Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
* AscendedExtra: York had about seven minutes of screentime prior to this season, Carolina was just talked about a couple of times, and North was [[spoiler:an already-dead body barely seen on screen]].
to:
* AscendedExtra: York had about seven minutes of screentime prior to this season, Carolina was just talked about a couple of times, and North was [[spoiler:an an already-dead body barely seen on screen]].on-screen.
Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
** In the present storyline, it's [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Simmons.
to:
** In the present storyline, it's [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Simmons.Epsilon-Simmons.
Changed line(s) 52,53 (click to see context) from:
** In Episode 19, [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church's speech to Tex at the end is a condensed version of his revelation as he went into the Epsilon unit.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' It took a couple versions of me, but I think... I think sometimes you've just gotta let go. And if you do, the things you let go sometimes come back on their own. They did today.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' It took a couple versions of me, but I think... I think sometimes you've just gotta let go. And if you do, the things you let go sometimes come back on their own. They did today.
to:
** In Episode 19, [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church's Epsilon-Church's speech to Tex at the end is a condensed version of his revelation as he went into the Epsilon unit.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' --->'''Epsilon-Church:''' It took a couple versions of me, but I think... I think sometimes you've just gotta let go. And if you do, the things you let go sometimes come back on their own. They did today.
Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
** Kinda all over the map with [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church. Building on his ending speech in ''Revelation'', he now sees himself as [[spoiler:Alpha]] in the memory unit, having been reincarnated from [[spoiler:Epsilon]]. But now that he's dealing with the less capable season one versions of his teammates, he regains some of his temper from the BGC era. He also becomes more reflective and introspective.
to:
** Kinda all over the map with [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church. Epsilon-Church. Building on his ending speech in ''Revelation'', he now sees himself as [[spoiler:Alpha]] the Alpha in the memory unit, having been reincarnated from [[spoiler:Epsilon]].Epsilon. But now that he's dealing with the less capable season one versions of his teammates, he regains some of his temper from the BGC era. He also becomes more reflective and introspective.
Changed line(s) 183 (click to see context) from:
* RedHerring: Episode 3 refers to "her" who is a total BadAss and is viewed by the twins with awe [[spoiler:it's not Tex, but rather, as episode 4 revealed, is Agent Carolina]].
to:
* RedHerring: Episode 3 refers to "her" who is a total BadAss and is viewed by the twins with awe [[spoiler:it's awe. It's not Tex, but rather, as episode 4 revealed, is Agent Carolina]]. Carolina.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:279:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/red_vs__blue_project_freelancer_saga_4756.jpg]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn: At the end of the freefall battle sequence, when Maine 'picks up' York and Carolina, and they go into a tunnel, the BGM takes on a faded out echoey sound, fading out completely, then jumps back to full when they emerge, as if it was playing on the Warthog's radio.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
What Could Have Been is a Trivia item.
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
-->''Don't say goodbye. I hate goodbyes.''
to:
Deleted line(s) 698 (click to see context) :
* [[spoiler:WhatCouldHaveBeen: An unused fight scene for Season 9, but was later updated for use in Season 10, would've had Carolina's armor completely break off after chasing the Sleeveless Insurrectionist, having a fight in a subway that would've ended with Carolina using her GrapplingHookGun to [[OffWithHisHead decapitate the guy]].]]
Changed line(s) 714 (click to see context) from:
-->''[[spoiler:Goodbye.]]''
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
-->''Don't say goodbye. I hate goodbyes.''
Changed line(s) 711 (click to see context) from:
----
to:
-->''[[spoiler:Goodbye.]]''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Deleted line(s) 70 (click to see context) :
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: In episode 16, Washington takes down a gunship. On his own. With a rifle. While surfing on their objective while falling off of a 110-story building.
Changed line(s) 658 (click to see context) from:
* TooSoon: After Sarge quips that ever since Donut was shot, he probably has a few more holes in him, he invokes this trope by name. [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church calls him out on it.
to:
* TooSoon: InUniverse Example; After Sarge quips that ever since Donut was shot, he probably has a few more holes in him, he invokes this trope by name. [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church calls him out on it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Deleted line(s) 409,410 (click to see context) :
* FandomNod: A popular fanon of Wash (especially on Tumblr) is "Cat Lady Wash" with fans giving him a cat (usually named Hartford, but this can vary). In episode 14 we see inside his locker, inside are some towels, a skateboard featuring the Rooster Teeth emblem, a rubber ducky, and ''pictures of cats!'' Shannon [=McCormick=] had known about the fanon, having discovered it on Tumblr, and specifically campaigned to get the cats included.
* FanNickname: All the Insurrectionists have a couple, considering that they have NoNameGiven status.
* FanNickname: All the Insurrectionists have a couple, considering that they have NoNameGiven status.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
'''Warning: Each folder will contain unmarked spoilers for the previous seasons.'''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** In episode 9 Wash had a meeting with Internal Affairs about communications from inside the base with the Insurrection...
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Seemed like a Crowning Moment of Awesome
Added DiffLines:
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: In episode 16, Washington takes down a gunship. On his own. With a rifle. While surfing on their objective while falling off of a 110-story building.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AreTheseWiresImportant: Invoked by York as he helps Tex during her attempt to get to The Alpha.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Also in 18, Wash using the line that Carolina used on Tex earlier on her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** And one line twice, once from Carolina to Tex, then in the 'present', Wash to Carolina:
-->You better figure out the difference between your enemies, and your friends.
-->You better figure out the difference between your enemies, and your friends.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: More of a statement, delivered from C.T. to Tex.
-->'''C.T.:''' And I don't take orders from shadows.
-->'''C.T.:''' And I don't take orders from shadows.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 604 (click to see context) :
** Episode 12 also seems to tease Carolina with Church.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Also played with during the exposition scene for the AIs when Maine does have his helmet off, but Sigma is always blocking the view of his face.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* MeaningfulName: Considering what the Director said back in Ep 18 of Season 6, it's no surprise he named his ship ''Mother of Invention''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* MalignantPlotTumor: These two seasons completely drop any pretense of working ''around'' the GreatOffscreenWar that was the [[SuperSoldier Freelancer Project]] and proceed to make the main plot be flashbacks to [[{{Retcon}} Rooster Teeth's rendition of those vague allusions]] [[ArtShift as animated by Monty Oum]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ResemblanceReveal: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Director's WhamShot reveals that [[LukeIAmYourFather he has the same color eyes as Carolina]]. The implications of this are cleared up by the end of the episode]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
A: Not a trope, B: It\'s an Aversion, not a subversion, which we don\'t list. C: We don\'t know for sure it\'s the same woman or if they\'re recycling voice actresses.
Deleted line(s) 388 (click to see context) :
* ExpendablePilot: Subverted, the Pelican Pilot, Four-Seven-Niner, survives both seasons. She was actually the woman you hear give Washington his Recovery orders in the previous few seasons.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 87,92 (click to see context) from:
* EliteMook: The PyroManiac Carolina and Washington encounter is [[MadeofIron able to shrug off Battle Rifle rounds]] and give the duo some trouble before [[DanceBattler Carolina]] smashes him in the [[CrowningMomentofAwesome face with a gravity hammer.]] Also counts as a BigLippedAlligatorMoment. Where the hell did this guy come from, and what's his story?
** Wash even lampshades it:
-->'''Wash''' What the ''fuck'' is with this guy?
** Episode 13 gives us a glimpse of him alongside the rest of the Insurrectionists. Presumably all of them will show up in later episodes to be mini-bosses for the rest of the team.
** The jet-pack mooks in Episode 17, who are decidedly harder to kill than ordinary mooks amd pull off some impressive stunts of their own. Just one of them was able to out-muscle ''[[TheBrute Maine]]'' (though Maine had just taken a sniper shot to the chest at the time).
** Most of the Insurrectionist's mooks tend to be simply armed guys in white or green uniforms, the black and red ODST's serve as EliteMooks.
** Wash even lampshades it:
-->'''Wash''' What the ''fuck'' is with this guy?
** Episode 13 gives us a glimpse of him alongside the rest of the Insurrectionists. Presumably all of them will show up in later episodes to be mini-bosses for the rest of the team.
** The jet-pack mooks in Episode 17, who are decidedly harder to kill than ordinary mooks amd pull off some impressive stunts of their own. Just one of them was able to out-muscle ''[[TheBrute Maine]]'' (though Maine had just taken a sniper shot to the chest at the time).
** Most of the Insurrectionist's mooks tend to be simply armed guys in white or green uniforms, the black and red ODST's serve as EliteMooks.
to:
* EliteMook: The PyroManiac Carolina Insurrectionists in red and Washington encounter is [[MadeofIron able to shrug off Battle Rifle rounds]] and give the duo some trouble before [[DanceBattler Carolina]] smashes him in the [[CrowningMomentofAwesome face with a gravity hammer.]] Also counts as a BigLippedAlligatorMoment. Where the hell did this guy come from, and what's his story?
** Wash even lampshades it:
-->'''Wash''' What the ''fuck'' is with this guy?
** Episode 13 gives us a glimpse of him alongside the rest of the Insurrectionists. Presumably all of them will show up in later episodes to be mini-bosses for the rest of the team.
** The jet-pack mooks in Episode 17, who are decidedly harder to kill than ordinary mooks amd pull off some impressive stunts of their own. Just one of them was able to out-muscle ''[[TheBrute Maine]]'' (though Maine had just taken a sniper shot to the chest at the time).
** Most of the Insurrectionist's mooks tend to be simply armed guys in white or green uniforms, theblack ODST armor function as this. In the next season, they get more screentime and red ODST's serve function as EliteMooks.a QuirkyMinibossSquad.
** Wash even lampshades it:
-->'''Wash''' What the ''fuck'' is with this guy?
** Episode 13 gives us a glimpse of him alongside the rest of the Insurrectionists. Presumably all of them will show up in later episodes to be mini-bosses for the rest of the team.
** The jet-pack mooks in Episode 17, who are decidedly harder to kill than ordinary mooks amd pull off some impressive stunts of their own. Just one of them was able to out-muscle ''[[TheBrute Maine]]'' (though Maine had just taken a sniper shot to the chest at the time).
** Most of the Insurrectionist's mooks tend to be simply armed guys in white or green uniforms, the
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 108 (click to see context) from:
* FlashBackBackBack: Twice, with the words "order" and "change" repeated to trigger the flashback.
to:
* FlashBackBackBack: FlashbackBackBack: Twice, with the words "order" and "change" repeated to trigger the flashback.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ExpendablePilot: Subverted, the Pelican Pilot, Four-Seven-Niner, survives both seasons. She was actually the woman you hear give Washington his Recovery orders in the previous few seasons.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 531 (click to see context) from:
** From Episodes 2 through 4, Agent Georgia. You do not want to know what happened to Georgia. [[hottip:*:A deleted scene in the Season 10 DVD reveals it, however.]]
to:
** From Episodes 2 through 4, Agent Georgia. You do not want to know what happened to Georgia. [[hottip:*:A [[note]]A deleted scene in the Season 10 DVD reveals it, however.]][[/note]]
Changed line(s) 701 (click to see context) from:
-->'''York''': We're going all the way over there? After [[NoodleIncident what happened to Georgia]]? [[hottip:*:It seems to have been less disastrous than we've been led to believe. For details, check the [[Characters/RedVsBlueProjectFreelancer characters section.]]\\
to:
-->'''York''': We're going all the way over there? After [[NoodleIncident what happened to Georgia]]? [[hottip:*:It [[note]]It seems to have been less disastrous than we've been led to believe. For details, check the [[Characters/RedVsBlueProjectFreelancer characters section.]]\\]][[/note]]\\
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
My Name Is Not Durwood is no longer a trope. Examples that are badly written or don\'t fit the subtropes are getting removed.
Changed line(s) 450 (click to see context) from:
'''Caboose:''' Oh, oh come on [[spoiler:[[MyNameIsNotDurwood Caroline]]]], I bet you are really pretty under that armor.\\
to:
'''Caboose:''' Oh, oh come on [[spoiler:[[MyNameIsNotDurwood [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMisnaming Caroline]]]], I bet you are really pretty under that armor.\\
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 98 (click to see context) from:
* TheFaceless: Finally averted in the cases of York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Carolina, Connecticut, and the Counselor thanks to MontyOum, but still holds true for Maine, Wash, [[spoiler:Tex]], and the Blood Gulch Crew.
to:
* TheFaceless: Finally averted in the cases of York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Carolina, Connecticut, and the Counselor thanks to MontyOum, Creator/MontyOum, but still holds true for Maine, Wash, [[spoiler:Tex]], and the Blood Gulch Crew.
Changed line(s) 520 (click to see context) from:
** Episode 15, hands down. [[spoiler:At first, it seems like there's going to be an epic MontyOum battle. It starts with Carolina, pumped up by two AI units, assembling her equipment for her match with Tex. On FILSS's signal, the two rush towards one another... and then the Director, outraged at the unauthorized match, accidentally calls Tex "Allison". Then, the episode suddenly becomes extremely dark, as all the AI act up in their owners' heads, Carolina goes nuts due to her two AI, and the Sarcophagus starts ''snarling and screaming''. Back in the present, the Reds go looking for Lopez to reboot him... and then Donut reappears, revealed to be alive with the help of Doc, drastically lightening the mood.]]
to:
** Episode 15, hands down. [[spoiler:At first, it seems like there's going to be an epic MontyOum Creator/MontyOum battle. It starts with Carolina, pumped up by two AI units, assembling her equipment for her match with Tex. On FILSS's signal, the two rush towards one another... and then the Director, outraged at the unauthorized match, accidentally calls Tex "Allison". Then, the episode suddenly becomes extremely dark, as all the AI act up in their owners' heads, Carolina goes nuts due to her two AI, and the Sarcophagus starts ''snarling and screaming''. Back in the present, the Reds go looking for Lopez to reboot him... and then Donut reappears, revealed to be alive with the help of Doc, drastically lightening the mood.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 592 (click to see context) from:
** MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Once Church calms down after saying that, he tries to apologize to them. By the end, he's begging Caboose, for whom he presumably has become a BrokenPedestal, not to leave. [[TearJerker It doesn't work.]]]]
to:
** MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Once Church calms down after saying that, he tries to apologize to them. Grif, whom he considers to be very intelligent and actually gets along with, leaves with the other Reds first. He is followed by Tucker, who is Church's closest friend and has been for many years. By the end, he's begging Caboose, for whom he presumably has become a BrokenPedestal, not to leave. [[TearJerker It doesn't work.]]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
The collection of seasons 9 and 10 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', in which the series alternates between flashbacks to Project Freelancer's heyday and the present day continuing adventures of the Blood Gulch gang and Agent Washington.
----
!This series provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Season Nine]]
* TheAce: Agent Carolina, especially before Episode 10.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Tucker again mistakenly believes Donut is a girl instead of a guy in pink armor. He then comments on how awkward that makes what he did twenty minutes ago during "alone time".
* ADayInTheLimelight: The Dakotas get a focus plot early in the season, and C.T. gets a character establishing scene about midway through, but the Prequel half of the season is definitively more about [[TheAce Carolina]], [[TheLancer York]], [[OnlySaneMan Washington]], [[BadAss Tex]], and, to a lesser extent, [[TheBrute Maine]].
* {{Adorkable}}:
** Wash, especially compared to [[TheStoic previous]] [[ConsummateProfessional seasons]]. He comes off as much more [[TeamDad sociable,]] [[WideEyedIdealist innocent]] and awkward compared to the [[AntiHero grim,]] [[JerkWithaHeartofGold gruff]] and [[RoaringRampageofRevenge vengeful]] Washington we know and love.
** And York, who is friendly and nice, but is a bit of a ButtMonkey and his snarky comments tend to invoke headshaking rather than chuckles from the other Freelancers.
* [[spoiler:AGlitchInTheMatrix: Church's reality is not as idyllic as it seems.]]
* ArmedWithCanon: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church needs events in the simulation to go the same as before to draw Tex out.]]
* ArtShift: Burnie has said that, due to the difficulty in matching the game art style with the mocap CGI, they've embraced the difference to tell two simultaneous storylines side-by-side, with the Freelancer stuff in CGI entirely and the "future stuff" in ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' machinima. [[spoiler:Then the shift goes back to ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' for the last scene of the season, outside of the memory unit and in the present day.]]
* AscendedExtra: York had about seven minutes of screentime prior to this season, Carolina was just talked about a couple of times, and North was [[spoiler:an already-dead body barely seen on screen]].
* AudibleGleam: During Grif's initial cleanliness tick, both times he points out how clean he's waxed the floors, we cut to a wider shot of the floor, which gives this off. It's quite amusing.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Epsilon-Church and Epsilon-Tex make amends [[spoiler:during the (assumed) end of the world]].
* BackToBackBadasses:
** Agent North and Agent South in Episode 2. [[MemeticMutation SWITCH!]]
** Agents Maine and Carolina of all people pull this off in episode 17.
* BashBrothers: North and South.....well, Bash Siblings really.
* BehindTheBlack: The Reds fail to notice Sarge's drilling machine and the even larger excavation unit until he points them out. Lampshaded by Grif.
* BigDamnHeroes:
** [[spoiler:In Episode 3, North and South are saved from the Red Demo Man and his Insurrectionists by the timely intervention of Four-Seven-Niner and Carolina.]]
** [[spoiler:[[TheBrute Maine]], of all people, pulls this off in Episode 15 by saving York and Carolina by driving by them right before they kiss the pavement.]]
** [[spoiler:The real Reds and Blues come to Epsilon-Church's rescue in the finale.]]
* BigNo: [[spoiler:Carolina]] gives one when [[spoiler:Maine is shot in the throat]].
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: [[http://montyoum.deviantart.com/art/The-Girls-269475875 South, C.T., and Carolina, respectively.]]
* BloodierAndGorier: Episode two alone probably has more blood and gore in it than the rest of the series combined. Still not ''incredibly'' gory, but relatively speaking...
** Justified as Freelancers are already using the Mk 6 armor which is, at least until Halo 4 comes out, the deadliest PowerArmor in the military's arsenal. The people they're fighting don't, indicated for example by their lack of the usual voice distortion effects, making them MadeOfPlasticine by comparison.
* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Carolina. She appears to be just as crazy as Alpha remembered her. She used to be utterly devoted to the Director to the point of it being creepy (significantly even more than Wash), and now she's resolved to end him on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.]]
* ButtMonkey: Lots of them as usual, but the primary ButtMonkey changes:
** In the Freelancer segments, falls between York and Wash, though Maine has some moments late in the season, especially in [[HighSpeedBattle Episode 17]].
** In the present storyline, it's [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Simmons.
* CallForward: In the trailer, some of Agent Maine's injuries were brought about due to a surprise attack by simulation troops. [[spoiler:This happens to him again in Revelation, except without the surviving part.]]
--> '''The Director:''' How are two soldiers of your caliber possibly hurt by simulation troopers?\\
'''Washington:''' They... got the jump on us.
** [[spoiler: "Firing main cannon."]]
** Washington's catch phrase. Hell, half the things that come out of Wash's mouth, really.
** Maine can be seen picking up his signature weapon, the "Knifle" as one of the {{Mooks}} he tests it on dubs it, during episode 15.
* CallBack:
** The batteries [[spoiler:that Simmons uses to electrocute Lopez with]] are branded "Puma Batteries."
** In Episode 14, Caboose mentions that Grif is yellow, not orange.
** In Episode 19, [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church's speech to Tex at the end is a condensed version of his revelation as he went into the Epsilon unit.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' It took a couple versions of me, but I think... I think sometimes you've just gotta let go. And if you do, the things you let go sometimes come back on their own. They did today.
* TheCameo: Ian and Anthony of {{Smosh}} cameo as two mooks in Episode 3.
* TheCaper: The Freelancers' sarcophagus heist is set up like this.
* CessationOfExistence: [[spoiler:Tex's final fate]].
* CharacterDevelopment:
** Kinda all over the map with [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church. Building on his ending speech in ''Revelation'', he now sees himself as [[spoiler:Alpha]] in the memory unit, having been reincarnated from [[spoiler:Epsilon]]. But now that he's dealing with the less capable season one versions of his teammates, he regains some of his temper from the BGC era. He also becomes more reflective and introspective.
** Retroactively for Washington. We see how Wash started off as an [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]] [[NiceGuy nice]], if [[{{Adorkable}} stiff and awkward]], guy. We now see how the Epsilon incident affected his personality so drastically. However, in a more straight sense, we have how, due to spending time on Blue Team, his nicer attitude is coming back, albeit without the {{Adorkable}} status.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: In the action scenes, the Freelancers pull off insane [[Film/TheMatrix Matrix]]-esque moves that would be impressive even by [=SPARTAN II=] standards, which is notable since, other than Tex and later the Meta, WordOfGod is that none of them are supposed to be superhuman-level fighters. Easily explained by RuleOfCool.
* ChaseFight: Most of episode 17.
* ChekhovsArmory: The Sarcophagus room in Episode 15, filled to the brim with weapons from throughout the Halo series, most of which are used by the end of the episode.
* ChekhovsGunman: The unnamed "Blue Freelancer" seen in the background during "Planning the Heist", and standing with the main cast in the Season 9 Project Freelancer group poster. WordOfGod is that more will be revealed about him in Season 10.
** [[spoiler: His identity is revealed in the episode "Don't Say It." He turns out to be Captain Butch Flowers, the original commander of the blue team. His freelancer code-name was Agent Florida, but all records of him were deleted and he was assigned to watch over the Alpha at Blood Gultch.]]
* ContinuityNod:
** South uses a voice filter like Tex and C.T. did. Might also be a RunningGag since only female Freelancers use them.
*** Not so with [[spoiler:C.T., as of Season 10 Episode 10, where it reveals she died, and the Pillman Insurrectionist started wearing her helmet and armor.]]
** In Episode 4, Tucker asks Caboose if they should help, and Caboose replies that he doesn't think they can, since he can't get a clear shot at Church.
** In Episode 15, Maine is walking around a room filled with Covenant weapons, stops, [[spoiler:and picks up his signature Brute Shot]].
*** "That's a good look."
** Lopez is mistaken to be Simmons and decides to go along with it for the sake of getting people to listen to him. One of the things he claims [[HughMann that supposedly proves he's human]] is getting math problems wrong for no reason, a reference to when Simmons pretended he was good at math by giving a very wrong answer to a multiplication problem.
* ContractualGenreBlindness: Sarge is very aware that setting off a bomb in the core will not stabilize the planet, but believes it necessary to have several dramatic setbacks and calamities before finding the solution the the planet's instability.
* ConvenientlyTimedGuard: In the second episode, when the guard catches South stealing data from the terminal.
* CurseCutShort:
--> '''South:''' You stupid bi-
* TheDayTheMusicLied: In Episode 17, Carolina is chasing down the Sleeveless Insurrectionist for [[MacGuffin the briefcase]]. It plays her {{leitmotif}}, meaning imminent awesomeness... and then she crashes, and Tex picks it up instead.
* DeadpanSnarker: The Pelican pilot, Four Seven Niner.
-->'''FSN:''' Somebody call for a ride?
-->'''Carolina:''' You're late.
-->'''FSN:''' Ah, well. You can take it out of my tip.
* DeathFromAbove: Episode 15. Anything more would ruin the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome epicness]].
* DemotedToExtra: Wyoming. Despite being the second freelancer introduced and one of the main villains of the original five seasons, he barely does anything in this season. He has only one or two lines and spends most of his screen time being injured by Tex and enemy soldiers. [[WordOfGod Burnie Burns]] states that this due to Wyoming's [[AffablyEvil quirkier]] [[EvilBrit voice]] and [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman personality]] running a risk of detracting from the more seriously toned Freelancer plot-line.
* [[DodgeTheBullet Dodge The Paint]]: Tex does a pretty good job at this, and it's implied that Carolina does too.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Andy the bomb, failing to blow up.
-->'''Andy:''' I swear this has never happened to me before...
* DoomedByCanon: Every freelancer we've been introduced to has a horrid fate. The sole exception is [[spoiler:Wash, who is still going to briefly go nuts and later go to prison for a while]].
** [[spoiler:Subverted in the case of Carolina, who turns out to be very much alive, although with debatable sanity.]]
* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: The season ends with Epsilon-Church horrified that he killed Epsilon-Tex for nothing, along with his shock at Carolina's return. Meanwhile, the prequel sections end with York and North wondering if Project Freelancer really are the good guys, C.T.'s relationship with the other Freelancers worsening, and Carolina declaring her UndyingLoyalty to the Director, shortly before it goes back to the present and shows that Carolina now wants the Director dead.]]
* TheDragon: [[spoiler:Tex is evidently the Director's personal one-woman CleanupCrew.]]
** Out of combat, the Counselor serves this role.
* DreamApocalypse: [[spoiler:Epsilon is trying to find Texas before this happens. However, it's ultimately subverted, as the reason the simulation is shaking is because of an attempted rescue mission by the real Reds and Blues.]]
* TheEasyWayOrTheHardWay: Said in episode 3 by the red demo man Insurrectionist.
* EliteMook: The PyroManiac Carolina and Washington encounter is [[MadeofIron able to shrug off Battle Rifle rounds]] and give the duo some trouble before [[DanceBattler Carolina]] smashes him in the [[CrowningMomentofAwesome face with a gravity hammer.]] Also counts as a BigLippedAlligatorMoment. Where the hell did this guy come from, and what's his story?
** Wash even lampshades it:
-->'''Wash''' What the ''fuck'' is with this guy?
** Episode 13 gives us a glimpse of him alongside the rest of the Insurrectionists. Presumably all of them will show up in later episodes to be mini-bosses for the rest of the team.
