get the chance to see it again for 3 months.

Ep 102: Legend of Zelda Tutorial

Topic: Legend of Zelda

 

 

What is it?

Nintendo’s Big Three, as of NES days, consisted of Super Mario, Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda.  Taking place in a fantasy world of goblins, monsters, castles, and princesses, this series had transformed some of the landscape of videogames and being a bench mark for many later games and series, with some hallmarks that continue to this day.

 

 

Development

During initial development of the Famicom(Family Computer, also known to the west as the Nintendo Entertainment System(NES)) addon, known as the Famicom Disk System, two major games were being developed.  The First was Super Mario, while the second was Legend of Zelda, however their creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, didn’t know how either game would shape up.  During the planning process, the two games were created in tandem, with Super Mario coming out first due it’s more linear nature, and Zelda coming out afterwards.  Ideas when developing the games were split between the two games, with some ideas being more favorable for Mario over Zelda.  Zelda’s design necessitated less linear game play and forced players to think about what to do next. 

 

Elements of the initial story were taken heavily from J R R Tolken’s Lord of the Rings, primarily the setting and world in which the antagonist lived in.  The initially hero, dubbed ‘Link’ was meant to be a time traveler, along with the plot device, the Tri-force, being made up to circuits/electronics, thus Link would be a Hyper-Link, or a Link to the Past, Present, and Future. 

 

Released on the Famicom Disk System, The Legend of Zelda was a huge success.  With the Disk System, save states could be created, which acted as back ups for your progress.  Along with new weapons/items, additional armor, and various secrets waiting to be found, the game was a block buster upon release.  Due to the North American market not having the Disk System for their NES, the game was ported instead to a standard game cartridge of the time, with new chips being created to hold the majority of the game on.  US released copies featured a Gold game cartridge over the typical gray that was offered with all other games.

 

After the success of the first Zelda, a second follow up went in to work.  Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, took a different turn in the game play, offering a top down map for which to explore, but offered a 2d platform style action that Link would fight in. Released 2 years after the first, gaming critics cited it as a masterpiece, with many western audiences feeling somewhat indifferent to the game at the time. 

 

With the coming of the next generation, the Super Famicom and Super Nintendo saw their own version of Zelda coming out, returning to the original Legend of Zelda roots, but also added a feature that would eventually become a staple of many Zelda game, a Light and Dark World.  Initially, the Super Nintendo games held an initial allotment of half a Megabyte, but Zelda began the trend with a full Megabyte to incorporate all the features.  In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, a Light and Dark world exist, where Link can travel between the two to gain new weapons, powers, and transverse the world in ways other than the initial ways.  Released in 1991, the game was a classic and is to this day, still highly rated, and one of the best selling games for the Super Nintendo.

 

Following the success of Zelda as a generational Title, a new Zelda game has come out for every Generation of Nintendo’s consoles, including the Mainline Home Console and Hand-held Console.  In 1998, The Legend of Zelda saw game series move in to 3d, just as Mario had done a year earlier.  Even during the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was a launch title, instead of a traditional Mario title. 

 

 

 

Initial Story

The initial story of the Legend of Zelda is not very straight-forward or linear at all.  Described as a multi-timeline series, the main series had an initial timeline, before branching off in to various timelines.  The characters of Link, Zelda, and bad guy Ganon are not even the original individuals, but reincarnations of the classic characters years into the future, sometime even hundreds of years later, often still playing the exact same roles as before. 

 

Rather than develop the games in the released order, in order to explain the time line, we’ll explain them in order of their placement on the timeline:

 

Skyword Sword (2011) Wii U

Skyword Sword starts the Zelda timeline, set in a world where humans primarily live in the sky and travel around on giant Sky birds.  Zelda, a reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia, who is charged with watching over the Tri-Force, is whisked away to the surface world, where she learns of her purpose and intends on safeguarding the world from Demise.  Link goes about saving her and puts an end to Demise, but not before he can make his own reincarnation.  This is also the creation of the Master Sword, as the sword was originally a part of Hylia prior to giving up her divinity.

 

The Minish Cap (2004) GBA

As the GBA had a long life span, this incarnation is notable for introducing the Minish Cap, a replacement hat for Link, not unlike Mario Hat from Super Mario Odyssey.  Much like many features of Zelda there is a obvious world, and a hidden world.  In this case, the Minish Cap allows Link to shrink to Minish proportions (Small), in order to navigate and transverse secrets of the world. This adventure for Link sets up the Four Sword and the main antagonist of the next game Vaati.

 

Four Swords (2002) GBA

Released alongside a release of A Link to the Past, Four Swords tells of how Link used the Four Sword and transformed into four copies of himself.  This story primarily focuses upon Vaati’s return and Link utilizing the Four Sword to defeat him.  The true feature of this game was the 4 player co-op nature, which was later revisited on the Game Cube.

 

Ocarina of Time (1998) N64

Credited as landmark title that brought Zelda to 3d.  The story tells of a very young boy link saving Princess Zelda, but traveling back and forth from time, which causes him transform in to the Adult Link.  This game introduced 3d, but also a music system, with special songs, capable of summoning effects or allowing used to progress through the story.  The game was the first time the story fleshed out more of Ganondorf’s back story, along with other notable races, including the Gerudo, Goron, Kokori, & Zora. 

 

 

DEVIATION IN TIME

Based on the events of Ocarina of Time, one of Three Timeline get created:

Child Timeline – Where at the end of Ocarina of Time, Link returns the Master Sword to the pedestal and reverts to a child to finish out the rest of his life.

Adult Timeline – Where at the end of Ocarina of Time, Zelda returns the Master Sword to the pedestal, and Link is said to have disappeared following his return to the past. 

Fallen Hero Timeline – Where as Link was failed to defeat Ganondorf, and he is instead sealed by the Seven Sages and locked away. 

 

 

 

Child Timeline:

Following the defeat of Ganondork, Link returns the Master Sword to the pedestal and reverts to his child form to live out the rest of his life. 

 

Majora’s Mask (2000) N64

Created using the original Ocarina of Time engine and many of the same assets, Majora’s Mask is very much a sequel to the Ocarina of Time.  In this version, Link stays a child, but gains additional powers in the form of masks, which alter his shape and abilities.  The main events of Majora’s Mask resolve around Link in search of Navi, his fairy from the first game.  He meets the mysterious Skull Kid, who is wearing the possessed Majora’s Mask.  Skull Kid, via Majora’s Mask, aims to destroy the town of Termina by having the moon crash in to it.  Link has only 3 days in which to stop the apocalypse, but learns can go back in time by playing the Song of Time on his Ocarina, giving him unlimited tries to save the world. 

 

 

Twilight Princess (2006) Wii

Following the events of Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf is stopped and due to having the Triforce of Power, can’t be killed.  As a result, he is banished to the Twilight Realm, where he eventually takes it over and corrupts it to his own purpose.  During the events, he usurps Midna, the Twilight Princess, and during his invasion back into the world of Light, plunges the world into twilight.  Midna recruits Link, who in twilight infused areas, is able to transform into a wolf the Midna rides, and the two aim to save both the world of Light and the world of Twilight.

 

 

Four Swords Adventure (2004) Game Cube

Revisiting the GBA Four Sword’s multiplay gameplay, the game utilizes the GBA link Cable to link various GBAs together to play all at the same time.  While Ganondorf has been defeated for hundreds of years, his sudden resurrection forced the Link of the time to draw the Four Sword once again.  This releases Vaati, which Ganondorf uses to his advantage to distract Link.  Eventually, Link is able to defeat Vaati once and for all, and seals Ganondorf within the Four Sword.

 

 

Adult Timeline:

Following the events Ocarina of Time, Link disappears following the defeat of Ganondorf and his sealing away in the Sacred Realm.  Ganondorf continue to own his Tri-Force of power, as does Zelda with her Triforce of Wisdom, however, Link’s disappearance, shatters the Tri-Force of courage in to 8 pieces. 

 

 

The Wind Waker (2002) Game Cube

A major departure in style, Wind Waker and all games in the Adult Timeline follow a very cartoony, cell-shaded look.  While a prominent style in the games, and a departure from a more realistic looking Link promised in trailers, the look had grown on players and has its own unique charm, with lot of personality in Link. 

