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+ padding:1.2em 30px 1.2em 75px; + border-left:8px solid #B18686; + position: relative; + background:#EDEDED; +} + +blockquote::before{ + font-family:Arial; + color:#78C0A8; + font-size:4em; + position: absolute; + left: 10px; + top:-10px; +} + +blockquote::after{ + content: ''; +} + +blockquote span{ + display:block; + color:#333333; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: bold; + margin-top:1em; +} diff --git a/blog/borderlands2.html b/blog/borderlands2.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3ff9eb --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/borderlands2.html @@ -0,0 +1,1633 @@ + + + + + + + +Tutta la verità su Borderlands 2 + + + + + +
+

Tutta la verità su Borderlands 2

+
+

Table of Contents

+
+ +
+
+

+WIP +

+
+

1 Borderlands2 per lezzi

+
+

+Borderlands 2 e` un gioco che se affrontato con i giusti obiettivi +diventa estremamente complesso e soddisfacente. Il territorio da +esplorare e` vastissimo, carente di guide e le meccaniche di gioco +sufficientemente varie. +

+ +

+Questa guida si propone di aiutare tutti i lezzi che ne avranno voglia +ad affrontare il gioco nella maniera giusta ed evitando di doversi +sorbire mille bambini urlanti su youtube che mostrano glitch fixati. +Fanculo youtube. +

+
+
+ +
+

2 Inizio

+
+

+La prima cosa da fare e` evitare di parlare di questo gioco con +IPulsar. Se c'e` qualche achievement da conquistare lui l'ha fatto, ha +comprato l'edizione piu` costosa della tua (hai comprato il gioco vero +:^)? ) e ha speso almeno dieci volte il numero di ore che hai speso te +ingame. Chiaramente tutte le sue build sono perfezionate a puntino e +dato che soffre di sindrome di stoccolma da parte della Sony non ha +usato nessuna cheat su PS3. Ah, non provare nemmeno a dirgli che ha +l'aim assist forzatamente abilitato. +

+
+
+ +
+

3 Modalita` di gioco

+
+

+Non so chi abbia pensato che ho cosi` tanto tempo da perdere da poter +giocare tre volte allo stesso gioco. Capisco l'eseguire una prima run +esplorativa ed una seconda completa, questo avrebbe senso, ma no, in +Borderlands 2 il flow di gioco e` il seguente: +

+
    +
  • normal vault hunter mode: probabilmente non ha senso fare le +missioni opzionali perche` si sale troppo di livello e le story +mission diventano noiose. COnsidera solo "Uncle Teddy" che da come +ricompensa una pistola utilissima per il second wind.
    • +
  • true vault hunter mode: letteralmente NVHM ma con i nemici piu` +forti. Che idea del cazzo
    • +
  • ultimate vault hunder mode: qua il gioco si fa interessante perche` +al contrario delle precedenti modalita` la difficolta` e` adattativa +quindi non si rischia di superare il livello richiesto dalle +missioni. E` anche l'unica modalita` in cui si possono trovare le +armi piu` rare.
    • +
+
+ +
+

3.1 La porchetta

+
+

+Una volta terminato il primo gameplay puoi aprire il gibbed editor e +eseguire le seguenti azioni per avere un personaggio in UVHM: +

+
    +
  • (dal menu` in alto) New
    • +
  • (Scheda character) Class: scegli la classe
    • +
  • Experience level: metti 50
    • +
  • Experience points: premi sync
    • +
  • General skill points: mettine 50
    • +
  • Specialist skill points: regolati
    • +
  • Name: sceglilo
    • +
  • (scheda raw) LastPlaythroughNumber: metti 2
    • +
  • ShowNewPlaythroughNotification: metti la spunta
    • +
  • PlaythroughsCompleted: metti 2
    • +
  • (dal menu` in alto) Save As: Save0009.sav: usa qualsiasi numero, +zero padded a quattro cifre
    • +
+ +

+L'unico problema di questa modalita` e` che inizierai il gioco con +solo due slot per le armi e equipaggiamenti di bassissimo livello. +Puoi fare queste cose: +

+
    +
  • riempiti di eridium e soldi per correre al Santuario per comprare le +espansioni per gli armamenti
    • +
  • aggiungi al tuo backpack un'arma leggendaria (arancioni) che ti permetta di +arrivare al Santuario con facilita` (io ho scelta la "Infinity")
    • +
  • aggiungere un'espansione per lo slot delle armi alla banca, che è +già disponibile nella casa di claptrap. L'oggetto si consuma non +appena preso quindi non può essere aggiunto allo zaino. Codice: +bl2(bwaaaacmggaaegcgaxaawa==)
    • +
+

+Se il codice non dovesse funzionare: +

+
+Type: GD_StorageDeckUpgrade.A_Item.INV_SDU_WeaponEquipSlot
+Balance: GD_ItemGrades.StorageDeckUpgrades.ItemGrade_SDU_WeaponEquipSlot
+Manufacturer: GD_Manufacturers.Manufacturers.Stock
+
+
+
+
+
+

4 Sistema di valore degli oggetti

+
+

+La rarità degli oggetti è la seguente: +White->Green->Blue->Purple->Magenta->Orange->Cyan->Pink +La reliquia della rarità è inutile in quanto non fa altro che azzerare +la possibilità di trovare armi bianche e aggiunge quel peso alle armi +verdi, senza modificare la possibilità di trovare armi di rarità +maggiore. (Le categorie sono state tradotte a macchina) +

+
+
+

4.1 Pearlescent

+
+

+Perlescenti (ciano) sono essenzialmente armi DLC. Il primo lotto di +perlescenti è stato aggiunto quando il limite di gioco è stato +aumentato da 50 a 61 (UVHM1) e il secondo lotto è stato aggiunto +quando il limite è stato aumentato da 61 a 72 e sono stati aggiunti +anche i livelli di Overpower. Il primo lotto di perle si trova quasi +ovunque (se sei abbastanza fortunato) ma non il secondo (cadono da un +tipo specifico di nemico). Dovrebbe essere possibile vederli nei +venditori, ma nessuno ha ancora visto una perla da uno. Vale anche la +pena notare che le armi perlate possono essere ottenute in NVHM e TVHM +solo sulle slot machine Tiny Tina. A parte questo, c'è una fonte che +rilascia un perlescente garantito (primo lotto però) quando viene +ucciso. È un nemico chiamato +"010011110100110101000111010101101101010001001000" (il cui nome si +traduce in OMGWTH) nell'ultima parte della sfida Digistruct Peak (da +Overpower 7 a 8) e ha l'onore di essere l'unico nemico dell'intera +serie a farlo. +

+
+
+
+

4.2 Seraph

+
+

+Gli oggetti Seraph (pink) sono stati aggiunti quando è stato rilasciato il +primo DLC (Capt Scarlett) e poi, i successivi 3 DLC (Torgue, +Hammerlock e Tina) hanno anche aggiunto nuove armi al già grande +bottino del gioco. Queste armi sono strane, perché ogni DLC ha il suo +venditore che vende questa roba, che richiede cristalli serafini +(ottenere quest'ultimo è la parte più difficile poiché cadono solo in +UVHM da Raid Bosses o possono essere vinti nelle slot machine Tiny +Tina in NVHM e TVHM). Possono essere rilasciati anche dai boss raid +del livello. Non dovremmo parlare di "armi Seraph" poiché questa +categoria include anche scudi, reliquie e mod granate. +

+
+
+
+

4.3 Lootable

+
+

+I seguenti oggetti saccheggiabile possono far apparire armi fino a +rarità magenta: +

+
    +
  • White chests
    • +
  • Dahl green chests
    • +
  • Hyperion weapon lockers
    • +
  • LWT Loaders
    • +
  • Bandit portable toilets
    • +
  • The golden chest of Sanctuary
    • +
  • Savage weapon lockers (DLC3)
    • +
+

+Questi possono far apparire armi ancora più rare: +

+
    +
  • Dahl red chests
    • +
  • Normal red chests
    • +
  • Hyperion chests
    • +
  • Bandit car trunks
    • +
  • Pirate chests (DLC1)
    • +
  • Tina’s die chests (DLC4)
    • +
  • World Drops
    • +
+

+I world drop sono: +Red weapon crates, lockers, Dahl green garbage containers, cardboard +boxes, garbage piles, skag, bullymong, spiderant, varkid and stalker +piles, stalker pods. +

+ +

+Inoltre i midget e i tubbies sono una buonissima fonte di armi rare. +

+
+
+ +
+

4.4 Boss

+
+

+A differenza di BL1, la maggior parte dei boss di BL2 ha un drop +determinato. La maggior parte delle volte è leggendario o unico e +richiede un certo numero di run. Il rapporto era di 1 su 30, ma ora +è 1 su 10. +

+
    +
  • Windshear Waste +
      +
    • Knuckledragger: Hornet (Dahl corrosive pistol)
      • +
    • + +

  • +Southern Shelf: +

    +
      +
    • Boom and Bewm: Bonus Package (Torgue grenade mod)
      • +
    +

    ++Captain Flynt: Thunderball Fists (Maliwan shock pistol) +

    • +
  • Southern Shelf-Bay: +
      +
    • Midgemong: Kerblaster (Torgue explosive assault rifle)
      • +
    • + +
  • Three Horns Divide (Tubby Skags can spawn here) +
      +
    • Boll: Fastball (Tediore grenade mod; available in fire, shock and corrosive elements, plus explosive)
      • +
    • Savage Lee: Unkempt Harold (Torgue explosive pistol)
      • +
    • +
  • Frostburn Canyon (Tubby Spiderants and loot midgets can spawn here) +
      +
    • Scorch: Hellfire (Maliwan fire SMG)
      • +
    • Spycho: Neogenator (Anshin adaptive shield, only availiable after Monster Mash pt3 mission)
      • +
    • Incinerator Clayton: Pyrophobia (Maliwan fire rocket launcher)
      • +
    • Lilith: Flame of the Firehawk (Maliwan fire nova shield, Cult Following: The Enkindling quest reward)
      • +
    • +
  • Three Horns Valley (Tubby Skags can spawn here) +
      +
    • Doc Mercy: Infinity (Vladof pistol; available in fire, shock and corrosive elements, plus non-elemental)
      • +
    • +
  • Southpaw Steam and Power: +
      +
    • Hyperion Assasins: Emperor (Dahl SMG, availiable in all elements plus non elemental)
      • +
    • +
  • The Dust (Tubby Spiderants can spawn here, loot midgets rarely) +
      +
    • Mobley: Veruc (Dahl assault rifle, all elements availiable plus non elemental)
      • +
    • Gettle: Lyuda/White Death/Lyudmila (Vladof sniper rifle, all elements plus non elemental)
      • +
    • The Black Queen: Nukem (Torgue rocket launcher)
      • +
    • McNally: Hammer Buster (Jakobs assault rifle)
      • +
    • Mick Zaford: Maggie (Jakobs revolver, if you side the Hodunks in the Clan Wars: Zaford vs Hodunks quest)
      • +
    • Tector Hodunk: Slagga (Bandit slag SMG, if you side the Zafords in the Clan Wars: Zaford vs Hodunks quest)
      • +
    • +
  • Bloodshot Stronghold +
      +
    • Splinter Group: Storm Front (Vladof shock grenade)
      • +
    • +
  • Tundra Express (Tubby Varkids and loot midgets can spawn here) +
      +
    • Madame von Bartlesby: Baby Maker (Tediore SMG, availiable in all elements)
      • +
    • +
  • End of the Line +
      +
    • Wilhelm: Logan’s gun (Hyperion fire pistol), Rolling Thunder (Torgue grenade mod)
      • +
    • +
  • The Fridge (Tubby Stalkers and Rakks can spawn here) +
      +
    • Laney Flowers: Gub (Bandit corrosive pistol)
      • +
    • Smash-Head: Sledge’s Shotgun (Bandit shotgun, availiable in all elements plus non-elemental)
      • +
    • Rakkman: Gunerang (Tediore pistol, availiable in all elements plus non elemental)
      • +
    • +
  • The Highlands - Outwash +
      +
    • Old Slappy: Striker (Jakobs shotgun)
      • +
    • +
  • The Highlands +
      +
    • Henry: The Cradle (Tediore shield)
      • +
    • +
  • Caustic Caverns +
      +
    • Blue: Fabled Tortoise (Pangolin shield)
      • +
    • Badass Creepers: Longbow (Hyperion fire sniper)
      • +
    • +
  • Wildife Expoitation Preserve (Tubby Rakks, Skags and Stalkers plus Hyperion loot midgets can spawn here) +
      +
    • Pimon: The Transformer (Vladof shock-resistant shield)
      • +
    • Tumbaa: Deliverance (Tediore shotgun)
      • +
    • Son of Mothrakk: Skullmasher (Jakobs sniper)
      • +
    • +
  • Lynchwood +
      +
    • Mad Dog: Madhous! (Bandit assault rifle, all elements availiable plus non elemental)
      • +
    • Dukino's Mom: Mongol (Vladof rocket launcher, all elements availiable plus explosive)
      • +
    • +
  • Opportunity +
      +
    • Foreman Jasper: Black Hole (Maliwan shock shield)
      • +
    • +
  • The Bunker +
      +
    • BNK-3R: The Sham (Vladof absorb shield), Bitch (Hyperion SMG, all elements availiable plus non elemental)
      • +
    • +
  • Eridium Blight (Tubby Rakks can spawn here) +
      +
    • King Mong: Badaboom (Bandit rocket launcher, all elements availiable plus explosive)
      • +
    • +
  • Sawtooth Cauldron (the rarest loot midgets plus the Tubby Midget can spawn here) +
      +
    • Mortar: Pandemic (Vladof corrosive grenade)
      • +
    • +
  • Arid Nexus Boneyard (Tubby Skags and loot midgets can spawn here) +
      +
    • Hunter Hellquist: The Bee (Hyperion amp shield)
      • +
    • +
  • Arid Nexus Badlands (Tubby Skags and loot midgets can spawn here) +
      +
    • Saturn: Invader (Hyperion sniper, all elements available plus non elemental)
      • +
    • +
  • Vault of the Warrior +
      +
    • The Warrior: Conference Call (Hyperion shotgun, all elements +availiable plus non elemental), Volcano (Maliwan fire sniper), +Flakker (Torgue explosive shotgun), Leech (Maliwan transfusion +grenade), Impaler (Maliwan corrosive shield)
      • +
    • +
  • Terramorphous Peak +
      +
    • Terramorphous the Invincible: Pitchfork (Dahl sniper, all +elements availiable plus non elemental), Hide of Terramorphous +(Bandit roid shield), Blood of Terramorphous (Eridian health +regen relic), Slayer of Terramorphous +(Bandit/Maliwan/Dahl/Jakobs class mod)
      • +
    • +
+
+
+ +
+

4.5 Legendaries which can spawn in different maps or have an "unknown" drop source

+
+
    +
  • Norfleet (Maliwan rocket launcher): Vermivorous the Invincible, Hyperius the Invincible
    • +
  • Nasty Surprise (Hyperion grenade mod): Vermivorous the Invincible, loot midgets, world drop, chests
    • +
  • Quasar (Hyperion shock grenade mod): Ultimate Badass Varkids, loot midgets, world drop, chests
    • +
  • Shredifier (Vladof assault rifle): loot midgets, world drop, chests
    • +
  • Bunny (Tediore rocket launcher): Tubby enemies, world drop, loot midgets, chests
    • +
  • Bouncing Bonny (Dahl grenade mod): loot midgets, world drop, chests
    • +
  • Fire Bee (Vladof fire grenade mod): loot midgets, world drop, chests
    • +
  • Whisky Tango Foxtrot (Dahl booster shield): Tubby enemies, chests, world drop
    • +
  • Legendary Class mods (first batch, different manufacturers): Vermivorous the Invincible, loot midgets, world drop, chests
    • +
  • Legendary Class mods (second batch, different manufacturers): Tubby enemies (starting level 62)
    • +
+
+
+ +
+

4.6 DLC Legendaries

+
+

+DLC2: Mr. Torgue Campaign of Carnage +

+
    +
  • All Torgue legendaries (Nukem, Flakker, Unkempt Harold, Kerblaster, Rolling Thunder and Bonus Package) can be bought in Torgue vendors
    • +
+