** The jet-pack mooks in Episode 17, who are decidedly harder to kill than ordinary mooks amd pull off some impressive stunts of their own. Just one of them was able to out-muscle ''[[TheBrute Maine]]'' (though Maine had just taken a sniper shot to the chest at the time).
** Most of the Insurrectionist's mooks tend to be simply armed guys in white or green uniforms, the black and red ODST's serve as EliteMooks.
* EnemyChatter:
** In Episode 2, at the very beginning, when one mook is complaining to another about job assignment.
** During the action scene in Episode 3, two of the mooks get in a short argument over a rifle.
** We also see two guys get in an argument as Maine falls past them in Episode 15.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church and Epsilon-Tex do it together.]]
* TheFaceless: Finally averted in the cases of York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Carolina, Connecticut, and the Counselor thanks to MontyOum, but still holds true for Maine, Wash, [[spoiler:Tex]], and the Blood Gulch Crew.
** Played with in the case of the Director. While many parts of his face are seen and he gets a lot of views from the back, he has had every part of his body shown (including the fact that he has glasses)... except for his forehead and eyes.
* FieryRedhead: [[spoiler:Agent Carolina.]]
* FiveManBand: The main Freelancer characters fit this trope perfectly. [[spoiler:Or, as is revealed in Season 10, FiveBadBand, though they only really fit the FiveManBand tropes.]]
** TheLeader: [[TheAce Carolina]]
** TheLancer: [[TheMario Washington]]
** TheBigGuy: [[TheDreaded Maine]], [[EvilBrit Wyoming]], and [[DarkActionGirl South]] form a Big Guy trio.
** TheSmartGuy: [[NiceGuy York.]] Also doubles as the team's second {{Lancer}}, being the only guy on the team [[TheLeader Carolina]] treats equally as both a friend and colleague.
** TheChick: Well, C.T. is more of the DarkChick. [[TheHeart North]] also fits this role, to an extent, since his primary concern is taking care of the others.
** SixthRanger: [[spoiler:Tex]].
* FlashBackBackBack: Twice, with the words "order" and "change" repeated to trigger the flashback.
* {{Foil}}: The Freelancers to the Blood Gulch Red and Blue Teams. While the former was a group of skilled, badass elite soldiers they inevitably fall apart as a unit due to in-fighting, jealousy, and betrayal, failing to do much in the War. The latter however started out as enemies but over-time fostered a bizarre if powerful alliance with each other, actually managing to do great things via cooperation instead of competition despite the incompetence of their members, even managing to kill several of the Freelancers and having a far greater impact in fostering a peace between the Humans and Aliens. To further accentuate this, both groups have at their focal point a Leonard Church.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Overlaps with RedHerring, when the Twins get spotted in the beginning of the season, the "Beta Protocol" is enacted. We find out in season 10 that [[spoiler: Beta is Tex.]]
* ForegoneConclusion: We already know what will happen to all of the "past" characters, as well as the fact that Project Freelancer eventually ends up as a colossal failure.
* GenreBlindness: In episode 15: When someone hands you a rapidly beeping, glowing object and then dashes away, you probably shouldn't stand there staring at it.
-->'''York:''' Hey, man. Do you mind holding this for me for a sec?\\
'''Red Demo Man:''' Huh?\\
'''York:''' Thank you.\\
'''FILSS:''' Firing main cannon.\\
'''Red Demo Man:''' Oh, son of a...
* GoodScarsEvilScars: York has his messed-up eye [[spoiler:after Episode 10]], and Maine is shot in the throat [[spoiler:in Episode 17]].
* GoombaStomp: South does this to a guard. The [=Mk6=] armor does weigh several hundred pounds after all.
* GroinAttack:
** North delivers one to a Mook before shooting him in Episode 3.
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler:Tex does this repeatedly to York during their fight]]. Possibly a ContinuityNod as she [[LaserGuidedKarma does this to Grif]] in Season 8.
* GunFu: The Freelancers come right out of the gate with this as North and South Dakota get into a big gunfight in the enemy base. When Carolina shows up to bail them out of trouble, she shows that she's just as good at it.
** In Episode 10, there's the [[spoiler: awesome, ''close range'' gunfight between Tex and York.]]
* GunTwirling: [[spoiler:Tex]] does a little twirl in Episode 10, after [[spoiler: she tips over a paint-covered Wyoming.]]
* HellOfAHeaven: Parodied in Episode 19.
-->[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Sarge:''' Well, that's just great. [[MadGod Caboose is God.]] I guess that makes me the first person in the history of the Universe that doesn't wanna go to Heaven. Great job, Blue Team. You find a way to make everything suck.]]
* HighSpeedBattle: Episode 17 consists of a chase between the Insurrection AirborneMook group with some air support and the combined efforts of Maine, Carolina, and York in an attempt to secure [[MacGuffin the white briefcase]] needed for the Sarcophagus, across trucks on a freeway. Texas is also there, technically helping the Freelancers, but Carolina has... [[GreenEyedMonster issues]] with that.
* InformedAbility: Simmons can play the banjo. Not that anyone on Red Team noticed.
* InsaneTrollLogic: Sarge's plan to save the world, [[CrowningMomentofFunny appropriately entitled "Sarge's plan to kick the planet's ass."]] Ah, Sarge, [[CrazyAwesome we missed that about you.]]
* {{Irony}}: Virtually everything we learn about Project Freelancer puts a weird spin on what we have seen of them in previous seasons (E.g. Alpha "didn't remember being a calculator" here he has pride in his calculating abilities, the surprising camaraderie between the Freelancers).
* IsThisThingStillOn: {{Subverted|Trope}}.
--> '''Recovery Command:''' Well, I guess so much for our go-around.\\
'''Angel:''' I heard that, Four-Seven-Niner.\\
'''Recovery Command:''' Yup, that's 'cause I transmitted it.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Tex is "forgotten" in the finale, and subsequently is given a CessationOfExistence. Epsilon thinks it's a MercyKill...until the revelation of the Red and Blue rescue mission results in it all being just a SenselessSacrifice.]]
* KnuckleCracking: Agent Maine invokes this in Episode 13.
* LeeroyJenkins:
** Despite her brother telling her repeatedly to turn on her motion tracker so he can provide better aid, South refuses on grounds that "it'll take too long" and charges in anyway. The same episode also has a possible ShoutOut to the trope as well, with two guards complaining about another guard named Jenkins. This behavior gets her ranking lowered, due to the mission having been ''supposed'' to have been for stealth, not a shootout.
** Maine and Wyoming in [[spoiler:Episode 10. Repeatedly, despite York trying to get them to fight as a team. As a result, they get their asses kicked by Tex]].
* {{Leitmotif}}: Carolina and Tex have a rather special one whenever the two cross paths. It mixes the Agent Tex theme with the vocals from Extraction.
* LotusEaterMachine: The "present" half of the story takes place from Church's perspective after the events of Revelation, trapped in the Epsilon unit.
* MadGod: [[spoiler:This is Epsilon-Simmons' explanation for seeing the real Caboose above the Epsilon unit in Episode 19, in a torn-open sky. Epsilon-Sarge is not happy about this.]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-Simmons]]:''' Is [[spoiler:Caboose]]... God? [[ItMakesSenseInContext I mean, I can kinda see it now that I think about it.]] Sure would explain the fuck outta the [[EverythingsBetterWithPlatypi platypus]].
* MadeOfIron: Many people, but Maine is one of the biggest. [[spoiler: A sniper round to the chest and about 10 pistol shots to the neck doesn't seem stop him from standing, and getting hit by a speeding truck and falling off a freeway on top of that still doesn't seem to kill him.]]
* MexicanStandoff: Between Agent South and a trooper, holding two cups of coffee, and looking at the alarm.
* MoodWhiplash:
** Episode 2 shows the Dakota twins as incredibly skilled and coordinated fighters. Now remember how we were introduced to them and their ultimate fate, making you wonder what the hell happened to them.
** [[spoiler:Wash and Maine]] being best friends.
** York being [[spoiler:in a possible relationship with Carolina. (Keep in mind that York and Tex are good friends in Out Of Mind (after season 9 chronologically) even though Carolina ''hates'' Tex. For that matter, Tex [[GroinAttack went a little overboard on him]] in [[EstablishingCharacterMoment Episode 10]]).]]
*** In Season 5, when Church heard that Tex ran into York, he specifically asked about Carolina (and Tex told him Carolina was dead) so clearly the strong relationship between them was well known.
** Wash respects the ''[[DiabolicalMastermind Director]]''.
** Episode 18 starts with Grif being made of awesome and hilarity, continues with the return of [[ActionBomb An]][[{{Jerkass}} dy]], and the Blood Gulch crew finishes up with the deadpan line "We're all going to die now." [[spoiler:and then we cut to [[MindRape the birth]] [[OneDialogueTwoConversations of Delta]].]]
* MookChivalry: The only guards that seem to make an effort to shoot at the Twins are the Snipers. Everyone else runs towards the duo, one at a time, hoping to get killed in the coolest way possible.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: As soon as Church realises that the memory unit ''isn't'' failing, but rather Caboose has managed to find a way to free him from it, he instantly regrets his prior action. [[spoiler:Namely, trying to move on from the past by forgetting Tex out of existence.]]
* NoEscapeButDown: The Freelancers find themselves with two options in Episode 15: Jump off a 110-story building, or [[WaveMotionGun die horribly]]. They take option A.
-->'''Carolina:''' I guess this is karma for kicking Maine out the window.
* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: In Episode 15, after Carolina and York jump off a skyscraper, they are stopped mere inches from the pavement of a highway by [[spoiler:Maine in a Warthog driving by]]. The save acts as though they sustained no injuries whatsoever as a result.
* NostalgiaAintLikeItUsedToBe: Church's body, Caboose, and Tucker are back to their season one versions; in other words, pretty lame. Also, the camaraderie between the Reds and Blues didn't exist in season 1, as Church realized upon walking up to the simulation versions.
* [[spoiler:NotSoDifferent: This season builds up the similarities between Church and the [[EvilTwin Director.]] For that matter, Church and his pre-fragmented self. Episode 13 reveals that even as the original Alpha, Church was always a {{Jerkass}}.]]
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome
-->'''[[spoiler:Caboose]]:''' We found you in the place where they were keeping you, and we traveled a ''really'' really long way to come to this place and fought a bunch of people, and then fought a bunch of more people, and then we got you and took you and saved you! The end.
* OhCrap: Episode 3 has Church realize that the Reds weren't his buddies in Season 1, what his simulation is based on, when he walks up to them.
** [[spoiler:York]] gets these moments many times in Episode 10 when [[spoiler:he's cornered by Tex.]]
** As usual, [[TheJuggernaut Maine]] continues to inspire this reaction in people. [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Those poor mooks...]]
** Church has a minor one when he realizes [[spoiler: that Tex remembers everything.]]
** And Church has a much bigger one ''twice'' in the finale [[spoiler:first, when he realizes, right after he forgets Tex, that the quakes aren't because of the memory unit dying, but because Caboose was opening it back up, and second when he sees the very much alive Carolina. If the music for the latter is any indication, her being alive might not be entirely good.]]
* OminousLatinChanting: At the end of Episode 16. There's a very light chanting, which is a CallForward to another incident where Maine was about to [[spoiler: commit [[BilingualBonus bloody murder]]]]
* TheOner: Episode 17 has one during the ChaseFight. An interview with Monty revealed that his nickname for the shot ended up being the name of the episode.
* OnlySaneMan: Wash and York share this role in the group, though in almost opposite ways. Wash is rather uptight and straitlaced, while York is a laid-back smartass.
* OpeningNarration: Church tries to helpfully provide one for the viewers, except he's repeatedly interrupted by Tucker to the point of frustration, and finally just drops it.
* PlotTumor: The Freelancer program, originally introduced as just independent agents back in season one, has evolved into this. Overlaps with CharacterizationMarchesOn and RetCon.
* PhraseCatcher: Any mention of Agent Maine fighting someone is typically met with "Man, I ''almost'' feel bad for them."
* PyroManiac: In "The Sarcophagus," Wash and Carolina get attacked by one. It was awesome.
-->'''Wash:''' "Whoa, that's hot!"
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The six ODST Insurrectionists first seen in Episode 13 seem to be shaping up as this. The team consists of a PyroManiac, a [[TheSmurfettePrinciple Girl]], a [[TheBrute Guy With No Sleeves]], a ColdSniper, a guy in heavier armour and a "regular" ODST with a bandolier and a kukri.
* RealityWarper: [[spoiler: Church is this unaware, as shown in Episode 5 when he changes Grif and Donut back to their BGC incarnations by talking about how they "should be."]]
* RedHerring: Episode 3 refers to "her" who is a total BadAss and is viewed by the twins with awe [[spoiler:it's not Tex, but rather, as episode 4 revealed, is Agent Carolina]].
** Another piece of {{Foreshadowing}} is that [[spoiler:we've seen Meta use her "Chameleon" armour upgrade before in a few episodes of Reconstruction.]]
* [[spoiler:ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated: Carolina, as shown in the last few seconds of the season.]]
* TheReveal: Well, some backstory reveals. In the PAX East trailer, we learn the Meta didn't speak because he was shot in the throat during Project Freelancer.
* ScreamDiscretionShot: In Episode 15, when Wash is telling York where Maine is. [[PhraseCatcher They almost feel sorry for the mooks down there.]]
* ScreamingWarrior: North lets out a mighty roar in Episode 2 when he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome shoots up a mook guard's torso and face in slow motion.]]
* SeriesContinuityError: An in-universe example occurs when [[spoiler:Church realizes that the memories of events inside the Epsilon unit don't exactly match up with the events in previous seasons, such as the Red Team adding a rocket launcher to their jeep and Donut giving orders to Simmons]].
* SheFu: Agent Carolina, overlapping with DanceBattler.
* ShipTease: Between Carolina and York.
* ShoutOut:
** When Tucker and Church are making up names, the two they come up with are [[Film/TheMatrix Smith and Anderson.]] Which are instantly conglomerated into [[Funny/RedVsBlue Andersmith]].
** Washington saying "That's a good look." when Maine picks up the [[WeaponOfChoice Brute Shot]] seems reminiscent of Terminator 2, when John Conner says "That's definitely you." as TheTerminator picks up the minigun.
** Sarge's plan to stop the earthquakes is almost exactly like the one from ''Film/TheCore''.
* StockScream: The Wilhelm is heard during the third episode.
* SuperSpeed: Carolina runs fast enough to keep up with cars.
* TermsOfEndangerment: Downplayed in Episode 20. [[spoiler:Carolina's first words to Epsilon are "Hey there, [[MistakenIdentity Alpha]]." This isn't inherently dangerous, but the [[TranquilFury manner in which she speaks]] and [[OhCrap Epsilon's reaction]] show that this is what he's thinking about it all.]]
* ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet: Tucker assumes this when Caboose mentions he once had an internet girlfriend, but it turned out it was just his e-mail.
* TookALevelInJerkass: The Freelancer flashbacks show that almost all of the Freelancers (most notably South, C.T., Wash, and even to a certain extent Maine) used to be idealistic and actually fairly heroic. By the time of the series proper, almost all of them has become disillusioned, cynical, self-serving, and/or utterly ruthless. In fact Wyoming seems to be the only Freelancer who was a Jerkass to start with, and didn't change at all between the flashbacks and ''Blood Gulch''. York seems to be the only one who didn't lose his sense of moral decency after the team broke up, though [[spoiler:all we know about North's eventual fate so far is that South abandoned him to the Meta]].
* TrueCompanions: [[spoiler:The Blood Gulch Crew show off their credentials as [[TrueCompanions a Nakama]].]]
* UnwantedRescue: [[spoiler:Epsilon is ''not'' happy about being rescued since he was finally at peace, and especially since also he just let Tex go forever.]]
* WhamEpisode: [[spoiler:The finale, where Church finally lets himself forget Tex, apparently losing her forever, just in time to be rescued from the capture unit...by a [[NotQuiteDead not so dead after all]] Carolina.]]
* WhamLine:
-->'''Church:''' No. I'm not going to say "I love you." I'm going to say [[spoiler:"I forget you." I'm letting you go.]]
* WhoWouldWantToWatchUs: In Episode 9.
-->'''Tucker:''' Romance happens in movies. In real life, it's called stalking.
-->'''Caboose:''' Well, maybe all of this is happening ''inside of a movie!''
-->'''Tucker:''' Oh please. Who the fuck would watch ''that'' movie? All we do is sit around and talk.
* WideEyedIdealist: Young Wash is this, especially in comparison to his future self.
* YourMindMakesItReal: In the Epsilon Capture Unit.
[[/folder]]
----
[[folder:Season Ten]]
* AlasPoorVillain:
** [[spoiler:Connecticut in Episode 10. Doubly so because [[HeroAntagonist she wasn't even the villain]].]]
** The Director is the absolute last person you'd expect to feel sympathy for ... until he calls out in panic for Allison. Unfortunately, he's back to his Jerkass self within seconds. [[spoiler:Taken UpToEleven when he acknowledges Carolina as his greatest creation, reconciles with her after becoming a nervous wreck and then is implied to commit suicide.]]
* AccidentalTruth: [[spoiler:Wash's attempt at lying to invoke ReversePsychology on the Red Team in Episode 6 turns out to actually be true in Episode 20, much to his surprise and annoyance.]]
* {{Adorkable}}:
** Theta becomes this due to how [[ShrinkingViolet nervous]] and [[ChildSoldier childlike]] he is.
** Wash, ''definitely''. The guy has pink and white towels, a ''rubber ducky'', and pictures of cute animals in his locker.
* AdultFear: Considering Theta's personality and North's nurturing making him something like a parent, knowing that North dies while his 'child' is getting pretty much kidnapped is bound to strike a chord with adults, especially in the sense that you failed to save your child.
* AlwaysSecondBest: Emphasized between Carolina and Tex in Season 10. [[spoiler:In Episode 19, Carolina finally gets a chance to have her long awaited one-on-one fight with Tex, and while she does markedly better than anyone else who's tried before, ultimately it's painfully clear she's not even her equal.]]
** [[spoiler: Carolina finally admits this about herself in episode 21, but it takes facing a literal army of her rival to make her say it.]]
* AnAxeToGrind: The Pillman's WeaponOfChoice in the prequel sections, specifically throwing axes. Tex seems pretty adept in their use as well.
* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:The Reds and Blues return to Blood Gulch to settle down now that Project Freelancer has been dismantled for good. However, Church and Carolina decide to go and "do some good" in order to atone for their past crimes, starting with recovering some stolen Freelancer equipment.]]
* ArtificialGravity: On the various ships. It's a minor plot point on two occasions.
** In Episode 2, Wash accidentally turns it off on one of them.
** Comes into play again in Episode 19, this time on purpose.
* AsideGlance: Wash pulls one when Donut [[CallBack mentions]] [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection that he was shot]]. He turns his head to the camera and whistles innocently.
** NotSoInnocentWhistle
* AttackAttackRetreatRetreat: Washington and York against the Insurrection soldiers in the eighth episode.
* AxCrazy: Carolina[[spoiler:, especially in the prequel segments]]. Not that this came as a surprise to anyone, due to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Texas]]. She's having a tough time keeping it bottled in.
* BackToBackBadasses: [[spoiler:Caboose, Washington, Tucker, Sarge, Donut, Grif, and Simmons in Episode 21, versus an army of Agent Texas robots.]]
* BadassAdorable:
** Theta. For all his shyness and childish behavior, just watch how he works with North's energy shield.
** And as of episode 21, [[spoiler:Caboose]].
* BehindTheBlack: Apparently, the Director's ScaryShinyGlasses are super reflective because [[spoiler: Carolina looked shocked when the audience finally saw his eyes in the season finale - even though she had already seen him plenty of other times in person]].
* BetweenMyLegs: A really hilarious and weird example of this in Episode 5, with North doing the A-Frame and Wash's head peering in between (at Theta).
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Wash, York, North, Theta and [[spoiler:Caboose]].
** BewareTheSillyOnes: Wash, York and [[spoiler:Caboose]], on top of the above.
* BigDamnHeroes: Two examples in Episode 19.
** [[spoiler:North saves Tex from South's Missile Pod with dual sniper rifles.]]
** Tex [[spoiler:and York attempt this for Alpha. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption It fails]], since he's "tired" and [[YouAreTooLate has no memories due to shearing off Epsilon days earlier]]]].
** Episode 21 [[spoiler:has Wash and the Blood Gulch crew pull this off in ''style.'']]
* BigNo:
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler:the Insurrectionist leader, when Connecticut seems to have been [[BoomHeadshot shot in the head]].]]
** In Episode 15, coupled as a WhamLine due to the consequences:
--->'''[[spoiler:Director]]''' NO! [[spoiler:[[BrownNote Allison!]]]]
** In Episode 16, when [[spoiler:the Alpha is told in one of his "breaking" sessions that Agent Texas died because of his own failure]]. It keeps repeating, with the occasional "Oh my God", until the scene shifts.
** In Episode 19, Tex gets one when [[spoiler:the Meta catches up to Carolina, takes her AI and throws her off a cliff]].
* BittersweetEnding: And how. See WhamEpisode and AndTheAdventureContinues for details.
* BloodyHilarious: The results of the below mentioned HyperDestructiveBouncingBall.
* BookEnds: The Meta's rampage starts in the same place it ended [[SlippySlideyIceWorld (Sidewinder)]], and ends in the same way it started (with a [[IncrediblyLamePun main]] Freelancer being [[DisneyVillainDeath thrown off of a cliff]]).
* BondOneLiner: A nonfatal one from [[spoiler:York to Wyoming]] in Episode 19.
-->'''York:''' It's ''[[IncrediblyLamePun York]]'' catch, asshole. [[spoiler:Talk about [[KnockKnockJoke knock knocks]].]]
* BorrowedCatchphrase[=/=]WorstWhateverEver: Apparently Washington is catchy.
-->'''Tucker:''' (to Epsilon) You're like the worst wingman ever.
-->'''Caboose:''' Of all time.
* BreadEggsBreadedEggs: In Episode 16, Tucker wants to know what [[spoiler:Epsilon is finding out about [[AmbiguouslyEvil Carolina]]]].
-->'''Tucker:''' Is she [[AxCrazy crazy]]? Is she [[TokenEvilTeammate evil]]? Is she crazy evil?
* BreakTheCutie: Washington's Epsilon Incident is finally shown in Episode 17. Oddly, however, he's not nearly as upset or cynical about it all as people would expect from ''The Recollection''.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:Carolina in Episode 21. She finally realizes that no matter how hard she tries, she will ''never'' beat Texas by herself. [[AFriendInNeed Luckily, the Reds and Blues know this as well.]]]]
* BreakingTheFellowship:
** [[spoiler:Subverted in Episode 18, the Blood Gulch crew breaks away from Church after he blows up on them in a massive TheReasonYouSuckSpeech rant. However, in Episode 20, they all decide [[TrueCompanions they're going to go help him anyway]].]]
** [[spoiler:According to Episode 19, Tex's defection, and the resulting division of loyalties between the Freelancers, appears to have been the event that ultimately broke up Project Freelancer.]]
* BreatherEpisode: It may not be particularly lighthearted (at least in the flashback sections), but after the emotional ups and downs of the previous installments, Episodes 11 and 12 are very relaxed, even in regards to clothing (in the case of Episode 11), and focus on conversation and {{character development}}.
* BrickJoke:
** The Insurrectionist grunt Delta was talking to in Episode 1 who got [[ThrownOutTheAirlock spaced]] can be seen in orbit at the beginning of Episode 2, and even shows up in the credits at the end of the season..
** The UNSC trooper from the final episode of Season 8 returns in Episode 20 to arrest the gang for stealing the Hornet he was guarding. [[spoiler: They steal his Hornet, again.]]
** Episode 22 has a BrickJoke that started ''years'' ago. [[spoiler:Poor Florida.]]
* BrotherSisterTeam: [[spoiler:[[TheReveal Epsilon and Carolina.]]]]
* BrownNote: In Episode 15, the Director shouting [[spoiler:"ALLISON!"]] in a panicked voice causes all of the AI fragments (in addition to likely the Alpha itself) to go temporarily rampant at the same time, causing their operators to have massive headaches. [[spoiler:No need to guess why Tex was the exception, even despite holding Omega.]]
* ButtMonkey:
** In the prequel sections, York and Wash take some pretty hilarious abuse, including getting a grappling hook in the groin.
** In Episode 20, [[BrickJoke the pilot whose Hornet was stolen by the Reds at the end of Season 8]] shows up to arrest the Reds and Blues as war criminals. [[spoiler:The Reds and Blues steal not just his Hornet, but those of his two partners as well.]]
* CallBack:
** Episode 9's HeinzHybrid gag is a CallBack to when Tucker called [[{{Badass}} Tex]] a [[SharkMan half woman, half shark]].
** Episode 12 has [[spoiler:Carolina]] reflecting about the death of York and visiting the place he died. The name of the episode? "Out of Mind", also the name of the miniseries in which York was killed fighting Wyoming with Tex.
** Episode 18's [[spoiler:TheReasonYouSuckSpeech]] is one long reference to all of the abuse the Reds (and Caboose) put [[spoiler:Alpha-]]Church through over the course of ''Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles''.
** Stealing that Hornet in the finale of ''Revelation'' finally catches up with the Reds and Blues.
*** From the same episode: The bargaining scene is a direct callback to the early days of the series (the dialogue) and to the beginning of the current season (Wash and the Blues curbstomping the Reds).
*** From that scene is two more- Simmoms spouts off Grif's "I'd just like to let everyone know that I suck," speech, and there's a brief cut to what the Blues have taken, which includes Donut's motorcycle, the Warthog, the food Donut and Doc made for them previously that season, and multiple [[WeaponOfChoice rocket launchers and shotguns]].
*** [[spoiler:The quote by the Tex army in the voice of Omega is identical to a quote from Omega in Episode 100 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles.'']]