 

Wind Waker tells of how Ganon returns from his seal in the Sacred Realm, and in order to save the world, the Gods decide to flood the world, sealing away Hyrule and Ganon at the same time.  Follow flood, people move to the top of mountains that become islands.  Link is set in to action as Ganondorf returns to the surface and is kidnapping young girls with pointy ears, in search of Zelda.  Link traverses this world on the King of red Lions, a boat sent by the gods, in which Link must use the power of the Wind Waker to cause winds to help pilot the boat. 

 

 

Phantom Hourglass (2007) DS

Following the events of Wind Waker, Tetra(Reincarnation of Zelda) and Link travel the world in search of a new continent to call home.  Tetra is kidnapped and Link must travel around to save her.  He receives the Phantom Hourglass, which is necessary for exploring various dungeons.  Much like the last game, the gameplay is largely split in two major features, sailing between islands, and fighting in a similar top-down form as previous classic era games.

 

 

Spirit Tracks (2009) DS

Following the Events of Phantom Hourglass, the new kingdom of Hyrule is established.  Hundreds of years pass, and a new Link and Zelda are reborn.  Zelda is concerned about her advisor, Chancellor Cole, who reveals himself to be a demon initially sealed way on the new Hyrule Kingdom long before they arrived.  He steals Zelda’s body, but her spirit remains with Link, who together must navigate the mysterious Spirit Tracks and find the sacred Spirit Temples that original banished the Demon. 

 

 

 

Fallen Hero Timeline:

Unfortunately, Link was unable to defeat Ganondorf, who succeeded in claiming the Tri-Force of Courage and the Tri-Force of Wisdom.  Before he could use the full Tri-Force, he was sealed away by the Seven Sages into the Sacred Realm, where Ganondorf continued to create his armies.  Following initial seal’s breaking, Hyrule launched an invasion on the Sarcred Realm in order defeat Ganon.  Despite the Kingdom of Hyrule successfully banishing Ganon in the realm once again, it left the country impoverished and without many resources, including money and its people.

 

 

A Link to the Past (1991) SNES

The first game to feature a duality Light and Dark world system, Link to the Past is a classic and one of the best selling SNES games of all time.  Hundreds of years after Ganon’s defeat, a Wizard named Agahnim was able to stop a number of mysterious events plaguing the kingdom.  Naming him the priest of Hyrule and top advisor, Agahnim brainwashed the guards and makes the six maidens, descendants of the Seven Sages, disappear in to the Dark World.  Zelda, the last maiden, telepathically calles out to Link to rescue her.  He saves her and begin searching for the tools needed to defeat Agahnim, who wants to resurrect Ganon.  Link eventually goes to Stop Agahnim, but not before being banished to the Dark World, where he eventually found the six maidens and is able to find the TriForce. 

 

 

Link’s Awakening (1993) Game Boy / Switch

Initially, a pet project by a few game creators to try and remake the first Zelda for the Game Boy, the project eventually caught the attention of other developers who wanted to add to it.  Eventually, the higher ups found out about the game and decided to fund it in earnest.  Following the Events of A Link to the Past, Link sets off to find new training, in case of the next disaster.  His ship wrecks on Koholint island, which is populated by individuals that remind him Hyrule.  He learns, in order to leave the island, he must collect 8 sacred instruments, and wake up the Wind Fish in order to leave the island.

 

 

Oracle of Seasons & Oracles of Ages (2001) GBC

Originally starting as a trio of games that would use passwords to link the three games together, the result ended in just two games, with Seasons being more action oriented and Ages being more puzzle oriented.  The main story focuses on two witches, collectively known as Twinrova, attempting to resurrect Ganon.  Link from A Link to the Past is summoned by the TriForce and sent to stop them.

 

 

A Link Between Worlds (2013) 3DS

Centuries after Ganon’s Defeat, a mysterious wizard named Yugo appears and kidnaps the Seven Sages, and Zelda, storing them in Paintings until needed.  Link travels after them into the world of Lorule, which is similar to his own.  Link is unable to stop Yugo from summoning Ganon and takes it into himself.  Link is nearly killed, if not for the Dark Counterpart to Zelda in this world, Hilda.  Eventually it is revealed that Lorule had its own TriForce, but constant warring and fighting forced them to destroy it; however, this allowed monsters and demons to rise up, which destroyed their Kingdom.  Hilda brought all the elements of Link and Zelda’s world to hers in order to gain a Tri-Force of their own and save their world.  Link eventually defeat Yugo and convinces Hilda that their world needs the Tri-Force as well.  Upon returning to their world, Link wishes upon the Tri-Force and it creates a sister version in Lorule, restoring peace to the dark world.

 

 

Tri-Force Heroes (2015) 3DS

A new adventure for Link, who travels to Hytopia.  Here, the evil witch Maud has forced Princess Styla into an irremovable brown Jumpsuit, which she forces her to hide away in her castle.  Using two other Link look-a-likes, they must collect the Lady’s Ensemble and defeat the evil Witch Maud.  Similar to 4 swords, this utilizes multiplayer to play and complete, and feature different outfits link can wear to utilize different abilities.

 

 

The Legend of Zelda (1986) NES

At some point, the Tri-Force of Courage is hidden by the King of Hyrule, suspecting his son, the Prince of Hyrule, won’t be a worthy person.  As a result, the Prince questions Princess Zelda, who knows the true location, but refuses to tell her brother.  Now put in an eternal slumber, the Kingdom falls into decline to due not having the full power of the Tri-Force.  Ganon returns and gains control of the Tri-Force of Power; the next Princess Zelda hide the Tri-Force of Wisdom in eight dungeons in order to safeguard it.  Link is tasked with saving Princess Zelda, who has now been imprisoned by Ganon, and is dubbed the Hero of Hyrule. 

 

The Adventure of Link (1988) NES

6 years following the events of The Legend of Zelda, Link had a glowing mark on his hand, which imprints the boy who will be able to wield the Tri-Force of Courage.  Tasked with visiting several locations to prove his worth, Link is able to successful collect the Tri-Force of Courage, and return to the eternal slumber Zelda, awaking her with the full power of the Tri-Force. 

 

 

 

Great Calamity Timeline

Though not a part of the official timeline just yet, developers state that this timeline is the end of all timeline, marking the end to major timeline.  While it’s unsure which time line this falls into, it’s a future in which an advanced civilization named the Sheikah Tribe, helped install various technologies into Hyrule, causing it to prosper.  In preparation for Ganon’s return, they created various Guardians and Divine Beasts to fight Ganon upon his return, now known as Calamity Ganon.

 

 

Breath of the Wild (2016) Switch

The next princess, named Zelda, notices that Ganon is nearly upon them and goes about claiming the Divine Beasts, giving them to four capable pilots, and finding Link, a knight who can successful wield the Master Sword.  While Zelda is initially unable to awaken her sealing powers, the Day of Calamity occurs, causing all the guardians and Divine Beasts to go malfunction and turn against the populous.  Now with Zelda and Link alone, Link is fatally injured and forced to be healed in the Shrine of Resurrection.  Zelda herself, went to seal away Calamity Ganon, successful, but not without sealing herself away too.  100 Years have passed since the Day of Calamity, and Link, partly with Amnesia, sets out to save the Princess Zelda.

 

Breath of the Wild Sequel (2022) Switch

 

Characters

 

Princess Zelda

Named after Zelda Fitzgerald, mother to Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda is the Princess of Hyrule, and titular character of the Legend of Zelda Series.  The reincarnation of Hylia, the Goddess that protected the Tri-Force from Demise, she is the individual that started the reincarnation process for the Zelda line of individuals.  While the Princess and defacto ruler of Hyrule, she is also known to be the keeper of the Tri-Force of Wisdom.  She depicted slightly differently from game to game, but is usually a Blonde woman in her late teen to early 20s, depicted in flowing princess robes and possessing mannerism of a Princess.  Her weapon of choice is typically a Bow, which shoots light based Arrows, and is known for her ability to seal away evil.  While she is often the Damsel in Distress, there are some games that show to have more agency.

