Man in the Yellow Hat
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I feel it's possible Uzi dies. Tessa herself said it's gonna have to happen.
Considering the episodes are labeled simply "Episode X" (like Sunset Paradise) instead of "Season 1-Episode X" (like Meta Runner), it definitely could be just the one season. Doesn't help that they Are answering or have answered several of the mysteries they set up.
Edited by Purgatoryisof2 on Aug 18th 2023 at 11:26:03 AM
He/Him
I find it extraordinarily unlikely that they can wrap everything up in a satisfactory fashion in two episodes. My suspicion is that the show was greenlit for one season, with additional seasons contingent on the performance of season 1.
Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 18th 2023 at 11:28:37 AM
Man in the Yellow Hat
I mean, what's there to reveal. We know what the AS is, what Zombie Drones are, where Doll get her powers, where Uzi got her powers, what happened to Earth, what Tessa's deal is, how J is back, basically everything. The only mysteries I can think of is what's in the lab, expanding on what happened with Uzi's mom, and the V thing you mentioned. And we know Uzi likely has some sort of showdown with Cyn based on the shot at the beginning of this
.
Edited by Purgatoryisof2 on Aug 18th 2023 at 11:34:36 AM
He/Him
Considering they're basically a version of Weyland-Yutani so Stupid Evil that they continued screwing with the Eldritch Abomination even after the Earth itself was destroyed, JC Jensen is a loose end that seems unlikely be wrapped up. That trailer also directly calls the current run of the show "season 1."
Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 18th 2023 at 12:00:05 PM
Man in the Yellow Hat
Hm, good point. Also, I was aware of the trailer being called season 1, which is why I was uncertain of there being only one up to this point. Overall, still unsure, but your point have convinced me there's probably gonna be a season 2, and maybe stuff beyond. Maybe even some spinoffs (possibly through another medium) covering the other human planets Cyn infiltrated or other Worker Drone colonies. With this, I also agree with your point on the acrylic stand not being evidence for V's death. Still feel she's probably dead though.
Edited by Purgatoryisof2 on Aug 18th 2023 at 11:58:17 AM
He/Him
I wasn't the one who mentioned the V merch. I think it's entirely likely she's dead, but that doesn't really impact the prospects of a season 2 given Tessa, J, and/or even Doll could easily fill her role in the cast.
You know, come to think of it, the specific circumstances of V's Heroic Sacrifice, wherein she says she trusts Uzi actually point towards an outcome where Uzi survives. N or Tessa having to Shoot the Dog with her would totally undermine that moment if V stays dead. If not, then the main characters have so much Plot Armor that I really doubt one of them is going to die.
Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 18th 2023 at 12:09:31 PM
Man in the Yellow Hat
Whoops, sorry, got mixed up. Still, Kaiseror's point is good. Also, good point on the thing about V's last words indicating Uzi will live.
I think the most likely outcome of the season is that Doll ends up becoming fully possessed by the Solver and has to be put down. Uzi on the other hand manages to stave off succumbing to the solver, and whatever she, Tessa, and N find down in the labs gives Tessa a reason not to Shoot the Dog. Could be some hint at a potential cure, or maybe an implication that there's more worlds with solver infection, and Uzi's promise that if she's in real danger of being overtaken that she'll let them kill her.
Based on what we know about Disassembly Drones, V will end up turning Eldritch. Considering the solver working through Eldritch J was rebuilding J, I'd imagine Eldritch V would also do that, which is a way for V to come back. In fact, unless the raptors know to destroy her core to prevent that (unlikely given Alice keeps the DD cores in an oven), it's hard to see how that doesn't happen. One option I can see is that since Uzi is now her administrator rather than Cyn, Eldritch V might be under Uzi's control, or even retains her own faculties, which could play into the confrontation with a Solver possessed Doll, and might lead to a Final Death for V.
Man in the Yellow Hat
Aren't those hearts from drones Alice killed, not the Sentinels?
So on another topic, did anyone else notice how Tessa called N "tall and handsome", and sounded jealous when she caught Uzi holding his hand? I get N is very likeable, but at this point he's verging on a Harem Anime protagonist. 