** Episode 21 continues this trend, to the point of ContinuityCavalcade.
** Episode 22, [[spoiler:The Director appointing Captain Flowers/Agent Florida as a bodyguard for the Alpha stationed in Blood Gulch has to find a way to explain the mysterious disappearance of Agent Florida, a explaining why in season 1 Tucker laments the then-unknown fate of Florida.]]
* CallForward:
** In ''Revelation'', Wash tries to get Doc out of the wall with a grappling hook. In Season 10, Carolina pulls Wash into a spaceship with a grappling hook.
-->'''Wash:''' Pull lower, near the center of gravity. Try the codpiece.
** When [[StuffBlowingUp stuff starts blowing up]] in Episode 4, the Director yells "[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles SON OF A BITCH!]]"
** When 479er meets Delta in Episode 8:
---> '''479er''': AI huh? What does the A stand for?
*** At the end of the same sequence, 479er muses on how she'd hate to be Command.
** A much more subtle one; during the fight in Episode 8, while running to avoid getting hit by a Warthog, Wash yells "CAR!" in the exact same way he did in ''Revelation'' when Grif drove his own Warthog through the wall over Wash while Sarge distracted the latter.
*** Followed immediately with York going, "DAMMIT!", getting attacked, and saying, "Shotgu-un!"
*** On a related note, in Episode 2, Wash casually asks "Why do cars hate me?" after narrowly dodging a Warthog.
** Two mooks in Episode 8:
-->'''Mook 1''': Hey.\\
'''Mook 2''': Yeah?\\
'''Mook 1''': You ever wonder why we're - ''(Cue the pelican)''
** Tex being pinned by the tank in episode 19 resembles the time Sarge was pinned by the warthog in early season 2.
** It's subtle, but the last scene of Episode 19 [[spoiler:mirrors the end of the Meta vs. Tex battle of Season 8. Both Tex and Carolina are initially facedown, then turn over and try to get away as Maine comes up, then he grabs them by the neck and does something painful to their head, then tosses them aside. Just another reminder of [[NotSoDifferent how similar those two really are...]]]]
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler:The Director kept trying to "get her right", resulting in a bunch of dangerous Tex/Allison robots, at least some of which have the voice of ''Omega''.]]
* CannonFodder: [[spoiler:As stated in Episode 18, Carolina's plan to infiltrate the Director's hideout involves turning [[WeHaveReserves the Reds, Tucker, and Caboose into this]] as a ''[[WeNeedADistraction distraction]]''. They, along with ''Washington'', think this is a horrible idea and collectively [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere quit]].]]
* CarFu:
** In Episode 2, it's narrowly avoided by Washington when ArtificialGravity comes back on on the ship being invaded.
-->'''Washington:''' [[CallForward Why do cars hate me?]]
** In Episode 3, it's how Grif enters the season.
** In Episode 9, one of the Insurrectionists tries this on [[TheBigGuy Maine]]. [[SubvertedTrope It doesn't]] [[NoSell go well]] [[CurbStompBattle for him]].
* CasualKink: Church/the Director and his fetish for, ahem, hot headed women.
-->'''Sarge''': Wanna talk about it?
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': ...no.
-->{{Beat}}
-->'''Caboose''': Wanna talk about it with-?
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': '''NO.'''
* CharacterDevelopment:
** Hanging out with the Reds and Blues has revived Wash's old NiceGuy self.
** [[spoiler:And being shown a memory of how York felt about her and realizing Epsilon knows more about her drive to reconcile old wounds than she thought is the catalyst that makes Carolina [[TookALevelInKindness open up a little more]], even going so far as to give Epsilon some good-natured teasing about [[ItMakesSenseInContext his awkwardness in carrying her]].]]
* ChekhovsGag: The Reds are unsure of Carolina, and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere are considering going home]]. Wash plays along, then plants the idea that they're wanted criminals and that they'll be ambushed upon arrival. This immediately changes their tune. It's brought up again MUCH later, when it's revealed that they really ARE wanted criminals.
* ChekhovsGun:
** [[spoiler:Carolina's GrapplingHookPistol. First seen in Episode 3 of Season 9, it made a return in Episode 4, where she used it to... [[GroinAttack grip]] Washington to bring him on to a Pelican. In Episode 19, if one were to look closely towards the end when Carolina is falling, the tip of the pistol is visible, explaining [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated her survival]]. It also comes in handy while fighting the Tex robots.]]
** [[spoiler:The army of robot bodies Epsilon and Caboose saw stashed away in the Freelancer facility in ''Revelation''. A similar batch is finally put to use by the Director toward the end of Season 10.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: The Mysterious Blue Guy? [[spoiler:He's Agent Florida, better known as Captain Butch Flowers.]]
* [[spoiler:CloneDegeneration: The army of Tex that are seen near the end of the season are visibly clunker and slower than the "real" Tex, and could be fought to a standstill by the Reds, Blues, Wash and Carolina. See also ConservationOfNinjitsu.]]
* ColdBloodedTorture: Episode 16 finally shows Alpha being put through the fragmentation process, and [[NightmareFuel it's just awful]]. Though the Director does [[EvenEvilHasStandards call out the torturers on one of their methods]], he mostly just stands by and watches.
* ComingInHot: [[spoiler:The ''Mother of Invention'' and its crash landing into Sidewinder in Episode 19 following being hit by its own missiles and losing ArtificialGravity courtesy of York.]]
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: [[spoiler:Seen with the Tex clones the crew face in Episode 21. This is explained by them being run by a single A.I. distributed over hundreds of bodies.]]
* ContinuityCavalcade: Episode 21 packs as many references to past episodes, actions, jokes, and everything else into the [[spoiler: fight between the Reds and Blues versus the army of Texes.]]
** [[spoiler: Carolina's opening line before the fight, "Alright, me first," is a reference to Tex's first line in Revelation, Episode 10: "Alright, who's first?"]]
** [[spoiler:The quotes Carolina hears as she tries to destroy the Tex army are from various moments over her time in the prequel segments, both heard by her and not. This culminates in "Better luck next time, Carolina", said by the Tex drones in reference to Episode 17 of Season 9.]]
** [[spoiler:Donut sticks the heads of three Tex robots with plasma grenades, calling out "nine points, you dirty whores!" as he did in Episode 19 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles'' (three points in that case, for one person).]]
** [[spoiler:''Blood Gulch Blues'' being played over the lock and load sequence after the BigDamnHeroes moment.]]
** [[spoiler:Caboose's UnstoppableRage and his BadassBaritone "MY NAME IS MICHAEL J. CABOOSE. AND I HATE [X]" are references to the last time he went into UnstoppableRage, back against the Zealots in Blood Gulch Chronicles.]]
** [[spoiler:Sarge's "for our ancestors' ancestors" line is in reference to Episode 38 of ''The Blood Gulch Chronicles''.]]
** [[spoiler:Grif's tendency toward GroinAttack issues as of Episode 10 of Season 8 (Revelation) is brought up.]]
** [[spoiler:Wash saves Donut from a Tex clone and says "we're done here," which is a nod to them being even after he shot Donut at the end of season 7.]]
** [[spoiler:Epsilon's encounter with the [[EmptyShell broken]] Tex is a nearly direct mirror to the encounter between the original Tex Beta AI and the Alpha in Episode 19 of this season.]]
* ContinuityNod:
** The tagline of the season references Washington's catchphrase, "THE BIGGEST SEASON EVER. OF ALL TIME."
** Wash dodges a car flying at him during a fight in Episode 2, and wonders out loud, "Why do cars hate me?"
** In Season 9, we learn that South hates flying. In Episode 2 of this season, North mentions she always needed a barf bag on their family trips.
** Wash appears to use an EMP, or "emp", to disable a number of Warthogs in Episode 8.
** Episode 12, referring to Church's perpetual pursuit of Tex:
---> '''Carolina''': Why did you show me that?
---> '''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': [[spoiler: Because I know what it's like to spend your life chasing ghosts]]
** In Episode 13 has two:
*** When talking about "keys", Caboose mentions that "the sword is a key, too." Given his caustic reaction, Tucker seems to still be annoyed with that fact.
*** Simmons and Grif's discussion about getting paid overtime and their 401k is taken almost verbatim from a conversation Washington and Doc had in ''Revelation''.
** In Episode 17, Epsilon goes diving in yet another data unit. He tells Carolina that if he's not out in three months, she shouldn't bother looking for him.
** Episode 21 has almost too many of these to list. See ContinuityCavalcade for details.
** Episode 22 has [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church flipping between the images and taking on the voices of the other AI fragments [[spoiler:while confronting the Director]].
* CoolStarship: The ''Mother Of Invention'' for the Freelancers[[spoiler:, and the ''Staff Of [[ClassicalMythology Charon]]'' for the opposing Insurgents, as of Episode 4.]]
* CoolVersusAwesome: In Episode 13.
-->'''Sarge:''' In the battle of [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] versus [[OurRobotsAreNonstandard robots]], robots always win. Except in {{anime}}.
* CurbStompBattle:
** [[spoiler:According to Sarge, Wash has been doing this to the Reds while Church was in the memory unit. To the point Sarge was glad to rescue Church so he could lead the Blues again.]]
** [[spoiler:Maine has a rematch with the sleeveless ODST from Season 9. It lasts [[OneHitKill one punch]].]]
** [[spoiler:Tex takes out half a dozen mooks in episode 19 with nothing but a bunch of spike grenades and their own guns.]]
* DangerousDeserter: The UNSC seems to consider the AWOL Reds and Blues who were formerly of Blood Gulch this. In all fairness, though, [[BewareTheSillyOnes they]] [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass aren't]] [[BadassCrew technically]] [[BunnyEarsLawyer wrong]].
* DareToBeBadass: In Episode 20, Sarge pulls this on [[spoiler:Washington, to get him to help the Reds and Blues help Epsilon and Carolina]].
-->'''Sarge:''' So [[QuitYourWhining instead of standing there bellyaching all day]], just tell us: are you gonna keep playing it safe? [[DramaticGunCock *cocks shotgun*]] Or do you wanna get a little reckless?
* DarkReprise: Two examples in Episode 19.
** Carolina's {{Leitmotif}} is given a sad version during [[spoiler:her fight with York]] and a dark version during [[spoiler:her fight with Tex]]
** While "Plagram Extrinam Infigere" from the season finale of ''Revelation'' was already rather dark (given it translates to "Extremely Bloody Murder"), when [[spoiler:the Meta takes Carolina's AI and tosses her off a cliff]], you can hear a slower, more foreboding version of the drumbeat play in the background.
* DeadManWriting: Tex's dog tag is actually [[spoiler:a data unit Connie left for her, complete with an "If you're seeing this" message and copies of all the dirt she'd gathered on the Director and Project Freelancer. Turns out Tex is the only one she trusted to do the right thing]].
* DefrostingIceQueen:
** [[spoiler:Carolina in Episode 12 courtesy of some journals Epsilon found of York. However, this does ''not'' extend to anyone else in the group at all, even Washington.]]
*** [[spoiler:As of Episode 21, however, it seems to have extended to the others, thanks to her [[HeelRealization realization that she will never be better than Texas]] and their coming to her aid.]]
** [[spoiler:Tex (in the flashbacks) also seems a little friendlier towards North in Episode 16, claiming that it took her some time to get used to having Omega in her head, and that she has had him shut down for some time following the incident in Episode 15 where he wanted to have her kill Carolina.]]
* DivingSave: [[spoiler:Carolina for Grif in Episode 21 to save him from a GroinAttack by way of dropkick to three Tex drones at once. [[DoubleSubversion It doesn't help.]]]]
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The discussion between York, North, and Wash about how big "it" (Theta) is, in Episode 5. South seems to pick up on it, though.
-->'''Wash:''' I expected it to be... bigger.
-->'''York:''' Why? You've seen mine, it's small too.
-->'''Wash:''' [[InsaneTrollLogic Yeah, but he's green.]]
-->'''York:''' How does that even make sense?
-->'''North:''' Hey Wash, quit staring; you're making it nervous.
-->'''Wash:''' Yeah, it's just... they're so small.
-->'''York:''' Small, yeah. But you wouldn't ''believe'' what it can do.
-->'''North:''' Besides, you better get used to it, you're going to have one of your own soon enough.
-->'''South:''' [[TheUnfairSex Ugh, give me a break.]]
-->...
-->'''Wash:''' [[RunningGag You see, I'm not the only one who thinks size is important.]]
-->'''York:''' I'm just going to let that one go.
-->...
-->'''Wash:''' [[OverlyLongGag And we're sure they don't get any bigger?]]
-->'''York:''' Dude, you are ''killing'' me with that!
** Still going in Episode 8:
--->'''York:''' This is Delta. Our new addition.
--->'''479er:''' Your new addition is pretty small.
--->'''Wash:''' [[ChekhovsGag I said the same thing.]]
* DoomedByCanon: The introduction of [[spoiler:dumb]] {{Artificial Intelligence}}s such as [[TheSpock Delta]] and [[BadassAdorable Theta]] is made rather tragic by not only their origins, but the facts that [[spoiler:most of their initial operators will be KilledOffForReal, themselves stolen away by [[TheJuggernaut Maine]] at the influence of [[TheCorrupter Sigma]], and then all but Epsilon KilledOffForReal by the [[{{EMP}} "emp"]] at Command.]]
* DramaticGunCock: Sarge does this with his [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotgun]] to punctuate a DareToBeBadass speech in Episode 20. [[spoiler:Carolina does it with a handgun when she joins the guys after their BigDamnHero entrance.]]
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:The Director, who shoots himself in the head with Carolina's pistol after shutting off life support in the Offshore Freelancer Facility. F.I.L.S.S. also technically counts as he ordered her to delete every single file and program in Project Freelancer except for the video of Allison, which she acknowledges includes herself.]]
* DumbassHasAPoint[=/=]TheCuckoolanderWasRight: Caboose seems to be getting relatively more intelligent this season, having made multiple statements that show a remarkably accurate grasp of the situation the Blood Gulch crew is in. Hell, he seems to have a better handle on the situation than Sarge (not that that's saying much). The crew have even remarked at how surprising this is.
* EliteMook: The ODST Insurrectionists from Season 9 return this season, presenting a similar spike in difficulty to the Freelancers.
** [[spoiler:South and Wyoming]] serve as elite mooks in Episode 19, with [[spoiler:Carolina]] being something of a BossBattle.
* EnemyChatter: The RunningGag from last season is still going strong, with two mooks in Episode 2 talking to each other about being under attack.
* EpicFlail: [[spoiler:Carolina makes an ImprovisedWeapon version of one in Episode 21 using her GrapplingHookPistol and a grenade.]]
* TheFaceless: As of Episode 6, the only faces of important characters (Insurrection EliteMooks notwithstanding) in the prequel segments not shown have been Washington, Maine, Texas, and, to a degree, the Director. Texas' reason is self evident by this point in the plot (having been revealed as far back as Season 6), and the Director has all of him shown at one point or another except for his eyes. With the exception of Washington and Texas, this serves to make those examples more unnerving than frustrating, lending an air of mystery.
** Played for epic laughs with Washington in Episode 7.
-->'''York:''' Are you eating inside your helmet?
** Then played for drama in Episode 17. To avoid showing Wash's face during his implantation surgery, they show the surgery from his point of view [[spoiler:while the implantation causes him to have a mental episode. Complete with memory flashes, {{Dutch Angle}}s, and warped visuals.]]
** Finally completely averted with the Director in Episode 22... and it turns out [[TheReveal there's a reason for it]].
* FailedASpotCheck: After discovering that [[spoiler:Doc has returned]], Sarge orders Simmons to get him [Sarge] his gun. Simmons replies that Sarge is already holding said gun.
* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Church ''tries'' to make a dramatic exit... but is stymied by the fact that he's attached to Tucker, so he has to stop and ask Tucker to go along with him.
* FandomNod: A popular fanon of Wash (especially on Tumblr) is "Cat Lady Wash" with fans giving him a cat (usually named Hartford, but this can vary). In episode 14 we see inside his locker, inside are some towels, a skateboard featuring the Rooster Teeth emblem, a rubber ducky, and ''pictures of cats!'' Shannon [=McCormick=] had known about the fanon, having discovered it on Tumblr, and specifically campaigned to get the cats included.
* FanNickname: All the Insurrectionists have a couple, considering that they have NoNameGiven status.
* FanService: Episode 11 has North and York having an extended conversation while helmet-less and wearing t-shirts. It wasn't exactly a steamy shower scene, but it's a lot more skin than we've ever seen these two handsome guys show, let alone any of the protagonist soldiers in the entire series.
* FireForgedFriends: [[spoiler:Episode 21 implies it between Carolina and the Reds and Blues.]]
* FlatWhat: In Episode 1.
-->'''Caboose''': We sort of call the new guy Church, y'know, sometimes.
-->'''Church''': What.
* FoeTossingCharge: [[spoiler:Episode 21. Church decides to get Caboose angry. Without hesitation, he charges headlong ''through'' an army of Tex copies. They don't even slow him down.]]
* ForgotFlandersCouldDoThat: [[spoiler:It's been seven seasons since Caboose [[UnstoppableRage got angry]]; he reveals in Episode 21 that ''he doesn't remember how to do that''. [[OneManArmy Church helps him remember]].]]
* FreezeFrameBonus:
** [[spoiler:Episode 17 has a number of these while Tex is looking through the files, notable ones being that Sigma's emotional core is Ambition (and Theta's is Trust); that AIs with Happiness, Love, Greed, and Fear exist; and that ''Allison is Beta''.]]
** [[spoiler:In Episode 19, coupled with the ChekhovsGun above. As Carolina falls off the cliff, you can see her GrapplingHookGun if you look carefully enough.]]
* FunnyBackgroundEvent:
** Look sharp, or you'll miss a shot of [[spoiler:York careening through space]] while Carolina and South are discussing their next move in Episode 3.
** Theta trying and failing to balance on a holographic skateboard in Episode 6, even completely falling over at one point. Though he seems to get it right by the end of the scene, as he rides it out of the room.
** Not entirely background, but it's easy to miss the magically changing fruit that Wash is eating with his helmet on in Episode 7.
** During the big fight scene in Episode 21, [[spoiler:you can see Caboose charging from one side of the room to the other, tossing Texes thither and yon as he goes.]]
** In the credits following Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Net-Surfing Guy from Episode 1 floats by in his chair]].
* GratuitousJapanese: In the song "Now That We've Come So Far" which serves as the credits music on the DVD.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: [[spoiler:During his UnstoppableRage in Episode 21, Caboose, at one point, bashes several Tex drones with the body of one of them.]]
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Suggested by Delta to an Insurrectionist grunt. The Freelancers and Insurrectionists can't be called good and evil, just two groups working for different goals.
* GroinAttack:
** Wash, by a grappling hook to the codpiece pulled at high speed in Episode 4.
** [[spoiler:Tex still ''really'' hates Grif. In Episode 21, the first GroinAttack by three Texes with the help of two to wishbone him is subverted by [[BigDamnHeroes Carolina]]'s DivingSave, but followed up by a DoubleSubverted version when one of those holding him still kicks him there anyway. Tucker notes that he should have seen that coming. Then, off screen, the same happens by [[UpToEleven twenty of them at the same time]].]]
* GuileHero: Wash in the present time. Given how innocent and earnest he was in the flashbacks, it makes his BreakTheCutie all the more terrifying.
* GunsAkimbo:
** Carolina seems to have made a twin set of Plasma Rifles her [[WeaponOfChoice weapons of choice]] in this season.
** Connecticut seems fond of using two pistols.
** In Episode 19, North does it with a pair of ''sniper rifles'', with enough precision to shoot rockets out of the air.
* HeelRealization: [[spoiler:Sort of in the case of Carolina in Episode 21. She finally realizes that no matter how hard she tries, she can't beat Texas on her own, so she finally teams up effectively with the Reds and Blues.]]
* HesBack:
** [[spoiler:After Connecticut's files jog his memory in Episode 17, Epsilon-Church integrates the hidden copies of the fragments he was carrying and transforms back into the complete Alpha-Church. And he remembers ''everything''.]] However, as Episode 18 shows, this is something of a {{deconstruction}}. [[spoiler:Yes, parts of Alpha-Church are back. Specifically his memories and his temper, the latter of which is [[HulkingOut much worse]].]]
** Episode 20 features an equally dramatic and much, much scarier example.
* HeinzHybrid: PlayedForLaughs in Episode 9, with Sarge calling [[spoiler:Carolina]] "a half [[spoiler:woman]], half shark, except the shark half has been given [[SuperSoldier cybernetic powers]], and the [[spoiler:woman]] half is also one quarter [[PantheraAwesome jaguar]]".
* HomoeroticSubtext: [[Funny/RedVsBlue Subverted]] in Episode 16.
-->'''Grif''': Hey, Simmons, when you say [[spoiler:Donut]] [[InnocentInnuendo nailed]] [[spoiler:Lopez]] to a board?\\
'''Simmons''': I mean with nails.\\
'''Grif''': Okay, had to ask.\\
'''Simmons''': No, no, I understand. I should've been clearer. That's ''my'' fault.
* HopeSpot: The female insurrectionist is hanging from a ledge... her boss's distinct cybernetic arm reaches down to give her a hand. She takes it... and it's being held by Maine, who had cut it off earlier. And then he lets go.
* HulkingOut: [[spoiler:When the full-sized Epsilon gets angry and starts ranting about how everyone owes him for what they've done to him, he grows and grows and his voice deepens until he's a scary giant avatar of glowing orange/red rage. However, when he calms down, he shrinks to the small, blue Epsilon-Church form. Even Caboose wordlessly backs away from him afterwards.]]
* HyperDestructiveBouncingBall: The Insurrection soldiers fail to realize that [[spoiler: shooting at the inside of a Freelancer BeehiveBarrier ''while'' you're inside it is a really, really bad idea]]. Weaponizing the BarrierWarrior's BeehiveBarrier is quite terrifying.
* ICantBelieveImSayingThis: In Episode 12, overlapping with OOCIsSeriousBusiness.
-->'''Grif:''' I thought I'd never say this, but I can't sleep.
* IndyPloy: In Episode 20, Sarge admits this is ''every'' Red and Blue plan post-Blood Gulch.
-->'''Sarge:''' Son, stupid and reckless is how we ''always'' get things done.
* InnocentInnuendo:
** [[TheDitz Caboose]] has a problem with this in Episode 6, and doesn't seem to realize it.
--->'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]:''' Or else they'll [the Blood Gulch crew] bring out my [[{{Jerkass}} ugly]] side.\\
'''Caboose:''' Oh, oh come on [[spoiler:[[MyNameIsNotDurwood Caroline]]]], I bet you are really pretty under that armor.\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]:''' [[FlatWhat What?]]
** Again in this conversation in Episode 9, when Caboose is obsessed with the idea of the Reds making a trap for the Blues.
--->'''Tucker:''' You can go ask her if she has the hots for me. I think I felt an emotional connection the last time she hit me.\\
'''Caboose:''' [[TooDumbToLive Tell her that you like to make]] [[CloudCuckooLander an emotional]] [[ComicallyMissingThePoint hot connection]] [[InnocentInnuendo with her trap.]] Got it.\\
'''Tucker:''' Oh, that's even better!
** Two in Episode 20.
*** [[spoiler:Donut]], true to form, talks of being unable to resist "a good mounting".
*** This time [[RousingSpeech from Doc]].
---->'''Doc:''' And Tucker, you learned to use your sword like a pro!\\
'''Tucker:''' ...bow chicka bow wow?
* InsultBackfire:
** Episode 3:
--->'''Sarge:''' Simmons, only you could manage to make a high speed chase ''boring''.\\
'''Simmons:''' [[ProfessionalButtKisser Thank you, sir!]]
** Episode 16:
--->'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': You might be the worst soldiers I've ever met.\\
'''Grif''': Hey! I take offense at that. What do you mean "might be"?
*** ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne
** Episode 19:
--->'''Wyoming:''' [[SurroundedByIdiots Dear God, it's like idiots in stereo.]]\\
'''Freelancer Soldier 1:''' [[ProfessionalButtKisser Nice zinger, sir!]]\\
'''Freelancer Soldier 2:''' [[LampshadeHanging Kiss ass.]]
* InterestingSituationDuel: In Episode 19, we have [[spoiler:York versus Carolina in an elevator shaft on the ''Mother of Invention'' with no ArtificialGravity]]. This is topped a short time later in the same episode by [[spoiler:Tex versus Carolina in a computer room and a hallway, on different surfaces, in a ship that is ComingInHot to a nearby planet]].
* IronicEcho:
** Highlighting just how similar to [[spoiler:the Omega-infused Tex it is that Carolina]] [[NotSoDifferent has become]].
--->[[spoiler:'''Carolina (Episode 10)''': I don't know what's gotten into you, Texas, but you better figure out the difference between your enemies and your friends.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Washington (Episode 18)''': I don't know what's gotten into you, Carolina, but you better figure out the difference between your enemies and your friends.]]
** Another one [[spoiler:where, again, Carolina's role is reversed, not to mention that, as of Episode 22, counts as a case of [[LikeFatherLikeSon Like Father, Like Daughter]]]].
--->[[spoiler:'''[[ArchnemesisDad The Director]] (Episode 8)''': Leave personnel decisions to me Agent Carolina.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''[[BadBoss Carolina]] (Episode 18)''': Leave personnel decisions to me Agent Washington.]]
** A different one comes up in Episode 22, this time contrasting the two in the one directly above, and within the space of two scenes in succession.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon]]:''' [[spoiler:Oh, there's still one place we haven't visited. Somewhere we can make a home.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]:''' Show me.\\
\\
'''[[spoiler:The Director]]:''' [[spoiler:The Alpha needs anonymity. A place where no-one will think to look for him.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:The Counselor]]:''' [[spoiler:I believe I know exactly the place.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:The Director]]:''' Show me.
* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler:The lesson that Church and Carolina were supposed to learn in Episode 12 was to let go of the past. However, they're still utterly consumed with their single minded mission to kill the Director, as is best shown in Episode 18. If anybody has taken the moral to heart, it's Wash, who is no longer interested in taking revenge on the Director and is only concerned with looking out for his friends. Church, who was the one teaching Carolina in Episode 12, is the one who calls Wash out about walking out on them.]]
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Director says this he orders F.I.L.S.S. to delete all Project Freelancer files, including herself. F.I.L.S.S. responds in kind]].
* KickTheDog:
** [[spoiler:Though Caboose]] is totally oblivious in Episode 6, and it isn't the first time he's been shot at for laughs, Carolina's threat is played coldly straight when she shoots at an explosive a distance behind him.]]
** South petitioning for one of Carolina's AI's as the latter lies in the hospital in Episode 16. Tex takes particular exception to it, calling her a vulture, and even [[BigBrotherInstinct North]] admits that it was uncalled for.
** [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech in Episode 18. After they told their piece and said, rightfully, that killing the Director has nothing to do with them, he, rightfully, screams at all of the assembled Reds and Blues (directing mostly at those from Blood Gulch), blaming them for most his problems and saying that, when it came down to it, all they amounted to problems for him. This KickTheDog was so blatant every single one of [[TrueCompanions them]], even Caboose, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere walked out on him]] temporarily.]]
** Not to mention Church telling Wash [[spoiler: he shouldn't have been surprised Washington was abandoning their cause. Wash fought the battle against the project longer and harder than either Epsilon or Carolina did. He earned his chance to just let go of the past.]]
* KilledOffForReal: Aside from those DoomedByCanon in the flashbacks and not shown in-season, we have, in chronological order, [[spoiler:Utah (in a deleted scene), the Insurrection EliteMook squad aside from the leader, Connecticut, possibly the latest Texas, F.I.L.S.S., and Doctor Leonard Church, a.k.a. the Director]].
* KnifeFight: Though Carolina uses a [[SimpleStaff Humbler]] [[StaticStunGun stun]] [[http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Humbler_stun_device device]], her battles with the female Insurrectionist member in Episode 9 and with [[spoiler:Conncecticut]] in Episode 10 give off this impression.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: Wash spent ''years'' nursing a secret grudge against the Director, bidding his time for when he would be able to bring down the Director and Freelancer. In Season 10, he's finally given a chance to get his revenge against the Director, and yet chooses to let go of his vendetta in Episode 18 rather than put his new friends in danger over something that is not their problem. Unlike Carolina and even Church, it seems he's finally learned to let go of the past.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: The first line of Season 10, arguably the most exciting and anticipated season yet? "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for..."
* LeaveBehindAPistol: [[spoiler:The Director [[InvokedTrope asks for Carolina to do this]] before she leaves him in the facility.]]
* LetMeGetThisStraight:
** Said word for word by [[spoiler:Carolina]] in Episode 13, though we don't hear the rest of it.
** Tucker in Episode 18.
--->'''Tucker:''' LetMeGetThisStraight. You built an enormous room capable of creating [[{{Hologram}} realistic holographic simulations]], but you couldn't figure out how to walk across the canyon and capture our flag.\\
'''Grif:''' Actually, [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot Lopez]] built it.\\
'''Tucker:''' Okay, now that I believe.
** Episode 20, regarding [[ICallItVera the]] [[GrenadeLauncher "Grif]][[BayonetYa shot"]].
--->'''Washington:''' You've been hiding one of the most advanced pieces of technology ''known to man''... so you can ''[[PricelessPaperweight hang it in your living room]]''?\\
'''Grif:''' ... well, [[LampshadeHanging when you say it like that, it sounds dumb.]]\\
'''Washington:''' [[WhatAnIdiot That's because it]] ''[[WhatAnIdiot is]]'' [[WhatAnIdiot dumb!]]
* LetsGetDangerous[=/=]MisfitMobilizationMoment: [[spoiler:In Episode 20, Doc's speech about how the [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection adventures after Blood Gulch]] ended up giving almost all of the Blood Gulch Crew (and Washington) what they wanted in some way results in the majority of those present agreeing to leave and help Epsilon and Carolina, since Epsilon is still Church, and therefore still their friend. Washington takes some more convincing, but Sarge's subsequent speech is enough to have him join the others in "the worst idea... ever".]]
* LetsSeeYOUDoBetter: When Carolina demands to be implanted with an AI, the Director lets her choose which one she'll obtain (and therefore take from one of her teammates) under this basis.
-->'''The Director''': If she thinks our decisions are so easy, then let ''her'' make one.
* LiteralAssKicking: A follow up to a GroinAttack in Episode 21, from [[spoiler:a Tex drone]] to [[spoiler:Grif]].
* LittleNo: The Pillman Insurrectionist when [[spoiler:Connie dies in his arms]].
* LongLostRelative: [[spoiler:In a roundabout way, Carolina to Epsilon, and technically the other AI units.]]
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Allison and the Director are Carolina's parents, though it appears that Carolina and possibly Epsilon already knew that.]]
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Maine clutching his head in pain while Sigma and Gamma are speaking with Carolina in Episode 13, foreshadowing his descent into insanity courtesy of Sigma.
* MoodWhiplash:
** Episode 10, which, the last two seasons, has been a CurbStompBattle courtesy of Tex, did start out that way when she started fighting. [[spoiler:Then she mortally wounded Connecticut, ending the episode on a TearJerker as she [[DiedInYourArmsTonight died in her boyfriend's arms]].]]
** Episode 15, hands down. [[spoiler:At first, it seems like there's going to be an epic MontyOum battle. It starts with Carolina, pumped up by two AI units, assembling her equipment for her match with Tex. On FILSS's signal, the two rush towards one another... and then the Director, outraged at the unauthorized match, accidentally calls Tex "Allison". Then, the episode suddenly becomes extremely dark, as all the AI act up in their owners' heads, Carolina goes nuts due to her two AI, and the Sarcophagus starts ''snarling and screaming''. Back in the present, the Reds go looking for Lopez to reboot him... and then Donut reappears, revealed to be alive with the help of Doc, drastically lightening the mood.]]
* MusicalisInterruptus: In Episode 3, when adventure "about to set out and kick ass" music gears up as the Freelancers go to find the Insurgent leader of this group in "Bone Valley"... [[NiceGuy York]] crashed into the scene at last on his JetPack, face first. Cue {{beat}} as everyone turns and stares at him for ruining the moment.
* MythologyGag: In Episode 12, York mentions a "[[VideoGame/HaloReach Club Errera]]" as the place where he [[spoiler:met Carolina]].
* NewMeat: Washington's status as the new guy is further cemented this season, and is often used as way to get someone to put up exposition about certain aspects of Project Freelancer. It's also PlayedForLaughs, since he has no clue about the {{Noodle Incident}}s his squadmates keep talking about.
* NiceGuy: Much is made of North's [[BigBrotherInstinct "caring and nurturing" nature]] in Episode 5, which led to him being paired up with the shy, childlike Theta.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
** Wash destroying the artificial gravity while trying to hack the system, in Episode 2. Not that it's a bad thing for the audience, because we get treated to an epically awesome zero-G battle. It's not even a bad thing for the crew, since they're considerably more prepared for zero-g combat (they have magnetic boots and jetpacks) than the mooks they're dealing with.
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler:Texas killing Connie. Sure, she was an enemy, but, as she learns in Episode 17, Connie could have actually helped shut down Project Freelancer much sooner, and with far less pain to the members]].
* NoodleIncident:
** There's that one soldier from Episode 2 who accidentally drops a shotgun which goes off, killing the guy next to him. What are the first words out of his mouth?
-->'''Soldier''': [[OhNoNotAgain Not again.]] Sorry about that.
** From Episodes 2 through 4, Agent Georgia. You do not want to know what happened to Georgia. [[hottip:*:A deleted scene in the Season 10 DVD reveals it, however.]]
--->'''Wash:''' I really do, though!
*** NoodleImplements: It involved a JetPack thruster in space.
** How [[spoiler:Carolina]] and York met, in Episode 12. The story cut off before York could finish, going straight into the next diary log.
* NormalFishInATinyPond: Wash (the Blood Gulch guys are the pond). Emphasized even more strongly in the flashbacks when York notes in the Episode 8 that he's easily the worst fighter in the squad. That said, the other people in the squad ''are'' [[MasterOfUnlocking York]], [[FriendlySniper North]], [[TheAce Carolina]], and [[TheJuggernaut Maine]].
* OfficialCouple:
** Episode 10 pretty much confirms that CT and the Resistance Leader had a relationship. From the looks of it, they planned to steal Freelancer equipment and then run away together. [[spoiler:[[TearJerker It didn't work out so well.]]]]
** Episodes 11 & 12 seem to confirm this for York & Carolina as well, though it might just be UnresolvedSexualTension.
* OhCrap:
** The Insurrectionist sniper in Episode 8, when one of his squadmates [[TooDumbToLive decides to]] [[spoiler:shoot at the inside of the BeehiveBarrier with a submachine gun]].
** [[spoiler:You can practically see the despair on the sleeveless ODST's face in Episode 9 when he realizes that Maine's going to kill him.]]
** A pair of comical examples in Episode 15: [[spoiler:Simmons and Sarge aren't too excited to have Donut and Doc around again]].
** In Episode 18, we have a tragic example. [[spoiler:Immediately after Epsilon-Church's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, his reaction as Tucker leaves, followed slowly by everyone else but Carolina, is a quiet version of this. It quickly evolves into PleaseDontLeaveMe.]]
** In Episode 20.
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon]]''': [[spoiler:Oh no.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': [[spoiler:Church? What is this?]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Epsilon]]''': [[spoiler:He kept trying. He kept trying to get her right.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': [[spoiler:You thinks these things are anything like the real deal?]]\\
''[[spoiler:Camera Pans to reveal an army made up of Tex copies, cracking their knuckles and necks.]]''\\
'''[[spoiler:One of the Tex copies, in the voice of [[AIIsACrapshoot Omega]]]]:''' [[spoiler:You have no idea what kind of trouble you are in.]]
* OhNoNotAgain:
** In Episode 2, when one Insurrectionist soldier drops a shotgun, [[AccidentalMurder accidentally killing the guy next to him]], the first thing [[TheKlutz he]] says is: "Not again."
** In Episode 21, we have a non-NoodleIncident version of this. [[spoiler:Grif says this in response to a GroinAttack from a Texas drone.]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Tucker]]:''' [[spoiler:[[LampshadeHanging Oh, come on! You had to see that coming.]]]]
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
** In Episode 12:
-->'''[[LazyBum Grif]]:''' [[ICantBelieveImSayingThis I never thought I'd say this]], but I can't sleep.
** In Episode 13:
-->'''Tucker:''' [[ThatCameOutWrong Church, just because you want to get close to someone]] [[DoubleEntendre doesn't mean that you have to end up inside them!]]\\
* {{Beat}}*\\
'''Epsilon-Church:''' ...Oh come on. Aren't you gonna say it?\\
'''Tucker:''' No, because I'm pissed off!
** [[spoiler:After Church rages at the crew in Episode 18, Caboose leaves Epsilon-Church, despite his prior UndyingLoyalty, driving home just how crushed the Blood Gulch Crew is at that point. That said, he does get over it quickly enough, so it's probably more that he was upset that Epsilon-Church was alienating his friends than anything else.]]
* PhlebotinumOverdose: [[spoiler:Carolina takes on Iota and Eta because she believes that two AIs, being fragments themselves for an AI that is generally implanted to armor complete, will be better than one, and allow her to surpass [[TheRival Tex]]. The agony that comes from hearing them both calling out to "Allison" when the Director accidentally pushed the AI fragment BrownNote left her extremely debilitated, and, after being knocked out by Texas, she did not regain consciousness for several days at the least.]]
* PlatonicLifePartners: [[spoiler:Epsilon and Carolina by the end of the season.]]
* PleaseDontLeaveMe:
** In Episode 12:
--->[[spoiler:'''Carolina:''' Delta? Delta, please don't--]]
** [[spoiler:After Episode 18's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, Epsilon-Church almost immediately has a MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment as the Reds and Blues [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere silently walk out on him one by one]]. After Tucker leaves, this is his reaction.]]
--->[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' [[OhCrap Guys...]]]]\\
[[spoiler:''[[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Sarge, Grif, and Simmons nod to each other and walk out on him, after Tucker.]]'']]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Guys, wait a minute.]]]]\\
[[spoiler:''[[BrokenPedestal Caboose stares at him, Washington watching to see what he does.]]'']]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' Caboose...]]\\
[[spoiler:''[[TearJerker Caboose backs away, then turns and walks out as well without a word.]]'']]
* PluckyComicRelief: [[NewMeat Wash]][[NiceGuy ing]][[{{Adorkable}} ton]] is portrayed as this in the flashbacks before [[BreakTheCutie Episode 17]].
* PoorCommunicationKills:
** [[spoiler:The fight between Carolina and York, plus the one between Carolina and Tex would both have gone a lot more smoothly if either York or Tex had just said: "The Director is torturing someone to make these AIs and this is a rescue mission." However, instead they just make vague comments. Still, at that point it's doubtful Carolina would have listened, given how emotionally unstable she was from [[ArtificialIntelligence Eta and Iota]], her feelings of betrayal by York, her personal grudge against Tex and her loyalty to the Director.]]
** Church also basically cites this as the reason why nobody trusts Carolina. She basically orders the Reds, Blues and Wash around in an abrasive manner without giving them any explanation for why they're doing anything, what her motivations are, or even trying to connect with them. Church and Wash know the reasons and justifications for her behaviour, but a lot of problems the group has throughout this season might have been avoided if she had taken a breather to just talk with them.
* PricelessPaperweight[=/=]BattleTrophy: Grif still has [[spoiler:the Meta's Brute Shot]], which he had been planning to mount on the wall as a trophy.
* PunchCatch: [[spoiler:Maine catches the very first punch thrown by the sleeveless ODST, which shows off his newly acquired SuperStrength]].
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church gives a long one to the Reds and Blues in Episode 18 when they refuse to go with him and Carolina to face the Director down. The result is... [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere less]] [[BondBreaker than stellar]].]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church''': So that's it? You're just going to turn your back on us?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Washington''': Epsilon, I know that it-]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church''': No, you're right. I guess I should have seen that one coming. It's not exactly like you're new to the concept, is it?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Sarge''': [[WhatTheHellHero That's a little harsh.]]]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church''': But you guys, after all the shit you've put me through, I really thought at least you would have my back.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Grif''': Us? What the hell did we do?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' You ''shot'' me [[BoomHeadshot through the head]], you put a ''bomb'' [[WhyAmITicking in my gut]], you killed me with my [[TankGoodness own damn tank!]] And that's just how we ''met!'']]\\
[[spoiler:'''Tucker:''' [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan Church, calm down! What's your problem?!]]]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' ''You're'' my problem! You've ''always'' been my problem! Each and every one of you is just a ''problem'' that I have to ''deal'' with on a [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Daily. Basis!]]]]
** MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Once Church calms down after saying that, he tries to apologize to them. By the end, he's begging Caboose, for whom he presumably has become a BrokenPedestal, not to leave. [[TearJerker It doesn't work.]]]]
* ReplacementGoldfish: [[spoiler:Wash apparently became this for Church, after the latter went into the capture unit. To the point where Caboose even ''calls Wash by Church's name'', though only to make it easier for Caboose (the armor color confuses him), as Church discovers much to his fury after being rescued from the capture unit.]] This is cemented in the last scenes of the season, with [[spoiler:Wash yelling at Tucker and Caboose to get back to work, just like Church used to do]].
* TheReveal: In episode 22: [[spoiler:The mysterious blue guy is Captain Flowers/Agent [[BrickJoke Florida]], and ''Carolina is the Director and Alison's daughter'']].
* ReversePsychology: Wash pulls this off perfectly on the Red Team in the present day bits of Episode 6, when they threaten to leave and go back home. He notes that they're right about there maybe being some kind of bad things back home... like a UNSC ambush, since they're wanted criminals.
** In episode 20, [[spoiler:this hilariously turns out to actually be ''true'', even though Wash had been--as far as he knew--[=BSing=] them]].
-->'''Wash:''' ''*deadpan*'' You gotta be fucking kidding me.
* RivalsTeamUp: Tex and Carolina take on [[spoiler:Connecticut and the Insurrectionist Leader]] together in Episode 10.
* RousingSpeech: Doc delivers one to the rest of the BGC [[spoiler:in what turns out to be a MisfitMobilizationMoment]]. Then Sarge in turn delivers one to Wash that's half Rousing Speech and half TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Wash takes it rather well.]]
* TheScapegoat: Wash ends up taking the blame for the breakdown of Freelancer, even though it turns out that Tex's defection and the Meta's rampage had as much if not more to do with the Director's decision to mothball the A.I.s. Likewise, Tex is initially blamed for Meta's first attack (as no one yet knows that Maine has finally lost it).
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:Wash, Tucker, Caboose, and the Reds eventually have all they can take of Carolina and Church, and walk out on them. They eventually change their minds, though.]]
* SayingTooMuch: Theta, in his first appearance. [[spoiler:"I have a sister."]]
* ShipTease:
** York and Carolina in Episode 11, 12 and 16.
** Episode 12 also seems to tease Carolina with Church.
* ShoutOut:
** The first episode shows a split-second still of [[RoosterTeeth Rooster Teeth Animated Adventures]].
** Theta's skateboard has the RoosterTeeth logo on it.
** In Episode 8, 479er is channeling [[Franchise/StarWars Han Solo]].
--> '''479''': No, no. That one goes there, this one goes here.
** [[spoiler:Pillman's grabbing and equipping of Connie's helmet]] seems very similar to ''VideoGame/HaloReach''.
** Episode 19 has a few to ''Franchise/StarWars'':
*** Tex asking York for a big distraction has him respond with a very Han Solo-esque, "Relax, it's me."
*** [[spoiler:The ''Mother of Invention'' crashing planet-side]] is very reminiscent of the opening of ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
** "Seeing this many ex-girlfriends in one room kinda has me [[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought."]]
* ShownTheirWork[=/=]ShoutOut: The Freelancer discussion of A.I. theory in episode 6 is a startlingly accurate summary of how A.I. works in the Bungie-verse, first articulated in the ''{{VideoGame/Marathon}}'' series (the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series uses the same rules for A.I. behavior). It also reveals [[spoiler:the origin of the Meta's name (for Metastability, the theoretical 4th stage of rampancy where an A.I. achieves full human sentience, which Sigma wanted to achieve)]].
* ShrinkingViolet: Theta is very shy when North is trying to show him to the others. If you look closely, you can even see Theta is constantly wringing his hands nervously during the interaction.
* SicEm: Said word-for-word by Sigma to Maine when he shows up at the battle during the eighth episode.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Most of the notably mentioned Project Freelancer events (Maine becoming the Meta, the Epsilon Incident, and even South and North's falling out) are pushed to the side in favor of showing the story of Carolina. Maine, in particular, is largely OutOfFocus, showing up in a single fight scene and a handful of largely background appearances before suiting up to become the Meta.
* TheStinger: Several at the end of the DVD credits:
** [[BrickJoke Utah and Georgia run into one another.]]
** North carries South away after [[spoiler:their fight. He apologizes and tells her he always has her back. She responds, "[[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder And I'm watching yours.]]"]]
** Carolina [[spoiler:is shown walking into Club Errera.]]
** [[spoiler:Doc is revealed to have been left behind in Valhalla.]]
** [[spoiler:The Director's video of Allison is shown in its entirety.]]
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Tucker in the present and York in the past both commenting on Carolina's greenish-blue-seafoam-green/aquamarine-turquoise armor in almost the exact same wording.
* SummonBiggerFish: Washington signals for a pod containing [[spoiler:Sigma-enhanced Maine]] to fight the sleeveless Insurrectionist.
* SuperStrength: All Freelancers seem to possess at least some degree of this, given the insane moves even the lower-tier ones are shown to pull off. Most visibly, York is able to lift a gym locker over his head and use it as a projectile weapon. [[spoiler:Also, an extreme version of this is potentially Maine's original Freelancer ability; if you listen carefully, you'll hear faint mechanical noises when he winds back for a punch. He [[OneHitKill paid back]] the sleeveless Insurrectionist for the whole "shot in the throat" bit. He's certainly augmented, but whether this is his armor's special ability or just standard Freelancer enhancement remains to be seen.]] Also [[spoiler:Caboose]], though his might be purely natural.
* SympathyForTheDevil: [[spoiler:Carolina]] feels sorry for [[spoiler:Maine]], since [[spoiler:Sigma was her AI, and so Maine wasn't suited to handle him, leading to his corruption and by extension the entire Recollection Trilogy. This is made more significant by the revelation in Episode 19 that she was the Meta's first victim]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': Poor [[spoiler:Maine]].
** [[spoiler: Epsilon-Church agrees. During his confrontation with the Director, he lists the Meta as one of his victims:]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Church]]''': No! You've had your fucking time. You have to answer for what you did. To [[spoiler: the Meta]], to Washington, to Carolina... to me, and to her. To Texas!
** [[spoiler:When Carolina and Epsilon-Church finally confront the Director in Episode 22, he's such a broken shell of a man that Carolina can feel nothing but pity for him.]]
* TakeAThirdOption: When presented with the option of taking either Washington's or South's [=AIs=], Carolina decides to take ''both'' of them.
* [[TattooedCrook Tattooed Villain]]: Maine has the Meta's symbol tattooed on the back of his shaved head.
* ThrowAwayGuns: [[spoiler:In Episode 19, this is Tex's behavior, using one of [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her enemies' shotguns]] and throwing it at someone else when it runs out of ammunition.]]
* TheBusCameBack: Episode 15 re-introduces [[spoiler:Donut and Doc, who haven't been seen since the ends of Seasons 7 and 8, respectively]].
** [[spoiler:Sadly, Doc got back on it. He was too busy preparing for the trip, complete with his own rocket launcher, and didn't get to the others in time to get on the planes with them. The people they stole the planes from don't have a problem with him though, so he'll be okay.]]
* TheyFightCrime: In Episode 9.
-->'''[[GeniusDitz Caboose]]''': Hover Church can also solve crimes.
* ThisIsGonnaSuck: In Episode 19.
-->'''[[spoiler:South]]:''' [[spoiler:''*enters the room with a [[MacrossMissileMassacre Missile Pod]]*'']] Think you're so fucking tough, don't you, [[spoiler:Texas]]? Well, let me ask you something. [[YouMonster Who's the monster now]], [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch?]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Tex]]:''' Ah, shit.
** [[spoiler:Carolina's reaction to an army of Agent Tex copies at the end of Episode 20.]]
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Subverted. The Mysterious Blue Guy tries to kill the GatlingGood duo in Episode 10 by throwing the axe he had lodged in his chestplate...but despite the music [[TheDayTheMusicLied implying otherwise]], it doesn't even make it to them at all.
* TomatoInTheMirror: [[spoiler:Tex]], after viewing [[spoiler:C.T.]]'s information disk, realizes that she herself is [[spoiler:the Beta AI fragment that formed as a byproduct of the creation of the Alpha]].
* TookALevelInBadass: After being enhanced by Sigma, the already incredibly strong Maine is now well on his way to become [[TheJuggernaut The Meta]].
** Episode 21 explains why [[spoiler:Caboose wasn't animated in previous seasons, as we see him kick the ass of many, MANY, [[OneManArmy Texes]].]]
* TookALevelInKindness: From the perspective of the Freelancers, Tex - particularly after Episode 16. It is indicated that this is largely due Omega being shut down.
* TooDumbToLive: The [[spoiler:Hornet pilots]] in Episode 20 were practically shouting [[spoiler:to have their planes stolen]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Pilot]]:''' ...we do have airships! Fast, easy-to-pilot airships! Which we will now land, in order to take you to jail!
* TooSoon: After Sarge quips that ever since Donut was shot, he probably has a few more holes in him, he invokes this trope by name. [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church calls him out on it.
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': What's the appropriate amount of time to go by for ''that'' joke to be ok?
* TragicKeepsake:
** [[spoiler:As revealed in Episode 10, Connie's Freelancer armor, which went missing (aside from the appearance in ''Recreation'') until found by Wash in ''Revelation''.]]
** [[spoiler:In Episodes 12 and 19, York's lighter.]]
* TranquilFury:
** In Episode 1, [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church is ''not'' happy [[spoiler:that Wash became his [[ReplacementGoldfish replacement on Blue Team]]]]. But instead of raving and ranting [[spoiler:like the Alpha]], he just gets more and more teeth-clenched and sarcastic at every new revelation.
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' Why are you wearing blue armor? Why are you wearing ''my'' armor? [...] [[WhatTheHellHero You took my clothes,]] ''[[WhatTheHellHero and]]'' [[WhatTheHellHero my name?]]
** Tex in Episode 10, when CT calls her a "shadow." [[spoiler:Considering what Tex does to CT after this exchange, this seems to have been a BerserkButton for her.]]
--> '''CT:''' I know what you are, Tex. And I won't take orders from a shadow.
--> '''Tex:''' ''What'' did you just call me?
* TrueCompanions: The Freelancers come off as once being this the more we see them. Kind of summed up by North a bit snarkily in Episode 5 when he comments that York and Wash are "my friends, for reasons beyond my comprehension". Episode 12 shows this is a deconstruction. Despite being such a close-knit unit, they still fell apart eventually. [[spoiler:This led to Carolina being pretty much completely unable to trust anyone later on.]]