 

Link

The main Playable Character in the series, Link is presented as an everyman, just going about his life, until the call to be a Hero calls upon him.  He is the keeper of the Tri-Force of Courage, and generally depicted as a sword and shield using adventurer, in his typical Green tunic and hat.  Link can wield the Master Sword, a legendary sword, considered the final weapon in the game, and usually depicted as utilizing it in his left hand, while his right hand carries his shield.  Link has had several titles in various games, including:

Hero of Time (Ocarina of Time)

Legendary Hero (Link’s Awakening)

Hero of Winds (Wind Waker)

Hero of Twilight (Twilight Princess)

Hero Chosen by the Ocean King (Phantom Hourglass)

Hero of the Skies (Skyward Sword)

Hero of the Wild (Breath of the Wild)

Hero of Hyrule

 

Ganon / Ganondorf

While interchangeable, Ganon and Ganondorf are the same person.  The main villain of every mainline Zelda Game, Ganon is known for wielding the Tri-Force of Power and leading various villainous armies against the Hero.  Initially a reincarnation of Demise, the evil from Skyward Sword, Ganondorf has reappeared time and time again, always with aims to claim the Tri-Force for himself.  While starting as Ganondorf, a dark-skinned Gerudo, Ganondork eventually can be transfigured and warped in to Ganon, which is more akin to a boar or pig like man, as seen in later incarnations of the character.  Ganon/Ganondorf is always the final villain and main antagonist of all major Zelda games on home console.

 

Impa

Princess Zelda’s caretaker and chamber maid.  Impa does not always play a major factor in the story, and as such, is depicted in various forms.  She is sometimes an old woman on the verge of death, to a skilled fighter in her 30s to 40s.  She is always there to assist and lead Zelda on the right path, and has even led Link on the right path in some games.

 

Sages

Derived from the original Seven Sages from Ocarina of Time, the term Sage is meant for individuals with wisdom and great power.  While much of their lore is not known, it’s whispered in legend that they created the Master Sword and even the Temple of Time.  Maidens are similar in line with Sages, as they are either reincarnations or descendants of Sages.  The initial sages seen in Ocarina of Time, which later sages are either descendants or reincarnations, include:

Rauru - Sage of Light

Saria - Forest Sage

Darunia - Sage of Fire

Ruto - Sage of Water

Impa - Sage of Shadow

Nabooru - Sage of Spirit

Zelda - Leader of the Sages, and presumed Sage of Time

 

 

Homework

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Ep 101: Falcon and the Winter Soldier Review

Topic: Falcon and the Winter Soldier Review

 

New Characters

 

Jonathan F. "John" Walker – Captain America / US Agent – Protrayed by Wyatt Russell

In the comics, at one point in time, Steve Rogers gives up the title of Captain America a number of missions that seem corrupt to Steve, including being called upon for the ‘Commission on Superhuman Activities’.  The US appointed John Walker as the new Captain America for a period of time, embodying the spirit of a more militant and conservative America, in contrast to Steve Roger who was seen as been more progressive for the time.  The stress of being Captain America however becomes too much for John Walker, which forces Steve Roger, who has been known as just ‘Captain’, to take back the Captain America role. 

 

John Walker later takes on the identity of the US Agent, donning a similar costume to Captain America, and is appointed by the US Government to various teams and mission, acting as heads of the West Coast Avengers and other teams.  He’s described as a loose cannon version of Steve Rogers, but still a relatively good guys in many cases.

 

Similar to Captain America, he was experimented on by a character known as the Power Broker, which gave him super strength, to match his Olympic level athletic skills.  He is similar trained as Steve Rogers, and possesses similar skills and abilities.

 

Lemar Hoskins – Battlestar - Clé Bennett

The Bucky to John Walker’s Captain America.

 

Karli Morgenthau – Flag Smasher - Erin Kellyman

In the comics, Karl Morgenthau was the son of a wealthy Banker turn Diplomat, and even dreamed of becoming a Diplomat himself, until his father was killed in a riot.  He believed that nationalism made people they were superior to others unnecessarily, and that removing nations would make everyone happier, removing the unnecessary barriers between everyone.  He was a frequent villain of Captain America.

 

In the MCU, this is the 9^th character to be gender-swapped.  Others include The Ancient One, Mar-vell, and Morgan Stark.

 

Isaiah Bradley - Carl Lumbly

Elijah "Eli" Bradley - Elijah Richardson

In the comics, following the events of Dr. Erskine’s death, the secrets of the Super Soldier formula were lost, and only within Captain America.  Still wanting the army of Super Soldiers, in the 1940s, they forcibly recruited 300 black men and began experimenting on them with a new Super Soldier formula.  Only a few men survived, and were placed on the front line in WWII.  On his last mission, after learning he was the sole survivor and meant to go on a suicide mission, Isaiah stole a Captain America Costume and shield, and then went in to battle.  Though his mission was successful, he was captured, but eventually freed by German revolutionaries.  Upon his return to America, he was imprisoned for life, and placed in solitary confinement for 17 years, prior to a presidential pardon.  After leaving prison, he led a relatively quiet life, though met with several notable Black Civil Rights members, aiding them.  His grandson, Elijah, in the comics, goes on to become Patriot, a young Captain America, after he partly inherited the flawed Super Soldier Formula.

 

The story is an allegory for the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where black men were forcibly experimented on to develop a cure for Syphilis.

 

 

Baron Zemo – Previously of Captain America Civil War - Daniel Brühl

 

 

 

Sharon Carter – Evil? - Emily VanCamp

In the Comics, Sharon Carter is also known as Agent 13, where she often has dubious moral leanings that can affect various parties.  While usually on the good guy side, her lack of morality that don’t otherwise affect her tend to get individuals either hurt or tend to hind her on opposite sides of heroes.

 

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

In the comics, she was a SHIELD agent, who was in many cases a double or triple Spy for organizations.  She ultimately, rose to deputy director of SHIELD under Nick Fury, before falling back to be a spy once again.

Ep 100: Falcon and the Winter Soldier Tutorial

Topic: Falcon & The Winter Soldier Tutorial

 

 

We begin our Discussion on the Newest Marvel Show, Falcon & The Winter Soldier, which is our newest Marvel series.  Does it live up to Wanda Vision, check out next episode to find out.

 

 

Who is The Falcon?

 

Comic History

First introduced in 1969, Samuel Wilson was rescued by Steve Rogers, Captain America, from a Caribbean island where the Red Skull had planned on experimenting on Sam.  After fighting the Red Skull, Sam would go on to continue working with Captain America.  It was during this first outing that he was given the power to telepathically communicate with Birds, especially a falcon her name Redwing, but the Red Skull and a Cosmic Cube.  It wasn’t until 5 years later that he was given a pair of wings by Black Panther that allowed him to fly.

 

Falcon remained a loyal partner to Steve Roger, even helping train his replacements during time in which Steve stepped down as Captain America.  During this time, Falcon learned to command other birds beyond Redwing, and became capable of command multiple types of birds.  Falcon was also of the people to Steve Roger’s Secret Avengers, opposing the Super-Human Registration Act, the main catalyst of the Civil War in the comics. 

 

A major turning point in the character came in 2014, when Steve Roger has his Super Soldier serum neutralized, causing him to rapidly age to the age of 90.  Without the power of the serum, same passed on the shield and mantle of Captain America to the Falcon.  Falcon would go on to act as Captain America, utilizing the wings of Falcon and the Shield of Captain America.  His numerous adventures led to a new Avengers team, along with for a time, leaving SHIELD due to their work on a New Cosmic Cube. 

 

SHIELD would eventually make their new Comic Cube, which took on the vestige of a young girl named Kobik.  During these eventually the original Captain America was dying, but Kobik revitalized Steve Rogers, allowing him to retake the title of Captain America.  This version of Steve Rogers however was a fascist version that was actually a sleeper agent for Hydra.  While Falcon’s faith in American Government had wavered, he return the title of Captain America to Steve Rogers(Fascist), and departed the country to help elsewhere. 

 

Upon Falcon’s return, he learned that Steve Rogers(F) had taken up the mantle as the leader of Hydra.  Falcon returned to being Captain America once again, and assisted the Avengers in rebuilding the Cosmic Cube to help Kobik, who actually had the real Steve Rogers inside her.  Completing the Cube, freed Steve Rogers, and allowed him to beat the Steve Rogers(F).  Understanding that Steve Rogers could do more benefit as Captain American than he could, he returned the Mantle of Steve Roger, and returned to being just the Falcon.  Falcon, then working for a Veteran’s Assistance group came across Bucky Barnes, and aided him in helping find soldiers that had gone missing.

 

 

Powers

Avian Telepathy – Ability to communicate and commands birds.

Master Martial Artist – After having trained with Steve Rogers, Falcon became a proficient fighter in various fighting styles and forms.

Peak Human Condition – Including peak strength and endurance.

Master Aerialist – As a flying hero, he is an amazing fighter in the air, some would say better than Ironman or Captain Marvel.