+DLC4: Tiny Tina Attack on Dragon Keep +

+
    +
  • Murderlin’s Temple +
      +
    • King of Orcs: Ogre (Torgue assault rifle)
      • +
    • +
  • Hatred’s Shadow, Lair of Infinite Agony and Dragon Keep +
      +
    • Badass Fire Mage: Fire Storm (Maliwan fire grenade)
      • +
    • Badass Sorcerer: Chain Lightning (Maliwan shock grenade)
      • +
    • +
+
+
+ +
+

4.7 Raid boss legendary drops

+
+

+This section needs research. Here are the confirmed drops: +

+ +
    +
  • Terramorphous the Invincible: Pitchfork, Blood of Terra, Hide of Terra, Slayer of Terra
    • +
  • Vermivorous the Invincible: Norfleet, Nasty Surprise, Legendary class mods
    • +
  • Hyperius the Invincible: Norfleet, Hornet, Whisky Tango Foxtrot, Sledge’s Shotgun, Shredifier
    • +
  • Master Gee the Invincible: ?
    • +
  • Voracidous the Invincible: Legendary class mods
    • +
  • Dexidious the Invincible: Legendary class mods
    • +
  • Pyro Pete the Invincible: Slagga, Quasar, Sham, Shredifier, Legendary class mods
    • +
  • Ancient Dragons of Destruction: ?
    • +
+
+
+ +
+

4.8 Pearlescents

+
+
    +
  • First gen (Avenger, Bearcat, Storm, Stalker, Tunguska, Unforgiven, +Butcher, Sawbar): tubby enemies, chests, world drops, loot midgets, +slot machines (in all three modes)
    • +
  • Second gen (Bekah, Wanderlust, Carnage, Godfinger): tubby enemies +starting level 62
    • +
+
+
+ +
+

4.9 Seraphs

+
+

+In NVHM (first playthrough), great part of the items are availiable at +vendors in DLC1, 2 and 3. +

+ +
    +
  • DLC1: Captain Scarlet and her Pirate’s Booty +
      +
    • Hyperius the Invincible: Actualizer (Hyperion SMG), Tattler (Bandit SMG), Retcher (Tediore shotgun), Evolution (Maliwan shield)
      • +
    • Master Gee the Invincible: Devastator (Torgue pistol), Ahab (Torgue rocket launcher), Patriot (Vladof sniper)
      • +
    • Oasis vendor: Seraphim (Dahl assault rifle), Blood of Seraphs (Eridian health relic)
      • +
    • + +
  • DLC2: Mr. Torgue Campaign of Carnage +
      +
    • Pyro Pete the Invincible: Hoplite (Pangolin turtle shield), Big Boom Blaster (Dahl Torgue booster shield), O-Negative (Maliwan transfusion grenade)
      • +
    • Badass Crater of Badassitude seraph vendor: Pun-chee (Bandit roid shield), Sponge (Vladof absorb shield), Crossfire (Dahl grenade mod), Meteor Shower (Torgue MIRV grenade), Might of the Seraphs (Eridian melee relic)
      • +
    • +
  • DLC3: Sir Hammerlock Big Game Hunt +
      +
    • Voracidous the Invincible: Interfacer (Hyperion shotgun), Hawk Eye (Jakobs sniper]
      • +
    • Dexidious the Invincible: Interfacer
      • +
    • Omnd-Omnd-Ohk: Interfacer and Lead Storm (Vladof assault rifle)
      • +
    • Hunter’s Grotto vendor: Lead Storm, Infection (Maliwan corrosive pistol), Breath of the Seraphs (Eridian tenacity relic)
      • +
    • +
  • DLC4: Tiny Tina Attack on Dragon Keep +
      +
    • Ancient Dragons of Destruction: Omen (Tediore shotgun), Stinger (Vladof pistol), Blockade (Anshin shield)
      • +
    • Flamerock Refuge vendor: Florentine (Maliwan dual element SMG), Seeker (Torgue assault rifle), Antagonist (Maliwan slag shield), Shadow of the Seraph (Eridian relic)
      • +
    • +
+
+
+
+

4.10 Unique items

+
+
    +
  • Submachine guns +
      +
    • Bad Touch: Maliwan corrosive SMG, granted by Moxxi when tipped enough. Obtainable only once per character.
      • +
    • Bane: Hyperion chatty SMG, The Bane quest reward
      • +
    • Bone Shredder: Bandit SMG, drops from Bone Head 2.0 in Arid Badlands
      • +
    • Chulainn: Maliwan shock-slag SMG, Clan Wars: Zafords vs Hodunks quest reward (when siding when Zafords)
      • +
    • Commerce: Hyperion shock SMG, drops from Assasin Wot in Southpaw Steam & Power
      • +
    • Crit: Maliwan slippery shock SMG, quest reward from Critical Fail DLC4 mission
      • +
    • Good Touch: Maliwan fire SMG, granted by Moxxi when tipped enough. Farmable and repeatedly obtainable.
      • +
    • Lascaux: Dahl SMG, spawns in Frostburn Canyon
      • +
    • Orc: Bandit SMG, Magic Slaughter round 5 quest reward
      • +
    • Sand Hawk: Dahl OP SMG, DLC1 Whoops mission reward
      • +
    • Yellow Jacket: Hyperion shock SMG, drops from Jackenstein in DLC3 (one time drop, neither guaranteed, not re-farmable)
      • +
    • +
  • Sniper rifles +
      +
    • Buffalo: Jakobs sniper, Demon Hunter quest reward
      • +
    • Chére-amie: Maliwan sniper, Hyperion Slaughter round 5 quest reward
      • +
    • Cobra: Jakobs explosive sniper, extremely rare drop from Pete’s Burners
      • +
    • Elephant Gun: Jakobs sniper, drops from Arizona in DLC3
      • +
    • Fremington’s Edge: Hyperion I SEE MY HOUSE FROM HERE sniper, drops from Assasin Reeth in Southpaw S&P
      • +
    • Morningstar: Hyperion chatty sniper, Hyperion Contract 873 quest reward
      • +
    • Pimpernel: Maliwan OP sniper, DLC1 Don’t Copy that Floppy quest reward
      • +
    • Sloth : Dahl sniper, Rakkaholics Anonymous quest reward (when turned to Mordecai)
      • +
    • Trespasser: Jakobs sniper, Animal Rights quest reward
      • +
    • +
  • Shotguns +
      +
    • Jolly Roger: Bandit shotgun, Just Dessert for the Desert Deserters DLC1 quest reward
      • +
    • Hydra: Jakobs shotgun, drops from Rouge (DLC3)
      • +
    • Heartbreaker: Hyperion shotgun, Safe and Sound quest reward
      • +
    • Dog: Bandit shotgun, drops from Assasin Rouf in Southpaw S&P
      • +
    • Blockhead: Tediore fire shotgun, drops from creepers in Caustic Caverns
      • +
    • RokSalt: Bandit shotgun, Splinter Group quest reward
      • +
    • Orphan Maker: Jakobs shotgun, Message in a Bottle (Oasis) quest reward (DLC1)
      • +
    • Octo: Tediore shotgun, Slap Happy quest reward
      • +
    • Landscaper: Torgue shotgun, Clan Wars: Zaford vs Hodunk quest reward (when siding with Hodunks)
      • +
    • SWORDSPLOSION: Torgue shotgun, The Sword in the Stoner DLC4 quest reward.
      • +
    • Slow Hand: Hyperion shotgun, drops from Badassasaurus or Piston in DLC2
      • +
    • Shotgun 1340: Hyperion shotgun, Out of Body Experience quest reward (when turned to Marcus)
      • +
    • Tidal Wave: Jakobs weapon, Uncle Teddy quest reward (when turned to Hyperion)
      • +
    • Teeth of Terramorphous: Bandit fire shotgun, drops from Terramorphous the Invincible
      • +
    • Twister: Jakobs shock shotgun, drops from Omnd-Omnd-Ohk in DLC3
      • +
    • Triquetra: Jakobs shotgun, Clan War: End of the Rainbow quest reward
      • +
    • +
  • Rocket launchers +
      +
    • 12 Pounder: Torgue explosive rocket launcher, drops from Big Sleep (DLC1)
      • +
    • Creamer: Torgue explosive rocket launcher, Creature Slaughter round 5 quest reward
      • +
    • Hive: Maliwan corrosive rocket launcher, drops from Saturn
      • +
    • Roaster: Bandit rocket launcher, Note for Self-Person quest reward
      • +
    • +
  • Assault rifle +
      +
    • Boom Puppy: Torgue explosive assault rifle, Walking the Puppy quest reward (DLC2)
      • +
    • CHOPPER: Bandit assault rifle, drops from Dexidious the Invincible (DLC3)
      • +
    • Damned Cowboy: Jakobs assault rifle, drops from Bloodtail (DLC3)
      • +
    • Evil Smasher: Torgue ■■■■■■ assault rifle, The Chosen One quest reward
      • +
    • Hail: Vladof elemental assault rifle, Bandit Slaughter round 5 quest reward
      • +
    • Kitten: Vladof elemental assault rifle, Everyone Wants to be Wanted quest reward (DLC2)
      • +
    • Rapier: Vladof assault rifle, Message in a Bottle (Hayter’s Folly) quest reward (DLC1)
      • +
    • Scorpio: Dahl assault rifle,
      • +
    • +
  • quest reward +
      +
    • Stinkpot: Jakobs “what the ■■■■■■■ hell were you thinking about Monty” corrosive assault rifle, rare drop from No-Beard (DLC1)(one time drop, neither guaranteed, not re-farmable)
      • +
    • Stomper: Jakobs assault rifle, Hungry Like the Skag quest reward
      • +
    • +
  • Pistols +
      +
    • Basic Repeater: Dahl pistol, My First Gun quest reward
      • +
    • Dahlminator: Dahl E-Tech corrosive pistol, The Lost Treasure quest reward
      • +
    • Fibber: Hyperion pistol, A Real Boy: Human quest reward
      • +
    • Tinderbox: Bandit fire pistol, frequent drop from Captain Flynt, can be found in the Tundra Express snowman during A Train to Catch quest
      • +
    • Greed: Jakobs fire revolver, drops from Captain Scarlett
      • +
    • Grog Nozzle: Maliwan slag pistol, The Beard makes the Man mission item (DLC4)
      • +
    • Gwen’s Head: Dahl pistol, random spawn in The Dust
      • +
    • Judge: Jakobs pistol, drops from Assasin Oney
      • +
    • Lady Fist: Hyperion pistol, Uncle Teddy quest reward (when turned to Una Baha)
      • +
    • Law: Jakobs melee pistol, Won’t Get fooled Again quest reward, rare drop from
      • +
    • Little Evie: Maliwan shock pistol, given by Lil’ Sis in Magnys Lighthouse (DLC1)
      • +
    • Pocket Rocket: Torgue explosive pistol, spawns in Torgue vendor machines
      • +
    • Rex: Jakobs revolver, drops from Bulstoss (DLC3)
      • +
    • Rubi: Maliwan pistol, Rakkaholics Anonymous quest reward (when turned to Moxxi)
      • +
    • Teapot: Dahl corrosive pistol, You are Cordially Invited: Tea Party quest reward
      • +
    • Veritas: Vladof pistol, Clan War: Wakey-Wakey quest reward
      • +
    • +
  • Grenade mods +
      +
    • Breath of Terramorphous: Vladof E-Tech grenade mod, drops from Terramorphous the Invincible
      • +
    • Contraband Sky Rocket: Bandit grenade mod, limited edition bonus
      • +
    • Fireball: Maliwan fire grenade, drops from fire mages (DLC4)
      • +
    • Fuster Cluck: Bandit grenade mod, The Pretty Good Train Robbery quest reward
      • +
    • Kiss of Death: Maliwan grenade mod, Hell Hath no Fury quest reward and rare drop from Hyperius the Invincible
      • +
    • Lightning Bolt: Maliwan shock grenade, drops from Wizards (DLC4)
      • +
    • Midnight Star: Torgue grenade mod, Message in a Bottle (Magnys Lighthouse) quest reward
      • +
    • +
  • Shields +
      +
    • 1340 Shield: Vladof absorb shield, Out of Body Experience quest reward (when turned to Zed)
      • +
    • Aequitas: Vladof shield, Clan War: Wakey Wakey quest reward
      • +
    • Cracked Sash: Tediore shield, drops from tubby enemies
      • +
    • Deadly Bloom: Torgue nova shield, The Overlooked: This is only a Test quest reward. This shield is classified internally as a legendary, so has a chance to spawn on every suited loot source
      • +
    • Love Thumper: Bandit roid shield, Best Mother’s Day Ever quest reward
      • +
    • Manly Man Shield: Torgue explosive shield, Message in a Bottle (Wurmwater) quest reward
      • +
    • Order: Bandit roid shield, BFFs quest reward.
      • +
    • Pot O’ Gold: Bandit booster shield, drops from Bagman in The Holy Spirits (one time drop, neither guaranteed, not re-farmable)
      • +
    • The Rough Rider Jakobs “shield”, drops from Bulwark in Hunter’s Grotto
      • +
    • +
  • Eridian relics +
      +
    • Captain Blade’s Otto Idol: health relic, Message in a Bottle (Rustyards) quest reward
      • +
    • Deputy’s Badge: fire rate and weapon damage relic, Showdown quest reward
      • +
    • Lucrative Opportunity: vendor relic, Safe and Sound quest reward (when turned to Marcus)
      • +
    • Moxxi’s Endowment: XP relic, The Good, The Bad an the Mordecai quest reward
      • +
    • Sheriff’s Badge: fire rate and weapon damage relic, drops from The Sheriff of Lynchwood
      • +
    • The Afterburner: vehicle relic, Positive Self Image quest reward
      • +
    • Vault Hunter’s Relic: loot rarity relic, pre-order bonus, collector’s edition pack bonsus, included in BL2 GOTY version.
      • +
    • +
+
+
+ +
+

4.11 Pesi e rng

+
+ + + +++ ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
RarityProbability ~
Common89.92%
Uncommon8.99%
Rare0.89%
Very Rare0.09%
Legendary0.009%
+

+Nello zip in download su questa pagina è fornito l'installer di cheat +engine e tre tavole. +Cheat Engine permette di modificare la probabilità dei loot per tutti +i lootable e npc ad eccezione dei boss. Per fare questo bisogna +abilitare: Enable -> Item Rarity [Drop Mod] -> Item Rarity Drop +Modifier -> Weight da 0 a 6. +Una buona configurazione per rendere il gioco divertente ma bilanciato +in UVHM è la seguente: +

+ + + +++ ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
PesoValore
0 (salute)100
1 (armi bianche)1
2 (armi verdi)100
3 (eridium)20
4 (armi blu)30
5 (armi viola)20
6 (armi arancioni e perla)18
+

+Mai impostare un peso a zero perchè causa un malfunzionamento del RNG. +

+
+
+

4.11.1 Bonus: slot machine

+
+

+Si possono alterare le slot machine in modo che restituiscano sempre +il triplo simbolo del vault. Per fare questo: Fix Slot Machine and +Dice -> selezionare ogni entry (la prima è relativa alle due slot di Moxxi). +

+
+
+
+
+
+

5 Personaggi

+
+
+
+

5.1 Maya

+
+
    +
  • Pros: +
      +
    • Best healing abilities in the game. Sweet Release and Elated are unmatched when it comes to providing health, and Life Tap makes you completely immortal.
      • +
    • Best co-op partner in the game. Res is the best co-op skill, and PL's CC is key to keeping mobs managed. Her healing abilities are also very respectable even during raids.
      • +
    • Definitely one of the most powerful mobbers in the game, coming in behind only Zer0 and Sal.
      • +
    • +
+

+Cons: +

+
    +
  • Very PL dependent. Almost all of her good skills are only active if you can PL something, and that can fall off during boss fights or if you can't PL something in general.
    • +
  • Poor damage dealer in raids. Beehawking is nearly mandatory for her to provide damage. Granted, she's probably the only character that can use it as a legitimate strategy with the Cat COM, but still.
    • +
  • Slightly weak damage capabilities. Maya is a little more reliant that the other characters on good equipment, since she doesn't have as many skills that increase her damage. The few skills she does have are extremely powerful, however.
    • +
+

+Role: CC/support. You can definitely play a more aggressive role if you build her right. +