** This particularly becomes a deconstruction when you realise that the Blood Gulch crew, who were recruited and trained to hate and fight each other, have become far more friendly towards one another in recent seasons, while the Freelancers, who are supposed to be a team and work together, are the ones who fell apart due to in-fighting and conflicting loyalties. In other words, the Freelancers were ''supposed'' to be TrueCompanions, while the Blood Gulch crew were the ones who actually ''achieved'' it.
** C.T. pointed out early on that the failure of Project Freelancer to achieve True Companion status was due at least partially to the Leaderboard. Instead of encouraging the members of the squad to work together, it turned almost half the team into [[CompetitionFreak Competition Freaks]], with Carolina, South being two notable examples. Instead of working as a team, we got situations where Maine and Wyoming were more concerned with being the ones to take out Tex, and Carolina was less concerned with achiving the mission objectives than doing better than Tex during said mission. This constant competition bred resentment, distrust, and ultimately was a factor in the team eating itself.
* TwoPlusTortureMakesFive: It's been known since before the season that the AIs are fragments that were made from torturing Alpha. Episode 16 gives the viewers a glimpse of the process, which is rather [[DrivenToMadness disturbing]] to watch as Alpha is subjected to [[GoMadFromTheRevelation cruel revelations]] designed to create [[SplitPersonality alternate personalities]].
* UnexplainedRecovery: The Insurrection soldiers that were shown in Season 9 as a QuirkyMinibossSquad. The soldier with the bandolier is the most glaring example, as he was last seen taking a WaveMotionGun right to the face, yet appears in the eighth episode with his only visible injuries being [[ArtificialLimbs a mechanical arm]] and some heavy damage to his armor.
* VitriolicBestBuds: We see York and Delta's friendship progress over time from initial distrust/serious criticism of each other, to the friendly needling and snark they had in "Out of Mind" and now in York's "present day" journal entries.
* WasItReallyWorthIt: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:F.I.L.S.S. asks the Director if Project Freelancer was ultimately a success. He says no, but he thinks he was close (to reviving Allison)]].
* WhamEpisode:
** Episode 10. From the [[spoiler:chronologically first on-screen death of a Freelancer (unless the deleted scene about Utah counts), a massive {{revision}} about CT's identity in Season 7, and the implication to Tex and Carolina that there's a lot more to Freelancer than meets the eye]].
** Episode 15. See the MoodWhiplash entry, above, for details.
** Episode 17: Wash is implanted with Epsilon, [[spoiler:Connie was invoking a BatmanGambit for Tex to get her information on the Director, Beta is Texas, we finally see Allison's face, and Epsilon gains many of the capabilities and memories of the Alpha]].
** Episode 20: We see what the Director was doing all this time.
** Episode 22: [[spoiler:Carolina]] and [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church finally reach the Director. [[spoiler:They spare him, but he decides to commit suicide along with F.I.L.S.S. anyway. Carolina then heavily implies, if not outright states that she is the daughter of the original Allison and Director Leonard Church.]]
* WhamLine:
** Trailer for Season 10.
--->'''[[ElijahWood Sigma]]:''' [[TheCorrupter We]] [[CallBack are the Meta.]] And we will find you. Very soon.
** Episode 10.
--->'''Insurrectionist Leader:''' [[spoiler:[[IsThatWhatHeToldYou Ha, ha, is that]] [[LaResistance who]] he told [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters you]] [[HeroAntagonist we]] are?]]
--->'''C.T.:''' [[spoiler:Here, take the info. It's not complete but it'll get [[HeroAntagonist them]] started.]]
** Episode 15, more for the effects of the line than the line itself.
--->'''Director:''' [[BigNo NO!]] [[spoiler:[[BrownNote Allison!]]]]
** Episode 17.
--->'''[[spoiler:Allison]]:''' [[spoiler:[[CallBack But don't say goodbye.]] [[NeverSayGoodbye I hate goodbyes.]]]]
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-Church]]:''' [[spoiler:I just remembered ''[[HesBack everything]]''.]]
* WhamShot: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Director taking off his glasses, showing his eyes are the same exact color as Carolina's]].
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse:
** Out of all of the original Project Freelancer characters, the only ones we don't know the ultimate fates of so far are the Counselor and Four Seven Niner (and Freelancer Command if she's not the same person as Four Seven Niner).
** In Episode 11, after discussion with the Reds and Blues about the [[TalkingLightbulb Monitor unit]] that Epsilon used as a body from part way into Season 7 to part way into Season 8, [[spoiler:Carolina]] gets angry and stops talking about it entirely when she realizes that they left it on the floor of a warehouse. Despite it being ''the'' reason Tucker was defending the temple at Sandtrap in Season 7 and apparently a very important artifact to the Insurrectionist Leader, nobody bothers to look for it further after that [[spoiler:even when the gang go back to the same warehouse where they left it in the first place. Considering Carolina's HeelRealization, this is especially jarring, since it could have helped to go through with her [[TheAtoner atonement]] following the death of the Director if she had tried to grab it on the way out, and Tucker didn't even seem to mention why he thought it was a "big pain in the ass"]]. However, with the release of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' and its focus on [[HigherTechSpecies the Forerunners]], this might be a SequelHook to lead into the new trilogy while [[spoiler:Carolina and Epsilon hunt down the remaining technology of Project Freelancer]].
* [[spoiler:WhatCouldHaveBeen: An unused fight scene for Season 9, but was later updated for use in Season 10, would've had Carolina's armor completely break off after chasing the Sleeveless Insurrectionist, having a fight in a subway that would've ended with Carolina using her GrapplingHookGun to [[OffWithHisHead decapitate the guy]].]]
* WhereItAllBegan: Episode 19 reveals that [[spoiler:Maine assimilated his first additional AIs (Eta and Iota) at Sidewinder/Avalanche near a cliff, with Sigma proclaiming the group in Maine "the Meta" for the first time. Retroactively, this makes Maine's DisneyVillainDeath in [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection the finale of "Revelation"]] an example, as it is both the place where the Meta was "born" and killed]].
* WorthIt: Tucker thinks as much [[spoiler:when Epsilon manages to stop the Tex army in Episode 21... but after Grif was hit with a simultaneous GroinAttack by 20 Texes at once]].
-->'''Tucker:''' Yeah, but where's the fun in that?
* YouAreNotAlone:
** In Episode 12, [[ArtificialIntelligence Epsilon]] to [[spoiler:[[BrokenBird Carolina]]]]:
--->'''Epsilon''': [[spoiler:[[TearJerker Because I know what it's like to spend your life chasing ghosts.]]]]
** In Episode 21, [[spoiler:Carolina is facing her DarkestHour, as she begins to realize that she can never defeat Tex... when the gang pulls a BigDamnHeroes moment, causing her to realize that she really needs them.]]
* YouAreTooLate: Tex's attempt at [[spoiler:rescuing Alpha]] fails due to this.
* YouDoNOTWantToKnow:
-->'''York''': We're going all the way over there? After [[NoodleIncident what happened to Georgia]]? [[hottip:*:It seems to have been less disastrous than we've been led to believe. For details, check the [[Characters/RedVsBlueProjectFreelancer characters section.]]\\
'''Wash''': Would someone ''please'' tell me what happened to Georgia?!\\
'''York''': Dude, YouDoNOTWantToKnow.\\
'''Wash''': I really do, though!
[[/folder]]
----
----
!This series provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Season Nine]]
* TheAce: Agent Carolina, especially before Episode 10.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Tucker again mistakenly believes Donut is a girl instead of a guy in pink armor. He then comments on how awkward that makes what he did twenty minutes ago during "alone time".
* ADayInTheLimelight: The Dakotas get a focus plot early in the season, and C.T. gets a character establishing scene about midway through, but the Prequel half of the season is definitively more about [[TheAce Carolina]], [[TheLancer York]], [[OnlySaneMan Washington]], [[BadAss Tex]], and, to a lesser extent, [[TheBrute Maine]].
* {{Adorkable}}:
** Wash, especially compared to [[TheStoic previous]] [[ConsummateProfessional seasons]]. He comes off as much more [[TeamDad sociable,]] [[WideEyedIdealist innocent]] and awkward compared to the [[AntiHero grim,]] [[JerkWithaHeartofGold gruff]] and [[RoaringRampageofRevenge vengeful]] Washington we know and love.
** And York, who is friendly and nice, but is a bit of a ButtMonkey and his snarky comments tend to invoke headshaking rather than chuckles from the other Freelancers.
* [[spoiler:AGlitchInTheMatrix: Church's reality is not as idyllic as it seems.]]
* ArmedWithCanon: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church needs events in the simulation to go the same as before to draw Tex out.]]
* ArtShift: Burnie has said that, due to the difficulty in matching the game art style with the mocap CGI, they've embraced the difference to tell two simultaneous storylines side-by-side, with the Freelancer stuff in CGI entirely and the "future stuff" in ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' machinima. [[spoiler:Then the shift goes back to ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' for the last scene of the season, outside of the memory unit and in the present day.]]
* AscendedExtra: York had about seven minutes of screentime prior to this season, Carolina was just talked about a couple of times, and North was [[spoiler:an already-dead body barely seen on screen]].
* AudibleGleam: During Grif's initial cleanliness tick, both times he points out how clean he's waxed the floors, we cut to a wider shot of the floor, which gives this off. It's quite amusing.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Epsilon-Church and Epsilon-Tex make amends [[spoiler:during the (assumed) end of the world]].
* BackToBackBadasses:
** Agent North and Agent South in Episode 2. [[MemeticMutation SWITCH!]]
** Agents Maine and Carolina of all people pull this off in episode 17.
* BashBrothers: North and South.....well, Bash Siblings really.
* BehindTheBlack: The Reds fail to notice Sarge's drilling machine and the even larger excavation unit until he points them out. Lampshaded by Grif.
* BigDamnHeroes:
** [[spoiler:In Episode 3, North and South are saved from the Red Demo Man and his Insurrectionists by the timely intervention of Four-Seven-Niner and Carolina.]]
** [[spoiler:[[TheBrute Maine]], of all people, pulls this off in Episode 15 by saving York and Carolina by driving by them right before they kiss the pavement.]]
** [[spoiler:The real Reds and Blues come to Epsilon-Church's rescue in the finale.]]
* BigNo: [[spoiler:Carolina]] gives one when [[spoiler:Maine is shot in the throat]].
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: [[http://montyoum.deviantart.com/art/The-Girls-269475875 South, C.T., and Carolina, respectively.]]
* BloodierAndGorier: Episode two alone probably has more blood and gore in it than the rest of the series combined. Still not ''incredibly'' gory, but relatively speaking...
** Justified as Freelancers are already using the Mk 6 armor which is, at least until Halo 4 comes out, the deadliest PowerArmor in the military's arsenal. The people they're fighting don't, indicated for example by their lack of the usual voice distortion effects, making them MadeOfPlasticine by comparison.
* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Carolina. She appears to be just as crazy as Alpha remembered her. She used to be utterly devoted to the Director to the point of it being creepy (significantly even more than Wash), and now she's resolved to end him on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.]]
* ButtMonkey: Lots of them as usual, but the primary ButtMonkey changes:
** In the Freelancer segments, falls between York and Wash, though Maine has some moments late in the season, especially in [[HighSpeedBattle Episode 17]].
** In the present storyline, it's [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Simmons.
* CallForward: In the trailer, some of Agent Maine's injuries were brought about due to a surprise attack by simulation troops. [[spoiler:This happens to him again in Revelation, except without the surviving part.]]
--> '''The Director:''' How are two soldiers of your caliber possibly hurt by simulation troopers?\\
'''Washington:''' They... got the jump on us.
** [[spoiler: "Firing main cannon."]]
** Washington's catch phrase. Hell, half the things that come out of Wash's mouth, really.
** Maine can be seen picking up his signature weapon, the "Knifle" as one of the {{Mooks}} he tests it on dubs it, during episode 15.
* CallBack:
** The batteries [[spoiler:that Simmons uses to electrocute Lopez with]] are branded "Puma Batteries."
** In Episode 14, Caboose mentions that Grif is yellow, not orange.
** In Episode 19, [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church's speech to Tex at the end is a condensed version of his revelation as he went into the Epsilon unit.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' It took a couple versions of me, but I think... I think sometimes you've just gotta let go. And if you do, the things you let go sometimes come back on their own. They did today.
* TheCameo: Ian and Anthony of {{Smosh}} cameo as two mooks in Episode 3.
* TheCaper: The Freelancers' sarcophagus heist is set up like this.
* CessationOfExistence: [[spoiler:Tex's final fate]].
* CharacterDevelopment:
** Kinda all over the map with [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church. Building on his ending speech in ''Revelation'', he now sees himself as [[spoiler:Alpha]] in the memory unit, having been reincarnated from [[spoiler:Epsilon]]. But now that he's dealing with the less capable season one versions of his teammates, he regains some of his temper from the BGC era. He also becomes more reflective and introspective.
** Retroactively for Washington. We see how Wash started off as an [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]] [[NiceGuy nice]], if [[{{Adorkable}} stiff and awkward]], guy. We now see how the Epsilon incident affected his personality so drastically. However, in a more straight sense, we have how, due to spending time on Blue Team, his nicer attitude is coming back, albeit without the {{Adorkable}} status.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: In the action scenes, the Freelancers pull off insane [[Film/TheMatrix Matrix]]-esque moves that would be impressive even by [=SPARTAN II=] standards, which is notable since, other than Tex and later the Meta, WordOfGod is that none of them are supposed to be superhuman-level fighters. Easily explained by RuleOfCool.
* ChaseFight: Most of episode 17.
* ChekhovsArmory: The Sarcophagus room in Episode 15, filled to the brim with weapons from throughout the Halo series, most of which are used by the end of the episode.
* ChekhovsGunman: The unnamed "Blue Freelancer" seen in the background during "Planning the Heist", and standing with the main cast in the Season 9 Project Freelancer group poster. WordOfGod is that more will be revealed about him in Season 10.
** [[spoiler: His identity is revealed in the episode "Don't Say It." He turns out to be Captain Butch Flowers, the original commander of the blue team. His freelancer code-name was Agent Florida, but all records of him were deleted and he was assigned to watch over the Alpha at Blood Gultch.]]
* ContinuityNod:
** South uses a voice filter like Tex and C.T. did. Might also be a RunningGag since only female Freelancers use them.
*** Not so with [[spoiler:C.T., as of Season 10 Episode 10, where it reveals she died, and the Pillman Insurrectionist started wearing her helmet and armor.]]
** In Episode 4, Tucker asks Caboose if they should help, and Caboose replies that he doesn't think they can, since he can't get a clear shot at Church.
** In Episode 15, Maine is walking around a room filled with Covenant weapons, stops, [[spoiler:and picks up his signature Brute Shot]].
*** "That's a good look."
** Lopez is mistaken to be Simmons and decides to go along with it for the sake of getting people to listen to him. One of the things he claims [[HughMann that supposedly proves he's human]] is getting math problems wrong for no reason, a reference to when Simmons pretended he was good at math by giving a very wrong answer to a multiplication problem.
* ContractualGenreBlindness: Sarge is very aware that setting off a bomb in the core will not stabilize the planet, but believes it necessary to have several dramatic setbacks and calamities before finding the solution the the planet's instability.
* ConvenientlyTimedGuard: In the second episode, when the guard catches South stealing data from the terminal.
* CurseCutShort:
--> '''South:''' You stupid bi-
* TheDayTheMusicLied: In Episode 17, Carolina is chasing down the Sleeveless Insurrectionist for [[MacGuffin the briefcase]]. It plays her {{leitmotif}}, meaning imminent awesomeness... and then she crashes, and Tex picks it up instead.
* DeadpanSnarker: The Pelican pilot, Four Seven Niner.
-->'''FSN:''' Somebody call for a ride?
-->'''Carolina:''' You're late.
-->'''FSN:''' Ah, well. You can take it out of my tip.
* DeathFromAbove: Episode 15. Anything more would ruin the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome epicness]].
* DemotedToExtra: Wyoming. Despite being the second freelancer introduced and one of the main villains of the original five seasons, he barely does anything in this season. He has only one or two lines and spends most of his screen time being injured by Tex and enemy soldiers. [[WordOfGod Burnie Burns]] states that this due to Wyoming's [[AffablyEvil quirkier]] [[EvilBrit voice]] and [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman personality]] running a risk of detracting from the more seriously toned Freelancer plot-line.
* [[DodgeTheBullet Dodge The Paint]]: Tex does a pretty good job at this, and it's implied that Carolina does too.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Andy the bomb, failing to blow up.
-->'''Andy:''' I swear this has never happened to me before...
* DoomedByCanon: Every freelancer we've been introduced to has a horrid fate. The sole exception is [[spoiler:Wash, who is still going to briefly go nuts and later go to prison for a while]].
** [[spoiler:Subverted in the case of Carolina, who turns out to be very much alive, although with debatable sanity.]]
* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: The season ends with Epsilon-Church horrified that he killed Epsilon-Tex for nothing, along with his shock at Carolina's return. Meanwhile, the prequel sections end with York and North wondering if Project Freelancer really are the good guys, C.T.'s relationship with the other Freelancers worsening, and Carolina declaring her UndyingLoyalty to the Director, shortly before it goes back to the present and shows that Carolina now wants the Director dead.]]
* TheDragon: [[spoiler:Tex is evidently the Director's personal one-woman CleanupCrew.]]
** Out of combat, the Counselor serves this role.
* DreamApocalypse: [[spoiler:Epsilon is trying to find Texas before this happens. However, it's ultimately subverted, as the reason the simulation is shaking is because of an attempted rescue mission by the real Reds and Blues.]]
* TheEasyWayOrTheHardWay: Said in episode 3 by the red demo man Insurrectionist.
* EliteMook: The PyroManiac Carolina and Washington encounter is [[MadeofIron able to shrug off Battle Rifle rounds]] and give the duo some trouble before [[DanceBattler Carolina]] smashes him in the [[CrowningMomentofAwesome face with a gravity hammer.]] Also counts as a BigLippedAlligatorMoment. Where the hell did this guy come from, and what's his story?
** Wash even lampshades it:
-->'''Wash''' What the ''fuck'' is with this guy?
** Episode 13 gives us a glimpse of him alongside the rest of the Insurrectionists. Presumably all of them will show up in later episodes to be mini-bosses for the rest of the team.
** The jet-pack mooks in Episode 17, who are decidedly harder to kill than ordinary mooks amd pull off some impressive stunts of their own. Just one of them was able to out-muscle ''[[TheBrute Maine]]'' (though Maine had just taken a sniper shot to the chest at the time).
** Most of the Insurrectionist's mooks tend to be simply armed guys in white or green uniforms, the black and red ODST's serve as EliteMooks.
* EnemyChatter:
** In Episode 2, at the very beginning, when one mook is complaining to another about job assignment.
** During the action scene in Episode 3, two of the mooks get in a short argument over a rifle.
** We also see two guys get in an argument as Maine falls past them in Episode 15.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church and Epsilon-Tex do it together.]]
* TheFaceless: Finally averted in the cases of York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Carolina, Connecticut, and the Counselor thanks to MontyOum, but still holds true for Maine, Wash, [[spoiler:Tex]], and the Blood Gulch Crew.
** Played with in the case of the Director. While many parts of his face are seen and he gets a lot of views from the back, he has had every part of his body shown (including the fact that he has glasses)... except for his forehead and eyes.
* FieryRedhead: [[spoiler:Agent Carolina.]]
* FiveManBand: The main Freelancer characters fit this trope perfectly. [[spoiler:Or, as is revealed in Season 10, FiveBadBand, though they only really fit the FiveManBand tropes.]]
** TheLeader: [[TheAce Carolina]]
** TheLancer: [[TheMario Washington]]
** TheBigGuy: [[TheDreaded Maine]], [[EvilBrit Wyoming]], and [[DarkActionGirl South]] form a Big Guy trio.
** TheSmartGuy: [[NiceGuy York.]] Also doubles as the team's second {{Lancer}}, being the only guy on the team [[TheLeader Carolina]] treats equally as both a friend and colleague.
** TheChick: Well, C.T. is more of the DarkChick. [[TheHeart North]] also fits this role, to an extent, since his primary concern is taking care of the others.
** SixthRanger: [[spoiler:Tex]].
* FlashBackBackBack: Twice, with the words "order" and "change" repeated to trigger the flashback.
* {{Foil}}: The Freelancers to the Blood Gulch Red and Blue Teams. While the former was a group of skilled, badass elite soldiers they inevitably fall apart as a unit due to in-fighting, jealousy, and betrayal, failing to do much in the War. The latter however started out as enemies but over-time fostered a bizarre if powerful alliance with each other, actually managing to do great things via cooperation instead of competition despite the incompetence of their members, even managing to kill several of the Freelancers and having a far greater impact in fostering a peace between the Humans and Aliens. To further accentuate this, both groups have at their focal point a Leonard Church.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Overlaps with RedHerring, when the Twins get spotted in the beginning of the season, the "Beta Protocol" is enacted. We find out in season 10 that [[spoiler: Beta is Tex.]]
* ForegoneConclusion: We already know what will happen to all of the "past" characters, as well as the fact that Project Freelancer eventually ends up as a colossal failure.
* GenreBlindness: In episode 15: When someone hands you a rapidly beeping, glowing object and then dashes away, you probably shouldn't stand there staring at it.
-->'''York:''' Hey, man. Do you mind holding this for me for a sec?\\
'''Red Demo Man:''' Huh?\\
'''York:''' Thank you.\\
'''FILSS:''' Firing main cannon.\\
'''Red Demo Man:''' Oh, son of a...
* GoodScarsEvilScars: York has his messed-up eye [[spoiler:after Episode 10]], and Maine is shot in the throat [[spoiler:in Episode 17]].
* GoombaStomp: South does this to a guard. The [=Mk6=] armor does weigh several hundred pounds after all.
* GroinAttack:
** North delivers one to a Mook before shooting him in Episode 3.
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler:Tex does this repeatedly to York during their fight]]. Possibly a ContinuityNod as she [[LaserGuidedKarma does this to Grif]] in Season 8.
* GunFu: The Freelancers come right out of the gate with this as North and South Dakota get into a big gunfight in the enemy base. When Carolina shows up to bail them out of trouble, she shows that she's just as good at it.
** In Episode 10, there's the [[spoiler: awesome, ''close range'' gunfight between Tex and York.]]
* GunTwirling: [[spoiler:Tex]] does a little twirl in Episode 10, after [[spoiler: she tips over a paint-covered Wyoming.]]
* HellOfAHeaven: Parodied in Episode 19.
-->[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Sarge:''' Well, that's just great. [[MadGod Caboose is God.]] I guess that makes me the first person in the history of the Universe that doesn't wanna go to Heaven. Great job, Blue Team. You find a way to make everything suck.]]
* HighSpeedBattle: Episode 17 consists of a chase between the Insurrection AirborneMook group with some air support and the combined efforts of Maine, Carolina, and York in an attempt to secure [[MacGuffin the white briefcase]] needed for the Sarcophagus, across trucks on a freeway. Texas is also there, technically helping the Freelancers, but Carolina has... [[GreenEyedMonster issues]] with that.
* InformedAbility: Simmons can play the banjo. Not that anyone on Red Team noticed.
* InsaneTrollLogic: Sarge's plan to save the world, [[CrowningMomentofFunny appropriately entitled "Sarge's plan to kick the planet's ass."]] Ah, Sarge, [[CrazyAwesome we missed that about you.]]
* {{Irony}}: Virtually everything we learn about Project Freelancer puts a weird spin on what we have seen of them in previous seasons (E.g. Alpha "didn't remember being a calculator" here he has pride in his calculating abilities, the surprising camaraderie between the Freelancers).
* IsThisThingStillOn: {{Subverted|Trope}}.
--> '''Recovery Command:''' Well, I guess so much for our go-around.\\
'''Angel:''' I heard that, Four-Seven-Niner.\\
'''Recovery Command:''' Yup, that's 'cause I transmitted it.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Tex is "forgotten" in the finale, and subsequently is given a CessationOfExistence. Epsilon thinks it's a MercyKill...until the revelation of the Red and Blue rescue mission results in it all being just a SenselessSacrifice.]]
* KnuckleCracking: Agent Maine invokes this in Episode 13.
* LeeroyJenkins:
** Despite her brother telling her repeatedly to turn on her motion tracker so he can provide better aid, South refuses on grounds that "it'll take too long" and charges in anyway. The same episode also has a possible ShoutOut to the trope as well, with two guards complaining about another guard named Jenkins. This behavior gets her ranking lowered, due to the mission having been ''supposed'' to have been for stealth, not a shootout.
** Maine and Wyoming in [[spoiler:Episode 10. Repeatedly, despite York trying to get them to fight as a team. As a result, they get their asses kicked by Tex]].
* {{Leitmotif}}: Carolina and Tex have a rather special one whenever the two cross paths. It mixes the Agent Tex theme with the vocals from Extraction.
* LotusEaterMachine: The "present" half of the story takes place from Church's perspective after the events of Revelation, trapped in the Epsilon unit.
* MadGod: [[spoiler:This is Epsilon-Simmons' explanation for seeing the real Caboose above the Epsilon unit in Episode 19, in a torn-open sky. Epsilon-Sarge is not happy about this.]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-Simmons]]:''' Is [[spoiler:Caboose]]... God? [[ItMakesSenseInContext I mean, I can kinda see it now that I think about it.]] Sure would explain the fuck outta the [[EverythingsBetterWithPlatypi platypus]].
* MadeOfIron: Many people, but Maine is one of the biggest. [[spoiler: A sniper round to the chest and about 10 pistol shots to the neck doesn't seem stop him from standing, and getting hit by a speeding truck and falling off a freeway on top of that still doesn't seem to kill him.]]