Falcon Wings – A Set of Wakandan created Wings that give Falcon the power of flight.

Captain America Shield + Uniform – Former

 

 

MCU Version

The MCU version of Falcon Finds him as a former Rescue Paratrooper, who upon returning home find himself working the VA until he volunteers to help Steve Rogers during the events of Winter Soldier Movie.  He continues as an Avenger post Age of Ultron, and is the first to be on Steve Rogers side during the events of Civil War.  He is snapped out of existence at the end of Infinity War, only to return at end of Endgame.

 

 

 

Who is The Winter Soldier?

 

Comic History

First introduced in 1940 as the young sidekick of Steve Rogers as Captain America, the James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes was the Teenage hero working alongside Steve Rogers during World War II.  Toward the end of the war in 1945, Captain America and Bucky were on the hunt for a bad guy, then the plane they were on was plummeting in to the Atlantic Ocean.  Both men attempted to escape, but Bucky’s costume was snagged on the plan upon exiting, causing the plan to crash in to the ocean and for him to be presumed dead.  Captain America attempted to save his companion, but was sent into suspended animation, being frozen in the waters of the Atlantic.

 

In 1946, the Soviets were attempting to find Captain America, instead found Bucky, who had survived the crash, but who had lost his left arm and put in to a similar suspended animation like this mentor.  Though at the peak of human conditioning due to working and training alongside Captain America, Bucky survived and was reprogrammed by the Soviets to become their personal Assassin, the Winter Soldier. 

 

As the Winter Soldier, he carried out the bulk of secret, and famous, Assassinations across the world for many years.  His left arm replaced with a new cybernetic arm when ever advancements in technology would allow.  He would at one point become the teacher and trainer for a young Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, while she training.  They two developed a romantic relationship, but after a failed assassination mission, Bucky was deemed too unstable, and his mind was wiped after each mission, and placed in Suspended Animation until a mission was needed.

 

During an event in 2004, where the Winter Soldier was activated to steal the Red Skull’s new Cosmic Cube, he met and fought with Captain America, who later learned that the Winter Soldier had been his best friend this entire time.  Using the power of the newly created Cosmic Cube, Captain America restored Bucky’s memories, but the sudden rush of emotions and remorse over the life he had led caused Bucky to destroy the newly created Cosmic Cube, transporting him elsewhere in the process. 

 

For the next few years, Bucky began hunting his captors, eliminating them and becoming a SHIELD secret agent for Nick Fury.  Following the Events of Civil War, Bucky blamed Tony Stark and Red Skull for killing Steve Rogers.  Bucky would eventually confront both men, but lost to the Red Skull.  And when confronting Tony Stark, Stark passed along Steve Roger’s final wish for Bucky, that he save Bucky from his decent to violence and madness.  Tony Stark believing the best way to do this, was for Bucky to become the New Captain America. Bucky accepted, but wanted the mental implants removed, and that he answered to no one, not SHIELD or Tony Stark.

 

For the next few years, Bucky acted as Captain America, eventually winning over the Avengers and the US Government, on his way to reforming his life; he even rekindled his romance with Black Widow.  Even when Steve Rogers was revived and was capable of taking back the mantle of Captain America, he continued to let Bucky carry on the title, believing that he was the better individual to carry on that legacy, and that the world didn’t need Two Captain Americas. 

 

During the Fear Itself event, a villain powered by a similar Hammer to Thor’s beat Bucky to within an inch of his life during an attack on Washington DC, saved by a Nick Fury and his ‘Infinity Formula’.  Steve Rogers took back up the mantle of Captain America after his friend seemingly thought dead, with Bucky believing it was better that he return to his Winter Soldier title instead.  Winter Soldier would continue to work behind the scene of super heroics, though seemingly out of the picture for a majority of the major events. 

 

Bucky was a part of the team that went in to a Villains prison, in order to rescue the newly created Cosmic Cube, Kobik, and was seemingly there when Steve Rogers (F), was revived.  Years later, upon learning that the revived Steve Rogers was actually a Fascist version, he worked along side the Avengers to find the real Steve Rogers.  After helping complete the cube, he shrunk down in size with Ant Man and rescued the real Steve Rogers from the cube.

 

 

Powers

Master Martial Artist – After having trained with Steve Rogers, Falcon became a proficient fighter in various fighting styles and forms.

Peak Human Condition – Including peak strength and endurance.

Infinity Formula – a diluted version of the Elixir of Life, it slows down the aging process and seemingly give the user peak physical conditions.  However, unlike Steve Roger’s Super Soldier Serum, this Formula must be taken regularly once a year in order to stay in peak condition.  Prior to receiving it, Bucky had already been at Peak Human Condition, which only added to his skills.

Cybernetic Arm – Replacing his missing left arm that was lost during World War II, his arm is improved with new technology over the years.

 

 

MCU Version

The MCU Version follows very similar to Comics, aging up Bucky to be a similar age to Steve Rogers during World War II.  Bucky, unlike his Comics version, did receive an experimental version of the Super Soldier Serum, turning him into a Super Soldier in the process, though seemingly not to the point that it was noticeable by others.  Rather than being lost in the Ocean similar to Steve Rogers, he was instead lost over a ravine, only to be rescued by Hydra and turned in to the Winter Soldier.  Following the event of the Winter Soldier, Bucky left Hydra and began seeking out who he was, only to be blamed for an attack on Wakanda leader, King T'Chaka.  During the events of Civil War, Steve Roger protected Bucky, as he realized Bucky wasn’t the enemy, only doing the bidding of programming by Hydra agents.  Bucky lost his initial cybernetic arm, but was rescued by Steve Rogers, who escaped to Wakanda with the help of the Black Panther.  While in Wakanda, he was deprogrammed and the mental implants were removed.  During the events of Infinity War, he aided Steve Rogers and other heroes in protecting Vision while the Mind Stone was being removed, receiving a new Vibranium Arm to replace his lost cybernetic arm.  He was snapped Away by Thanos, just like the Falcon, but returned during the Events of Endgame.

 

 

Cosmic Cube

Cosmic Cubes are cube objects that allow for reality manipulation, control over matter and energy, and basically answers to the sentient being owning them, often being considered omni-wish granting devices.  Their creation is generally a well guarded secret and very difficult, but by opening up a portal to a universe inhabited by ‘Beyonders’, you can suck out some of the energy in that universe and contain it in a cube. 

 

The Cosmic Cube typically get created and wielded by individuals without any spectacular super powers, like the Red Skull.  They’re a common source of conflict within Captain America stories, as they’re the common focus and creation by those seeking more power.  While on a similar level to Infinity Stones, they’re not nearly as powerful and omnipotent, as they can’t effect time or the soul. 

 

In the MCU, the Tesseract was considered a Cosmic Cube, before it was determined that it was the Space Stone in hiding. 

 

 

Where are we at in the Marvel Timeline?

Prior to the Events of Endgame, half of all life in the universe was snapped away, both Sam and Bucky included.  While Endgame only shows a tiny bit of the life returning to normal, Bucky went on to work with the US Government as a deep cover agent, working to root out Hydra agents, and trying to make amends for the damage he did.  Falcon continued working alongside the Military, continuing his work as an Avenger. 

 

As a part of re-intergrating those lost by the Snap, and returned during the Blip, the Global Repatriation Council was created to aid those returning from the Blip.  As a part of their work, they reinstated country boundaries and aimed to return those snapped away back to their old lives.  However, any refugees from other countries ended up buying or moving in to new homes and places left behind by those who were Snapped away, and upon the return of original owners, many of those refugees were forcibly removed by the owner or local governments from their new homes, and placed into resettlement camps.  Many in these camps resent the GRC, as they are poor infrastructure and lack of supplies necessary for those that were displaced.  As of recent the GRC, in an effort to return to the world of 5 years prior to the snap, has begun implementing deportation for refugees to their original countries of origin, which has only increased anger and tensions of the Refugees.

 

Ep 99: A Nerdy Move

A Nerdy Move

 

It’s out with the old, and in with the new place.  I spent probably 2 months looking for the right place, and I found a pretty good one, and so after setting up the place, Mom and Me talk about moving and the trials and tribulations regarding it.

 

Before Moving:

Take pictures of your collections

• If you have a display or set up you like already, taking a picture of it will ensure you can return to that display sometime in the future.
• Pictures can also help keep track of what things you might be missing later on.