I took it more as a proud and overprotective mother/elder sister.
That also seems possible, though considering they knew each other as children/a child coded worker drone, it's definitely older sister if that's the dynamic. I also find it hard to see her petting N's hair as platonic, but who knows.
Yeah, the vibe I get from her is something in between "proud, protective parent" and "proud, protective pet owner". But, I also don't trust her.
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Personally, I think she's being entirely honest with us, she's already stated the thing that's probably going to put her in conflict with Uzi and N, namely that she intends to Shoot the Dog with Uzi (and Doll, the fact that Tessa tipped her hand on that is presumably why Doll turned on her) once they've retrieved the list of infected drones.
Hi btw! Looks like you finally got around to watching the show!
Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 20th 2023 at 3:55:57 PM
I've been watching it, but I need to rewatch it. I watched the first few episodes as soon as they came out, then life got in the way and I caught up recently. The gap definitely has not done me any favours in terms of following the plot, so I need to rewatch. The main issue is forgetting which character's which (aside from the main few) so the Cyn issue is a bit messed up in my mind — I thought the episodes were hinting that Uzi's is a badly terminated Cyn and part of her problem is Cyn software resurfacing (as per the zombie drone warning)... but apparently J is ex-Cyn, not Uzi; unfortunately, J is one of the characters I really don't remember well. So, I need to do a big binge this week to get the characters straight in my head.
Moral of the story? If you get interrupted from watching the show, rewatch it and then continue on with the newer episodes. #AwesomeWyldchyldLifeHacks
Edited by Wyldchyld on Aug 21st 2023 at 12:27:33 PM
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Like reflections in the glass!
J's the one with twintails FFR
also, I'd say that rewatches might be necessary anyway given the glacial pace of released, but then again, as an anecdote I haven't had any issues keeping up with the episodes
Yeah, I figured that out by the sixth episode. It's just I can't remember what each character has done in previous ones, and I had time figuring out which character name went with which character. I didn't figure out Doll's name until the latest episode, and have completely forgotten her role in the show.
I can't walk into a show mid-way through. I always have to start at the beginning, even if it's an episodic show with few story arcs. So, I should have gone back to the first episode because of my gap. Anyway, I am enjoying this show, I just need to refresh my memory by binge watching it... which will be fun to do.
Edited by Wyldchyld on Aug 21st 2023 at 1:30:47 PM
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
@Wyldchyld: Liam Vickers also really, really likes Freeze Frame Bonuses and subtle storytelling, which makes it especially easy to get confused without watching an episode at least a few times.
As far as the relationship between Uzi and Cyn, I also suspected she and her mom also had a copy of Cyn’s code, but the big twist of JCJenson not being the ones who sent the Disassembly Drones threw that out the window.
I also think there’s a bit of (possibly intentional) confusion about the relationship between Cyn and Absolute Solver. As best I can tell they are not one and the same like many people assume: Cyn was simply a worker drone who rebooted after being improperly disposed of and ended up making a Faustian Bargain with the Solver, which is some sort of entity capable of possessing corrupted AI. There’s a few pieces of evidence for this. First is a conversation that shows up on Cyn’s visor at the start of episode 5. Then there’s Tessa’s remark that the Solver took Cyn as its host in 6. Finally, there’s an interesting meta bit where Cyn/AS’s voice actor is credited simply as “Absolute Solver” in episode 2, then as “Cyn/Absolute Solver” in episode 5, the back to just “Absolute Solver” in 6.
The Element of Hyperbole.
I think if I had to zero in on an issue I have with Murder Drones, it's that I think it's almost actively hostile to a first time watcher. Some episodes are worse about this than others, but the fact that everyone I've seen react to this series gets very confused very quickly implies that I think some things could be easier to follow.
Like, watching it gain, everything makes sense, cuz I knwo the context of future events, and I'm enjoying it a lot more, but I feel like with most shows you understand things more on a second watch, but you still get it at least on some level the first time. There's a base level that's easy to understand, and then the subtle stuff is added on top. Murder Drones feels almost like you need to rewatch multiple times to follow what's going on.