* MexicanStandoff: Between Agent South and a trooper, holding two cups of coffee, and looking at the alarm.
* MoodWhiplash:
** Episode 2 shows the Dakota twins as incredibly skilled and coordinated fighters. Now remember how we were introduced to them and their ultimate fate, making you wonder what the hell happened to them.
** [[spoiler:Wash and Maine]] being best friends.
** York being [[spoiler:in a possible relationship with Carolina. (Keep in mind that York and Tex are good friends in Out Of Mind (after season 9 chronologically) even though Carolina ''hates'' Tex. For that matter, Tex [[GroinAttack went a little overboard on him]] in [[EstablishingCharacterMoment Episode 10]]).]]
*** In Season 5, when Church heard that Tex ran into York, he specifically asked about Carolina (and Tex told him Carolina was dead) so clearly the strong relationship between them was well known.
** Wash respects the ''[[DiabolicalMastermind Director]]''.
** Episode 18 starts with Grif being made of awesome and hilarity, continues with the return of [[ActionBomb An]][[{{Jerkass}} dy]], and the Blood Gulch crew finishes up with the deadpan line "We're all going to die now." [[spoiler:and then we cut to [[MindRape the birth]] [[OneDialogueTwoConversations of Delta]].]]
* MookChivalry: The only guards that seem to make an effort to shoot at the Twins are the Snipers. Everyone else runs towards the duo, one at a time, hoping to get killed in the coolest way possible.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: As soon as Church realises that the memory unit ''isn't'' failing, but rather Caboose has managed to find a way to free him from it, he instantly regrets his prior action. [[spoiler:Namely, trying to move on from the past by forgetting Tex out of existence.]]
* NoEscapeButDown: The Freelancers find themselves with two options in Episode 15: Jump off a 110-story building, or [[WaveMotionGun die horribly]]. They take option A.
-->'''Carolina:''' I guess this is karma for kicking Maine out the window.
* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: In Episode 15, after Carolina and York jump off a skyscraper, they are stopped mere inches from the pavement of a highway by [[spoiler:Maine in a Warthog driving by]]. The save acts as though they sustained no injuries whatsoever as a result.
* NostalgiaAintLikeItUsedToBe: Church's body, Caboose, and Tucker are back to their season one versions; in other words, pretty lame. Also, the camaraderie between the Reds and Blues didn't exist in season 1, as Church realized upon walking up to the simulation versions.
* [[spoiler:NotSoDifferent: This season builds up the similarities between Church and the [[EvilTwin Director.]] For that matter, Church and his pre-fragmented self. Episode 13 reveals that even as the original Alpha, Church was always a {{Jerkass}}.]]
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome
-->'''[[spoiler:Caboose]]:''' We found you in the place where they were keeping you, and we traveled a ''really'' really long way to come to this place and fought a bunch of people, and then fought a bunch of more people, and then we got you and took you and saved you! The end.
* OhCrap: Episode 3 has Church realize that the Reds weren't his buddies in Season 1, what his simulation is based on, when he walks up to them.
** [[spoiler:York]] gets these moments many times in Episode 10 when [[spoiler:he's cornered by Tex.]]
** As usual, [[TheJuggernaut Maine]] continues to inspire this reaction in people. [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Those poor mooks...]]
** Church has a minor one when he realizes [[spoiler: that Tex remembers everything.]]
** And Church has a much bigger one ''twice'' in the finale [[spoiler:first, when he realizes, right after he forgets Tex, that the quakes aren't because of the memory unit dying, but because Caboose was opening it back up, and second when he sees the very much alive Carolina. If the music for the latter is any indication, her being alive might not be entirely good.]]
* OminousLatinChanting: At the end of Episode 16. There's a very light chanting, which is a CallForward to another incident where Maine was about to [[spoiler: commit [[BilingualBonus bloody murder]]]]
* TheOner: Episode 17 has one during the ChaseFight. An interview with Monty revealed that his nickname for the shot ended up being the name of the episode.
* OnlySaneMan: Wash and York share this role in the group, though in almost opposite ways. Wash is rather uptight and straitlaced, while York is a laid-back smartass.
* OpeningNarration: Church tries to helpfully provide one for the viewers, except he's repeatedly interrupted by Tucker to the point of frustration, and finally just drops it.
* PlotTumor: The Freelancer program, originally introduced as just independent agents back in season one, has evolved into this. Overlaps with CharacterizationMarchesOn and RetCon.
* PhraseCatcher: Any mention of Agent Maine fighting someone is typically met with "Man, I ''almost'' feel bad for them."
* PyroManiac: In "The Sarcophagus," Wash and Carolina get attacked by one. It was awesome.
-->'''Wash:''' "Whoa, that's hot!"
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The six ODST Insurrectionists first seen in Episode 13 seem to be shaping up as this. The team consists of a PyroManiac, a [[TheSmurfettePrinciple Girl]], a [[TheBrute Guy With No Sleeves]], a ColdSniper, a guy in heavier armour and a "regular" ODST with a bandolier and a kukri.
* RealityWarper: [[spoiler: Church is this unaware, as shown in Episode 5 when he changes Grif and Donut back to their BGC incarnations by talking about how they "should be."]]
* RedHerring: Episode 3 refers to "her" who is a total BadAss and is viewed by the twins with awe [[spoiler:it's not Tex, but rather, as episode 4 revealed, is Agent Carolina]].
** Another piece of {{Foreshadowing}} is that [[spoiler:we've seen Meta use her "Chameleon" armour upgrade before in a few episodes of Reconstruction.]]
* [[spoiler:ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated: Carolina, as shown in the last few seconds of the season.]]
* TheReveal: Well, some backstory reveals. In the PAX East trailer, we learn the Meta didn't speak because he was shot in the throat during Project Freelancer.
* ScreamDiscretionShot: In Episode 15, when Wash is telling York where Maine is. [[PhraseCatcher They almost feel sorry for the mooks down there.]]
* ScreamingWarrior: North lets out a mighty roar in Episode 2 when he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome shoots up a mook guard's torso and face in slow motion.]]
* SeriesContinuityError: An in-universe example occurs when [[spoiler:Church realizes that the memories of events inside the Epsilon unit don't exactly match up with the events in previous seasons, such as the Red Team adding a rocket launcher to their jeep and Donut giving orders to Simmons]].
* SheFu: Agent Carolina, overlapping with DanceBattler.
* ShipTease: Between Carolina and York.
* ShoutOut:
** When Tucker and Church are making up names, the two they come up with are [[Film/TheMatrix Smith and Anderson.]] Which are instantly conglomerated into [[Funny/RedVsBlue Andersmith]].
** Washington saying "That's a good look." when Maine picks up the [[WeaponOfChoice Brute Shot]] seems reminiscent of Terminator 2, when John Conner says "That's definitely you." as TheTerminator picks up the minigun.
** Sarge's plan to stop the earthquakes is almost exactly like the one from ''Film/TheCore''.
* StockScream: The Wilhelm is heard during the third episode.
* SuperSpeed: Carolina runs fast enough to keep up with cars.
* TermsOfEndangerment: Downplayed in Episode 20. [[spoiler:Carolina's first words to Epsilon are "Hey there, [[MistakenIdentity Alpha]]." This isn't inherently dangerous, but the [[TranquilFury manner in which she speaks]] and [[OhCrap Epsilon's reaction]] show that this is what he's thinking about it all.]]
* ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet: Tucker assumes this when Caboose mentions he once had an internet girlfriend, but it turned out it was just his e-mail.
* TookALevelInJerkass: The Freelancer flashbacks show that almost all of the Freelancers (most notably South, C.T., Wash, and even to a certain extent Maine) used to be idealistic and actually fairly heroic. By the time of the series proper, almost all of them has become disillusioned, cynical, self-serving, and/or utterly ruthless. In fact Wyoming seems to be the only Freelancer who was a Jerkass to start with, and didn't change at all between the flashbacks and ''Blood Gulch''. York seems to be the only one who didn't lose his sense of moral decency after the team broke up, though [[spoiler:all we know about North's eventual fate so far is that South abandoned him to the Meta]].
* TrueCompanions: [[spoiler:The Blood Gulch Crew show off their credentials as [[TrueCompanions a Nakama]].]]
* UnwantedRescue: [[spoiler:Epsilon is ''not'' happy about being rescued since he was finally at peace, and especially since also he just let Tex go forever.]]
* WhamEpisode: [[spoiler:The finale, where Church finally lets himself forget Tex, apparently losing her forever, just in time to be rescued from the capture unit...by a [[NotQuiteDead not so dead after all]] Carolina.]]
* WhamLine:
-->'''Church:''' No. I'm not going to say "I love you." I'm going to say [[spoiler:"I forget you." I'm letting you go.]]
* WhoWouldWantToWatchUs: In Episode 9.
-->'''Tucker:''' Romance happens in movies. In real life, it's called stalking.
-->'''Caboose:''' Well, maybe all of this is happening ''inside of a movie!''
-->'''Tucker:''' Oh please. Who the fuck would watch ''that'' movie? All we do is sit around and talk.
* WideEyedIdealist: Young Wash is this, especially in comparison to his future self.
* YourMindMakesItReal: In the Epsilon Capture Unit.
[[/folder]]
----
[[folder:Season Ten]]
* AlasPoorVillain:
** [[spoiler:Connecticut in Episode 10. Doubly so because [[HeroAntagonist she wasn't even the villain]].]]
** The Director is the absolute last person you'd expect to feel sympathy for ... until he calls out in panic for Allison. Unfortunately, he's back to his Jerkass self within seconds. [[spoiler:Taken UpToEleven when he acknowledges Carolina as his greatest creation, reconciles with her after becoming a nervous wreck and then is implied to commit suicide.]]
* AccidentalTruth: [[spoiler:Wash's attempt at lying to invoke ReversePsychology on the Red Team in Episode 6 turns out to actually be true in Episode 20, much to his surprise and annoyance.]]
* {{Adorkable}}:
** Theta becomes this due to how [[ShrinkingViolet nervous]] and [[ChildSoldier childlike]] he is.
** Wash, ''definitely''. The guy has pink and white towels, a ''rubber ducky'', and pictures of cute animals in his locker.
* AdultFear: Considering Theta's personality and North's nurturing making him something like a parent, knowing that North dies while his 'child' is getting pretty much kidnapped is bound to strike a chord with adults, especially in the sense that you failed to save your child.
* AlwaysSecondBest: Emphasized between Carolina and Tex in Season 10. [[spoiler:In Episode 19, Carolina finally gets a chance to have her long awaited one-on-one fight with Tex, and while she does markedly better than anyone else who's tried before, ultimately it's painfully clear she's not even her equal.]]
** [[spoiler: Carolina finally admits this about herself in episode 21, but it takes facing a literal army of her rival to make her say it.]]
* AnAxeToGrind: The Pillman's WeaponOfChoice in the prequel sections, specifically throwing axes. Tex seems pretty adept in their use as well.
* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:The Reds and Blues return to Blood Gulch to settle down now that Project Freelancer has been dismantled for good. However, Church and Carolina decide to go and "do some good" in order to atone for their past crimes, starting with recovering some stolen Freelancer equipment.]]
* ArtificialGravity: On the various ships. It's a minor plot point on two occasions.
** In Episode 2, Wash accidentally turns it off on one of them.
** Comes into play again in Episode 19, this time on purpose.
* AsideGlance: Wash pulls one when Donut [[CallBack mentions]] [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection that he was shot]]. He turns his head to the camera and whistles innocently.
** NotSoInnocentWhistle
* AttackAttackRetreatRetreat: Washington and York against the Insurrection soldiers in the eighth episode.
* AxCrazy: Carolina[[spoiler:, especially in the prequel segments]]. Not that this came as a surprise to anyone, due to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Texas]]. She's having a tough time keeping it bottled in.
* BackToBackBadasses: [[spoiler:Caboose, Washington, Tucker, Sarge, Donut, Grif, and Simmons in Episode 21, versus an army of Agent Texas robots.]]
* BadassAdorable:
** Theta. For all his shyness and childish behavior, just watch how he works with North's energy shield.
** And as of episode 21, [[spoiler:Caboose]].
* BehindTheBlack: Apparently, the Director's ScaryShinyGlasses are super reflective because [[spoiler: Carolina looked shocked when the audience finally saw his eyes in the season finale - even though she had already seen him plenty of other times in person]].
* BetweenMyLegs: A really hilarious and weird example of this in Episode 5, with North doing the A-Frame and Wash's head peering in between (at Theta).
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Wash, York, North, Theta and [[spoiler:Caboose]].
** BewareTheSillyOnes: Wash, York and [[spoiler:Caboose]], on top of the above.
* BigDamnHeroes: Two examples in Episode 19.
** [[spoiler:North saves Tex from South's Missile Pod with dual sniper rifles.]]
** Tex [[spoiler:and York attempt this for Alpha. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption It fails]], since he's "tired" and [[YouAreTooLate has no memories due to shearing off Epsilon days earlier]]]].
** Episode 21 [[spoiler:has Wash and the Blood Gulch crew pull this off in ''style.'']]
* BigNo:
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler:the Insurrectionist leader, when Connecticut seems to have been [[BoomHeadshot shot in the head]].]]
** In Episode 15, coupled as a WhamLine due to the consequences:
--->'''[[spoiler:Director]]''' NO! [[spoiler:[[BrownNote Allison!]]]]
** In Episode 16, when [[spoiler:the Alpha is told in one of his "breaking" sessions that Agent Texas died because of his own failure]]. It keeps repeating, with the occasional "Oh my God", until the scene shifts.
** In Episode 19, Tex gets one when [[spoiler:the Meta catches up to Carolina, takes her AI and throws her off a cliff]].
* BittersweetEnding: And how. See WhamEpisode and AndTheAdventureContinues for details.
* BloodyHilarious: The results of the below mentioned HyperDestructiveBouncingBall.
* BookEnds: The Meta's rampage starts in the same place it ended [[SlippySlideyIceWorld (Sidewinder)]], and ends in the same way it started (with a [[IncrediblyLamePun main]] Freelancer being [[DisneyVillainDeath thrown off of a cliff]]).
* BondOneLiner: A nonfatal one from [[spoiler:York to Wyoming]] in Episode 19.
-->'''York:''' It's ''[[IncrediblyLamePun York]]'' catch, asshole. [[spoiler:Talk about [[KnockKnockJoke knock knocks]].]]
* BorrowedCatchphrase[=/=]WorstWhateverEver: Apparently Washington is catchy.
-->'''Tucker:''' (to Epsilon) You're like the worst wingman ever.
-->'''Caboose:''' Of all time.
* BreadEggsBreadedEggs: In Episode 16, Tucker wants to know what [[spoiler:Epsilon is finding out about [[AmbiguouslyEvil Carolina]]]].
-->'''Tucker:''' Is she [[AxCrazy crazy]]? Is she [[TokenEvilTeammate evil]]? Is she crazy evil?
* BreakTheCutie: Washington's Epsilon Incident is finally shown in Episode 17. Oddly, however, he's not nearly as upset or cynical about it all as people would expect from ''The Recollection''.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:Carolina in Episode 21. She finally realizes that no matter how hard she tries, she will ''never'' beat Texas by herself. [[AFriendInNeed Luckily, the Reds and Blues know this as well.]]]]
* BreakingTheFellowship:
** [[spoiler:Subverted in Episode 18, the Blood Gulch crew breaks away from Church after he blows up on them in a massive TheReasonYouSuckSpeech rant. However, in Episode 20, they all decide [[TrueCompanions they're going to go help him anyway]].]]
** [[spoiler:According to Episode 19, Tex's defection, and the resulting division of loyalties between the Freelancers, appears to have been the event that ultimately broke up Project Freelancer.]]
* BreatherEpisode: It may not be particularly lighthearted (at least in the flashback sections), but after the emotional ups and downs of the previous installments, Episodes 11 and 12 are very relaxed, even in regards to clothing (in the case of Episode 11), and focus on conversation and {{character development}}.
* BrickJoke:
** The Insurrectionist grunt Delta was talking to in Episode 1 who got [[ThrownOutTheAirlock spaced]] can be seen in orbit at the beginning of Episode 2, and even shows up in the credits at the end of the season..
** The UNSC trooper from the final episode of Season 8 returns in Episode 20 to arrest the gang for stealing the Hornet he was guarding. [[spoiler: They steal his Hornet, again.]]
** Episode 22 has a BrickJoke that started ''years'' ago. [[spoiler:Poor Florida.]]
* BrotherSisterTeam: [[spoiler:[[TheReveal Epsilon and Carolina.]]]]
* BrownNote: In Episode 15, the Director shouting [[spoiler:"ALLISON!"]] in a panicked voice causes all of the AI fragments (in addition to likely the Alpha itself) to go temporarily rampant at the same time, causing their operators to have massive headaches. [[spoiler:No need to guess why Tex was the exception, even despite holding Omega.]]
* ButtMonkey:
** In the prequel sections, York and Wash take some pretty hilarious abuse, including getting a grappling hook in the groin.
** In Episode 20, [[BrickJoke the pilot whose Hornet was stolen by the Reds at the end of Season 8]] shows up to arrest the Reds and Blues as war criminals. [[spoiler:The Reds and Blues steal not just his Hornet, but those of his two partners as well.]]
* CallBack:
** Episode 9's HeinzHybrid gag is a CallBack to when Tucker called [[{{Badass}} Tex]] a [[SharkMan half woman, half shark]].
** Episode 12 has [[spoiler:Carolina]] reflecting about the death of York and visiting the place he died. The name of the episode? "Out of Mind", also the name of the miniseries in which York was killed fighting Wyoming with Tex.
** Episode 18's [[spoiler:TheReasonYouSuckSpeech]] is one long reference to all of the abuse the Reds (and Caboose) put [[spoiler:Alpha-]]Church through over the course of ''Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles''.
** Stealing that Hornet in the finale of ''Revelation'' finally catches up with the Reds and Blues.
*** From the same episode: The bargaining scene is a direct callback to the early days of the series (the dialogue) and to the beginning of the current season (Wash and the Blues curbstomping the Reds).
*** From that scene is two more- Simmoms spouts off Grif's "I'd just like to let everyone know that I suck," speech, and there's a brief cut to what the Blues have taken, which includes Donut's motorcycle, the Warthog, the food Donut and Doc made for them previously that season, and multiple [[WeaponOfChoice rocket launchers and shotguns]].
*** [[spoiler:The quote by the Tex army in the voice of Omega is identical to a quote from Omega in Episode 100 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles.'']]
** Episode 21 continues this trend, to the point of ContinuityCavalcade.
** Episode 22, [[spoiler:The Director appointing Captain Flowers/Agent Florida as a bodyguard for the Alpha stationed in Blood Gulch has to find a way to explain the mysterious disappearance of Agent Florida, a explaining why in season 1 Tucker laments the then-unknown fate of Florida.]]
* CallForward:
** In ''Revelation'', Wash tries to get Doc out of the wall with a grappling hook. In Season 10, Carolina pulls Wash into a spaceship with a grappling hook.
-->'''Wash:''' Pull lower, near the center of gravity. Try the codpiece.
** When [[StuffBlowingUp stuff starts blowing up]] in Episode 4, the Director yells "[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles SON OF A BITCH!]]"
** When 479er meets Delta in Episode 8:
---> '''479er''': AI huh? What does the A stand for?
*** At the end of the same sequence, 479er muses on how she'd hate to be Command.
** A much more subtle one; during the fight in Episode 8, while running to avoid getting hit by a Warthog, Wash yells "CAR!" in the exact same way he did in ''Revelation'' when Grif drove his own Warthog through the wall over Wash while Sarge distracted the latter.
*** Followed immediately with York going, "DAMMIT!", getting attacked, and saying, "Shotgu-un!"
*** On a related note, in Episode 2, Wash casually asks "Why do cars hate me?" after narrowly dodging a Warthog.
** Two mooks in Episode 8:
-->'''Mook 1''': Hey.\\
'''Mook 2''': Yeah?\\
'''Mook 1''': You ever wonder why we're - ''(Cue the pelican)''
** Tex being pinned by the tank in episode 19 resembles the time Sarge was pinned by the warthog in early season 2.
** It's subtle, but the last scene of Episode 19 [[spoiler:mirrors the end of the Meta vs. Tex battle of Season 8. Both Tex and Carolina are initially facedown, then turn over and try to get away as Maine comes up, then he grabs them by the neck and does something painful to their head, then tosses them aside. Just another reminder of [[NotSoDifferent how similar those two really are...]]]]
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler:The Director kept trying to "get her right", resulting in a bunch of dangerous Tex/Allison robots, at least some of which have the voice of ''Omega''.]]
* CannonFodder: [[spoiler:As stated in Episode 18, Carolina's plan to infiltrate the Director's hideout involves turning [[WeHaveReserves the Reds, Tucker, and Caboose into this]] as a ''[[WeNeedADistraction distraction]]''. They, along with ''Washington'', think this is a horrible idea and collectively [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere quit]].]]
* CarFu:
** In Episode 2, it's narrowly avoided by Washington when ArtificialGravity comes back on on the ship being invaded.
-->'''Washington:''' [[CallForward Why do cars hate me?]]
** In Episode 3, it's how Grif enters the season.
** In Episode 9, one of the Insurrectionists tries this on [[TheBigGuy Maine]]. [[SubvertedTrope It doesn't]] [[NoSell go well]] [[CurbStompBattle for him]].
* CasualKink: Church/the Director and his fetish for, ahem, hot headed women.
-->'''Sarge''': Wanna talk about it?
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': ...no.
-->{{Beat}}
-->'''Caboose''': Wanna talk about it with-?
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': '''NO.'''
* CharacterDevelopment:
** Hanging out with the Reds and Blues has revived Wash's old NiceGuy self.
** [[spoiler:And being shown a memory of how York felt about her and realizing Epsilon knows more about her drive to reconcile old wounds than she thought is the catalyst that makes Carolina [[TookALevelInKindness open up a little more]], even going so far as to give Epsilon some good-natured teasing about [[ItMakesSenseInContext his awkwardness in carrying her]].]]
* ChekhovsGag: The Reds are unsure of Carolina, and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere are considering going home]]. Wash plays along, then plants the idea that they're wanted criminals and that they'll be ambushed upon arrival. This immediately changes their tune. It's brought up again MUCH later, when it's revealed that they really ARE wanted criminals.
* ChekhovsGun:
** [[spoiler:Carolina's GrapplingHookPistol. First seen in Episode 3 of Season 9, it made a return in Episode 4, where she used it to... [[GroinAttack grip]] Washington to bring him on to a Pelican. In Episode 19, if one were to look closely towards the end when Carolina is falling, the tip of the pistol is visible, explaining [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated her survival]]. It also comes in handy while fighting the Tex robots.]]
** [[spoiler:The army of robot bodies Epsilon and Caboose saw stashed away in the Freelancer facility in ''Revelation''. A similar batch is finally put to use by the Director toward the end of Season 10.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: The Mysterious Blue Guy? [[spoiler:He's Agent Florida, better known as Captain Butch Flowers.]]
* [[spoiler:CloneDegeneration: The army of Tex that are seen near the end of the season are visibly clunker and slower than the "real" Tex, and could be fought to a standstill by the Reds, Blues, Wash and Carolina. See also ConservationOfNinjitsu.]]
* ColdBloodedTorture: Episode 16 finally shows Alpha being put through the fragmentation process, and [[NightmareFuel it's just awful]]. Though the Director does [[EvenEvilHasStandards call out the torturers on one of their methods]], he mostly just stands by and watches.
* ComingInHot: [[spoiler:The ''Mother of Invention'' and its crash landing into Sidewinder in Episode 19 following being hit by its own missiles and losing ArtificialGravity courtesy of York.]]
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: [[spoiler:Seen with the Tex clones the crew face in Episode 21. This is explained by them being run by a single A.I. distributed over hundreds of bodies.]]
* ContinuityCavalcade: Episode 21 packs as many references to past episodes, actions, jokes, and everything else into the [[spoiler: fight between the Reds and Blues versus the army of Texes.]]
** [[spoiler: Carolina's opening line before the fight, "Alright, me first," is a reference to Tex's first line in Revelation, Episode 10: "Alright, who's first?"]]
** [[spoiler:The quotes Carolina hears as she tries to destroy the Tex army are from various moments over her time in the prequel segments, both heard by her and not. This culminates in "Better luck next time, Carolina", said by the Tex drones in reference to Episode 17 of Season 9.]]
** [[spoiler:Donut sticks the heads of three Tex robots with plasma grenades, calling out "nine points, you dirty whores!" as he did in Episode 19 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles'' (three points in that case, for one person).]]
** [[spoiler:''Blood Gulch Blues'' being played over the lock and load sequence after the BigDamnHeroes moment.]]
** [[spoiler:Caboose's UnstoppableRage and his BadassBaritone "MY NAME IS MICHAEL J. CABOOSE. AND I HATE [X]" are references to the last time he went into UnstoppableRage, back against the Zealots in Blood Gulch Chronicles.]]
** [[spoiler:Sarge's "for our ancestors' ancestors" line is in reference to Episode 38 of ''The Blood Gulch Chronicles''.]]
** [[spoiler:Grif's tendency toward GroinAttack issues as of Episode 10 of Season 8 (Revelation) is brought up.]]
** [[spoiler:Wash saves Donut from a Tex clone and says "we're done here," which is a nod to them being even after he shot Donut at the end of season 7.]]
** [[spoiler:Epsilon's encounter with the [[EmptyShell broken]] Tex is a nearly direct mirror to the encounter between the original Tex Beta AI and the Alpha in Episode 19 of this season.]]