 

Boxing Collectables

• Bubble wrap is your friend.
• Try to keep stuff together of similar genre/display.
• If you have small parts, box them up and keep them with your other items.
• If you have pieces with parts that can fall off in a move, make sure package them up with all the parts taken off.
• Tupperware can be your friend for keeping small parts together and organized.

 

Boxing DVDs & Books

• Consider your collection and pack according to your groups
• Consider if you have duplicate or stuff you no longer enjoy that you might want to get rid of
• Books are heavy, so don’t put them into big boxes, smaller boxes are your friends on this one

 

Boxing Costumes/Props

• If you’re costumes can fit in a Space Saver Bag, it might be an easier way to travel with yours stuff.
• Box your props comfortably in boxes.
• Weapons and sword are best left in boxes. If you have the original packaging, all the better.

 

Getting rid of stuff

• Consider where you’re moving, and if you have stuff you no longer enjoy/use. If you have things in your closet you never use or show off, consider getting rid of them. 
• Craig’s List, Facebook Market, and eBay can be your friends.

 

Consider Personal Transportation

• If you’re using a moving company or traveling far, if you have things that are awkward or unusually sized, or considered too valuable, put them in your own vehicle.
• If you can’t afford to pack your personal vehicle, make sure each item get boxed by you to ensure its safety.

 

Consider Blue Painter’s Tape

• Because it’s intended to be a very temporary solution to problems, I found it invaluable when wrapping stuff and keeping it organized, especially as I could write on it.

 

 

The Move:

Take careful account of your items and where you put them

• If you have movers coming to get your stuff, make sure you track where stuff is being put and where stuff is at the end of the day.
• If you’re doing your own move, make sure you label stuff well.
• Nothing sucks more than missing a vital part of your home and then not finding it for a few days.

 

If you are moving close

• If you’re move is close, and you have the ability to move some stuff over early, DO IT. This can be very valuable for props and other collectables that you want to keep from getting damaged in a move.

 

Plan for where you are moving to

• If you’re moving closer to the ocean or more inland, consider the climate you’re moving to and how it might affect your collectables. Some things may not react will to be chilled in the winter, or baked in the summer.
• If it’s a long move, presume you won’t have access to your stuff for a while. Pack spare clothes, expect most of your entertainment to come from podcasts or other media.

 

 

Unboxing:

Get stuff in place

• Decide where furniture is going to go first. Once you start putting stuff on bookshelves or desks, those items aren’t moving any time soon.
• Make sure you know what each box contains so you can decide where you want to start first.

 

Have a spare table/work space

• As you’re unboxing, you may need to rest stuff on to other places temporarily.
• Get a folding table, or some temporary table to prop stuff on to, so you can organize it before you put it up.

 

Have a System for Boxes/waste

• Having a system for all your boxes and where you’ll put them/collapse them is important
• Having set locations for where garbage and stuff
• Know where your garbage bins are.
• Cut handles in to your boxes, it will honestly help a bunch

 

 

My Hardware store runs:

• PVC piping to hang the puppets
• ‘S’ hooks to hang bags/backpacks
• New Shower Head
• Floating Shelf
• Picture hanging hooks
• Cleaning Supplies

Ep 98:Godzilla vs Kong

Topic: Godzilla vs. Kong Review

 

This week, we return once again to review the colossal thrown down, the greatest ironman match, the titan clashing against each other, the… greatest fight ever?  Godzilla vs Kong was a fun romp, not as good as Kong on Skull Island, but I think it’s still a great movie none the less.  Come find out what we thought!

 

 

Ep 97: King Kong Tutorial

Topic: King Kong

 

 

The move is over, and we’re back with new episodes.  And we pick ourselves back up with one of our more recent topic, on our way to their epic faceoff, we’re studying King Kong, The Eighth Wonder of the World.  Unlike his nemesis, Godzilla, King Kong has a far smaller collection of movies by comparison, but his impact on American pop culture and history and certainly been around in America just as long as his Japanese Counter Part.  And as we await their epic battle, we learn a bit about the massive ape, and study his movies to see what we can gleam off the future encounter.

 

 

Creation

Created by Merian C. Cooper for his title movie, King Kong (1933), young Cooper was fascinated with primates.  Upon growing older, he eventually started working in the motion picture industry and after production finished on The Four Feathers(1929), he started thinking his next picture would be something to do with Primates.

 

A year later, he found himself at RKO, a major movie studio, and Cooper began development on what would be King Kong, deciding that his primate would be giant sized.  He had actually decided the ending of the film first, liking the idea of his giant primate fighting war planes atop of the New York Insurance Building.  Famously, Cooper liked the idea of pitting a giant primate against a dinosaur, but decided to focus on one main character instead.

 

The name for King Kong took some development however.  Cooper originally like names that started with a K, but found himself having a difficult time coming something that sounded mysterious and catchy.  In original scripts, the title monster was only referred to as ‘The Beast’, but the studio did not like the generic name.  Eventually, after notes from the studio, Cooper landed on the name ‘Kong’, but in worried it would sound like a docudrama instead, like other one word films at the time.  He added ‘King’ to differentiate it, thus became King Kong.

 

 

Fictional History

King Kong is a massive Monster Primate, who originates from ‘Skull Island’, a mysterious island that King Kong lives with other prehistoric mammals and creatures.  The island is thus named due to the skull shaped mountain that lies at the center of the island.  The island is also home to the ancestors of a once highly civilized nation that previously built a wall to keep in the monsters on the island.  Though the name was never used in the original 1933 film, the name was featured in the novelization that came out two months prior to the movie, and has since stuck.

 

Though described as prehistoric Ape, King Kong has a number of human like qualities, notably, his ability to walk upright in an anthropomorphic manner.  He is described as being upwards of 40-50 feet tall, he was later rescaled to be 18-25 feet tall in the original 1933 film.  In most initial western versions, King Kong is roughly 25 feet tall, however in later Japanese versions, he was scaled in size to be similar to Godzilla.  Most recently, in the 2017 film, he was 104 feet tall, and finally 337 feet tall to fight against Godzilla in 2021.

 

In most early versions of the character, King Kong is a villain, however, in more recent films, he’s given a sympathetic story, and is even the hero in some of these movies. 

 

 

History

While a major film icon in the west, the character’s intellectual property owners have been split between various parties through history, making the character a difficult character to track.  Initially, the rights were thought to belong with Cooper, but in 1962, when the character was licensed to Toho to make King Kong vs Godzilla (1962), Cooper sued RKO.  Even though there was quite a number of evidence in Cooper’s favor, some key documents were lost between his time in the military and his return home, which the courts found that RKO owned the character.

 

Eventually, concern over the rights would come up again in 1975 when Universal Studios were trying to make a King Kong Film.  Eventually Universal Studios went to court, arguing that the King Kong novelization and serialization were now in the public domain, but that Universal couldn’t infringe on the original 1933 film.  A later ruling affirmed that the Cooper estate has owned the rights to King Kong’s name, story, and character, which were later sold to universal in 1976. 

 

 

The character himself has appeared in less than a dozen films over the last 88 years. 

 

King Kong & Son Of Kong (1933)

The initial films released by RKO, with the success of the initial King Kong movie, a subsequent film was released later in the year.

 

King Kong vs Godzilla (1962)

After the success of Godzilla in Japan, they looked to make further movies in the franchise.  This moving being the 3^rd movie in the Godzilla franchise, it was also the first time either character was portrayed in a color film, showing what they would look like in color.  This King Kong was different from its original western counter part, which included:

• Coming from Faro island instead of Skull Island
• Being able to absorb electricity
• Being same relative size as Godzilla, (100 feet)

The film is famous for having to two creatures attacking different parts of Japan, before getting together on the summit of Mount Fuji and fighting each other.  In the end, both tumble in to the ocean, with only King Kong rising up from the depths and swimming back to Faro Island.

 

King Kong Escapes (1967)

In another first, predating Mecha-Godzilla, this 1967 film offered a Mecha-King Kong, a similar mechanical version of the title character.  The film sees a mechanical King Kong digging for a mysterious element, but the robot goes haywire, which results in our heroes capturing King Kong and taking him to Mecha-King Kong to finish each other off.  They eventually can’t do it, and instead somehow get to Tokyo from the North Pole, and recreate the famous ending of the 1933 film, this time using the Tokyo Tower instead.  After defeating Mecha-King Kong, King Kong swims back to his island, never to be heard again.  This is also the version time King Kong seems to have a handler so sorts, as there is a woman who has the ability to control King Kong. 