+
+
+ +
+

5.2 Zer0

+
+
    +
  • Pros: +
      +
    • Extremely powerful damage. Zer0 ranks only behind Sal when it +comes to overall damage output, and both of his strongest builds +are capable of some downright obscene kills.
      • +
    • Arguably the second tankiest character in the game if you play +melee. Zer0 basically can't die as long as you're in melee range +of an enemy.
      • +
    • Zer0's gear requirements are very light. Due to the nature of - +Critical Ascension, some very basic snipers will be enough to +tear through mobs given enough stacks. The two most important +weapons in the melee build are very easy quests, and everything +else can be obtained in vending machines if you're really +desperate.
      • +
    • +
  • Cons: +
      +
    • Highest skill ceiling in the game. He is not an easy character +to play, and an even harder one to master. Be prepared to read +up and practice a lot if you want to achieve some of the things +he's capable of.
      • +
    • Adding on to the previous point, Zer0 requires that you can aim +well. Sniping obviously demands excellent precision, and melee +requires some very precise maneuvers and actions to be potent.
      • +
    • Fairly weak when it comes to actually surviving if you're not +playing the melee style. You'll either need to take cover a lot, +have a way of recovering health, or dodge very well.
      • +
    • +
+

+Role: Main damage dealer or supporting other players with damage and +Kunai. +

+
+
+
+

5.3 Axton

+
+
    +
  • Pros: +
      +
    • Simplest character by far. His skills don't do anything +fancy–they just read "increase damage" or "shield good". His +action skill is obviously uncomplicated and straightforward, and +his playstyle is very reminiscent of your standard F- PS hero: +your only job is to click on enemies repeatedly until they die.
      • +
    • Extremely powerful explosive damage. Axton is capable of killing +some raid bosses faster than Sal if you utilize his explosive +damage to the fullest, and when you take into account the fact +that Torgue weapons benefit from both gun and grenade damage, he +becomes an absolute powerhouse.
      • +
    • Excellent shield abilities. If it weren't for the fact that +Gaige has a skill that reads "your shields never go down ever", +Axton would be the best character when it comes to managing your +shields. This makes him the second best character when it comes +to using the Bee.
      • +
    • +
  • Cons: +
      +
    • Even with his plethora of gun damage abilities, Axton's damage +can be lacking compared to what some of the other characters can +put out. This naturally lends him to have the second strictest +gear requirements and excellent DM (though not as much as Zer0) +to be able to match the other Vault Hunters in some of their +more impressive feats.
      • +
    • In exchange for his simple but efficient playstyle, Axton +sacrifices diversity. There aren't as many ways to build him, +and his playstyle might become boring at the higher levels. +Being a jack of all trades means that he is also a master of +none.
      • +
    • +
+

+Role: Axton can play a lot of roles, but I like playing him as a +support/general damage dealer. +

+
+
+
+

5.4 Gaige

+
+
    +
  • Pros: +
      +
    • Anarchy is one of the most powerful skills in the game. I don't +like it, but I will not let that change the fact that Anarchy is +simply absurd and can allow Gaige to keep up and even surpass +some of the damage from the other characters.
      • +
    • Best shield abilities in the game. Axton used to take this spot +for me, but after playing with Gaige, I've come to the +realization that Blood-Soaked Shields is downright absurd. Your +shield will basically never be down.
      • +
    • Lightest gear requirements. Anarchy, and to a lesser extent +slag, can bring even mediore guns to the damage-dealing +capabilities of some legendaries. Her best gear is all received +as quest rewards or are very easily farmable.
      • +
    • +
  • Cons: +
      +
    • - Probably even more boring than Axton. You'll spend half of +your time shooting at the ground, and there's not a lot of crazy +aiming involved.
      • +
    • Anarchy is a fickle skill. If you're using it to boost your weak +guns, dying will mean that you are now stuck with a character +that has no other good damage boosts. Survival becomes +hyper-important.
      • +
    • Deathtrap has a host of bugs and issues, and is slightly +unreliable as a combat partner. Granted, you don't need him to +still be able to absolutely destroy mobs, but it's something to +consider.
      • +
    • +
+

+Role: +

+
+
+
+

5.5 Krieg

+
+
    +
  • Pros: +
      +
    • I think Krieg has the lightest gear requirements, as there are +plenty of videos of him going through UVHM without any gear +whatsoever.
      • +
    • Arguably the most powerful skill tree abilities in the game. +Release the Beast is even stronger than MMF in some cases, +Bloodsplosion alone can clear entire rooms with a single kill, +and Raving Retribution is almost never bad even though it's only +fire element.
      • +
    • +
  • Cons: +
      +
    • His playstyle is the most unique in Borderlands, and can +definitely take some time to get used to. It's not difficult +like Zer0's is, just strange and might be a little +counterintuitive at first.
      • +
    • I haven't played Krieg a lot either.
      • +
    • +
+

+Role: Definitely a main damage dealer. I really can't wait to take +Krieg into the higher levels to make use of his insane survival and +damaging skill tree. +

+
+
+
+

5.6 Sal

+
+
    +
  • Pros: +
      +
    • Everything. Sal is broken.
      • +
    • +
  • Cons: +
      +
    • If you don't like your video games to be an exercise in pressing +your forward movement key and holding down your two mouse +buttons, then Sal is not the character for you. Sal is broken.
      • +
    • +
+

+Role: Team carry/god-tier damage dealer/kill everything, what are +teammates. Sal is broken. +

+
+
+
+
+

6 TODO DLC

+
+
+

7 Missioni

+
+

+Questa è la lista completa delle missioni. L'indentazione indica che +la missione più a destra dipende dalla precedente. Le missioni +numerate sono le missioni obbligatorie che appartengono alla storia. +

+
    +
  1. My First Gun
    2. +
  2. Blindsided
    3. +
  3. Cleaning Up the Berg +
      +
    • Handsome Jack Here!
      • +
    • This Town Ain't Big Enough +
        +
      • Bad Hair Day
        • +
      • Shielded Favors +
          +
        • Symbiosis
          • +
        • +
      • +
    4. +
  4. Best Minion Ever +
      +
    • Assassinate the Assassins
      • +
    5. +
  5. The Road to Sanctuary +
      +
    • The Name Game
      • +
    • Rock, Paper, Genocide: Fire Weapons! +
        +
      • Rock, Paper, Genocide: Shock Weapons! +
          +
        • Rock, Paper, Genocide: Corrosive Weapons! +
            +
          • Rock, Paper, Genocide: Slag Weapons!
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    6. +
  6. Plan B +
      +
    • Claptrap's Secret Stash
      • +
    • Do No Harm +
        +
      • Medical Mystery +
          +
        • Medical Mystery: X-Com-municate
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • No Vacancy +
        +
      • Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Skags
        • +
      • +
    • Too Close For Missiles
      • +
    7. +
  7. Hunting the Firehawk +
      +
    • In Memoriam
      • +
    • Cult Following: Eternal Flame +
        +
      • Cult Following: False Idols +
          +
        • Cult Following: Lighting the Match +
            +
          • Cult Following: The Enkindling
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Positive Self Image
      • +
    8. +
  8. A Dam Fine Rescue +
      +
    • Mighty Morphin'
      • +
    • You Are Cordially Invited: Party Prep +
        +
      • You Are Cordially Invited: RSVP +
          +
        • You Are Cordially Invited: Tea Party
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Out of Body Experience
      • +
    • Splinter Group
      • +
    • No Hard Feelings
      • +
    • Mine, All Mine +
        +
      • The Pretty Good Train Robbery
        • +
      • +
    9. +
  9. A Train to Catch +
      +
    • The Ice Man Cometh
      • +
    10. +
  10. Rising Action +
      +
    • Bandit Slaughter: Round 1 +
        +
      • Bandit Slaughter: Round 2 +
          +
        • Bandit Slaughter: Round 3 +
            +
          • Bandit Slaughter: Round 4 +
              +
            • Bandit Slaughter: Round 5
              • +
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai
      • +
    • Slap-Happy
      • +
    • Stalker of Stalkers +
        +
      • Best Mother's Day Ever
        • +
      • +
    • Safe and Sound
      • +
    • Minecart Mischief
      • +
    • Arms Dealing
      • +
    • Swallowed Whole
      • +
    • The Cold Shoulder +
        +
      • Note for Self-Person
        • +
      • +
    • Perfectly Peaceful
      • +
    • Won't Get Fooled Again
      • +
    • Clan War: Starting the War +
        +
      • Clan War: First Place +
          +
        • Clan War: Reach the Dead Drop +
            +
          • Clan War: End of the Rainbow +
              +
            • Clan War: Trailer Trashing +
                +
              • Clan War: Wakey Wakey +
                  +
                • Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks
                  • +
                • +
              • +
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    11. +
  11. Bright Lights, Flying City +
      +
    • Claptrap's Birthday Bash!
      • +
    • The Overlooked: Medicine Man +
        +
      • The Overlooked: Shields Up +
          +
        • The Overlooked: This is Only a Test
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Hidden Journals +
        +
      • Torture Chairs
        • +
      • +
    • Doctor's Orders
      • +
    12. +
  12. Wildlife Preservation +
      +
    • Rakkaholics Anonymous
      • +
    • Poetic License
      • +
    • Animal Rights
      • +
    • Shoot This Guy in the Face
      • +
    13. +
  13. The Once and Future Slab +
      +
    • The Bane
      • +
    • Home Movies
      • +
    • Hell Hath No Fury
      • +
    • Written by the Victor
      • +
    • Statuesque
      • +
    • Rocko's Modern Strife +
        +
      • Defend Slab Tower
        • +
      • +
    • Hyperion Contract \#873
      • +
    • 3:10 to Kaboom
      • +
    • Breaking the Bank +
        +
      • Showdown (after both 3:10 to Kaboom and Breaking the +Bank are complete)
        • +
      • +
    • Animal Rescue: Medicine +
        +
      • Animal Rescue: Food +
          +
        • Animal Rescue: Shelter
          • +
        • +
      • +
    14. +
  14. The Man Who Would Be Jack
    15. +
  15. Where Angels Fear to Tread +
      +
    • BFFs
      • +
    • Bearer of Bad News
      • +
    • Demon Hunter (after Animal Rescue: Shelter is complete)
      • +
    16. +
  16. Where Angels Fear to Tread (Part 2) +
      +
    • Hyperion Slaughter: Round 1 +
        +
      • Hyperion Slaughter: Round 2 +
          +
        • Hyperion Slaughter: Round 3 +
            +
          • Hyperion Slaughter: Round 4 +
              +
            • Hyperion Slaughter: Round 5
              • +
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • The Chosen One
      • +
    • Monster Mash (Part 1) +
        +
      • Monster Mash (Part 2) +
          +
        • Monster Mash (Part 3)
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • A Real Boy: Clothes Make the Man +
        +
      • A Real Boy: Face Time +
          +
        • A Real Boy: Human
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Customer Service
      • +
    • Kill Yourself
      • +
    • To Grandmother's House We Go
      • +
    • Capture the Flags
      • +
    • The Lost Treasure
      • +
    • The Great Escape
      • +
    17. +
  17. Toil and Trouble +
      +
    • Hungry Like the Skag
      • +
    • This Just In
      • +
    • Uncle Teddy
      • +
    • Get to Know Jack
      • +
    18. +
  18. Data Mining
    19. +
  19. The Talon of God +
      +
    • You. Will. Die. (Seriously.)
      • +
    20. +
+
+
+

7.1 Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty DLC

+
+
    +
  1. A Warm Welcome
    2. +
  2. My Life For A Sandskiff +
      +
    • Fire Water
      • +
    • Message In A Bottle (Oasis)
      • +
    • Message In A Bottle (Wurmwater)
      • +
    3. +
  3. A Study in Scarlett +
      +
    • Giving Jocko A Leg Up
      • +
    • Wingman
      • +
    • Burying The Past
      • +
    • Man's Best Friend
      • +
    4. +
  4. Two Easy Pieces +
      +
    • Declaration Against Independents
      • +
    • Smells Like Victory
      • +
    • Ye Scurvy Dogs
      • +
    • Grendel
      • +
    • Message In A Bottle (Hayter's Folly)
      • +
    5. +
  5. The Hermit +
      +
    • Just Desserts For Desert Deserters
      • +
    6. +
  6. Crazy About You +
      +
    • Message In A Bottle (The Rustyards)
      • +
    7. +
  7. Whoops +
      +
    • Catch a Ride and Also Tetanus
      • +
    • I Know It When I See It +
        +
      • Don't Copy That Floppy +
          +
        • Freedom Of Speech (after having entered +Magnys Lighthouse for the first time)
          • +
        • +
      • +
    8. +
  8. Let There Be Light +
      +
    • Message In A Bottle (Magnys Lighthouse)
      • +
    • Faster than the Speed of Love
      • +
    9. +
  9. X Marks The Spot +
      +
    • Treasure of The Sands
      • +
    • Hyperius the Invincible +
        +
      • Master Gee the Invincible
        • +
      • +
    10. +
+
+
+
+

7.2 Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage DLC

+
+
    +
  1. Highway To Hell
    2. +
  2. Welcome To The Jungle
    3. +
  3. Battle: Appetite for Destruction
    4. +
  4. Burn, Baby, Burn
    5. +
  5. Battle: Bar Room Blitz +
      +
    • Tier 2 Battle: Bar Room Blitz +
        +
      • Tier 3 Battle: Bar Room Blitz +
          +
        • Tier 3 Rematch: Bar Room Blitz
          • +
        • +
      • +
    6. +
  6. ChopSuey +
      +
    • Totally Recall
      • +
    7. +
  7. A Montage
    8. +
  8. Eat Cookies and Crap Thunder +
      +
    • Number One Fan
      • +
    • Walking the Dog
      • +
    • Mother-Lover
      • +
    9. +
  9. Battle: The Death Race +
      +
    • Tier 2 Battle: The Death Race +
        +
      • Tier 3 Battle: The Death Race +
          +
        • Tier 3 Rematch: The Death Race
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Monster Hunter
      • +
    • Matter Of Taste
      • +
    • Everybody Wants to be Wanted
      • +
    • Interview with a Vault Hunter
      • +
    10. +
  10. Get Your Motor Running +
      +
    • Gas Guzzlers
      • +
    11. +
  11. Breaking and Entering
    12. +
  12. Knockin' on Heaven's Door +
      +
    • Say That To My Face
      • +
    13. +
  13. Battle: Twelve O'Clock High +
      +
    • Tier 2 Battle: Twelve O'Clock High +
        +
      • Tier 3 Battle: Twelve O'Clock High +
          +
        • Tier 3 Rematch: Twelve O'Clock High
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • My Husband the Skag
      • +
    • Commercial Appeal
      • +
    14. +
  14. Kickstart My Heart
    15. +
  15. Long Way To The Top +
      +
    • Tier 2 Battle: Appetite for Destruction +
        +
      • Tier 3 Battle: Appetite for Destruction +
          +
        • Tier 3 Rematch: Appetite for Destruction
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Pete the Invincible
      • +
    16. +
+
+
+
+

7.3 Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt DLC

+
+
    +
  1. Savage Lands
    2. +
  2. Professor Nakayama, I Presume? +
      +
    • I Like My Monsters Rare
      • +
    • Egg on Your Face
      • +
    • Still Just a Borok in a Cage
      • +
    • An Acquired Taste
      • +
    3. +
  3. A-Hunting We Will Go +
      +
    • Palling Around
      • +
    • Urine, You're Out +
        +
      • Follow The Glow
        • +
      • +
    • The Rakk Dahlia Murder
      • +
    • Ol' Pukey
      • +
    • Nakayama-rama
      • +
    4. +
  4. The Fall of Nakayama +
      +
    • Big Feet
      • +
    • Now You See It
      • +
    • Voracidous the Invincible
      • +
    5. +
+
+
+
+