* ContinuityNod:
** The tagline of the season references Washington's catchphrase, "THE BIGGEST SEASON EVER. OF ALL TIME."
** Wash dodges a car flying at him during a fight in Episode 2, and wonders out loud, "Why do cars hate me?"
** In Season 9, we learn that South hates flying. In Episode 2 of this season, North mentions she always needed a barf bag on their family trips.
** Wash appears to use an EMP, or "emp", to disable a number of Warthogs in Episode 8.
** Episode 12, referring to Church's perpetual pursuit of Tex:
---> '''Carolina''': Why did you show me that?
---> '''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': [[spoiler: Because I know what it's like to spend your life chasing ghosts]]
** In Episode 13 has two:
*** When talking about "keys", Caboose mentions that "the sword is a key, too." Given his caustic reaction, Tucker seems to still be annoyed with that fact.
*** Simmons and Grif's discussion about getting paid overtime and their 401k is taken almost verbatim from a conversation Washington and Doc had in ''Revelation''.
** In Episode 17, Epsilon goes diving in yet another data unit. He tells Carolina that if he's not out in three months, she shouldn't bother looking for him.
** Episode 21 has almost too many of these to list. See ContinuityCavalcade for details.
** Episode 22 has [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church flipping between the images and taking on the voices of the other AI fragments [[spoiler:while confronting the Director]].
* CoolStarship: The ''Mother Of Invention'' for the Freelancers[[spoiler:, and the ''Staff Of [[ClassicalMythology Charon]]'' for the opposing Insurgents, as of Episode 4.]]
* CoolVersusAwesome: In Episode 13.
-->'''Sarge:''' In the battle of [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] versus [[OurRobotsAreNonstandard robots]], robots always win. Except in {{anime}}.
* CurbStompBattle:
** [[spoiler:According to Sarge, Wash has been doing this to the Reds while Church was in the memory unit. To the point Sarge was glad to rescue Church so he could lead the Blues again.]]
** [[spoiler:Maine has a rematch with the sleeveless ODST from Season 9. It lasts [[OneHitKill one punch]].]]
** [[spoiler:Tex takes out half a dozen mooks in episode 19 with nothing but a bunch of spike grenades and their own guns.]]
* DangerousDeserter: The UNSC seems to consider the AWOL Reds and Blues who were formerly of Blood Gulch this. In all fairness, though, [[BewareTheSillyOnes they]] [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass aren't]] [[BadassCrew technically]] [[BunnyEarsLawyer wrong]].
* DareToBeBadass: In Episode 20, Sarge pulls this on [[spoiler:Washington, to get him to help the Reds and Blues help Epsilon and Carolina]].
-->'''Sarge:''' So [[QuitYourWhining instead of standing there bellyaching all day]], just tell us: are you gonna keep playing it safe? [[DramaticGunCock *cocks shotgun*]] Or do you wanna get a little reckless?
* DarkReprise: Two examples in Episode 19.
** Carolina's {{Leitmotif}} is given a sad version during [[spoiler:her fight with York]] and a dark version during [[spoiler:her fight with Tex]]
** While "Plagram Extrinam Infigere" from the season finale of ''Revelation'' was already rather dark (given it translates to "Extremely Bloody Murder"), when [[spoiler:the Meta takes Carolina's AI and tosses her off a cliff]], you can hear a slower, more foreboding version of the drumbeat play in the background.
* DeadManWriting: Tex's dog tag is actually [[spoiler:a data unit Connie left for her, complete with an "If you're seeing this" message and copies of all the dirt she'd gathered on the Director and Project Freelancer. Turns out Tex is the only one she trusted to do the right thing]].
* DefrostingIceQueen:
** [[spoiler:Carolina in Episode 12 courtesy of some journals Epsilon found of York. However, this does ''not'' extend to anyone else in the group at all, even Washington.]]
*** [[spoiler:As of Episode 21, however, it seems to have extended to the others, thanks to her [[HeelRealization realization that she will never be better than Texas]] and their coming to her aid.]]
** [[spoiler:Tex (in the flashbacks) also seems a little friendlier towards North in Episode 16, claiming that it took her some time to get used to having Omega in her head, and that she has had him shut down for some time following the incident in Episode 15 where he wanted to have her kill Carolina.]]
* DivingSave: [[spoiler:Carolina for Grif in Episode 21 to save him from a GroinAttack by way of dropkick to three Tex drones at once. [[DoubleSubversion It doesn't help.]]]]
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The discussion between York, North, and Wash about how big "it" (Theta) is, in Episode 5. South seems to pick up on it, though.
-->'''Wash:''' I expected it to be... bigger.
-->'''York:''' Why? You've seen mine, it's small too.
-->'''Wash:''' [[InsaneTrollLogic Yeah, but he's green.]]
-->'''York:''' How does that even make sense?
-->'''North:''' Hey Wash, quit staring; you're making it nervous.
-->'''Wash:''' Yeah, it's just... they're so small.
-->'''York:''' Small, yeah. But you wouldn't ''believe'' what it can do.
-->'''North:''' Besides, you better get used to it, you're going to have one of your own soon enough.
-->'''South:''' [[TheUnfairSex Ugh, give me a break.]]
-->...
-->'''Wash:''' [[RunningGag You see, I'm not the only one who thinks size is important.]]
-->'''York:''' I'm just going to let that one go.
-->...
-->'''Wash:''' [[OverlyLongGag And we're sure they don't get any bigger?]]
-->'''York:''' Dude, you are ''killing'' me with that!
** Still going in Episode 8:
--->'''York:''' This is Delta. Our new addition.
--->'''479er:''' Your new addition is pretty small.
--->'''Wash:''' [[ChekhovsGag I said the same thing.]]
* DoomedByCanon: The introduction of [[spoiler:dumb]] {{Artificial Intelligence}}s such as [[TheSpock Delta]] and [[BadassAdorable Theta]] is made rather tragic by not only their origins, but the facts that [[spoiler:most of their initial operators will be KilledOffForReal, themselves stolen away by [[TheJuggernaut Maine]] at the influence of [[TheCorrupter Sigma]], and then all but Epsilon KilledOffForReal by the [[{{EMP}} "emp"]] at Command.]]
* DramaticGunCock: Sarge does this with his [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotgun]] to punctuate a DareToBeBadass speech in Episode 20. [[spoiler:Carolina does it with a handgun when she joins the guys after their BigDamnHero entrance.]]
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:The Director, who shoots himself in the head with Carolina's pistol after shutting off life support in the Offshore Freelancer Facility. F.I.L.S.S. also technically counts as he ordered her to delete every single file and program in Project Freelancer except for the video of Allison, which she acknowledges includes herself.]]
* DumbassHasAPoint[=/=]TheCuckoolanderWasRight: Caboose seems to be getting relatively more intelligent this season, having made multiple statements that show a remarkably accurate grasp of the situation the Blood Gulch crew is in. Hell, he seems to have a better handle on the situation than Sarge (not that that's saying much). The crew have even remarked at how surprising this is.
* EliteMook: The ODST Insurrectionists from Season 9 return this season, presenting a similar spike in difficulty to the Freelancers.
** [[spoiler:South and Wyoming]] serve as elite mooks in Episode 19, with [[spoiler:Carolina]] being something of a BossBattle.
* EnemyChatter: The RunningGag from last season is still going strong, with two mooks in Episode 2 talking to each other about being under attack.
* EpicFlail: [[spoiler:Carolina makes an ImprovisedWeapon version of one in Episode 21 using her GrapplingHookPistol and a grenade.]]
* TheFaceless: As of Episode 6, the only faces of important characters (Insurrection EliteMooks notwithstanding) in the prequel segments not shown have been Washington, Maine, Texas, and, to a degree, the Director. Texas' reason is self evident by this point in the plot (having been revealed as far back as Season 6), and the Director has all of him shown at one point or another except for his eyes. With the exception of Washington and Texas, this serves to make those examples more unnerving than frustrating, lending an air of mystery.
** Played for epic laughs with Washington in Episode 7.
-->'''York:''' Are you eating inside your helmet?
** Then played for drama in Episode 17. To avoid showing Wash's face during his implantation surgery, they show the surgery from his point of view [[spoiler:while the implantation causes him to have a mental episode. Complete with memory flashes, {{Dutch Angle}}s, and warped visuals.]]
** Finally completely averted with the Director in Episode 22... and it turns out [[TheReveal there's a reason for it]].
* FailedASpotCheck: After discovering that [[spoiler:Doc has returned]], Sarge orders Simmons to get him [Sarge] his gun. Simmons replies that Sarge is already holding said gun.
* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Church ''tries'' to make a dramatic exit... but is stymied by the fact that he's attached to Tucker, so he has to stop and ask Tucker to go along with him.
* FandomNod: A popular fanon of Wash (especially on Tumblr) is "Cat Lady Wash" with fans giving him a cat (usually named Hartford, but this can vary). In episode 14 we see inside his locker, inside are some towels, a skateboard featuring the Rooster Teeth emblem, a rubber ducky, and ''pictures of cats!'' Shannon [=McCormick=] had known about the fanon, having discovered it on Tumblr, and specifically campaigned to get the cats included.
* FanNickname: All the Insurrectionists have a couple, considering that they have NoNameGiven status.
* FanService: Episode 11 has North and York having an extended conversation while helmet-less and wearing t-shirts. It wasn't exactly a steamy shower scene, but it's a lot more skin than we've ever seen these two handsome guys show, let alone any of the protagonist soldiers in the entire series.
* FireForgedFriends: [[spoiler:Episode 21 implies it between Carolina and the Reds and Blues.]]
* FlatWhat: In Episode 1.
-->'''Caboose''': We sort of call the new guy Church, y'know, sometimes.
-->'''Church''': What.
* FoeTossingCharge: [[spoiler:Episode 21. Church decides to get Caboose angry. Without hesitation, he charges headlong ''through'' an army of Tex copies. They don't even slow him down.]]
* ForgotFlandersCouldDoThat: [[spoiler:It's been seven seasons since Caboose [[UnstoppableRage got angry]]; he reveals in Episode 21 that ''he doesn't remember how to do that''. [[OneManArmy Church helps him remember]].]]
* FreezeFrameBonus:
** [[spoiler:Episode 17 has a number of these while Tex is looking through the files, notable ones being that Sigma's emotional core is Ambition (and Theta's is Trust); that AIs with Happiness, Love, Greed, and Fear exist; and that ''Allison is Beta''.]]
** [[spoiler:In Episode 19, coupled with the ChekhovsGun above. As Carolina falls off the cliff, you can see her GrapplingHookGun if you look carefully enough.]]
* FunnyBackgroundEvent:
** Look sharp, or you'll miss a shot of [[spoiler:York careening through space]] while Carolina and South are discussing their next move in Episode 3.
** Theta trying and failing to balance on a holographic skateboard in Episode 6, even completely falling over at one point. Though he seems to get it right by the end of the scene, as he rides it out of the room.
** Not entirely background, but it's easy to miss the magically changing fruit that Wash is eating with his helmet on in Episode 7.
** During the big fight scene in Episode 21, [[spoiler:you can see Caboose charging from one side of the room to the other, tossing Texes thither and yon as he goes.]]
** In the credits following Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Net-Surfing Guy from Episode 1 floats by in his chair]].
* GratuitousJapanese: In the song "Now That We've Come So Far" which serves as the credits music on the DVD.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: [[spoiler:During his UnstoppableRage in Episode 21, Caboose, at one point, bashes several Tex drones with the body of one of them.]]
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Suggested by Delta to an Insurrectionist grunt. The Freelancers and Insurrectionists can't be called good and evil, just two groups working for different goals.
* GroinAttack:
** Wash, by a grappling hook to the codpiece pulled at high speed in Episode 4.
** [[spoiler:Tex still ''really'' hates Grif. In Episode 21, the first GroinAttack by three Texes with the help of two to wishbone him is subverted by [[BigDamnHeroes Carolina]]'s DivingSave, but followed up by a DoubleSubverted version when one of those holding him still kicks him there anyway. Tucker notes that he should have seen that coming. Then, off screen, the same happens by [[UpToEleven twenty of them at the same time]].]]
* GuileHero: Wash in the present time. Given how innocent and earnest he was in the flashbacks, it makes his BreakTheCutie all the more terrifying.
* GunsAkimbo:
** Carolina seems to have made a twin set of Plasma Rifles her [[WeaponOfChoice weapons of choice]] in this season.
** Connecticut seems fond of using two pistols.
** In Episode 19, North does it with a pair of ''sniper rifles'', with enough precision to shoot rockets out of the air.
* HeelRealization: [[spoiler:Sort of in the case of Carolina in Episode 21. She finally realizes that no matter how hard she tries, she can't beat Texas on her own, so she finally teams up effectively with the Reds and Blues.]]
* HesBack:
** [[spoiler:After Connecticut's files jog his memory in Episode 17, Epsilon-Church integrates the hidden copies of the fragments he was carrying and transforms back into the complete Alpha-Church. And he remembers ''everything''.]] However, as Episode 18 shows, this is something of a {{deconstruction}}. [[spoiler:Yes, parts of Alpha-Church are back. Specifically his memories and his temper, the latter of which is [[HulkingOut much worse]].]]
** Episode 20 features an equally dramatic and much, much scarier example.
* HeinzHybrid: PlayedForLaughs in Episode 9, with Sarge calling [[spoiler:Carolina]] "a half [[spoiler:woman]], half shark, except the shark half has been given [[SuperSoldier cybernetic powers]], and the [[spoiler:woman]] half is also one quarter [[PantheraAwesome jaguar]]".
* HomoeroticSubtext: [[Funny/RedVsBlue Subverted]] in Episode 16.
-->'''Grif''': Hey, Simmons, when you say [[spoiler:Donut]] [[InnocentInnuendo nailed]] [[spoiler:Lopez]] to a board?\\
'''Simmons''': I mean with nails.\\
'''Grif''': Okay, had to ask.\\
'''Simmons''': No, no, I understand. I should've been clearer. That's ''my'' fault.
* HopeSpot: The female insurrectionist is hanging from a ledge... her boss's distinct cybernetic arm reaches down to give her a hand. She takes it... and it's being held by Maine, who had cut it off earlier. And then he lets go.
* HulkingOut: [[spoiler:When the full-sized Epsilon gets angry and starts ranting about how everyone owes him for what they've done to him, he grows and grows and his voice deepens until he's a scary giant avatar of glowing orange/red rage. However, when he calms down, he shrinks to the small, blue Epsilon-Church form. Even Caboose wordlessly backs away from him afterwards.]]
* HyperDestructiveBouncingBall: The Insurrection soldiers fail to realize that [[spoiler: shooting at the inside of a Freelancer BeehiveBarrier ''while'' you're inside it is a really, really bad idea]]. Weaponizing the BarrierWarrior's BeehiveBarrier is quite terrifying.
* ICantBelieveImSayingThis: In Episode 12, overlapping with OOCIsSeriousBusiness.
-->'''Grif:''' I thought I'd never say this, but I can't sleep.
* IndyPloy: In Episode 20, Sarge admits this is ''every'' Red and Blue plan post-Blood Gulch.
-->'''Sarge:''' Son, stupid and reckless is how we ''always'' get things done.
* InnocentInnuendo:
** [[TheDitz Caboose]] has a problem with this in Episode 6, and doesn't seem to realize it.
--->'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]:''' Or else they'll [the Blood Gulch crew] bring out my [[{{Jerkass}} ugly]] side.\\
'''Caboose:''' Oh, oh come on [[spoiler:[[MyNameIsNotDurwood Caroline]]]], I bet you are really pretty under that armor.\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]:''' [[FlatWhat What?]]
** Again in this conversation in Episode 9, when Caboose is obsessed with the idea of the Reds making a trap for the Blues.
--->'''Tucker:''' You can go ask her if she has the hots for me. I think I felt an emotional connection the last time she hit me.\\
'''Caboose:''' [[TooDumbToLive Tell her that you like to make]] [[CloudCuckooLander an emotional]] [[ComicallyMissingThePoint hot connection]] [[InnocentInnuendo with her trap.]] Got it.\\
'''Tucker:''' Oh, that's even better!
** Two in Episode 20.
*** [[spoiler:Donut]], true to form, talks of being unable to resist "a good mounting".
*** This time [[RousingSpeech from Doc]].
---->'''Doc:''' And Tucker, you learned to use your sword like a pro!\\
'''Tucker:''' ...bow chicka bow wow?
* InsultBackfire:
** Episode 3:
--->'''Sarge:''' Simmons, only you could manage to make a high speed chase ''boring''.\\
'''Simmons:''' [[ProfessionalButtKisser Thank you, sir!]]
** Episode 16:
--->'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': You might be the worst soldiers I've ever met.\\
'''Grif''': Hey! I take offense at that. What do you mean "might be"?
*** ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne
** Episode 19:
--->'''Wyoming:''' [[SurroundedByIdiots Dear God, it's like idiots in stereo.]]\\
'''Freelancer Soldier 1:''' [[ProfessionalButtKisser Nice zinger, sir!]]\\
'''Freelancer Soldier 2:''' [[LampshadeHanging Kiss ass.]]
* InterestingSituationDuel: In Episode 19, we have [[spoiler:York versus Carolina in an elevator shaft on the ''Mother of Invention'' with no ArtificialGravity]]. This is topped a short time later in the same episode by [[spoiler:Tex versus Carolina in a computer room and a hallway, on different surfaces, in a ship that is ComingInHot to a nearby planet]].
* IronicEcho:
** Highlighting just how similar to [[spoiler:the Omega-infused Tex it is that Carolina]] [[NotSoDifferent has become]].
--->[[spoiler:'''Carolina (Episode 10)''': I don't know what's gotten into you, Texas, but you better figure out the difference between your enemies and your friends.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Washington (Episode 18)''': I don't know what's gotten into you, Carolina, but you better figure out the difference between your enemies and your friends.]]
** Another one [[spoiler:where, again, Carolina's role is reversed, not to mention that, as of Episode 22, counts as a case of [[LikeFatherLikeSon Like Father, Like Daughter]]]].
--->[[spoiler:'''[[ArchnemesisDad The Director]] (Episode 8)''': Leave personnel decisions to me Agent Carolina.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''[[BadBoss Carolina]] (Episode 18)''': Leave personnel decisions to me Agent Washington.]]
** A different one comes up in Episode 22, this time contrasting the two in the one directly above, and within the space of two scenes in succession.
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon]]:''' [[spoiler:Oh, there's still one place we haven't visited. Somewhere we can make a home.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]:''' Show me.\\
\\
'''[[spoiler:The Director]]:''' [[spoiler:The Alpha needs anonymity. A place where no-one will think to look for him.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:The Counselor]]:''' [[spoiler:I believe I know exactly the place.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:The Director]]:''' Show me.
* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler:The lesson that Church and Carolina were supposed to learn in Episode 12 was to let go of the past. However, they're still utterly consumed with their single minded mission to kill the Director, as is best shown in Episode 18. If anybody has taken the moral to heart, it's Wash, who is no longer interested in taking revenge on the Director and is only concerned with looking out for his friends. Church, who was the one teaching Carolina in Episode 12, is the one who calls Wash out about walking out on them.]]
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Director says this he orders F.I.L.S.S. to delete all Project Freelancer files, including herself. F.I.L.S.S. responds in kind]].
* KickTheDog:
** [[spoiler:Though Caboose]] is totally oblivious in Episode 6, and it isn't the first time he's been shot at for laughs, Carolina's threat is played coldly straight when she shoots at an explosive a distance behind him.]]
** South petitioning for one of Carolina's AI's as the latter lies in the hospital in Episode 16. Tex takes particular exception to it, calling her a vulture, and even [[BigBrotherInstinct North]] admits that it was uncalled for.
** [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech in Episode 18. After they told their piece and said, rightfully, that killing the Director has nothing to do with them, he, rightfully, screams at all of the assembled Reds and Blues (directing mostly at those from Blood Gulch), blaming them for most his problems and saying that, when it came down to it, all they amounted to problems for him. This KickTheDog was so blatant every single one of [[TrueCompanions them]], even Caboose, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere walked out on him]] temporarily.]]
** Not to mention Church telling Wash [[spoiler: he shouldn't have been surprised Washington was abandoning their cause. Wash fought the battle against the project longer and harder than either Epsilon or Carolina did. He earned his chance to just let go of the past.]]
* KilledOffForReal: Aside from those DoomedByCanon in the flashbacks and not shown in-season, we have, in chronological order, [[spoiler:Utah (in a deleted scene), the Insurrection EliteMook squad aside from the leader, Connecticut, possibly the latest Texas, F.I.L.S.S., and Doctor Leonard Church, a.k.a. the Director]].
* KnifeFight: Though Carolina uses a [[SimpleStaff Humbler]] [[StaticStunGun stun]] [[http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Humbler_stun_device device]], her battles with the female Insurrectionist member in Episode 9 and with [[spoiler:Conncecticut]] in Episode 10 give off this impression.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: Wash spent ''years'' nursing a secret grudge against the Director, bidding his time for when he would be able to bring down the Director and Freelancer. In Season 10, he's finally given a chance to get his revenge against the Director, and yet chooses to let go of his vendetta in Episode 18 rather than put his new friends in danger over something that is not their problem. Unlike Carolina and even Church, it seems he's finally learned to let go of the past.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: The first line of Season 10, arguably the most exciting and anticipated season yet? "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for..."
* LeaveBehindAPistol: [[spoiler:The Director [[InvokedTrope asks for Carolina to do this]] before she leaves him in the facility.]]
* LetMeGetThisStraight:
** Said word for word by [[spoiler:Carolina]] in Episode 13, though we don't hear the rest of it.
** Tucker in Episode 18.
--->'''Tucker:''' LetMeGetThisStraight. You built an enormous room capable of creating [[{{Hologram}} realistic holographic simulations]], but you couldn't figure out how to walk across the canyon and capture our flag.\\
'''Grif:''' Actually, [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot Lopez]] built it.\\
'''Tucker:''' Okay, now that I believe.
** Episode 20, regarding [[ICallItVera the]] [[GrenadeLauncher "Grif]][[BayonetYa shot"]].
--->'''Washington:''' You've been hiding one of the most advanced pieces of technology ''known to man''... so you can ''[[PricelessPaperweight hang it in your living room]]''?\\
'''Grif:''' ... well, [[LampshadeHanging when you say it like that, it sounds dumb.]]\\
'''Washington:''' [[WhatAnIdiot That's because it]] ''[[WhatAnIdiot is]]'' [[WhatAnIdiot dumb!]]
* LetsGetDangerous[=/=]MisfitMobilizationMoment: [[spoiler:In Episode 20, Doc's speech about how the [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection adventures after Blood Gulch]] ended up giving almost all of the Blood Gulch Crew (and Washington) what they wanted in some way results in the majority of those present agreeing to leave and help Epsilon and Carolina, since Epsilon is still Church, and therefore still their friend. Washington takes some more convincing, but Sarge's subsequent speech is enough to have him join the others in "the worst idea... ever".]]
* LetsSeeYOUDoBetter: When Carolina demands to be implanted with an AI, the Director lets her choose which one she'll obtain (and therefore take from one of her teammates) under this basis.
-->'''The Director''': If she thinks our decisions are so easy, then let ''her'' make one.
* LiteralAssKicking: A follow up to a GroinAttack in Episode 21, from [[spoiler:a Tex drone]] to [[spoiler:Grif]].
* LittleNo: The Pillman Insurrectionist when [[spoiler:Connie dies in his arms]].
* LongLostRelative: [[spoiler:In a roundabout way, Carolina to Epsilon, and technically the other AI units.]]
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Allison and the Director are Carolina's parents, though it appears that Carolina and possibly Epsilon already knew that.]]
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Maine clutching his head in pain while Sigma and Gamma are speaking with Carolina in Episode 13, foreshadowing his descent into insanity courtesy of Sigma.
* MoodWhiplash:
** Episode 10, which, the last two seasons, has been a CurbStompBattle courtesy of Tex, did start out that way when she started fighting. [[spoiler:Then she mortally wounded Connecticut, ending the episode on a TearJerker as she [[DiedInYourArmsTonight died in her boyfriend's arms]].]]
** Episode 15, hands down. [[spoiler:At first, it seems like there's going to be an epic MontyOum battle. It starts with Carolina, pumped up by two AI units, assembling her equipment for her match with Tex. On FILSS's signal, the two rush towards one another... and then the Director, outraged at the unauthorized match, accidentally calls Tex "Allison". Then, the episode suddenly becomes extremely dark, as all the AI act up in their owners' heads, Carolina goes nuts due to her two AI, and the Sarcophagus starts ''snarling and screaming''. Back in the present, the Reds go looking for Lopez to reboot him... and then Donut reappears, revealed to be alive with the help of Doc, drastically lightening the mood.]]
* MusicalisInterruptus: In Episode 3, when adventure "about to set out and kick ass" music gears up as the Freelancers go to find the Insurgent leader of this group in "Bone Valley"... [[NiceGuy York]] crashed into the scene at last on his JetPack, face first. Cue {{beat}} as everyone turns and stares at him for ruining the moment.
* MythologyGag: In Episode 12, York mentions a "[[VideoGame/HaloReach Club Errera]]" as the place where he [[spoiler:met Carolina]].
* NewMeat: Washington's status as the new guy is further cemented this season, and is often used as way to get someone to put up exposition about certain aspects of Project Freelancer. It's also PlayedForLaughs, since he has no clue about the {{Noodle Incident}}s his squadmates keep talking about.
* NiceGuy: Much is made of North's [[BigBrotherInstinct "caring and nurturing" nature]] in Episode 5, which led to him being paired up with the shy, childlike Theta.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
** Wash destroying the artificial gravity while trying to hack the system, in Episode 2. Not that it's a bad thing for the audience, because we get treated to an epically awesome zero-G battle. It's not even a bad thing for the crew, since they're considerably more prepared for zero-g combat (they have magnetic boots and jetpacks) than the mooks they're dealing with.