 

King Kong (1976)

A modern remake of the original 1933 film.  This film was what started the law suits with Universal Pictures, as Paramount Pictures and Dino De Laurentiis were attempting to remake the original film, and bought the rights from RKO-General.  The film is a largely faithful remake, but take places in 1976 instead of the original 1933 time frame.

 

King Kong Lives (1986)

A sequel to the 1976 film, King Kong had been alive the entire time, but is currently dying.  In order to save him, they need to transfuse blood from a similar creature, which is where introduce a ‘Lady Kong’, and another similarly sized King Kong primate who helps save King Kong. The film sees King Kong die after the events to save Lady Kong, but Lady Kong gives birth to their son, and returns to Borneo to live peacefully with their son.

King Kong (2005)

This is the Peter Jackson film that took 3 hour to watch.  A retelling of the 1933 film from a 1933 perspective, it focuses on a film maker, who hires a crew to get footage of the amazing creature, before bringing it back to New York.  The film was well received and earned top marks for its special effects and acting. It was also the first live action film in nearly 20 years.

 

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

As a part of Legendary’s MonsterVerse, which focuses on King Kong and Godzilla movies created in the west.  The movie take places in the same world as Legendary’s other 2014 and 2019 Godzilla movies.  The film follows Monarch, as it searches to map out the various ‘Titan’ monsters around the world.  The Film does a good job of introducing other monsters and setting up the world, and stars Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson.  The movie also teases Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, which was the next major movie to come out.

 

Godzilla vs Kong (2021)

The newest feature, which is a sequel to the 2017 film and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

 

 

 

King Kong in Pop Culture

There have been multiple illusions to King Kong in various media over the last 88 years, ranging from parodies and humorous references, to near duplication.  Famously, scenes have been reference and re-used in various cartoons, such as the Simpsons, Futurama, The Muppets, and more.  Other movies have references scenes from King Kong as well, including the Nutty Professor, Lego Batman: The Movie, and even Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs were based off the films. 

 

Donkey Kong Franchise

The 1981 Nintendo franchise about hero trying to save his girl friend from the title character.  The fact that you travel up buildings that and face off against a large ape were clear illusions, as Nintendo wanted to make a King Kong game.  The character himself would continue on as something much different as the 90s moved on, moving in to a hero role, and being re-imagined as a primate family that fought to save their island.  He was named Donkey Kong, to mean ‘Stubborn Gorilla’.

 

Rampage Franchise

An 1986 arcade classic sees three Kaiju sized monsters destroying a city.  These monsters include a Godzilla/Ymir analog in Lizzie, a giant werewolf in Ralph, and a King Kong like gorilla names George.  The series has several remakes over the years, usually coinciding with new video game hardware and platforms at they came out.  It was adapted in to a film in 2018, which include the Rock leads a rare Albino-Western-Lowland Gorilla that knows sign language, and eventually grows to city-toppling proportions.

 

 

Homework:

Kong: Skull Island (2017): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OULoar_y7H4

Godzilla vs Kong (2021): Available on HBO Max and in Theaters

Ep 96: The Future that Never Happened

Topic: Movies and Franchises about the Future

 

This week, we’re looking at a collection of media about the future that either has yet to happen or never happened in our lifetimes.  In a lot of this, we really talked about what we all thought the future would be, and how quickly we thought it would happen.  Would you agree that the progress of the future is slowing down, or would you say we were just too unrealistic with the future?

 

 

Futures that Should have Happened:

 

Star Trek

• Tells of a war between 1992 to 1996 about the Eugenic War; a war where genetically altered humans attempted to take over humanity, causing nearly 37 Millions deaths. This is the same Eugenics Wars as Kahn Noonien Singh. 
• 2053 - World War 3 ends after a nuclear exchange
• 2063 - We develop the First Major warp ship, which gets the attentions of the Vulcans and begins the early foundations of the federation and exploration.
• 2103 - Mars is colonized.

 

Thundarr the Barbarian

• 1994 – Premise tells of a runaway planet that drifts between the Earth and Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction and radically changing the Earth’s climate and geography

 

A Clockwork Orange

• 1995 – A future Britain is laden in crime, and a new technique that reforms prisoners with aversion therapy.

 

V for Vendetta

• 1995 - 1996 – In the Comic Version: Series of events highlight how a nuclear war year in the 1980 that leaves much of Africa and Europe devastated. While Britain is not bombed itself, it feels the effects and the corporations and fascist groups take over the country, leading to the series of events.
• 2025 – 2026 – In the Film Version: As a result of the United State’s Second Civil War, a worldwide disease began to spread. Britain is taken over by a neo-fascist, police state government which rounds up undesirable individuals, including political opponents, immigrants, Jews, Muslims, atheists, homosexuals, and others to be imprisoned and executed.

 

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

• 1997 – Tells that an AI will take over all computers and cause a war, leading to the near end of humanity.

 

Escape from New York

• 1997 – Humanity’s crime rose by 400% in 1988, and forced Manhattan island to be turned into a massive

 

Lost in Space

• 1997 - Jupiter 2 was said to launch due to overpopulation of the world.

 

Demolition man

• 1996 – Cryogenic freezing of Criminals is established
• 2010 – A great Earthquake merged parts of Northern and Southern California
• 2032 - San Angeles, a merging of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara is a major megalopolis, and a utopia for the setting.

 

Knight Rider 2000

• 2000 – Predicts a future with Sonic Pistols, and talking Cars

 

2001: A Space Odyssey

• 2000 – Space travel itself is common place, with advanced AIs that help manage all the functions of these ships and people.

 

Mega Man Franchise

• 200X to 20XX – Stories tell of a Robotic evolution and development that replaces a lot of common jobs and functions with robots, leading to a peaceful future. Mega Man battles with Dr Wily and his rogue Robots, which are often reprogrammed from their original function order and turned to terrorism.
• 21XX – Later version of the game sees X, the successor to Mega Man, being used to create the first series of Reploids(Replicated Androids) that have human feelings and personalities. X fights against Mavericks Reploids, Reploids who have turned to crime or been infected with a virus, in order to protect humanity. 

 

Time Cop

• 2004 – Time Travel exists as a means of stopping Crime.

 

Transformers: The Movie

• 2005 – The Autobots, giant transforming robots that turn into various vehicles and devices, have helped advanced human’s technology to the point of being similar to the Autobots.

 

Bicentennial Man

• 2005-2020 – Androids have become sophisticated butlers and house hold tools.

 

Freejack

• 2009 – The super wealthy have figured out immortality, by traveling back in time to just before a person dies and using their bodies as substitutes. This is due to most of the population being on drugs and poor environment.

 

I Am Legend

• 2009 – 2012 - The film predicted an outbreak of a re-engineered measles virus in 2009 that kills 94% of the populace and mutates 5% into zombie-like "Darkseekers"

 

2012

• 2012 – Predicts that a solar flares from the sun will cause rising sea levels and rampant tsunami around the world, leading to various governments building Arks to protect up to 100,000 of humanity.

 

The Postman

• 2013 – Tells of a future after an unspecified apocalyptic events in 1997 that started a trend of militias leading hate crimes and other racially motivated attacks.
• 2043 – Due to the actions of the postman and the movement he started, the United States is rebuilt and much better afterwards

 

Back to the Future 2

• 2015 – Film travels to the future, where Marty must stop his son from ruining his life. It predicts lots of various technology, most notably, Flying Cars.

 

Neon Genesis Evangelion

• 2000 – A worldwide event known as ‘Second Impact’ sees a meteor crash into Antarctica and devastates the populous, killing 2 billion people and raising the sea level
• 2015 – Majority of the story takes place, telling of a futuristic city of Tokyo 3 which has 26 story tall robots called Evangelions that protect humanity from the alien Angels sent to wipe out humanity.

 

Rollerball

• 2018 – In a future where corporations have taken over the government, a new sport, Rollerball is now the most popular Sport, with people being forced to watch it at home.

 

Blade Runner

• 2019 – Interstellar travel has been developed and becoming common place, with synthetic humans employed as labor.

 

The Running Man

• 2017 - The United States has become a totalitarian police state following a worldwide economic collapse. The government pacifies the populace through The Running Man, a broadcast game show, where criminals fight for their lives as "runners", fleeing from armed mercenaries named the "stalkers", to earn a state pardon.