And some things that do get explained are explained in flippant ways that are extremely easy to miss.
For example, there's a single line that explains why Uzi's classmates are accompanying her in episode 4. A single borderline throwaway line but without it the plot makes no sense.
Edited by GNinja on Aug 22nd 2023 at 9:28:08 AM
Kaze ni Nare!
My biggest issue is the way the show defaults to Comedic Sociopathy with Drones being totally indifferent to people around them dying, yet at the same time plays Doll’s You Killed My Father motivation and V’s Heroic Sacrifice completely straight. This only got so bad that it annoyed me in episode 4*, and episode 6 finally imo nailed the balance between self-aware Black Comedy and sincere Sci-fi thriller.
* Personally my least favorite; I had no ability to follow what was going on the first time around.
Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 22nd 2023 at 6:31:01 AM
The Element of Hyperbole.
I almost wish the show had more exposition. For at least the big concepts.
Like, Dissasembly Drones cant go out in the sun. This is mentioned precisely once by N near the end of episode 1, and then it doesn't really show up again until episode 4.
Kaze ni Nare!
I just noticed something pretty horrifying. Around the time that Alice gets killed, there's a shot of the oven she keeps the Disassembly Drone cores in, open and empty.
Okay, I just binged all six episodes over the course of two days. I am hooked and simultaneously P.O.'d it ended on a cliffhanger like it did.
- I love our main trio. Uzi is just the right amount of angst where you feel bad for her without getting annoyed by wangst, N is fucking adorable and a cinnamon roll, and V is both badass and sorta tragic with how she's clearly putting on more of a Jerkass Façade so that N doesn't remember what they lost. Really hoping V somehow manages to make it out of there. If J can get revived, V should be able to come back too hopefully, especially when she's only just accepted Uzi and began to open up to them.
- I'm not sure how I feel about J. Her depictions between the Pilot and the main series only really have one thing in common: that she's on some level a bitch, but the level of bitchiness differs between them. In the pilot, she's just extremely unpleasant, abusing poor N, acting like the Worker Drones are "inferior" to the Disassembly Drones, and just being more a Hate Sink than anything. In the series itself though, the flashbacks N experiences show a somewhat softer side to her, particularly via her care for Tessa and hinting she does care about N to an extent, she lacks the supremacy elements, and she's a lot more tolerable. I'm not sure if it's just a case of Early-Installment Weirdness, her being made to be worse due to the Absolute Solver's influence only to be better when brought back thanks to Tessa removing it's influence, or it's something else.
- Thad and Lizzy are enjoyable side-characters, neither too interesting that they make you want to see more of them, nor too boring that they fade into the background. They fill the nice niche of quirky yet not too distracting supporting cast.
- Khan... ugh. Khan honestly is the only character that annoys me. I heard that at one point he was supposed to be the Big Bad but then that idea got scrapped, but it just makes his actions in the Pilot stand out that much more. He willingly left Uzi to die at the hands of N and is shown via Freeze-Frame Bonus to be emotionally abusive to her, and Uzi is understandably fucking pissed once she and N stop J and V. And the following episode does seem set up to have him feel remorseful over what he did... but it in turn doesn't jive with him being a Bumbling Dad in the series proper who does love Uzi but just doesn't understand how to connect with her. The second episode has the Absolute Solver trick Uzi into thinking it killed him, which, yeah, I get her being upset since, angry or not, it's still her dad, but the whole "abandoned me to die" element is quickly forgotten about afterwards, and Khan doesn't have to work or earn Uzi's trust back.
- I'm reminded of Hannes from Attack on Titan, in that they were ones in charge of the barriers stopping killer entities from getting in and grew complacent as a result, then when faced with the actual threat, acted like cowards and ran. Whereas Hannes though did try to fight against the Smiling Titan before realizing he couldn't do it, he at least still honored Carla's dying wish and saved Eren and Mikasa, and is shown to be horribly broken up about his failure to save her even years later. Khan meanwhile had the opportunity to grab Uzi's rifle and try to save her from N, but instead runs to save his own ass, something that makes even the at the time Heel N stop and pause.