7.4 Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep DLC

+
+
    +
  1. A Role-Playing Game
    2. +
  2. Denial, Anger, Initiative +
      +
    • Post-Crumpocalyptic
      • +
    • Ell in Shining Armor
      • +
    • Roll Insight
      • +
    • Fake Geek Guy +
        +
      • MMORPGFPS
        • +
      • +
    • Critical Fail
      • +
    • Tree Hugger
      • +
    • Lost Souls
      • +
    3. +
  3. Dwarven Allies +
      +
    • The Beard Makes the Man +
        +
      • My Kingdom for a Wand +
          +
        • The Claptrap's Apprentice
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • The Sword in The Stoner
      • +
    4. +
  4. A Game of Games +
      +
    • Winter is a Bloody Business
      • +
    • Loot Ninja
      • +
    • My Dead Brother
      • +
    • The Amulet
      • +
    • Pet Butt Stallion (available after A Game of Games is complete) +
        +
      • Feed Butt Stallion
        • +
      • +
    • Find Murderlin's Temple (available after A Game of Games is +complete) +
        +
      • Magic Slaughter: Round 1 +
          +
        • Magic Slaughter: Round 2 +
            +
          • Magic Slaughter: Round 3 +
              +
            • Magic Slaughter: Round 4 +
                +
              • Magic Slaughter: Round 5 +
                  +
                • Magic Slaughter: Badass Round
                  • +
                • The Magic of Childhood
                  • +
                • +
              • +
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • Raiders of the Last Boss (available after Fake Geek Guy and A +Game of Games is complete)
      • +
    5. +
+
+
+
+

7.5 Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary

+
+
    +
  1. The Dawn of New Pandora
    2. +
  2. Spore Chores +
      +
    • The Oddest Couple
      • +
    3. +
  3. Winging It +
      +
    • The Vaughnguard
      • +
    • Space Cowboy
      • +
    • Hypocritical Oath
      • +
    4. +
  4. A Hard Place +
      +
    • The Hunt is Vaughn
      • +
    • Cadeuceus
      • +
    5. +
  5. Shooting The Moon +
      +
    • Sirentology
      • +
    • Claptocurrency
      • +
    6. +
  6. The Cost of Progress +
      +
    • Echoes of the Past
      • +
    7. +
  7. Paradise Found +
      +
    • A Most Cacophonous Lure
      • +
    • My Brittle Pony +
        +
      • BFFFs +
          +
        • Chief Executive Overlord
          • +
        • +
      • +
    8. +
+
+
+
+

7.6 Non-Campaign DLC

+
+
+
+

7.6.1 Creature Slaughterdome

+
+
    +
  • Creature Slaughter: Round 1 +
      +
    • Creature Slaughter: Round 2 +
        +
      • Creature Slaughter: Round 3 +
          +
        • Creature Slaughter: Round 4 +
            +
          • Creature Slaughter: Round 5
            • +
          • +
        • +
      • +
    • +
+
+
+
+

7.6.2 The Raid on Digistruct Peak

+
+
    +
  • Dr. T and the Vault Hunters +
      +
    • A History of Simulated Violence +
        +
      • More History of Simulated Violence
        • +
      • +
    • +
+
+
+
+

7.6.3 Headhunter Packs

+
+
+
    +
  1. T.K. Baha's Bloody Harvest
    +
    +
      +
    1. The Bloody Harvest +
        +
      • Trick Or Treat
        • +
      2. +
    +
    +
    2. +
  2. The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler
    +
    +
      +
    1. The Hunger Pangs +
        +
      • Grandma Flexington's Story +
          +
        • Grandma Flexington's Story: Raid Difficulty
          • +
        • +
      2. +
    +
    +
    3. +
  3. How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day
    +
    +
      +
    1. Get Frosty +
        +
      • Special Delivery
        • +
      2. +
    +
    +
    4. +
  4. Mad Moxxi and the Wedding Day Massacre
    +
    +
      +
    1. A Match Made on Pandora +
        +
      • Learning to Love
        • +
      2. +
    +
    +
    5. +
  5. Sir Hammerlock vs. the Son of Crawmerax
    +
    +
      +
    1. Fun, Sun, and Guns +
        +
      • Victims Of Vault Hunters
        • +
      2. +
    +
    +
    6. +
+
+
+
+
+

8 TODO Azioni irripetibili

+
+
+
+

Author: bparodi

+
+ + diff --git a/bsg.html b/blog/bsg.html similarity index 92% rename from bsg.html rename to blog/bsg.html index bcece90..7b2d4be 100644 --- a/bsg.html +++ b/blog/bsg.html @@ -3,242 +3,13 @@ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - + Battlestar Galactica: a guide for watching the show - - +
@@ -247,65 +18,65 @@ for the JavaScript code in this tag.

Table of Contents

@@ -320,8 +91,8 @@ to give future viewers a sense of what it means when culture is not constrained into the cage of user hostile technologies such as streaming servicies and walled social media.

-
-

1 Battlestar Galactica Viewing Order

+
+

1 Battlestar Galactica Viewing Order

@@ -353,8 +124,8 @@ guide but also most of this post (http://thunderpeel2001.blogspot.com/2010/02/battlestar-galactica-viewing-order.html).

-
-

1.1 Blood and Chrome

+
+

1.1 Blood and Chrome

This was potentially a whole new show at one stage, @@ -383,8 +154,8 @@ whole journey.

-
-

1.2 The Miniseries

+
+

1.2 The Miniseries

  • Night 1
    • @@ -393,8 +164,8 @@ whole journey.
-
-

1.3 Season 1

+
+

1.3 Season 1

  • 1.01 33
    • @@ -413,8 +184,8 @@ whole journey.
-
-

1.4 Season 2

+
+

1.4 Season 2

  • 2.01 Scattered
    • @@ -436,8 +207,8 @@ whole journey.
  • 2.17 The Captain's Hand
-
-

1.4.1 Razor

+
+

1.4.1 Razor

The 101 minute extended version - not the 81 minute broadcast @@ -529,8 +300,8 @@ try your best to follow my instructions.

-
-

1.4.2 Optional: Razor Flashbacks

+
+

1.4.2 Optional: Razor Flashbacks

Note: This was billed as a "seven episode web series", but really @@ -556,8 +327,8 @@ story, though.

-
-

1.4.3 Rest of season 2

+
+

1.4.3 Rest of season 2

  • 2.18 Downloaded
    • @@ -568,8 +339,8 @@ story, though.
-
-

1.5 The Resistance

+
+

1.5 The Resistance

A 10 episode web-based series bridging seasons 2 and 3. (25 mins.) @@ -578,8 +349,8 @@ This should be included on your DVDs/Blurays.

-
-

1.6 Season 3

+
+

1.6 Season 3

  • 3.01 Occupation
    • @@ -601,8 +372,8 @@ This should be included on your DVDs/Blurays.
  • 3.17 Maelstrom
-
-

1.6.1 Caprica

+
+

1.6.1 Caprica

An entire TV series set 58 years before the events of Battlestar @@ -659,8 +430,8 @@ the show have been lingering for a while.

-
-

1.6.2 Rest of season 3

+
+

1.6.2 Rest of season 3

  • 3.18 The Son Also Rises
    • @@ -670,8 +441,8 @@ the show have been lingering for a while.
-
-

1.7 Razor

+
+

1.7 Razor

This is where Razor was originally broadcast. Remember the last 07 @@ -681,8 +452,8 @@ now is when you get to go back and hear what was said. Watch the last

-
-

1.8 Season 4

+
+

1.8 Season 4

  • 4.01 He That Believeth In Me
    • @@ -698,8 +469,8 @@ now is when you get to go back and hear what was said. Watch the last
  • 4.11 Sometimes a Great Notion
-
-

1.8.1 The Face of the Enemy

+
+

1.8.1 The Face of the Enemy

A 10 episode web-based series (although it plays together like an @@ -719,8 +490,8 @@ things that set up the next episode.

-
-

1.8.2 Rest of season 4

+
+

1.8.2 Rest of season 4

  • 4.12 A Disquiet Follows My Soul (53 minute extended version)
    • @@ -730,8 +501,8 @@ things that set up the next episode.
-
-

1.8.3 The Plan (DVD/Bluray movie)

+
+

1.8.3 The Plan (DVD/Bluray movie)

A stand-alone movie that shows (approximately) the first two seasons @@ -743,8 +514,8 @@ up when you do reach the end.

-
-

1.8.4 Finale

+
+

1.8.4 Finale

  • 4.16 Deadlock
    • @@ -756,8 +527,8 @@ up when you do reach the end.
-
-

2 Further reading

+
+

2 Further reading

Well not quite "reading", but if you're a fan you may @@ -777,8 +548,8 @@ original "Bible", contains of course major spoilers.

-
-

3 The story so far

+
+

3 The story so far

Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far is a special program aired on @@ -839,15 +610,15 @@ I haven't see this movie and honestly I don't look forward to it.

-
-

4 Episode reviews

+
+

4 Episode reviews

Le discussioni piu` importanti sulla serie

-
-

4.1 Season 02 Episode 14: Black Market

+
+

4.1 Season 02 Episode 14: Black Market

It's very out of character for Lee. I mean, even if we were to infer @@ -963,8 +734,8 @@ you and goodnight.

-
-

4.2 Season 03 Episode 07: A Measure of Salvation

+
+

4.2 Season 03 Episode 07: A Measure of Salvation

I also want to address this from another angle: that sparing the @@ -1005,8 +776,8 @@ short term. But…

-
-

4.3 Season 03 Episode 08: Hero

+
+

4.3 Season 03 Episode 08: Hero

This is regarded as one of the worst episode of BSG along with "Black @@ -1023,8 +794,8 @@ episode" (not a literal quote).

-
-

4.4 Season 03 Episode 09: Unfinished Business

+
+

4.4 Season 03 Episode 09: Unfinished Business

During Starbuck's fight with Lee Adama, once it becomes obvious that @@ -1107,8 +878,8 @@ described it in the commentary as The Passion of the Adama.

-
-

4.5 Season 03 Episode 10: The Passage

+
+

4.5 Season 03 Episode 10: The Passage

Have you ever wondered what it was like to fly through baby stars? @@ -1195,8 +966,8 @@ while in the hospital bed.

-
-

4.6 Season 03 Episode 14: The Woman King

+
+

4.6 Season 03 Episode 14: The Woman King

In the commentary, RDM says that this episode was supposed to be a @@ -1280,8 +1051,8 @@ down on Helo for suspecting that doctor, that's a bad move.

-
-

4.7 Season 03 Episode 18: The Son Also Rises

+
+

4.7 Season 03 Episode 18: The Son Also Rises

Sam Anders' flipping a coin and continually coming up with heads is @@ -1330,8 +1101,8 @@ the company of someone who loved Kara as much as he did.

-
-

4.8 Caprica Episode 18

+
+

4.8 Caprica Episode 18

If you watched this in the order proposed you are going to feel @@ -1397,8 +1168,8 @@ On a minor important note, V World helps explain Cylon's phenomenon of "projecti

-
-

4.9 Season 03 Episode 20: Crossroads

+
+

4.9 Season 03 Episode 20: Crossroads

All I am going to say is that I needed a chair with a deeper edge. @@ -1455,8 +1226,8 @@ On a personal note at this point of the show I hate Kara.

-
-

4.10 Season 04 Episode 03: The Ties That Bind

+
+

4.10 Season 04 Episode 03: The Ties That Bind

When Six's fleet is ambushed by Cavil's, the Orion constellation (as @@ -1469,8 +1240,8 @@ seen more frequently in the episodes that follow.

-
-

4.11 Season 04 Episode 04: Escape Velocity

+
+

4.11 Season 04 Episode 04: Escape Velocity

Distraught over the incident, Tyrol sits alone in Joe's Bar. Adama @@ -1543,8 +1314,8 @@ confronts her impending death.

-
-

4.12 Season 04 Episode 07: Guess What's Coming To Dinner

+
+

4.12 Season 04 Episode 07: Guess What's Coming To Dinner

The Hybrid's prophecy that Kara Thrace is the "harbinger of death" @@ -1584,8 +1355,8 @@ when destroying the latter's apotheosis heaven decades earlier in

-
-

4.13 Season 04 Episode 04: Sine Qua Non

+
+

4.13 Season 04 Episode 04: Sine Qua Non

Ron Moore and the episodes writer, Michael Taylor, talk about Romo's @@ -1603,8 +1374,8 @@ cat, a "bad idea" for which he chooses to take the blame.

-
-

4.14 Season 04 Episode 14: Blood On The Scales

+
+

4.14 Season 04 Episode 14: Blood On The Scales

Gaeta and Thigh are my favourite characters. Romantically Gaeta @@ -1675,8 +1446,8 @@ it might be understandable that he harbors a profound hate for them.

-
-

4.15 The Plan

+
+

4.15 The Plan

The Plan is not a particularly compelling piece of work on its own. In @@ -1966,8 +1737,8 @@ Stockwell from The Boy With Green Hair.

-
-

4.16 Season 04 Episode 16: Deadlock

+
+

4.16 Season 04 Episode 16: Deadlock

Not much to say except to make two clarifications: @@ -1990,8 +1761,8 @@ because he is accepted again.

-
-

4.17 Season 04: Battlestar Galactica Finale (S04E17-18-19-20)

+
+

4.17 Season 04: Battlestar Galactica Finale (S04E17-18-19-20)

I wont play pretend to be a critico cinematografico. I'll just try to @@ -2276,12 +2047,12 @@ even kind of a let down (Athena putting a cable in her arm, really?) but this is why it will withstand the test of time.

-
-

4.17.1 Other reviews

+
+

4.17.1 Other reviews

    -
  1. Battlestar's "Daybreak:" The worst ending in the history of on-screen science fiction - Brad Templeton
    +
  2. Battlestar's "Daybreak:" The worst ending in the history of on-screen science fiction - Brad Templeton

    Battlestar Galactica attracted a lot of fans and a lot of kudos during @@ -2336,7 +2107,7 @@ began, might well have made the grade.)

      -
    1. Ron Moore's goals
      +
    2. Ron Moore's goals

      To understand the fall of BSG, one must examine it both in terms of @@ -2366,7 +2137,7 @@ the characters, stupid."

        -
      1. The link to reality
        +
      2. The link to reality

        In addition, his other goal for the end was to make a connection to @@ -2382,7 +2153,7 @@ Moore felt an alternative universe was not sufficient.

      3. -
    3. THe successes, and then failures
      +
    4. THe successes, and then failures

      During its run, BSG offered much that was great, in several cases groundbreaking elements never seen before in TV SF: @@ -2428,7 +2199,7 @@ to understand the metrics of greatness that I am using.

      5. -
    5. A defence of hard (and soft) science fiction
      +
    6. A defence of hard (and soft) science fiction

      The term "hard" science fiction has two meanings. The first is SF that @@ -2586,7 +2357,7 @@ is still a goal to strive for and be measured against.

        -
      1. Values of great mistery
        +
      2. Values of great mistery

        BSG was not just an SF show. It was a mystery. The story held many @@ -2615,7 +2386,7 @@ Now on to where BSG fell down.

      7. -
    7. Failure 1 - God did it
      +
    8. Failure 1 - God did it

      (And no, in spiteWhen gods become active characters in fiction, the rules change again. The earliest dramas, written by the ancient Greeks, regularly had the gods meddling in the affairs of mortals. In many of these plays, the mortals were just pawns, doomed to meet a divinely willed destiny. Plots would be resolved and characters' fates settled through the sudden intervention of gods. @@ -2744,7 +2515,7 @@ sense.

        -
      1. The Ghostbusters law
        +
      2. The Ghostbusters law

        Many argue that the appearance of the divine is hardly a surprise in @@ -2854,7 +2625,7 @@ entirely different rules.)

      9. -
    9. Failure 2 – Science errors on plot-turning elements
      +
    10. Failure 2 – Science errors on plot-turning elements

      No work of SF is likely to be perfect in its science, no matter how @@ -2899,7 +2670,7 @@ everybody.

        -
      1. Mitochondrial Eve
        +
      2. Mitochondrial Eve

        The key error I am going to speak about may seem rather obscure to @@ -3043,7 +2814,7 @@ some DNA.

        3. -
      3. Hera's Mitochondria, interbreeding, and Arks
        +
      4. Hera's Mitochondria, interbreeding, and Arks

        Or did they do even that? Adama is correctly shocked to hear that the @@ -3147,7 +2918,7 @@ powerful. Some might like that better, but it's not our world.

        5. -
      5. Failure 2a – Broken connection to our reality
        +
      6. Failure 2a – Broken connection to our reality

        Making mistakes like this is one of the big dangers of the "secret @@ -3167,7 +2938,7 @@ reality is.

        7. -
      7. Is this too nitpicky?
        +
      8. Is this too nitpicky?