 

Akira

• 1982 (1992 in English Adaptation) – Sees Tokyo destroyed by a nuclear bomb, starting World War 3
• 2019 (2030 in English Adaptation) – Tokyo is rebuilt as Neo-Tokyo on the artificial island in Tokyo Bay. Although the home of the 32^nd Olympic games, the city is gripped with Anti-Government protestors and gang violence.

 

Pacific Rim

• 2013 – Kaiju monsters start appearing from the ocean and destroying humanity.
• 2020 – Humanity has developed giant Robots piloted by 2 individuals in order to combat the Kaiju.

 

Edge of Tomorrow

• 2015 – An asteroid falls in Germany, carrying aliens that quickly take over Europe.
• 2020 – A small victory gives humanity hope an invasion of France is planned to retake the earth. It’s discovered that the aliens use a system similar to ‘Goundhogs Day’ to return their memories to their past selves and alter events so that they go in their favor.

 

Johnny Mnemonic

• 2021 - "Mnemonic couriers" carry sensitive information in their brains; the world is dominated by megacorporations.

 

Futures potentially to be

 

Soylent Green

• 2022 - The effects of overpopulation, pollution, and climate catastrophe have caused severe worldwide shortages of food, water and housing. Soylent Industries controls the world's food supply, with their latest product, Soylent Green being various health and full of protein.

 

Repo Men

• 2025 – Advancements in prosthetics develop bio-organs, allowing the replacement of various internal organs. They are sold by ‘The Union’, a corporation that sends out ‘Repo Men’ to repossess these bio-organs from people who are unable or unwilling to pay for them.

 

 

Children of Men

• 2027 – Humanity hasn’t had any children in 18 years, leading to various wars and global depression, which puts humanity on the brink of extinction. This has led Britain, one of the few remaining governments to become a police state, but also a haven for refugees.

 

Hotel Artemis

• 2028 – Water Privatization causes riots in Los Angeles, which leads to bank robbers getting injured and running to Hotel Artemis, a hospital/hotel for criminals. There are robots doing surgery and also 3d printed transplant organs.

 

Ghost in the Shell

• 2029 – By this time, cyberization is common place, and humans have their brains protected with ‘Cyber Brains’ which allow interfacing with electronics and other tools. There are fully cyberized people who are entirely artificial, save for their brains incased in ‘Cyber Brains’. 

 

I, Robot

• 2035 – Humanity has developed humanoid robots within the last 10 years that have taken over various jobs throughout the world. The newest model and AI to run it run rampant as a result of the AI believing it is in the best interest of Humanity if robots ruled over humans in order to keep them from killing themselves.

 

The Martian

• 2035 – Manned missions to Mars is in their 3^rd wave, with humans living on Mars for roughly 36 days at a time, exploring and beginning the work of future colonization. Mark Watney is left behind after an emergency exit from the planet following a storm, and is forced to live on Mars for over a year on his own.

 

Moon

• 2035 – The moon is being mined for a rare mineral that is needed for new super conductor electronics on Earth. It’s ran by a singular clone and an advanced AI.

 

Meet the Robinsons

• 2037 – Major advancements in technology allow nearly anything to be real. This includes flying vehicles, talking frogs, advances robotics and AI, and so much more.

 

Ready Player One

• 2045 – The world is plagued by an energy crisis and global warming, leading to economic collapse and widespread social problems. The only release/haven for escapism is the OASIS, a MMORPG/Social Community online that actually have the most stable economy in the world at the moment.

 

Event Horizon

• 2047 – Space travel is normalized and not unusual, with the main Ship, the Event Horizon, testing a radical new engine designed to travel through time-space rifts, and it brings back something it didn’t intend on bringing back.

 

Minority Report

• 2054 – Pre-cognition humans exist and are used to tell the events of future murders, which allows Pre-cog Police to arrest people before murders can take place.

 

Interstellar

• 2063 – Humanity’s crops and food supply is devastated, with people growing corn and major dust bowls coming to cause havoc on a daily basis. Children are taught that space travel doesn’t even exist, in an effort to focus on survival instead of exploration.  Humanity/NASA sends one last manned mission in space to find a suitable new home for humans.

 

Oblivion

• 2077 – Humanity was invaded by Aliens 60 years ago, and as a result of the human using nuclear weapons to defeat the aliens, the few humans living on Earth are there maintaining drones that harvest the sea water for fuel sources. Remaining humans now live on other planet, with the fuel being used to power their ships. 

 

Total Recall

• 2084 – Mars has been colonized and humans have the ability to take vacations via implanted memories of having adventures/vacations via a place called ‘ReKall’.

 

The Jetsons

• 2100s – A future where flying cars, apartments/homes in the sky exist, and humanity lives in almost pure luxury in the sky.

 

AI

• 2101 – Advanced robotics and AI end up creating androids that feel and fall in love. One such example is an android child, that can replace a child in the home, giving the experiences of being a parent.  It can actually Fall in Love with a person, or atleast simulate it.

 

WALL-E

• 2105 - Humanity was devastated by over population/consumption, with too much trash. This forced humans to leave the planet on cruise, vessels, while robots were meant to clean up the planet afterwards.  Humans never returned as the company ‘Buy n’ Large’ terminated the program to clean Earth as it felt it couldn’t sustain any life on the planet.
• 2805 – Humanity begins its return to Earth as life is discovered back on Earth, hoping to make it hospitable again.

 

Alien

• 2122 - Space transportation is typical and the crew of the Nostromo discover a distress beacon that leads to a horrifying end.

 

The Black hole

• 2130 – Space travel is typical, with a crew returning to Earth, only to find a lone ship near a Black Hole, who is somehow immune to its gravitational constant.

 

Judge Dredd

• 2139 – Humanity has been forced in to Mega-Cities as much of the world has become a wasteland. Humanity lives in these cities and are protected by the ‘Judges’, who act as both Police, Judges, Juries, and Executioners of the law.

 

The Matrix

• 2199 – Humanity created robots, and the robots, being advanced AI, develop sentience causing a revolt with humans. Because the robots are powered by solar energy, Humans blot out the sun with dangerous black clouds.  The robots, eventually enslave humanity, forcing them to be born like crops and using them as batteries for their own powers, all while humanity is tucked away in a virtual landscape known as the Matrix.

 

Fifth Element

• 2263 – In a future with interstellar travel is typical, humanity had degraded to large high rise cities, with flying cars, and even genetic recreation of humans in a matter of minutes, potentially bring people back from the dead or from serious wounds.

 

Zardoz

• 2293 - Following a nanite plague that left most of the world uninhabitable, the human population is divided into the immortal "Eternals" and mortal "Brutals." The Brutals live in an irradiated wasteland, growing food for the Eternals, who live apart in "the Vortex," leading a luxurious but aimless existence on the grounds of a country estate. The connection between the two groups is through Brutal Exterminators, who kill and terrorize other "Brutals" at the orders of a huge flying stone head called Zardoz, which supplies them with weapons in exchange for the food they collect.

 

Logan’s Run

• 2274 - The remnants of human civilization live in geodesic domes, a utopia run by a computer that takes care of all aspects of life, including reproduction. The citizens live a hedonistic lifestyle but, to prevent overpopulation, everyone must undergo the rite of "Carrousel" when they reach the age of 30. There, they are killed under the guise of being "renewed”. To track this, each person is implanted at birth with a "life-clock" crystal in the palm of the hand that changes color as they get older and begins blinking as they approach their "Last Day.” Most residents accept this chance for rebirth, but those who do not and attempt to flee the city are known as "Runners”. An elite team of policemen known as "Sandmen”, outfitted in predominantly black uniforms and serving in an agency of the city called "Deep Sleep”, are assigned to pursue and terminate Runners as they try to escape.

 

Starship Troopers

• 23 Century – Humanity has colonized various planets in the solar system, and developed interstellar travel. However, they meet a race of non-technological aliens, later called the Arachnids, or ‘Bugs’, which humanity presumably provokes and causes an all out interstellar war.  The Bugs are led by super intelligent bugs that eat human brains to gain further intelligence.

 

Idiocracy

• 2505 – Over the course of many years, intelligent people chose not to have children, worrying about over population, while less intelligent people continue to reproduce indiscriminately, leading to a dumber and dumber society that over relied on corporations and automation. As a result, laws and rules in place have no human oversight, and most humans are blindly ignorant of how the world actual works, with most automation being place to basically keep humans alive.