- I honestly pity Doll. For one thing, we see via Uzi just how having the Absolute Solver in you screws with you mentally, but Doll had to witness V kill her parents right in front of her eyes, something that would traumatize anyone. Yeah, she was a Serial Killer who ate the corpses of her classmates, but considering Disassembly Drones need to consume oil to stop themselves from overheating and die, her doing so at least has the excuse of a Mortality Phobia. I wouldn't be surprised if Doll does get a Mercy Kill down the line, but she at least has an element of tragedy to her.
- Cyn and Tessa are... interesting.
- I believe it's intentional that they blurred the lines between how much of "Cyn" we saw was the actual Cyn and how much was the Absolute Solver, so I'm interested in seeing how much of "Cyn" is left later on.
- Side note, but while the "narrating actions as they do them" bit is cute when it was just Cyn, as the Absolute Solver it's a bit narmy, since we see this giant mecha eye and claw all set to lobotomize N... only to then go "Tantrum" and get pissed off.
- Tessa meanwhile I'm finding hard to understand. I understand her motivations, they're clear enough. What I don't understand is how is she even still alive. Tessa wasn't that old when Cyn massacred the Gala and pretty much nuked the Earth, and as we saw via the memories, the future Disassembly Drones got infected with the Absolute Solver too, and based on her behavior in Episode 6, particularly dealing with the Sentinel, she's not exactly on the cautious side.
- I also wonder why she was so cold to Cyn in the flashbacks even before Cyn got homicidal. I mean, keeping her locked in the basement, being visibly annoyed to see her when N brings her with him? Why? She was the one who dug her out of the garbage after all and brought her home, so why the sudden attitude shift? She clearly treated Cyn good at some point, otherwise Cyn wouldn't have spared her.
- I believe it's intentional that they blurred the lines between how much of "Cyn" we saw was the actual Cyn and how much was the Absolute Solver, so I'm interested in seeing how much of "Cyn" is left later on.
- I am glad they dropped the Better than a Bare Bulb sthick after the first episode or two. I gets annoying seeing that done in what's supposed to be an otherwise serious or emotional scene, and takes me out of the scene.
- What makes J, V, and N different from Doll and Uzi in terms of the Absolute Solver?
- It's established the former three did get affected by the Absolute Solver in the past, we see as much with J and V in the flashbacks, and N has the software on him when he reboots in the Pilot, it just isn't enabled. And J only became a puppet of the Absolute Solver after she died. Their augmentations meanwhile are entirely mechanical, having purely steel Angel like wings, a regenerative factor that reallocates matter from nearby materials, etc.
- Doll and Uzi meanwhile are constantly at risk of being made into puppets of the Absolute Solver the more they use their powers, and inherited the programming rather than it being put in them. They possess psionic like abilities, and all of their changes are more like mutations, and bizarrely organic looking, like Uzi's fleshy Demon like wings.
- And if both Tessa and Alice are to be believed, Uzi's mother Nori demonstrated abilities closer to Cyn's version of the Absolute Solver in destructive capability and powers, being the one responsible for the death of Copper 9's human population, rather than the less powerful version the Disassembly Drones possess. Is that connected to why their powers are different? Is it because they inherited the Absolute Solver from the source rather than it simply being uploaded into them?
Edited by RebelFalcon on Sep 15th 2023 at 6:38:50 AM
Vegeta: I'm back bitches!
The One with Knowledge of Things
Just watched all the current episodes in the row, and can't wait for episode 7.
I assure you, I'm a completely trustworthy person.
@Purgatoryisof2: One cause for hope on a Doylist basis is that Murder Drones is by far Glitch's most popular series. There's almost no chance there isn't going to be a Season 2, so I put the odds at basically 100% that Uzi and N make it through this alive. Whether she'll have to receive a Mercy Kill down the road is yet to be seen. Tessa feels too 'main character' to die before the true end of the series as well, and J was sent to safety so I expect those four at least will be around for the next season.
Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 18th 2023 at 1:16:00 PM