        Many viewers were not aware (just as Moore wasn't) of who MTE was. In @@ -3204,7 +2975,7 @@ that gives it meaning, if you want to rise to the top.

      11. -
    11. Failure 3 – Collective Unconscious
      +
    12. Failure 3 – Collective Unconscious

      The show was full of elements from our culture. They dressed like us, their technology looked like ours. They used our idioms, and even quoted lines of Shakespeare from time to time. Their gods were the same as the Greeks had, their military rules were similar. On the surface, this might be treated as a translation for the audience. After all, often we see shows where the characters would obviously not be speaking English, but of course the actors do – what we see is translated to be familiar with us. @@ -3242,7 +3013,7 @@ experimental success.

      13. -
    13. Failure 4 – The Future vs. a secret history
      +
    14. Failure 4 – The Future vs. a secret history

      In the 1970s, Chariots of the Gods, which talked about ancient @@ -3434,7 +3205,7 @@ was the clue we should have noticed.)

      15. -
    15. Failure 5 – It's the characters, stupid
      +
    16. Failure 5 – It's the characters, stupid

      Moore often defends the ending by saying that, while writing it, he @@ -3512,7 +3283,7 @@ the tweakings of an interventionist diety.

      17. -
    17. Failure 6 – no a great ending
      +
    18. Failure 6 – no a great ending

      Many others have written about other failures of the ending, failures @@ -3624,7 +3395,7 @@ World SF Convention in August was surprisingly vitriolic.

      19. -
    19. How it could have been great
      +
    20. How it could have been great

      I've noted that one of the great disappointments of the ending was how @@ -3647,7 +3418,7 @@ such as these.

        -
      1. In the future
        +
      2. In the future

        The show could have been set in the future with just a few minor @@ -3736,7 +3507,7 @@ topics at anywhere near the depth found in the written literature.

        3. -
      3. In the past
        +
      4. In the past

        It is still just barely possible to have set a great ending in the @@ -3760,7 +3531,7 @@ you want to retain his religious mood.

        5. -
      5. Could this be what Moore intended?
        +
      6. Could this be what Moore intended?

        There is the slightest hint that Moore was considering this. He has the demon-Baltar declare at the end, "You know it doesn't like that name" when Angel-Six refers to "God's plan" as she has so often in the course of the show. This leaves a trace hint that the god isn't supernatural. Moore says in his podcast that he liked leaving that ambiguity in. However, he never answers it. And had he wanted to do it this way, had he wanted to lay it out as a story of alien or divine abduction, he could have easily done so, at great benefit and no harm to his story. It's hard to imagine him liking the interpretation that realism-oriented fans have of the "god did it" ending that was delivered. @@ -3780,7 +3551,7 @@ throwing science out the window.

        7. -
      7. The writers' strike ending
        +
      8. The writers' strike ending

        As some viewers know, the episode "Revelations" which ended the first half of season four with the crew discovering a ruined Earth was an emergency backup finale for the show. At the time, the writers' guild was on strike and there was no end in sight. Had it gone on longer, they would have had to shut down the show, close leases on the studio lots and tear down the sets. They might not have been able to finish the show. So they tweaked Revelations as a possible final ending. @@ -3803,7 +3574,7 @@ episodes covered exactly those matters.

      21. -
    21. The worst ending ever?
      +
    22. The worst ending ever?

      As I wrote at the start, I deem this the worst (most disappointing) @@ -3857,7 +3628,7 @@ ever, and that's a pity.

    3. -
  3. "You know he doesn't like that name" - Josh bids farewell to Battlestar Galactica!
    +
  4. "You know he doesn't like that name" - Josh bids farewell to Battlestar Galactica!

    March 23rd, 2009 Battlestar Galactica, TV Show Reviews @@ -4107,7 +3878,7 @@ Say it with me now, folks: So say we all!

    5. -
  5. On Hera's blood
    +
  6. On Hera's blood

    After the show concluded, many viewers complained about how all the @@ -4149,7 +3920,7 @@ show is set in the past.

    7. -
  7. Not In Our Stars: the Betrayals of the Battlestar Galactica Finale - Sam J. Miller
    +
  8. Not In Our Stars: the Betrayals of the Battlestar Galactica Finale - Sam J. Miller
     “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves...”
@@ -4448,7 +4219,7 @@ betrayals of Daybreak have ceased to annoy us.
    9. -
  9. As Battlestar Ends, God Is In the Details - Annalee Newitz
    +
  10. As Battlestar Ends, God Is In the Details - Annalee Newitz

    Battlestar Galactica concluded with a moving, pyrotechnic two-hour @@ -4703,7 +4474,7 @@ series. It offers no pat answers. We must decide.

    11. -
  11. Reddit comments on the finale
    +
  12. Reddit comments on the finale

    I enjoyed both the connections to our modern world (on-the-nose though @@ -4819,8 +4590,8 @@ not intercede at a key moment.

-
-

4.18 Bloopers

+
+

4.18 Bloopers

  • Season 03 Episode 09: Dr Cottle says "Christ" (47:42)
    • @@ -4832,12 +4603,11 @@ mark
-
-

5 Timeline

+
+

5 Timeline

https://www.flickr.com/photos/billyray_jr/5593262639 -bsg_timeline.jpg

@@ -4850,8 +4620,6 @@ mark

Author: bparodi

-

Created: 2021-03-17 Wed 12:15

-

Validate

diff --git a/bsg_timeline.jpg b/blog/bsg_timeline.jpg similarity index 100% rename from bsg_timeline.jpg rename to blog/bsg_timeline.jpg diff --git a/blog/index.html b/blog/index.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f22e0e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,71 @@ + + + + + + +
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+Un blog.
Come negli anni 2000.
Con molte meno speranze, e molte più feels. +

+

+


=^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

+
What a beautiful face
+I have found in this place
+That is circling all round the sun
+What a beautiful dream
+That could flash on the screen
+In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
+Soft and sweet
+Let me hold it close and keep it here with me
 +

+


=^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

+

+
+ Articoli: +

+

+


=^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^=

+

+
+ Si consiglia ai membry di lezzo di leggere direttamente il sorgente org mode degli articoli che solitamente contiene maggiori informazioni. Per fare questo basta modificare la url in: /blog/src/.org . +

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+ + diff --git a/blog/primer.html b/blog/primer.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66ee2b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/primer.html @@ -0,0 +1,1714 @@ + + + + + + + +Capire il film Primer + + + + + +
+

Capire il film Primer

+ +

+Questo è un articolo low effort che sicuramente nel tempo si rivelerà +necessario. +Ho raccolto cinque soddisfacenti spiegazioni del film Primer che +possono aiutare a chiarire le meccaniche mostrate. + +Sorry, your browser does not support SVG. +

+
+

1 reddit/r/explainlikeimfive

+
+

+Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1a2zi9/eli5_the_movie_primer/ +

+
+
+

1.1 commento numero uno

+
+

+I'm going to try and simplify this way, way down (so a lot of stuff is +missing). +

+ +

+Two guys abe and aaron build a machine that does some weird science +stuff. Abe is able to deduce they've built a time travel box. He +builds a larger scale box that can fit people and tests this theory +over a couple days. He then shows it Aaron (who agrees time travel +exists); they decide to keep it secret between themselves. +

+ +

+In their version of time travel, they can only go back as far as when +the time travel machine was turned on (this is a huge point). If they +turn it on at 10am on 1-1-2013…they can only travel back that far. +AND they have to wait however long the machine was running. Thus, if +they turn the machine on at 8am, and climb into the box at 8pm (to +start their journey back)…they have to wait 12 hours inside the box +to travel back to 8am. +

+ +

+The time travel portion of movie takes place over a couple of days. In +those days, we see the guys doing their routine: Start machine, go to +hotel, look up stocks, turn off machine, travel back in time, make +money in stocks……repeat. +

+ +

+Then things go bad. The party incident (we're not told exactly what +happened, but someone ends up in jail or something becuase of a +shooting) and Granger (an investor) finds the box, uses it, gets out +to early, and becomes sick (ends up in coma, possibly permanently). +Things in general are not going well. +

+ +

+Abe, decides to end this. We learn that Abe created a "fail-safe" time +machine box before telling Aaron about the time machine. This would +allow him to travel back before everything (we saw in the movie) and +prevent all the bad things from happening. Sort of like a save point +in a video game before you go on a murderous rampage, which enables +abe to reset the timeline. +

+ +

+THEN, we learn that Aaron knew about Abe's fail-safe box, used it to +bring back his own machine to create a "master fail-safe", and created +a false fail-safe point for Abe's box. Thus, Aaron's "save point" is +farther back than Abe's. So while Abe thinks he's resetting +everything, Aaron is able to prevent that reset. Presumably to keep +using the time travel box. +

+ +

+We also learn that the Aaron we've been watching (with the earpiece +in) is actually the Arron from the future, and he's using his ipod +(and recorded conversations) to know exactly what everyone is going to +do. This allows him to steer/control the actions of other people. +

+ +

+The movie ends with Aaron building a huge, room-sized box, presumably +to be able to time travel for weeks or months at a time. +

+
+
+ +
+

1.2 commento numero due

+
+

+I write this assuming that you understand the basic mechanic of the +time travel in this film: that they can create "save points," then in +some amount of time in the future use the machine to wait that amount +of time again to show up in the past. I'm just here to explain the +orders of the timelines. +

+ +

+The important part to remember with this film is that the characters +do no always show up at the same relative time as other characters. +

+ +

+The first part of the film is them building the machine and +discovering that it doesn't behave like it should. This part of the +film is completely linear. +

+ +

+Then there is a break in characters' personal timelines. It occurs +just before Abe opens the door to the sunlit roof. From this point +forward, you see Abe 1.0 and Aaron 3.0. Aaron has been through this +timeline twice before. He recorded all of the conversations the second +time and is listening to them in his earpiece (not actually March +Madness basketball). +

+ +

+Aaron is doing this to save the girl at the party. Clearly sometime +did not work the first time, and when he discovered Abe's fail safe, +went back in time, subdued Aaron 1.0 (as he is now Aaron 2.0 now), and +took his place. Aaron 1.0 is now in the attic, which Aaron's wife +thinks is rats. He records all of his conversations for use in the +future. +

+ +

+Aaron 2.0 goes back in time again and becomes Aaron 3.0. He's weaker +now and, while Aaron 1.0 can be subdued, Aaron 2.0 is strong enough +and aware of the situation enough to fight him off. Aaron 2.0 and +Aaron 3.0 come to an agreement: 3.0 will try to fix the problem, while +2.0 will just leave to unknown parts. It is strongly implied that it +is Aaron 2.0 narrating the film over the phone. +

+ +

+After Granger falls into a coma, Abe decides that he can't let these +events happen, and goes to activate his fail safe. He becomes Abe 2.0, +and subdues Abe 1.0, locking him in the bathroom of his apartment. +However, Abe 2.0 is unaware that Aaron had already used the fail safe +several times. This is soon revealed to him. +

+ +

+Ultimately, Abe 2.0 and Aaron 3.0 team up to get the events at the +party to work the way they want them to, after which they part ways in +anger. Abe 2.0 breaks the machines so the new escaped Aaron 1.0 and +Abe 1.0 can never time travel; he later watches over Aaron 1.0's +family to make sure that they are okay. Aaron (probably 3.0) goes to a +French-speaking place to build a bigger version of the machine. +

+
+
+
+ +
+

2 qntm.org

+
+

+source: https://qntm.org/primer +

+ +
+

+"If you have it, you've gotta use it." +

+
+ +

+Primer (2004) is a complex and challenging film. This article is +intended to help you get the most enjoyment out of watching it. +Update: I've recorded a commentary track for the film. It covers most +of what's explained below, but has some new stuff too! What should I +know before watching Primer? +

+ +

+(If you want to go in totally blind, that's fine - skip the rest of +this section.) +

+ +
+

+Primer has nothing that could be termed exposition. Nothing will be explained to you directly; you are essentially eavesdropping on other people's conversations as you follow them around. It's up to you to keep up. +Consider turning on the subtitles. Some of the dialogue is muffled or occurs in the background where it's harder to catch. +Even if you're firing on all cylinders, there's a point about 3/4 of the way through the film where everybody - everybody - loses it on the first watch. This is not your fault; this part of the film is very confusing and not explained very clearly. I will explain it later. +

+
+ +

+Now go watch the film and then come back. Here is a summary of what +literally takes place in the film. +

+ +

+Aaron, Abe, Philip and Robert are four men who work at a semiconductor +firm by day and sell home-made electronic products in their spare +time. But while they've had some interesting patents, they haven't +made major money from the side projects. They came close once, but a +man named Joseph Platts stole their idea, leaving them with no +recourse. +

+ +

+It's been agreed that they each take turns to put an idea forward. +Robert's idea is to build a strange piece of hardware which can +theoretically reduce the mass of an object inside it. It does this by +"blocking information", cutting the object in the box off from the +effects of gravity. This is just after Christmas time (hence Aaron's +new refrigerator). +

+ +

+The box requires superconductivity. They can't generate the low +temperatures they need, so in the brainstorm session they throw out an +idea or two for doing it at room temperature. They cannibalise some +home appliances for equipment and a catalytic converter for palladium, +and build the thing in Aaron's garage. The box also has to be +hermetically sealed and flooded with argon to work correctly. Aaron +also makes some unconventional modifications to the box - "It looks +like a dog digested it." +

+ +

+While experimenting, Aaron and Abe discover that the machine works. +They put a blue weeble inside the box and register that it has +decreased in mass. (While fiddling with the device, Aaron pokes his +hand right the way into the field and Abe puts his hands over it to +drop punched holes into the field. This becomes significant later.) +Aaron and Abe instantly recognise the limitless applications and value +of the device they have built. They immediately cut Robert and Philip +out of the loop, saying that Aaron's garage has to be fumigated. +

+ +

+But at the same time, Aaron and Abe also realise that if they go +public with their new invention too quickly, someone like Platts will +take advantage of them again. They need to fully understand it first - +which they don't. +

+ +

+Several months pass. The four men get funding from a Thomas Granger, +while Abe establishes a relationship with his daughter, Rachel. (Aaron +is of course happily married to his wife Kara, with a daughter, +Lauren.) Abe tries to figure out how, exactly, the device does what it +does - and he fails. +

+ +

+This is now March. Monday (video time code: 18:36) +

+ +

+The first bench scene: Abe approaches Aaron one morning. Aaron is +listening to March Madness on an earphone (and continues to do so for +the rest of the day). Abe persuades Aaron to take the day off work, +then he leads Aaron through a series of discoveries that he has made. +

+ +

+After repeated experiments on the weeble, Abe realised that a weird +fungus was growing on it. He took it for analysis and was told that +the fungus was perfectly ordinary, but that the amount of growth he +had seen was consistent with years of time passing, not days. +Suspicious, he put his wristwatch in the box. He discovered that what +they had built was a time machine, which works like this. +

+ +

+The two of them immediately reason that if an intelligent agent was +put inside the box, it could deliberately exit the box before it +entered, travelling backwards in time. Abe then reveals to Aaron that +he has already done this: +

+ +
+

+Abe built a coffin-sized time machine, which we shall call Box A, and placed it in a unit at a self-storage facility. +At 08:30 Monday, Abe primed Box A to activate itself in fifteen minutes. +He drove away from the self-storage facility and isolated himself at a hotel in Russelfield. +The box activated at 08:45 and was completely powered up at 08:49. +At 15:15, Abe returned to Box A and switched it off. It took another four minutes to power down completely. As it powered down, he climbed inside. +Abe waited six and a half hours (in the film the figure is repeatedly stated as "six hours"). At the correct time, he climbed out of the box just after it was activated - at 08:45 Monday. +Abe then approached Aaron for the first bench scene. +

+
+ +

+Now it's 15:15 Monday again, and Aaron and Abe-2 are able to watch +Abe-1 return to Box A, climb in, switch it off and disappear into the +past. Tuesday (31:22) +

+ +

+Abe shows Aaron that he cunningly made a single excellent stock trade +during Monday too. +

+ +

+On Tuesday, Abe goes through the same routine but this time Aaron +insists on following along. By now, Aaron already has his own box +built: Box B. +

+ +

+They switch on the boxes at 08:30 Tuesday, hide at the hotel all day +and then return to the boxes at 15:15. Abe departs Box A at 08:45 +Tuesday as expected, but Aaron gets jumpy towards the end of the ride, +and exits Box B a minute or two early (or, from Abe's perspective, a +minute or two late), suffering a severe physical reaction. The time is +08:50 Tuesday morning. +