 

Planet of the Apes

• 2015 – A drug that repairs and enhances neural links in the brain is tested on chimps, with one young chimp Ceasar developing with humans and gaining insights and human knowledge. The development leads to a new drug that makes Chimps and other primates smarter, but causes a world wide pandemic. 
• 2025 – Only 1 in 500 are immune to the pandemic, but in San Francisco, the Chimps lead by Ceasar rule over the forests and cities, with humans trying to reestablish their civilization has it’s been taken over by intelligent primates.
• 3978 – Human astronauts from 1972 find themselves warped to the future and discover that Primates have evolved similar to humans, and now rule over the planet.

 

 

Movies with no Set Times

 

Mad Max

 

 

Gattaca

• Eugenics is common and widely used, with those human not genetically altered limited from certain careers and opportunities, acting as second class citizens, forcing them to menial labor. Biometrics can quickly determine if someone has been genetically altered and what qualities of the alterations they have.

 

Mortal Engines

• Following a war using an impossible destructive weapon, mobile cities have been developed that travel across the world, eating up other cities that help fuel their existence and survival, with technology of the past being relegated to history.

 

Source/reference assistance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stories_set_in_a_future_now_past

 

Ep 95: Robot Review

Topic: Robots Review

 

So Mom and me are back talking about robots, and all the strange tangents we can come up with.  Admittingly, this is more of rant podcast as we take LOTs of tangents in this episode, so while not entirely robot driven, it certainly was a fun diversion in to some other topics.

 

 

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Scott Adsit - Baymax

Ryan Potter - Hiro

Daniel Henney - Tadashi

T.J. Miller - Fred

Jamie Chung - Go Go

Damon Wayans Jr. - Wasabi

Genesis Rodriguez - Honey Lemon

James Cromwell - Robert Callaghan

 

 

Bicentennial Man (1999)

Robin Williams - Andrew

Embeth Davidtz - Little Miss / Portia

Sam Neill - Sir

Oliver Platt - Rupert Burns

Kiersten Warren - Galatea

Wendy Crewson - Ma'am

 

 

Isaac Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics"

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

 

Ep 94: Robot Tutorial

Topic: Robots

 

We Love them, Crave them, and occasionally, Fear them.  The week, we dive in to the topic of Robots, both what they mean to us in Fiction, but also in real life, and perhaps where does the fact and fiction blend together or doesn’t?  Robots are really cool though.

 

 

How Define a Robot

A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer— capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically.  Typically, Robots can appear human in nature, but come in many shapes and forms.  We almost always see them as tools, rarely as individuals and almost never as people.   In our real world, they’re basically machines that do specialized mechanical tasks, as opposed to calculations or executables like a computer; but we expect these machines to be piloted by a computer, or atleast act based off one, but can also be piloted/controlled by humans directly.

 

 

Robots in Real Life

In our modern world, we adore and want Robots.  The ideal for modern society is to have Robots do all the hard and difficult physical tasks for us, while we do either less, or nothing at all.  It’s a dream world, as I’m certain we’ll still very much be a part of interacting and being a part of the world, but it will take some time to get even close to it.

 

As it is now, our common modern days Robots can be found in a number of places:

Our Home – Rombas and other vacuum robots

Hospitals – there are some robotic surgery machines

Food Service – There are some robots that actually make your good, while others clean dishes

Farming – There are some robots and automation in the Farming Sector

Warehouse and Factories – For years, we’ve been simplify tasks for robots to do for us that would otherwise be too dangerous, to difficult, or too slow for a human to do.  But in a number of our warehouses, it’s robots that managing the inventory, stacking and putting it away as necessary.

Military – Various Drones and bomb disposal robots exist to aid the military and keep humans out of harm’s way.

 

 

Uncanny Valley

The Idea of the Uncanny Valley is this notion that as things, particularly robots, are particularly less human, we tend to like them a lot more, but as time goes on, and the Robots become more human in quality and nature, we tend to like them a lot less, to the point of down right hating them.  But as time continues, and robots get more sophisticated and advanced, our like for them begins to rise once again.  The low point, when humans actually start dislike and are disgusted by the robot is like a valley, and thus where the term comes from. 

 

The notion as to why we like them when they aren’t that human, is that their human like qualities stand out much easier, and we tend to imprint ourselves on to the robots, allowing us to empathize with them.  It’s why R2D2 is one of the most popular Robots in fiction, despite having very little human characteristics in form and shape.  This is why Robots tend to look simple in nature in cartoons, and early robots aren’t too human on any particular level.

 

Conversely, when we try to make human like robots, we tend to dislike them, and are even hateful of them.  The reason for this is that when we get to more human looking robots, as humans, we’re able to see the difference and able to notice when something isn’t quite right.  It could be the way they move, the texture of their skin, their little gestures, and potentially even their eyes.  It looks off and we can’t put our finger on it.  When it’s less human looking, we’re willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, even see its positives more than its negatives.  Its why I think some models and actors look too good, and it’s off setting to me, like they look too good.

 

Eventually, as the robots get more life-like and sophisticated, the elements that once made us hate the robots begins to disappear, as the boundary begin to disappear and the human qualities are like our own. 

 

This Uncanny Valley is also seen in a lot of early Computer Generated Graphics and Video Games, as the graphics attempted to catch up with technology, they got to a period where they didn’t look quite right, and even when they look good, they still don’t feel right, and don’t quite look like they belong.  Compositing, along with the artists making said graphics, have gotten a lot better over time, so that in some cases, it’s hard to tell what’s read and what’s not.

 

 

Robots in Fiction

Robots in fiction come in lot of different stories, but typically always come in one of a few flavors.  They’re almost always in Science Fiction, though they can appear in other fantasy settings, though usually portrayed as a Golem or some sort of fictional machine.  Typically, Robots get broken down in story to a hand full of different stories, usually based on how human to how robotic they are:

 

• Robots, but fundamentally human – These are robots that can have an advanced AI that lets them think and feel, even learn and come to love/empathize. They have almost all the characteristics of a human, save that they are a robot at the end of the day. 
• Top Tier AIs – These are robots that have super sophisticated AI, but aren’t exactly human, or still have cold/logical thinking. They’re often portrayed as not being human, and thus are subservient to humans, rarely showing true emotion, or emotions they shouldn’t have been able to develop. 
• A mix of Human and Machine – they are robots that can display some human qualities, but are typically only mimicking the natures of Humans for the sake of humans. They still think cold and logically, but can process the world around them to some extent.  They tend to lack more human qualities, save for what the writer wants to imbue the character with. 
• Total Robot – Pure robots at the end of the day, without an ounce of humanity built in to them. These robots tend to be villains, like Hal9000 from a Space Odyssey .  While not always evil, they are typically the antagonist. 

 

Famous Robots:

• R2D2 (Star Wars)
• Bender (Futurama)
• Bishop (Aliens)
• Johnny 5 (Short Circuit)
• The Terminator (Terminator)
• HAL 9000 (2001 A Space Odyssey)
• Optimus Prime (Transformers)
• B-9 (Lost in Space)
• Robby the Robot (Forbidden Planet)
• Rosie (The Jetsons)
• Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still)
• WALL-E (WALL-E)
• Sonny (I, Robot)
• Vision (Marvel Comics)
• Baymax (Big Hero 6)
• Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

 

Pitfalls and Triumphs of Robots

• Robot AI vs Sentience – At what point are Robots truly sentient beings, and at what point are they robots? It’s a question that gets asked a lot of Robots.  Most popularly in Ghost in the Shell, an anime franchise that asks if you’re a fully cyber person, are you actually a human, or were you ever actually a human to begin with? 
• Robot Racism – Typically, there is a disgust for Robots, not being seen as humans and merely as tools, but because of their human qualities and potential characteristics, they can be conflated for actual humans, and thus you get to an issue of ‘Coding’. Coding is the notion that you’ll graft on qualities of humans or society on to something else, whether intentional or not.  Thus you can look at something and see that it’s coding for something else, because it helps either ground your world or paints a picture for you quickly.  In the case of robots, Robots aren’t human, as where humans are, so when people are racists against robots, it’s because they’re lacking certain human characteristics, which tells us that the writer or directors believe that these are qualities that make up what humans are.  Thus when you look for allegories in modern society, you can code that behavior, or lack of it, on to another person/race/people.

 

 

 

Homework:

Big Hero 6

Bicentennial Man

Lego Robot 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BXHZCBW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1