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler:Texas killing Connie. Sure, she was an enemy, but, as she learns in Episode 17, Connie could have actually helped shut down Project Freelancer much sooner, and with far less pain to the members]].
* NoodleIncident:
** There's that one soldier from Episode 2 who accidentally drops a shotgun which goes off, killing the guy next to him. What are the first words out of his mouth?
-->'''Soldier''': [[OhNoNotAgain Not again.]] Sorry about that.
** From Episodes 2 through 4, Agent Georgia. You do not want to know what happened to Georgia. [[hottip:*:A deleted scene in the Season 10 DVD reveals it, however.]]
--->'''Wash:''' I really do, though!
*** NoodleImplements: It involved a JetPack thruster in space.
** How [[spoiler:Carolina]] and York met, in Episode 12. The story cut off before York could finish, going straight into the next diary log.
* NormalFishInATinyPond: Wash (the Blood Gulch guys are the pond). Emphasized even more strongly in the flashbacks when York notes in the Episode 8 that he's easily the worst fighter in the squad. That said, the other people in the squad ''are'' [[MasterOfUnlocking York]], [[FriendlySniper North]], [[TheAce Carolina]], and [[TheJuggernaut Maine]].
* OfficialCouple:
** Episode 10 pretty much confirms that CT and the Resistance Leader had a relationship. From the looks of it, they planned to steal Freelancer equipment and then run away together. [[spoiler:[[TearJerker It didn't work out so well.]]]]
** Episodes 11 & 12 seem to confirm this for York & Carolina as well, though it might just be UnresolvedSexualTension.
* OhCrap:
** The Insurrectionist sniper in Episode 8, when one of his squadmates [[TooDumbToLive decides to]] [[spoiler:shoot at the inside of the BeehiveBarrier with a submachine gun]].
** [[spoiler:You can practically see the despair on the sleeveless ODST's face in Episode 9 when he realizes that Maine's going to kill him.]]
** A pair of comical examples in Episode 15: [[spoiler:Simmons and Sarge aren't too excited to have Donut and Doc around again]].
** In Episode 18, we have a tragic example. [[spoiler:Immediately after Epsilon-Church's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, his reaction as Tucker leaves, followed slowly by everyone else but Carolina, is a quiet version of this. It quickly evolves into PleaseDontLeaveMe.]]
** In Episode 20.
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon]]''': [[spoiler:Oh no.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': [[spoiler:Church? What is this?]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Epsilon]]''': [[spoiler:He kept trying. He kept trying to get her right.]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': [[spoiler:You thinks these things are anything like the real deal?]]\\
''[[spoiler:Camera Pans to reveal an army made up of Tex copies, cracking their knuckles and necks.]]''\\
'''[[spoiler:One of the Tex copies, in the voice of [[AIIsACrapshoot Omega]]]]:''' [[spoiler:You have no idea what kind of trouble you are in.]]
* OhNoNotAgain:
** In Episode 2, when one Insurrectionist soldier drops a shotgun, [[AccidentalMurder accidentally killing the guy next to him]], the first thing [[TheKlutz he]] says is: "Not again."
** In Episode 21, we have a non-NoodleIncident version of this. [[spoiler:Grif says this in response to a GroinAttack from a Texas drone.]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Tucker]]:''' [[spoiler:[[LampshadeHanging Oh, come on! You had to see that coming.]]]]
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
** In Episode 12:
-->'''[[LazyBum Grif]]:''' [[ICantBelieveImSayingThis I never thought I'd say this]], but I can't sleep.
** In Episode 13:
-->'''Tucker:''' [[ThatCameOutWrong Church, just because you want to get close to someone]] [[DoubleEntendre doesn't mean that you have to end up inside them!]]\\
* {{Beat}}*\\
'''Epsilon-Church:''' ...Oh come on. Aren't you gonna say it?\\
'''Tucker:''' No, because I'm pissed off!
** [[spoiler:After Church rages at the crew in Episode 18, Caboose leaves Epsilon-Church, despite his prior UndyingLoyalty, driving home just how crushed the Blood Gulch Crew is at that point. That said, he does get over it quickly enough, so it's probably more that he was upset that Epsilon-Church was alienating his friends than anything else.]]
* PhlebotinumOverdose: [[spoiler:Carolina takes on Iota and Eta because she believes that two AIs, being fragments themselves for an AI that is generally implanted to armor complete, will be better than one, and allow her to surpass [[TheRival Tex]]. The agony that comes from hearing them both calling out to "Allison" when the Director accidentally pushed the AI fragment BrownNote left her extremely debilitated, and, after being knocked out by Texas, she did not regain consciousness for several days at the least.]]
* PlatonicLifePartners: [[spoiler:Epsilon and Carolina by the end of the season.]]
* PleaseDontLeaveMe:
** In Episode 12:
--->[[spoiler:'''Carolina:''' Delta? Delta, please don't--]]
** [[spoiler:After Episode 18's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, Epsilon-Church almost immediately has a MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment as the Reds and Blues [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere silently walk out on him one by one]]. After Tucker leaves, this is his reaction.]]
--->[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' [[OhCrap Guys...]]]]\\
[[spoiler:''[[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Sarge, Grif, and Simmons nod to each other and walk out on him, after Tucker.]]'']]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Guys, wait a minute.]]]]\\
[[spoiler:''[[BrokenPedestal Caboose stares at him, Washington watching to see what he does.]]'']]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' Caboose...]]\\
[[spoiler:''[[TearJerker Caboose backs away, then turns and walks out as well without a word.]]'']]
* PluckyComicRelief: [[NewMeat Wash]][[NiceGuy ing]][[{{Adorkable}} ton]] is portrayed as this in the flashbacks before [[BreakTheCutie Episode 17]].
* PoorCommunicationKills:
** [[spoiler:The fight between Carolina and York, plus the one between Carolina and Tex would both have gone a lot more smoothly if either York or Tex had just said: "The Director is torturing someone to make these AIs and this is a rescue mission." However, instead they just make vague comments. Still, at that point it's doubtful Carolina would have listened, given how emotionally unstable she was from [[ArtificialIntelligence Eta and Iota]], her feelings of betrayal by York, her personal grudge against Tex and her loyalty to the Director.]]
** Church also basically cites this as the reason why nobody trusts Carolina. She basically orders the Reds, Blues and Wash around in an abrasive manner without giving them any explanation for why they're doing anything, what her motivations are, or even trying to connect with them. Church and Wash know the reasons and justifications for her behaviour, but a lot of problems the group has throughout this season might have been avoided if she had taken a breather to just talk with them.
* PricelessPaperweight[=/=]BattleTrophy: Grif still has [[spoiler:the Meta's Brute Shot]], which he had been planning to mount on the wall as a trophy.
* PunchCatch: [[spoiler:Maine catches the very first punch thrown by the sleeveless ODST, which shows off his newly acquired SuperStrength]].
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler:Epsilon-Church gives a long one to the Reds and Blues in Episode 18 when they refuse to go with him and Carolina to face the Director down. The result is... [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere less]] [[BondBreaker than stellar]].]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church''': So that's it? You're just going to turn your back on us?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Washington''': Epsilon, I know that it-]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church''': No, you're right. I guess I should have seen that one coming. It's not exactly like you're new to the concept, is it?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Sarge''': [[WhatTheHellHero That's a little harsh.]]]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church''': But you guys, after all the shit you've put me through, I really thought at least you would have my back.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Grif''': Us? What the hell did we do?]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' You ''shot'' me [[BoomHeadshot through the head]], you put a ''bomb'' [[WhyAmITicking in my gut]], you killed me with my [[TankGoodness own damn tank!]] And that's just how we ''met!'']]\\
[[spoiler:'''Tucker:''' [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan Church, calm down! What's your problem?!]]]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Epsilon-Church:''' ''You're'' my problem! You've ''always'' been my problem! Each and every one of you is just a ''problem'' that I have to ''deal'' with on a [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Daily. Basis!]]]]
** MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Once Church calms down after saying that, he tries to apologize to them. By the end, he's begging Caboose, for whom he presumably has become a BrokenPedestal, not to leave. [[TearJerker It doesn't work.]]]]
* ReplacementGoldfish: [[spoiler:Wash apparently became this for Church, after the latter went into the capture unit. To the point where Caboose even ''calls Wash by Church's name'', though only to make it easier for Caboose (the armor color confuses him), as Church discovers much to his fury after being rescued from the capture unit.]] This is cemented in the last scenes of the season, with [[spoiler:Wash yelling at Tucker and Caboose to get back to work, just like Church used to do]].
* TheReveal: In episode 22: [[spoiler:The mysterious blue guy is Captain Flowers/Agent [[BrickJoke Florida]], and ''Carolina is the Director and Alison's daughter'']].
* ReversePsychology: Wash pulls this off perfectly on the Red Team in the present day bits of Episode 6, when they threaten to leave and go back home. He notes that they're right about there maybe being some kind of bad things back home... like a UNSC ambush, since they're wanted criminals.
** In episode 20, [[spoiler:this hilariously turns out to actually be ''true'', even though Wash had been--as far as he knew--[=BSing=] them]].
-->'''Wash:''' ''*deadpan*'' You gotta be fucking kidding me.
* RivalsTeamUp: Tex and Carolina take on [[spoiler:Connecticut and the Insurrectionist Leader]] together in Episode 10.
* RousingSpeech: Doc delivers one to the rest of the BGC [[spoiler:in what turns out to be a MisfitMobilizationMoment]]. Then Sarge in turn delivers one to Wash that's half Rousing Speech and half TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Wash takes it rather well.]]
* TheScapegoat: Wash ends up taking the blame for the breakdown of Freelancer, even though it turns out that Tex's defection and the Meta's rampage had as much if not more to do with the Director's decision to mothball the A.I.s. Likewise, Tex is initially blamed for Meta's first attack (as no one yet knows that Maine has finally lost it).
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:Wash, Tucker, Caboose, and the Reds eventually have all they can take of Carolina and Church, and walk out on them. They eventually change their minds, though.]]
* SayingTooMuch: Theta, in his first appearance. [[spoiler:"I have a sister."]]
* ShipTease:
** York and Carolina in Episode 11, 12 and 16.
** Episode 12 also seems to tease Carolina with Church.
* ShoutOut:
** The first episode shows a split-second still of [[RoosterTeeth Rooster Teeth Animated Adventures]].
** Theta's skateboard has the RoosterTeeth logo on it.
** In Episode 8, 479er is channeling [[Franchise/StarWars Han Solo]].
--> '''479''': No, no. That one goes there, this one goes here.
** [[spoiler:Pillman's grabbing and equipping of Connie's helmet]] seems very similar to ''VideoGame/HaloReach''.
** Episode 19 has a few to ''Franchise/StarWars'':
*** Tex asking York for a big distraction has him respond with a very Han Solo-esque, "Relax, it's me."
*** [[spoiler:The ''Mother of Invention'' crashing planet-side]] is very reminiscent of the opening of ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
** "Seeing this many ex-girlfriends in one room kinda has me [[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought."]]
* ShownTheirWork[=/=]ShoutOut: The Freelancer discussion of A.I. theory in episode 6 is a startlingly accurate summary of how A.I. works in the Bungie-verse, first articulated in the ''{{VideoGame/Marathon}}'' series (the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series uses the same rules for A.I. behavior). It also reveals [[spoiler:the origin of the Meta's name (for Metastability, the theoretical 4th stage of rampancy where an A.I. achieves full human sentience, which Sigma wanted to achieve)]].
* ShrinkingViolet: Theta is very shy when North is trying to show him to the others. If you look closely, you can even see Theta is constantly wringing his hands nervously during the interaction.
* SicEm: Said word-for-word by Sigma to Maine when he shows up at the battle during the eighth episode.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Most of the notably mentioned Project Freelancer events (Maine becoming the Meta, the Epsilon Incident, and even South and North's falling out) are pushed to the side in favor of showing the story of Carolina. Maine, in particular, is largely OutOfFocus, showing up in a single fight scene and a handful of largely background appearances before suiting up to become the Meta.
* TheStinger: Several at the end of the DVD credits:
** [[BrickJoke Utah and Georgia run into one another.]]
** North carries South away after [[spoiler:their fight. He apologizes and tells her he always has her back. She responds, "[[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder And I'm watching yours.]]"]]
** Carolina [[spoiler:is shown walking into Club Errera.]]
** [[spoiler:Doc is revealed to have been left behind in Valhalla.]]
** [[spoiler:The Director's video of Allison is shown in its entirety.]]
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Tucker in the present and York in the past both commenting on Carolina's greenish-blue-seafoam-green/aquamarine-turquoise armor in almost the exact same wording.
* SummonBiggerFish: Washington signals for a pod containing [[spoiler:Sigma-enhanced Maine]] to fight the sleeveless Insurrectionist.
* SuperStrength: All Freelancers seem to possess at least some degree of this, given the insane moves even the lower-tier ones are shown to pull off. Most visibly, York is able to lift a gym locker over his head and use it as a projectile weapon. [[spoiler:Also, an extreme version of this is potentially Maine's original Freelancer ability; if you listen carefully, you'll hear faint mechanical noises when he winds back for a punch. He [[OneHitKill paid back]] the sleeveless Insurrectionist for the whole "shot in the throat" bit. He's certainly augmented, but whether this is his armor's special ability or just standard Freelancer enhancement remains to be seen.]] Also [[spoiler:Caboose]], though his might be purely natural.
* SympathyForTheDevil: [[spoiler:Carolina]] feels sorry for [[spoiler:Maine]], since [[spoiler:Sigma was her AI, and so Maine wasn't suited to handle him, leading to his corruption and by extension the entire Recollection Trilogy. This is made more significant by the revelation in Episode 19 that she was the Meta's first victim]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Carolina]]''': Poor [[spoiler:Maine]].
** [[spoiler: Epsilon-Church agrees. During his confrontation with the Director, he lists the Meta as one of his victims:]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Church]]''': No! You've had your fucking time. You have to answer for what you did. To [[spoiler: the Meta]], to Washington, to Carolina... to me, and to her. To Texas!
** [[spoiler:When Carolina and Epsilon-Church finally confront the Director in Episode 22, he's such a broken shell of a man that Carolina can feel nothing but pity for him.]]
* TakeAThirdOption: When presented with the option of taking either Washington's or South's [=AIs=], Carolina decides to take ''both'' of them.
* [[TattooedCrook Tattooed Villain]]: Maine has the Meta's symbol tattooed on the back of his shaved head.
* ThrowAwayGuns: [[spoiler:In Episode 19, this is Tex's behavior, using one of [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her enemies' shotguns]] and throwing it at someone else when it runs out of ammunition.]]
* TheBusCameBack: Episode 15 re-introduces [[spoiler:Donut and Doc, who haven't been seen since the ends of Seasons 7 and 8, respectively]].
** [[spoiler:Sadly, Doc got back on it. He was too busy preparing for the trip, complete with his own rocket launcher, and didn't get to the others in time to get on the planes with them. The people they stole the planes from don't have a problem with him though, so he'll be okay.]]
* TheyFightCrime: In Episode 9.
-->'''[[GeniusDitz Caboose]]''': Hover Church can also solve crimes.
* ThisIsGonnaSuck: In Episode 19.
-->'''[[spoiler:South]]:''' [[spoiler:''*enters the room with a [[MacrossMissileMassacre Missile Pod]]*'']] Think you're so fucking tough, don't you, [[spoiler:Texas]]? Well, let me ask you something. [[YouMonster Who's the monster now]], [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch?]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Tex]]:''' Ah, shit.
** [[spoiler:Carolina's reaction to an army of Agent Tex copies at the end of Episode 20.]]
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Subverted. The Mysterious Blue Guy tries to kill the GatlingGood duo in Episode 10 by throwing the axe he had lodged in his chestplate...but despite the music [[TheDayTheMusicLied implying otherwise]], it doesn't even make it to them at all.
* TomatoInTheMirror: [[spoiler:Tex]], after viewing [[spoiler:C.T.]]'s information disk, realizes that she herself is [[spoiler:the Beta AI fragment that formed as a byproduct of the creation of the Alpha]].
* TookALevelInBadass: After being enhanced by Sigma, the already incredibly strong Maine is now well on his way to become [[TheJuggernaut The Meta]].
** Episode 21 explains why [[spoiler:Caboose wasn't animated in previous seasons, as we see him kick the ass of many, MANY, [[OneManArmy Texes]].]]
* TookALevelInKindness: From the perspective of the Freelancers, Tex - particularly after Episode 16. It is indicated that this is largely due Omega being shut down.
* TooDumbToLive: The [[spoiler:Hornet pilots]] in Episode 20 were practically shouting [[spoiler:to have their planes stolen]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Pilot]]:''' ...we do have airships! Fast, easy-to-pilot airships! Which we will now land, in order to take you to jail!
* TooSoon: After Sarge quips that ever since Donut was shot, he probably has a few more holes in him, he invokes this trope by name. [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church calls him out on it.
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church''': What's the appropriate amount of time to go by for ''that'' joke to be ok?
* TragicKeepsake:
** [[spoiler:As revealed in Episode 10, Connie's Freelancer armor, which went missing (aside from the appearance in ''Recreation'') until found by Wash in ''Revelation''.]]
** [[spoiler:In Episodes 12 and 19, York's lighter.]]
* TranquilFury:
** In Episode 1, [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church is ''not'' happy [[spoiler:that Wash became his [[ReplacementGoldfish replacement on Blue Team]]]]. But instead of raving and ranting [[spoiler:like the Alpha]], he just gets more and more teeth-clenched and sarcastic at every new revelation.
-->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church:''' Why are you wearing blue armor? Why are you wearing ''my'' armor? [...] [[WhatTheHellHero You took my clothes,]] ''[[WhatTheHellHero and]]'' [[WhatTheHellHero my name?]]
** Tex in Episode 10, when CT calls her a "shadow." [[spoiler:Considering what Tex does to CT after this exchange, this seems to have been a BerserkButton for her.]]
--> '''CT:''' I know what you are, Tex. And I won't take orders from a shadow.
--> '''Tex:''' ''What'' did you just call me?
* TrueCompanions: The Freelancers come off as once being this the more we see them. Kind of summed up by North a bit snarkily in Episode 5 when he comments that York and Wash are "my friends, for reasons beyond my comprehension". Episode 12 shows this is a deconstruction. Despite being such a close-knit unit, they still fell apart eventually. [[spoiler:This led to Carolina being pretty much completely unable to trust anyone later on.]]
** This particularly becomes a deconstruction when you realise that the Blood Gulch crew, who were recruited and trained to hate and fight each other, have become far more friendly towards one another in recent seasons, while the Freelancers, who are supposed to be a team and work together, are the ones who fell apart due to in-fighting and conflicting loyalties. In other words, the Freelancers were ''supposed'' to be TrueCompanions, while the Blood Gulch crew were the ones who actually ''achieved'' it.
** C.T. pointed out early on that the failure of Project Freelancer to achieve True Companion status was due at least partially to the Leaderboard. Instead of encouraging the members of the squad to work together, it turned almost half the team into [[CompetitionFreak Competition Freaks]], with Carolina, South being two notable examples. Instead of working as a team, we got situations where Maine and Wyoming were more concerned with being the ones to take out Tex, and Carolina was less concerned with achiving the mission objectives than doing better than Tex during said mission. This constant competition bred resentment, distrust, and ultimately was a factor in the team eating itself.
* TwoPlusTortureMakesFive: It's been known since before the season that the AIs are fragments that were made from torturing Alpha. Episode 16 gives the viewers a glimpse of the process, which is rather [[DrivenToMadness disturbing]] to watch as Alpha is subjected to [[GoMadFromTheRevelation cruel revelations]] designed to create [[SplitPersonality alternate personalities]].
* UnexplainedRecovery: The Insurrection soldiers that were shown in Season 9 as a QuirkyMinibossSquad. The soldier with the bandolier is the most glaring example, as he was last seen taking a WaveMotionGun right to the face, yet appears in the eighth episode with his only visible injuries being [[ArtificialLimbs a mechanical arm]] and some heavy damage to his armor.
* VitriolicBestBuds: We see York and Delta's friendship progress over time from initial distrust/serious criticism of each other, to the friendly needling and snark they had in "Out of Mind" and now in York's "present day" journal entries.
* WasItReallyWorthIt: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:F.I.L.S.S. asks the Director if Project Freelancer was ultimately a success. He says no, but he thinks he was close (to reviving Allison)]].
* WhamEpisode:
** Episode 10. From the [[spoiler:chronologically first on-screen death of a Freelancer (unless the deleted scene about Utah counts), a massive {{revision}} about CT's identity in Season 7, and the implication to Tex and Carolina that there's a lot more to Freelancer than meets the eye]].
** Episode 15. See the MoodWhiplash entry, above, for details.
** Episode 17: Wash is implanted with Epsilon, [[spoiler:Connie was invoking a BatmanGambit for Tex to get her information on the Director, Beta is Texas, we finally see Allison's face, and Epsilon gains many of the capabilities and memories of the Alpha]].
** Episode 20: We see what the Director was doing all this time.
** Episode 22: [[spoiler:Carolina]] and [[spoiler:Epsilon-]]Church finally reach the Director. [[spoiler:They spare him, but he decides to commit suicide along with F.I.L.S.S. anyway. Carolina then heavily implies, if not outright states that she is the daughter of the original Allison and Director Leonard Church.]]
* WhamLine:
** Trailer for Season 10.
--->'''[[ElijahWood Sigma]]:''' [[TheCorrupter We]] [[CallBack are the Meta.]] And we will find you. Very soon.
** Episode 10.
--->'''Insurrectionist Leader:''' [[spoiler:[[IsThatWhatHeToldYou Ha, ha, is that]] [[LaResistance who]] he told [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters you]] [[HeroAntagonist we]] are?]]
--->'''C.T.:''' [[spoiler:Here, take the info. It's not complete but it'll get [[HeroAntagonist them]] started.]]
** Episode 15, more for the effects of the line than the line itself.
--->'''Director:''' [[BigNo NO!]] [[spoiler:[[BrownNote Allison!]]]]
** Episode 17.
--->'''[[spoiler:Allison]]:''' [[spoiler:[[CallBack But don't say goodbye.]] [[NeverSayGoodbye I hate goodbyes.]]]]
--->'''[[spoiler:Epsilon-Church]]:''' [[spoiler:I just remembered ''[[HesBack everything]]''.]]
* WhamShot: In Episode 22, [[spoiler:the Director taking off his glasses, showing his eyes are the same exact color as Carolina's]].
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse:
** Out of all of the original Project Freelancer characters, the only ones we don't know the ultimate fates of so far are the Counselor and Four Seven Niner (and Freelancer Command if she's not the same person as Four Seven Niner).
** In Episode 11, after discussion with the Reds and Blues about the [[TalkingLightbulb Monitor unit]] that Epsilon used as a body from part way into Season 7 to part way into Season 8, [[spoiler:Carolina]] gets angry and stops talking about it entirely when she realizes that they left it on the floor of a warehouse. Despite it being ''the'' reason Tucker was defending the temple at Sandtrap in Season 7 and apparently a very important artifact to the Insurrectionist Leader, nobody bothers to look for it further after that [[spoiler:even when the gang go back to the same warehouse where they left it in the first place. Considering Carolina's HeelRealization, this is especially jarring, since it could have helped to go through with her [[TheAtoner atonement]] following the death of the Director if she had tried to grab it on the way out, and Tucker didn't even seem to mention why he thought it was a "big pain in the ass"]]. However, with the release of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' and its focus on [[HigherTechSpecies the Forerunners]], this might be a SequelHook to lead into the new trilogy while [[spoiler:Carolina and Epsilon hunt down the remaining technology of Project Freelancer]].
* [[spoiler:WhatCouldHaveBeen: An unused fight scene for Season 9, but was later updated for use in Season 10, would've had Carolina's armor completely break off after chasing the Sleeveless Insurrectionist, having a fight in a subway that would've ended with Carolina using her GrapplingHookGun to [[OffWithHisHead decapitate the guy]].]]
* WhereItAllBegan: Episode 19 reveals that [[spoiler:Maine assimilated his first additional AIs (Eta and Iota) at Sidewinder/Avalanche near a cliff, with Sigma proclaiming the group in Maine "the Meta" for the first time. Retroactively, this makes Maine's DisneyVillainDeath in [[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection the finale of "Revelation"]] an example, as it is both the place where the Meta was "born" and killed]].
* WorthIt: Tucker thinks as much [[spoiler:when Epsilon manages to stop the Tex army in Episode 21... but after Grif was hit with a simultaneous GroinAttack by 20 Texes at once]].
-->'''Tucker:''' Yeah, but where's the fun in that?
* YouAreNotAlone:
** In Episode 12, [[ArtificialIntelligence Epsilon]] to [[spoiler:[[BrokenBird Carolina]]]]:
--->'''Epsilon''': [[spoiler:[[TearJerker Because I know what it's like to spend your life chasing ghosts.]]]]
** In Episode 21, [[spoiler:Carolina is facing her DarkestHour, as she begins to realize that she can never defeat Tex... when the gang pulls a BigDamnHeroes moment, causing her to realize that she really needs them.]]
* YouAreTooLate: Tex's attempt at [[spoiler:rescuing Alpha]] fails due to this.
* YouDoNOTWantToKnow:
-->'''York''': We're going all the way over there? After [[NoodleIncident what happened to Georgia]]? [[hottip:*:It seems to have been less disastrous than we've been led to believe. For details, check the [[Characters/RedVsBlueProjectFreelancer characters section.]]\\
'''Wash''': Would someone ''please'' tell me what happened to Georgia?!\\
'''York''': Dude, YouDoNOTWantToKnow.\\
'''Wash''': I really do, though!
[[/folder]]
----