+ +

+The dialogue during these scenes reveals a few more noteworthy facts. +

+ +
+

+Abe and Aaron are trying to modify history as little as possible. +They isolate themselves at the hotel in order to minimise the +effect. In particular, if they were to accidentally prevent their +doubles from departing the timeline as scheduled, this would +present a major problem, since there would now be multiple +Aarons/Abes. +

+ +

+The other important line is "the boxes are one-time use only". +What Aaron means by this is that after you have climbed out of a +box, you CANNOT go back to it later, switch it off and climb in a +second time - because that's what your past self did. You cannot +use the same box to continuously loop through the same day. +

+ +

+This is not actually true. For the purposes of this plot summary, +however, all we need to know is that Aaron and Abe both believe +this is true and operate under this assumption. +

+
+ +

+They make some more money on the stock market. That evening, they have a slightly drunken conversation with Aaron's wife Kara about the prospect of having unlimited wealth. Aaron raises the hypothetical of punching Joseph Platts in the face, then going back in time and telling himself not to, making it so that it never happens. Abe says they "can't do that", not because it's morally wrong to punch Joseph Platts in the face, or because Aaron can't tell Kara about the time machine, but because this would result in there being two Aarons. Which is bad. +

+ +

+"But the idea had been spoken. And the words wouldn't go back once they had been uttered aloud." +

+ +

+Kara also mentions a mysterious noise in their attic. Birds? Rats? +Wednesday (42:00) +

+ +

+The same routine again. +

+ +

+Aaron and Abe argue at the supermarket and the gas station that morning about paradoxes, free will, paranoia and predestination. One particular point that Aaron raises is the problem of living in a universe which has been engineered by somebody else. At the hotel, and then later on Wednesday afternoon at the library, Abe and Aaron discuss the problem that Aaron is keeping the time machines secret from Kara. They also discuss the problem of Robert and Philip. They agree to give them a certain amount of patent rights and/or equipment and/or cash in order to salve their consciences instead. +

+ +

+They loop back in time as normal. At 08:15 Wednesday, shortly after getting out the machine, Aaron is bleeding from his ear. +

+ +

+That day, make their successful trades. In the afternoon, they finally admit that the garage has been "sprayed", and work at the garage with Robert and Philip resumes. Robert and Philip have now received their gifts from Aaron and Abe. +

+ +

+Robert reports an interesting story. It seems that Monday night was Robert's birthday party. Abe wasn't there, but his girlfriend Rachel was there. So was Rachel's ex-boyfriend, who walked into the party brandishing a shotgun. So was Aaron, who by all accounts risked his life to defuse the situation safely. +

+ +

+On Wednesday evening, while Aaron and Abe are outside looking for Aaron's missing cat, Abe is angry that Aaron, a family man, risked his life in such a way. Abe is genuinely confused that Aaron acted so uncharacteristically irresponsibly. Aaron makes excuses and claims that since the discovery of the time machines he is seeing the world differently, referencing their conversations of earlier in the day. However, this does not fully explain his actions. +Thursday (48:45) +

+ +

+The same routine again. +

+ +

+During the day spent at the hotel, Aaron's cell phone rings. It is Kara, asking about dinner. This is a mistake, since Aaron is supposed to be sequestered. Abe tells Aaron not to bring the cell phone back in time with him - this is a perfectly sensible way to avert the possibility of a paradox. +

+ +

+They loop back in time as usual. On the second time through Thursday, Aaron watches a sports match (whose outcome they already know) while Abe eats a muffin. Then, on the way to a restaurant, Aaron's cell phone (which he has foolishly brought back in time with him) rings again. +

+ +

+This is a problem, and a critical turning point in the film. There are two Aarons at this point (one at the hotel), and, due to Aaron's clumsiness, two of his cell phones (one at the hotel). If the phone in Aaron's hand is ringing then, so Aaron and Abe reason, the phone in the hotel cannot be ringing. Symmetry is broken and history has changed. History can be changed. +Friday (52:10) +

+ +

+At about 02:00 on Friday morning some kids set off car alarms outside Abe's home. Abe goes to Aaron's house and gets him out of bed. Abe reveals that he has been routinely turning the boxes on at 17:00 and turning them off the following morning. +

+ +

+Abe then puts forward a confusing and potentially dangerous plan to visit Joseph Platts at his home, punch him in the face, then, around 03:00 Friday, to use these boxes to go back in time to 17:00 Thursday and make sure that neither the car alarms nor the punching happen. In theory, as a result, both Aaron and Abe's doubles would stay in bed all night, get into their boxes at 15:15 Friday as normal, and leave this timeline permanently, leaving just one of each of Aaron and Abe behind. +

+ +

+As they climb into the car, however, they realise they are being followed by Thomas Granger, Abe's girlfriend's dad and the project's main source of funding. Granger has several days' growth of beard on his face - but Aaron last saw him at 18:00 Thursday, when he was clean-shaven. Abe phones Thomas Granger's number and the guy who answers is indeed Thomas Granger… but he's not the guy who is following them. Something really weird is going on. This man is a different Thomas Granger who has come back in time using one of the boxes, probably exiting the box at 17:00 Thursday when Abe switched them on. +

+ +

+Aaron runs after Granger and when they get close to one another, Aaron trips and falls while Granger falls completely unconscious. They put Granger to bed at Abe's house; Aaron cannot approach him without somehow knocking him unconscious. They check that the boxes are indeed turned on. Aaron proposes shutting them off to see if Granger is inside, an act whose consequences would be exceedingly difficult to guess at. They do not do this. +

+ +

+Why has Granger come back in time? Obviously at some point in the future, Aaron or Abe told Granger about the boxes. Then, something happened to prompt Granger to head backwards in time to this point (the earliest he can go) and start observing them. They conclude that the situation would have to have been a real emergency but they have no clue what it could possibly be. "The permutations were endless." History has definitely changed now that Granger has come back, but they have no way of guessing whether the emergency in question has been fully averted by his brief interactions with them and the rest of the universe - he has only been out of the box for about eight and a half hours. +

+ +

+And so Abe loses his nerve. +

+ +

+It is now revealed that there is a failsafe box, built by Abe, in a second storage unit. This box has been running for 3 days 22 hours - in other words, since early on Monday morning. Abe started the box at about 05:00 Monday, then went back to bed until 08:30 when he returned to start Box A. At roughly 03:00 Friday, Abe returns to the failsafe box, with four days' oxygen and water and a small tank of medical-grade nitrous oxide, enters it and travels all the way back to 05:00 Monday. +Monday again (59:06) +

+ +

+Abe (now Abe Two) exits the failsafe box at 05:00. He travels to his home and gasses his double in bed with the nitrous oxide. He stashes his double in his bathroom. +

+ +

+Now we come to the second bench scene. As in the first bench scene, Aaron is listening to what is supposedly basketball on his earpiece. Abe Two is ill, after four days of very little food, and in shock, after violently gassing his double. Aaron, however, repeats most of the same lines as last time. +

+ +

+In fact, when Abe faints, it is revealed that Aaron is not listening to basketball. He is listening to a recording of that very conversation. How can this be? The recording must have been made in some previous timeline. This is not the original Aaron. This is not the original timeline. It never was. This Aaron has come back in time from the future. +

+ +

+"At this point there would have been some… discussion." +

+ +

+Aaron and Abe confront one another and explain everything that has happened. This is the most difficult sequence in the film to follow, partly because of the complexity of the plot but mainly because, due to the lack of CGI, it was impossible to put more than one Aaron on the screen at the same time. The two major discussion points are: +

+ +

+How? +

+ +

+Aaron's line, "They are not one-time-use only. They are recyclable," +means that although you cannot re-enter a box you climbed out of, you +can bring another box with you, activate it once you climb out, and +later use it instead, travelling back to the same moment in time +again - or a few minutes later, at any rate. +

+ +

+In some previous timeline, Aaron discovered Abe's failsafe box, +anchored 05:00 Monday. He then got inside the failsafe and used it to +go back in time, taking with him a second, folded-up time machine. +This is the Aaron with the hood. +

+ +

+On arriving home at 05:00 Monday, Hooded Aaron set up his second time +machine as Failsafe Box B, let's say at 05:15 Monday. Hooded Aaron +then went to his home and drugged his double's breakfast cereal milk, +then stashed his comatose double in the attic. This is the noise that +Kara mentioned on Wednesday night. This means that there are now two +Aarons in this timeline, permanently. Hooded Aaron assumed his +double's identity and recorded all of the week's conversations. +

+ +

+Then, he used Failsafe Box B (remember: he cannot re-use Failsafe Box +A since he already climbed out of it once) to go back in time to 05:15 +Monday yet again. He took yet another time machine with him, which he +set up as Failsafe Box C (05:30 Monday). He becomes Aaron Three, with +the white jumper, no hood. Aaron Three arrives at his house just as +Hooded Aaron has finished drugging and stashing Aaron Prime. Aaron +Three tries to subdue Hooded Aaron in turn, but this time he is too +exhausted, and Hooded Aaron wins. After a conversation, however, Aaron +Three persuades Hooded Aaron to leave. There are now three permanent +versions of Aaron: Aaron Prime, who is drugged in the attic; Hooded +Aaron, who has left town; and the Aaron we have been looking at since +the beginning of the first bench scene, with the headphone in his ear +feeding him lines, is Aaron Three and always has been. +

+ +

+Aaron Three has had a LOT of exposure to the boxes. This is why he +began bleeding from his ear on Wednesday, and it also why his contact +with Thomas Granger nearly killed them both. +

+ +

+It is Hooded Aaron who is the narrator of the story. The "primer" of +the title is Hooded Aaron's phone call to Aaron Prime. +

+ +

+So which box did Abe use to come back in time? Logically, Abe must +have used Failsafe Box C, since Failsafe Box A contained Hooded Aaron +and Failsafe Box B contained Aaron Three. How did that happen? Aaron +must have SWAPPED Failsafe Box A and Failsafe Box C. The box that Abe +believed was Failsafe Box A (anchored 05:00 Monday) was actually +Failsafe Box C (anchored 05:30 Monday). This is not seen or even +alluded to in the film, but it is necessary to resolve this plot hole. +Why? +

+ +

+Problems of logistics aside, the last remaining question is why Aaron +chose to come back in time so far, sacrificing so much, permanently +duplicating himself twice. What is he trying to set right, exactly? +

+ +

+The key to all of this is the party. It is obvious, though left +largely unsaid, that when Rachel's ex-boyfriend walked into the room +with a shotgun, things could have gone considerably worse. Aaron +Three, we remember, risked his life to successfully defuse the +situation. We now understand why he would take this risk. There are +two other Aarons in this timeline, one of them being Aaron Prime. +Aaron Three does not matter - he is a non-person, a walking dead man, +and he has no right to Aaron Prime's family. He has no life to risk. +

+ +

+If I may jump ahead in the film slightly, the basketball scene (which +takes place sometime in the middle of Monday) is also important. This +scene further establishes that it was Aaron who originally invited +Will, Rachel's ex-boyfriend's cousin, to the party - and that it was +Aaron who suggested that Will should bring Rachel's ex-boyfriend with +him. In other words, whatever originally happened at the party was +indirectly Aaron's fault. +

+ +

+Aaron Three thought the problem permanently settled. But the fact that Thomas Granger came back in time to 17:00 Thursday indicates that it was not, and something bad was still looming in Aaron and Abe's future. However, it is Monday morning again, and both Aaron Three and Abe Two are prescient now. They decide to engineer the situation to end better this time, with Rachel's ex-boyfriend actually arrested and jailed. +

+ +

+By Monday afternoon, Aaron and Abe are both suffering from the effects of a great deal of time travel - they are unable to write correctly. Remember when they put their hands into the machine? +

+ +

+At this point, the narrator, Hooded Aaron, reminds us that HE, of course, does NOT come from a timeline where everything worked out perfectly. In fact, he was never originally at the party. He has no idea how long it will take for Aaron Three to "reverse-engineer a perfect moment". From what we see in the film, though, for Abe Two and Aaron Three, it appears to work first time. The jealous ex is arrested and jailed. The End. +

+ +

+On Monday night Aaron Three crashes at Abe's house. Abe Two cannot sleep. And with that problem resolved, everybody lives happily ever after. +

+ +

+With the following exceptions. +Tuesday again (1:09:28) +

+ +

+Aaron Prime wakes up in his own attic after being drugged for 24 hours by his double. +

+ +

+Abe Prime wakes up in his bathroom after being gassed for 24 hours by his double. +

+ +

+There are three running failsafe boxes which evidently nobody has thought to shut down, in addition to Abe Prime's original Box A, which hasn't been activated yet but is nevertheless operational. "They'll be building their own boxes in another day. And [Abe Prime] already knows what they built." +

+ +

+Aaron Three and Abe Two wind up at the airport. Aaron is going to steal his double's passport and leave the country, because he can never go home. He has lost Kara and Lauren to Aaron Prime. Abe, meanwhile, is going to stay behind so he can sabotage their doubles' attempts to build the time machines. And, more sinisterly, stay close to Kara and Lauren. And protect them from Aaron Three. What? +

+ +

+And finally, on the other side of the world, Hooded Aaron makes his phone call to Aaron Prime. Maybe Aaron Prime records it and believes it, maybe he doesn't. Hooded Aaron explains the entire story, including why he drugged Aaron Prime, and thus "[repays] any debt I may have owed you". +

+ +

+"You will not be contacted by me again. And if you look, you will not +find me." Hooded Aaron hangs up, and begins construction on a time +machine the size of a warehouse. The End. +

+
+
+ +
+

3 reddit/r/movies

+
+

+Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/3aephh/can_anyone_explain_to_me_what_all_happened_in/ +The two heroes accidentally create a small "box" that causes +time-travel, although they don't know it. +

+ +

+One of the heroes - Abe - goes off on his own and makes a time-travel +box big enough for a person. +

+ +

+He travels backward to the start of his day. +

+ +

+He drives off, grabs buddy Aaron, and he shows Aaron himself (from 3) +going into the box. +

+ +

+They have two boxes now, and they travel back to the beginning of +their day. +

+ +

+They do this a few times with some success, gaming stocks to make +money. +

+ +

+Aaron's wife complains about the sound of rats in the attic. +

+ +

+Aaron takes a call from his wife during the day, uses the box at +night, goes back to the beginning of the day, then takes the call +again, beating "himself" to the punch, proving that time-travel is not +a closed loop. Things can be changed. +

+ +

+They see a man they know named Granger who looks disheveled; they call +his house and he's there. So at some point, Granger will use the box, +go to the past, and pop out in the state he's in now. +

+ +

+Abe, unhappy with these complications, heads to a secret time-travel +box he's made called the "failsafe," which takes him back to the day +he told Aaron about time-travel (see 4). +

+ +

+He has to drug his original self so he can "replay" the days without +that original intervening. +

+ +

+He goes back, sees Aaron with an earpiece, and collapses. +

+ +

+When he comes to, it's revealed that Aaron learned about Abe's +failsafe a while ago, stole it away and replaced it with a different +failsafe (one that starts a little bit later). +

+ +

+Aaron's since gone back in time, drugged his original self, stuck his +original self in his own attic (see 7), and "replayed" the events of +the film. +

+ +

+Aaron tries to go back in time and drug himself again, but he's too +weak, and his original self fights him off. At this point, there are +three Aarons in the film - the original, the one who drugged the +original, and the one who failed to drug the last one. +

+ +

+The original drugged Aaron breaks out, the second one flees the +country to build a bigger time machine, and the third one stays in +town to continue as Aaron proper. +

+ +

+The drugged Abe busts out about the same time his newer self vows to +find a way to prevent them from ever discovering time-travel. Of +course, he can't, because he'll never be able to go as far back as +Aaron can, because of that failsafe switcheroo. +

+ +

+I've left out the party stuff because my brain fullness is already at +critical. +

+
+
+ +
+

4 friendsinyourhead

+
+

+Source: http://friendsinyourhead.com/primer/ +

+ +
+

+I asked a member of our forum to explain Primer to me, because he seems smart and I do not. +This was the email I got in reply. -Teague +

+
+ +

+This is a fucking novel. If you read the whole thing I will be +legitimately astounded. +

+ +

+Okay, so the awesome thing about "Primer" is that there are at least +two whole movies going on that we never get to see, and maybe three. +The events depicted on screen comprise no more than a third, and maybe +less, of the events that transpire during the course of the story. +

+ +

+First, a word about the time machine and how it works. I'm gonna talk +about this because the movie actually treats the time machine in two +completely different and incompatible ways. +

+ +

+Before we dive into it, go to Google and search for "Rotating +Cylinders and the Possibility of Global Causality Violation." That'll +get you to a 1973 paper by a physicist named Frank Tipler. The +short-bus version for those wimps out there who can't follow covariant +tensor calculus: the Einstein field equations describe the curvature +of spacetime in the presence of matter and energy. According to some +solutions of those equations, it's possible for there to exist closed +timelike curves through spacetime. Traversing a closed timelike curve +is a lot like going for a walk around the block. When you walk around +the block, you start out at a point in time and space, then you move, +then you return to the same point in space at a later point in time. +But if you move along a closed timelike curve, you return to the same +point in space AND time. +

+ +

+Nobody knows whether closed timelike curves are a real phenomenon, or +just an artifact of the Einstein field equations. But at least +according to the current understanding of modern physics, they're not +explicitly impossible. (They do appear only to form around massive +rotating bodies, however, so it's not like "Primer" is TOTALLY +science-fact. But whatever. It's just a movie.) +

+ +

+I bring this up because time travel in "Primer" is based around the +idea of a closed timelike curve. +

+ +

+Let's imagine a time traveler, Alice. Alice has a time machine in her +garage. It's pretty simple, just a box with a button. When Alice +presses the button, the machine turns on; this takes a few seconds, +because the machine has to "warm up," so to speak. If she presses the +button again, the machine turns off, again taking a few seconds to +"cool down." +

+ +

+The sole complication is that Alice has rigged her machine up to a +timer. The need for this will become apparent shortly. +

+ +

+We'll start by describing Alice's day from her point of view. She +wakes up in the morning on March 1, 2010. She goes out to the garage +and starts the timer on her machine at exactly 7:45. Then she goes +inside and has a coffee, then goes on about her day. For sake of +argument, let's say she locks herself in her spare bedroom and stays +there. At 8:00 a.m. exactly, the timer she started goes off and the +machine starts to power itself on. Again, it takes a few seconds for +it to warm up, but soon it's humming along nicely. +

+ +

+Alice spends her whole day locked in her spare bedroom. Maybe she +reads a book or something, whatever. +

+ +

+At 6:00 p.m. — still on March 1, the same day — she leaves her spare +bedroom and goes to the garage, where she pushes the button that turns +off the time machine. The machine has been running for exactly ten +hours at this point. After a few seconds it powers down, and just when +it does, she climbs inside. When she does, she hears the machine power +itself up again (let's assume the machine hums or something). Then she +waits there for ten hours. +

+ +

+By Alice's wristwatch, it was 6:00 p.m. when she climbed into the box. +After ten hours, by her wristwatch it's 4:00 a.m. on March 2, 2010. +Let's call the time according to Alice's wristwatch AST — Alice +Standard Time. At 4:00 a.m. March 2 AST, she hears the box start to +power itself off again. A few seconds later, when the machine is fully +off, she gets out of the box. +

+ +

+The clock on the wall of Alice's garage reads 8:00 a.m. on March 1. +She has gone back in time. (We're going to call the time according to +the wall clock UST, for Universe Standard Time.) +

+ +

+Now Alice can do whatever she wants. She can go to work, or watch TV, +or do anything at all she cares to do. Just for sake of giving her +something to do, let's say she goes to the movies, runs some errands +and hangs out at the beach. Whatever she does with her time, let's +stipulate that she doesn't get back home for twelve hours — 4:00 p.m. +March 2 AST, 8 p.m. March 1 UST. She has a light supper and goes to +bed, exhausted from the fact that it's been more than 32 hours, +subjectively, since she got up that morning but otherwise totally +normal. +

+ +

+Now let's describe Alice's day from an imaginary "objective" point of +view, say that of an observer in Alice's house. Alice gets up on the +morning of March 1, starts the machine at 7:45 and locks herself in +her spare bedroom. At 8:00, Alice gets out of the machine. +

+ +

+We pause here to make an important point. It's tempting to say that +there are two Alices, the one in her spare bedroom and the one in the +garage. This is incorrect, and will just lead to confusion. Instead, +remember that there's only ONE Alice, but she happens to be in two +places at the same time. Remember, when we went through her day from +her point of view, there were no branches or divergences. She never +cloned herself at any point. Instead, she experienced everything in +totally ordinary, boring, linear fashion. What we're seeing as +"objective" observers — that is, observers moving along an inertial +trajectory through spacetime — is Alice at two different points in her +own personal history. +

+ +

+I could go off on a tangent here about the concept of simultaneity and +how it works in a universe where the speed of light is a constant in +all inertial reference frames, but hell, we all took high school +physics. Maybe we don't all remember the math, but in this context +it's enough to say that events which APPEAR to be simultaneous in one +reference frame will not necessarily APPEAR to be simultaneous in all +reference frames. In the reference frame of the comoving observer, it +APPEARS that Alice is both in her spare bedroom and climbing out of +the box simultaneously, but this is just an illusion. From Alice's +point of view, one of those events followed the other by several +hours. +

+ +

+Remember: there are no privileged reference frames. There's no +objectively "true" sequence of events in a relativistic universe. +

+ +

+Anyway. Back to Alice's day. It's 8:00 a.m. on March 1, and we see +Alice in her spare bedroom, and also in the garage getting out of the +box. Alice-in-the-garage leaves the house; we do not see her again for +twelve hours. Alice-in-the-spare-bedroom waits until 6:00 p.m., then +goes to the garage and turns off the box and climbs inside, and +apparently never gets out of it. If we were to follow her into the +garage, wait until she gets into the box and then peek inside, we'd +find it both off (because she turned it off) and empty (because she +got out of it at 8:00 that morning, ten hours earlier). +

+ +

+We dick around Alice's house for another couple hours, just to see +what happens, and at 8:00 p.m. we see Alice return home from her day +out. Maybe she's looking a little ragged, like she recently pulled an +all-nighter, but other than that, she's just totally normal Alice. +

+ +

+That's the FIRST way time travel is handled in "Primer." Maybe it's a +little confusing if you don't have a good grasp of relativistic +physics, but really it's very straightforward. Time is linear and +entirely conventional both for Alice and for a notional objective +observer. It's just that events which appear to be sequential to Alice +appear to be simultaneous to the rest of the universe. +

+ +

+This is the paradigm Abe and Aaron follow when they pull the +stock-market trick. To them, time is purely sequential; they start the +machines, wait, get into the machines, wait, get out of the machines, +go on with their day. To the comoving observer, two Aaron-and-Abe sets +exist simultaneously, but again, that's just an artifact of +relativity. +

+ +

+A digression now to talk about exactly how the stock-market trick +worked. Abe and Aaron are changing events, right? They're watching the +market, gathering information about it, then going back in time and +using that information to change it, aren't they? Well … not +necessarily. See, Carruth's choice of the stock market was either wise +or lucky, because it leaves enough ambiguity for the story to work +either way. Yes, maybe Abe and Aaron are changing history with their +actions, but it's equally possible — in fact, a more likely and +consistent explanation — that they're really not. See, Abe and Aaron +look, at the end of the day, for stocks on which significant profits +were taken. They have no information about WHO took those profits; +that information is not available to them. Then they go back to the +beginning of the day and take profits on those stocks. What they were +actually observing at the end of the day (earlier in their reference +frame, later in the universe's reference frame) is the effect of their +own trading. The trick wouldn't work — or at least wouldn't fit the +story — if they looked to see who won the lottery, got their lotto +numbers and then went back and played those numbers. They'd obviously +be changing the outcome in that case. But in the case of the stock +market, there's only one set of events, but Abe and Aaron experience +that set of events in a different order than the rest of the universe. +No rules are being broken with the stock-market trick. +

+ +

+Now. If the movie stopped there, it would still be way interesting. +But it doesn't. It goes to a different place. And to explain that, we +need to ask ourselves two questions: Why the timers, and why the hotel +rooms? +

+ +

+Remember Alice? Alice went to the garage and started a timer, then +locked herself in her spare bedroom. Why? Why didn't she just mash the +button that would turn the machine on? The answer is causality, and +more specifically Abe and Aaron's lack of understanding of causality. +

+ +

+When Alice gets into the box at 6:00 p.m. on March 1, it's turning +itself off. Once inside, she perceives it powering itself back up +again. What's really happening, though, is that Alice is experiencing +the box powering itself DOWN, only "played back in reverse," because +she's now moving backwards in time relative to the universe. After +five hours inside the box, Alice's wristwatch reads 11:00 p.m. on +March 1, but the clock on the wall of her garage reads 1:00 p.m. on +March 1. A minute later, her watch says 11:01 p.m., but the wall clock +says 12:59 p.m. She's moving forwards in time in her own reference +frame — as everyone always does, obviously — but backwards in time in +the universe's reference frame. (Put the other way around, when Alice +is inside the box, the universe is moving backwards in time relative +to her reference frame. Same difference; there are no privileged +points of view.) +

+ +

+After ten hours in the box, Alice perceives the machine powering down. +This is the machine powering UP, "played back in reverse," because +Alice's trajectory through spacetime is backwards relative to the +universe. When, from Alice's point of view, the machine is fully +powered down, she gets out. It's now 8:00 a.m., and the timer just +went off and the machine is just starting to power up. +

+ +

+Now the need for the timer becomes obvious: If Alice just went into +the garage and mashed the button at 8:00, she'd immediately be greeted +by HERSELF emerging from the box. Abe and Aaron want to avoid this, +because they simply don't know what would happen. Their heads are +filled with sci-fi fantasies of paradoxes and antimatter explosions +and god knows what else, and they just want no part of it. So they +avoid the question entirely by rigging up the boxes on a delay timer, +giving them an opportunity to vacate the premises before anything +happens. +

+ +

+Of course, the more interesting question is … what if they pushed the +button on the box and nothing came out of it? What would that mean? +Again, that falls into the category of shit-they-want-no-part-of, so +Abe and Aaron never try to find out. +

+ +

+The other thing to ponder is the matter of Alice's spare bedroom. +After she starts the timer, she locks herself in her spare bedroom for +the day. (And Abe and Aaron lock themselves in a hotel room.) Why is +that? What's the point of having a time machine, after all, if you +have to bolt yourself in a room and avoid interacting with the world +for your first trip through your day? The answer is that Abe and Aaron +don't want to fuck with their own personal histories. The reason +they're able to emerge from the box in the morning is because they +entered the box in the afternoon; entering the box is part of their +own personal histories. But from the viewpoint of a comoving observer, +Abe and Aaron have NOT entered the box yet at the time they emerge +from it. From THEIR point of view, entering the box is in the past; +it's done. But from the comoving point of view, that event hasn't +happened yet … AND MAY NOT. +

+ +

+Once again, Abe and Aaron are scaredy-cats. They don't even want to +know what might happen if they fail to get into the boxes "after" (in +the comoving reference frame) having emerged from them. A moment's +thought on this subject reveals that it's really not even worth +worrying about. Again, there aren't really TWO Abes or two Aarons; +they haven't been CLONED. They only appear to be in two places at the +same time because of an artifact of relativity. In fact, by the time +Abe and Aaron emerge from the boxes, they've already gotten into the +boxes; this happened in their own personal histories. It's fact, +irrevocable and true, and cannot be changed. THERE ARE NO PRIVILEGED +REFERENCE FRAMES. The fact that Abe and Aaron appear to exist +simultaneously to an outside observer doesn't trump the fact that they +exist in a purely linear, continuous fashion just like everybody else. +

+ +

+Except … no. +

+ +

+Now at this point, you can either criticize the movie for breaking its +own rules, or admire it for having the balls to say that what the +characters (and the audience) THOUGHT the rules were weren't actually +the rules at all. "Primer," for all its mind-bending nonlinearity, +sticks relentlessly to the point of view of its two main characters. +The film sets up rules for time travel that make perfect sense (if you +have an advanced degree in physics) because those are the rules Abe +and Aaron figure out. Except Abe and Aaron are wrong. Time travel in +"Primer" doesn't work at all like what I described above. In fact, +while time travel in "Primer" resembles a logical method that's +consistent with relativity, the way it actually works flies in the +face of not just relativity but even the idea of conservation of +energy. +

+ +

+It starts with the phone call. +

+ +

+On one of their "trips," Abe and Aaron are in the hotel room when +Aaron's cell phone rings. He was supposed to leave it at home, but he +forgot. The guys, after a moment of panic, decide that everything's +okay, as long as Aaron does not take the phone back to that morning +with him. He lets the call go to voicemail, and they go on with their +day. +

+ +

+Except he DOES take the phone back with him, and later that day (in +Aaron's reference frame) it rings again. The guys debate whether BOTH +phones are ringing, or just the one in Aaron's pocket right then (in +their reference frame). They don't know the answer — and according to +the commentary track on the DVD, the companies that make cell phones +aren't even clear on what would happen in that situation — but Aaron +answers the call anyway. It's totally mundane, but it still raises the +possibility: What if they changed their own personal histories? In +their histories, Aaron's phone rang when they were in the hotel room. +But if the phone exists in two places at once, and if it DOESN'T ring +in both places, then the fact that Aaron's phone rang later (in his +reference frame) means it didn't ring before, except it clearly did in +his own history. So … what? Are they dealing with an Einsteinian +universe where causality is fixed but simultaneity is an illusion? Or +is it something more mysterious? They don't know … but they're no +longer sure they understand what's going on. +

+ +

+This is where the movie starts to get complicated. No, seriously. Stop +laughing. +

+ +

+It's at this point that the Platt-punching idea comes back up. Earlier +in their personal histories, Abe and Aaron (and Aaron's wife) were +talking about what they would do if they could act without +consequences. Aaron says that he'd punch someone named Platt right in +the face. It's never made clear just who this Platt was, but it's +obvious from context that he's somebody who wronged Aaron on some +level. What Aaron imagines is this: He turns on a machine, later +enters it, goes back, finds Platt and punches him, then subsequently +stops his earlier (from his reference frame) self from getting in the +machine in the first place, ensuring that the trip back never occurs +and Platt never gets punched. +

+ +

+Abe tells Aaron they can't do that. It's not clear whether he means +they LITERALLY can't, or that they mustn't. It's possible that Abe +believes, at this point, that what Aaron proposes is literally +impossible, that their time machines don't work that way. (In other +words, he's speaking under the assumption that they live in an +Einsteinian universe where simultaneity is an illusion but causality +is real and fixed; things can appear to happen out of order depending +on your reference frame, but effect always follows cause and the past +[ANY past, regardless of reference frame] cannot be undone.) +

+ +

+But later, after the phone call incident, it's not at all clear that +that's the case. If ONLY later-Aaron's phone rang the second time (in +Abe and Aaron's reference frame), then the first call (still in Abe +and Aaron's reference frame) never happened; they inadvertently +changed their own histories. But the thing is, they don't KNOW that's +what happened. Aaron never answered the phone the first time (in his +reference frame) it rang, so he doesn't know whether the call was +also, simultaneously (in the universal reference frame) ringing his +phone later (in his reference frame). +

+ +

+That's when Abe gets the idea to do an experiment. After one of their +stock-trading adventures, he goes back to the U-Haul and turns on both +boxes. He does this specifically so they can do an experiment with +causality. He comes to Aaron's house in the middle of the night and +tells Aaron that the boxes are running, and they decide what the hell, +to give it a shot. They leave to go to the U-Haul place and screw +around with time. +

+ +

+Except they never get there, because they see Granger. Granger, a +wealthy businessman and Abe's sort-of girlfriend's father, found one +of the boxes that Abe started and uses it to go back in time. Remember +how I said the stuff we see on screen is just a fraction of the events +that happen in the story? We NEVER see this, or even any hint of it, +in the film. We have absolutely no idea how Granger found the box, or +when. It could have happened at virtually any point in the indefinite +future, as long as the box Granger used was running continuously from +the time Abe turned it on. (It's not even entirely clear just WHICH +box Granger found, which I'll get to in a minute.) We also are never +told WHY Granger used the box … but hints are provided that lead to a +pretty comfortable assumption which I'll explain later. +

+ +

+Anyway, Abe and Aaron, on their way to the U-Haul, see a Granger +that's obviously traveled in time. They chase him, but he falls into a +coma for no apparent reason. It seems clear that Granger didn't stay +in his box until it turned itself off; rather, he got out early (in +his reference frame), while the box was still running. This has an +unspecified but detrimental effect on anybody who does it; this is +established earlier in the film when on Aaron's first trip he messes +up the timing slightly and gets hurt by it. So now there are two +Grangers simultaneously (in the universe's reference frame), and one +of them is in a coma, perhaps permanently. +

+ +

+It's at this point that Abe says enough. +

+ +

+I'm gonna talk now about the failsafe box. +

+ +

+Again, what happens on screen is just a fraction of the events of the +story. What we see is that Abe figures out how the machine works, +builds a larger version and uses it, then spends his second pass +through his day giving Aaron his big demo. What actually happens is +that, unseen and unmentioned until later in the film, Abe constructs +another box and sets it up in another unit in the storage facility and +turns it on. This is his failsafe box. Once that box has been turned +on, at any point in the future Abe can go back to it, turn it off and +climb inside, emerging at the moment the box was originally turned on. +He turns this failsafe box on before he does anything else related to +time travel, theoretically giving him the chance to go back to +before-the-beginning and change events if anything bad should happen. +

+ +

+Even at the beginning, Abe knows — or at least suspects — that all +that stuff I said before about illusory simultaneity and fixed +causality — everything Einstein ever assumed, in other words — is +bullshit. At the very least, he wants to be prepared just in case. +

+ +

+The moment when Abe turns on his failsafe box represents a fixed point +in time and space in the film. We have no idea when it happens — it's +never depicted — but we know it happens before Abe tells Aaron about +the machine's properties. This box is the first one that ever gets +turned on — the first human-scale one, that is. It is, therefore, the +earliest point in time to which anyone can ever go back. +

+ +

+So Abe, freaked out by the Granger incident and (perhaps more so) by +how close he and Aaron came to deliberately fucking with causality, +decides to use the failsafe box, go back in time to the morning of the +day he first told Aaron about the machine's properties, and reset +everything. +

+ +

+His plan is to go back, find his earlier self (relative to his +reference frame), knock him out with gas to, then take his place and +meet Aaron in the park and NOT tell him about the machine. It almost +works, too. Except when Abe gets to the park, he's completely +exhausted, having spend DAYS in the failsafe box "riding" back. By the +time he meets Aaron, he can't carry on, and he collapses. +

+ +

+And that's when the REAL twist comes: We learn that Aaron has also +somehow traveled back in time. He's been listening to recordings of +previous conversations on his earpiece. +

+ +

+Let's switch gears and talk about Aaron's story, because — no, +seriously — it's the most complicated of all. +

+ +

+Abe tells Aaron about the machine's properties, just as we see in the +film. He shows Aaron the box he'd used to go back in time. He does NOT +show Aaron the failsafe box. Sometime later — we have no idea when, +relative to any reference frame — Aaron discovers that Abe had rented +two storage units at the U-Haul. He goes into the second, secret one +and discovers the failsafe box, running. He figures out that Abe put +it in place in order to have a way to go back to before the beginning. +

+ +

+Now, this part we know: At some point prior to Abe's use of his +failsafe, Aaron uses Abe's failsafe box. What we don't know is when or +(entirely) why. But again, we're given enough clues to suss it out, +although they're presented so tangentially as to be practically +baffling at first. It's all related to the party, Rachel, Will, the +shotgun, and maybe even somehow the Granger incident. +

+ +

+I'm gonna tell this from Aaron's reference frame. When I use words +like "before" and "after," I'm speaking in terms of Aaron's subjective +experience. +

+ +

+We know that three events took place, but we have no clues as to the +order of those events (in any reference frame) or the causality of +them. We know that Aaron discovered Abe's failsafe box; this is one of +the few turning-point events in the story that's actually shown on +screen, God bless America. We know that Aaron uses Abe's failsafe +machine to go back and establish his own, separate failsafe machine. +And we know that something bad happens at a party. +

+ +

+Aaron's use of the failsafe machine looks like this: He builds and +collapses two boxes and enters Abe's failsafe box with both of them. +He emerges from Abe's failsafe box when Abe turned it on, back before +the beginning. Abe's failsafe box is now not usable again; once the +box has been turned off (in the objective future), the timelike curve +is closed, and it can't be turned on again without creating a new +timelike curve. So Abe's failsafe box is, for all intents and +purposes, destroyed. +

+ +

+Aaron sets up one of the two boxes he brought back with him and puts +it in place of Abe's failsafe box. He sets up the other box somewhere +else; that box becomes Aaron's private failsafe box. He turns on his +own private failsafe box first (because he wants to be able to go back +in time farther than anyone else), and then minutes or hours later +turns on the new box that replaced Abe's failsafe box. This new box is +the one Abe takes back later, believing it to be his own failsafe box +that he set up. +

+ +

+Aaron now goes to his own house and spikes the milk he'll later use on +his cereal with propofol. He waits around until his earlier self has +breakfast, at which point he (his earlier self) passes out. Aaron then +hides his earlier self in the attic and takes his place. He wears an +earpiece under the pretense that he's listening to March Madness +games, but he's actually recording the day's conversations. Aaron is +thinking ahead: he knows that he might need to go back and relive +these events at some point in his personal future. +

+ +

+The upshot? The Aaron that Abe meets in the park for the first time +(in Abe's reference frame) has already traveled in time at least once. +And possibly many, many times. +

+ +

+Now, about this party. The party is an oddity in the film; it's barely +depicted at all, and only discussed directly a couple of times. But it +remains the crux of the whole story. +

+ +

+Everything I've said so far I'm fairly, not totally but fairly, +confident about. It's all more-or-less explicitly supported by the +events we see on screen. But this part I'm basically making up. I +think it fits the story, but I don't think much of it is EXPLICITLY +supported by the film itself. +

+ +

+I think the party happens for the "first" time (relative to any of our +time-traveling characters) before Aaron first uses Abe's failsafe box. +It's not clear to me whether it happens before or after Aaron +DISCOVERS Abe's failsafe box, but I think it happens before he +actually USES the failsafe box. In fact, I think Aaron uses Abe's +failsafe box because of the party. +

+ +

+The first time (relative to any of our characters) the party happens, +the sequence of events goes like this: Aaron invites Will to the +party. Will shows up with a shotgun. Something bad happens, maybe even +something fatal. Aaron, horribly guilty because he invited Will to the +party in the first place, decides to use Abe's failsafe box. +

+ +

+Aaron goes back, does all the stuff I described above, then goes to +the party again, this time with foreknowledge. He tries to create a +different outcome. +

+ +

+And here's the good part: We have absolutely no idea how many times +Aaron does this. He can use the fold-up-a-box-and-take-it-back trick +basically indefinitely, each time giving himself another chance to +loop through events again. There's even a line in the film that +alludes to this. +

+ +

+Eventually Aaron loops through the party events a sufficient number of +times to become the hero. But the outcome isn't optimal. In any case, +for reasons never explained, Aaron stops looping through the events of +the party — maybe he just grows weary of it — and goes back to the +stock-market stuff with Abe. Right up to the Granger incident. +

+ +

+After Abe panics and uses what he thinks is his original failsafe +machine — in actuality, the original failsafe machine is long gone, +used up by Aaron and replaced the first time he went back to correct +the events of the party — he encounters an Aaron who's on at least his +third pass through the events of that day. (The first time through, he +experienced events for the first time; the second time, he recorded +his conversations. Since he's listening to playback of that recording +when Abe meets him post-failsafe, we know it's at least his third time +through that day, and maybe more. He's been time-traveling an +indeterminate number of times in order to change the Rachel incident.) +

+ +

+Because Abe failsafed back to before the events of the party, Aaron +has no choice but to traverse those events again. This time he inducts +Abe into his conspiracy, and they concoct a way to get the shells out +of Will's shotgun before he takes it into the party. They succeed, +Will goes to jail. +

+ +

+Now there are two Abes and two Aarons; there's the Abe and Aaron who +went to the party, and there's the Abe that's locked in his apartment, +and the Aaron who's locked in his attic. It's at this point that Abe +and Aaron have the airport conversation we see toward the end of the +movie. Aaron decides to leave; we're never told where he's bound. Abe +stays to prevent the original versions of the guys from ever building +the machine in the first place. +

+ +

+Movie ends. +

+ +

+Except … that's not it. I've left out one thing, and it's fucking +huge. +

+ +

+Let's talk about Aaron again. Aaron finds Abe's failsafe box, is +inspired (I think by the Rachel incident) to use it. He goes back, +drugs his earlier self and hides his earlier self in the attic. But +then another Aaron shows up! What the hell? Where did this Aaron come +from? This Aaron used his OWN failsafe after Abe decides to use (what +he thinks is) his original failsafe. +

+ +

+For sake of clarity, I'm going to call this Aaron "older Aaron," +because he's literally older, subjectively; he has experienced more +time. I'll call the Aaron who drugs the milk "younger Aaron," because +he is. The Aaron who drinks the milk we don't care about, because he +gets locked in the attic for the rest of the story. +

+ +

+So why did older Aaron use his failsafe? This might actually be +explained in-film, but if so I've never caught it. Maybe he thinks Abe +might somehow "erase" him by changing the past, even though we've seen +no evidence that time works that way. Whatever his reason, older Aaron +decides, after Abe panics, to use his failsafe to go back to the +beginning. +

+ +

+Younger Aaron (who used Abe's original failsafe box) goes back and +spikes the milk, with the intention of taking his earlier self's +place. Older Aaron (who used his own failsafe box, which was set up +and turned on by younger Aaron) catches younger Aaron just after the +act. They struggle. Younger Aaron subdues older Aaron, but after they +talk, older Aaron convinces younger Aaron to leave and let older Aaron +impersonate his earlier self. Older Aaron has already experienced all +the events of the story so far; older Aaron went back in Abe's +original failsafe box, older Aaron looped through the Rachel incident, +older Aaron recorded all his conversations, all that stuff. Younger +Aaron hasn't done any of that yet. Younger Aaron has just gotten out +of Abe's original failsafe box, and has no firsthand knowledge of any +of the events that older Aaron experienced subsequent to his own first +trip back in Abe's failsafe. +

+ +

+Older Aaron convinces younger Aaron to leave … and it's younger Aaron +who becomes the film's narrator. He makes a phone call to Abe — which +Abe, exactly? I'm not certain, but I've got a theory I'll get to +shortly — and that phone call makes up the film's narration. +

+ +

+It's also younger Aaron, I think, who we see in the movie's last shot, +somewhere in France, building a box the size of a room for purposes +unknown. A bigger box could carry more people and things, obviously, +but it could also make longer trips back more practical. It's left +entirely open-ended just what younger Aaron plans to do. Remember, +this Aaron hasn't experienced any of the bad aspects of time travel +yet; he may in fact have made only a single trip back, the one time he +used Abe's original failsafe. He's a complete loose cannon; there's no +way to guess what he's planning. +

+ +

+It's also at this point that we can finally see clearly how time +travel in this story works. We have two Aarons now, existing +simultaneously from the point of view of the non-time-traveling +universe. Except they have divergent personal histories. When Abe and +Aaron first started using the boxes, they kept their personal +histories strictly linear; whenever two Abes or two Aarons existed +simultaneously (in the reference frame of the universe) one of those +Abes or Aarons existed in the other Abe or Aaron's past; the Abe in +the hotel room was in the immediate and linear past of the Abe trading +stocks. But our two Aarons aren't like that at all. One of them used +Abe's failsafe, went back, impersonated his younger self and had many +time-travel-related adventures. The other used Abe's failsafe, got his +ass kicked by the other one, and decided to leave and go to France. +The two Aarons are entirely divergent now, in a way that makes +ABSOLUTELY no sense in the context of time travel as I first described +it, and as the characters first thought they understood it. +

+ +

+And for the physics nerds in the audience, this is where we can most +clearly see the flagrant disregard for conservation of energy. In the +first, simpler time-travel paradigm, energy was still conserved +despite the illusion of simultaneity. Each time traveler had a +straight and linear world line in his own reference frame; he only +appeared to be in two places at the same time in the universe's +comoving reference frame. But in the more complex time-travel +paradigm, we end up with two Abes and three Aarons all existing +simultaneously, all with divergent personal histories, none in the +linear subjective past of any of the others. In other words, there's +no reference frame — Abe's, Aaron's, Aaron's wife's, Granger's, +nobody's — in which the personal histories of the characters are +linear. There's no coordinate transform we can make, to use math +lingo, that would result in only a single Abe or Aaron existing +continuously in flat spacetime. +

+ +

+But you know what? Even this isn't TOTALLY crazy, in context of modern +physics. The conservation of energy is a theory, one that's generally +agreed to hold at the macro scale. But physics is riddled with what +appear to be violations of this principle. Hawking radiation is a +prime example. Everywhere in space, all the time, +particle-antiparticle pairs are constantly popping into existence and +annihilating each other. When this happens in the vicinity of a black +hole's event horizon, sometimes either a particle or an antiparticle +crosses the event horizon (thus disappearing from the universe at +large) while its partner scatters off into space. This is how black +holes can emit radiation, and it's also a local violation of +conservation of energy. General relativity throws the whole notion of +conservation of energy into disarray, and the implications are still +being worked out to this day. +

+ +

+So from a physics-nerd point of view, we can imagine our two Abes and +our three Aarons as being analogous to particles "emitted" by a black +hole through Hawking radiation. (This is just a metaphor; it makes no +sense literally.) Even though time travelers who appear to exist +simultaneously in the frame of reference of the universe SHOULD +"collapse" back into a single worldline, they don't have to, and when +they don't, another complete individual comes into existence, with his +own unique past worldline and his own independent future worldline. +

+ +

+So that's "Primer" in a nutshell. Two guys invent a method of time +travel that appears to conform to known and proven interpretations of +relativity, but in fact it doesn't. It has its own rules, inconsistent +with the theory of closed timelike curves. The two guys discover this +the hard way, and in the end three instances of one character exist +and two instances of the other. At the end of the movie, the older +instance of one character vows to stop the "original" two characters +(the two subjectively youngest) from inventing the time machine in the +first place, while the second-oldest instance of the other character +goes off to build another, bigger time machine for reasons never +elaborated upon. +

+ +

+Now, I've attached a purty pitcher. Lemme walk you through it. +(Available for download here.) +

+ +

+Follow the blue arrows. That's Abe's worldline. His first trip through +time is when he does his "demo day" for Aaron; he gets into box 1 at +the end of the loop, travels back to the start of the loop, exits the +box and then spends the day showing Aaron how the boxes work. +

+ +

+Then he and Aaron do three days of stock trading, each time with Abe +in box 1 and Aaron in box 2. +

+ +

+After the Granger incident, Abe decides to take his failsafe box back +to the beginning. Unbeknownst to him, Aaron has already replaced his +failsafe box (box 0) with a new box (box 4). He takes box 4 back to +the start of its loop, gases himself and impersonates his younger +self. At this point, Abe's personal history changes; the older Abe was +never gassed and stuffed into a closet. So now there are two Abes, +each with independent personal histories. One goes on about his life +none the wiser, except for having been knocked out and locked in a +closet inexplicably. The other one (who is our original Abe, from the +beginning of the story) apparently works to prevent the time machines +from ever being used, or at least that's what he says during the +airport scene. +

+ +

+Abe's worldline is by far the simpler one. +

+ +

+Now trace the red one; that's Aaron's. He doesn't travel in time for +the first time until after Abe already has. He takes his first trip +the first day he and Abe trade stocks. Sometime after this first +day-trading adventure — shown here between the first and second +trading days, but the exact sequence is indeterminate in the film — +Aaron discovers Abe's failsafe box, box 0. He takes it back to the +beginning, bringing boxes 3 and 4 along with him. He sets them up, +then goes to drug himself. This is the first of two events in which +Aaron's history diverges. Aaron hides his unconscious younger self in +the attic and impersonates him. +

+ +

+At this point, things get really INCREDIBLY complicated. +

+ +

+We're now at the spacetime event on the diagram labeled "Aaron +convinces his younger self to leave town." At this point in Aaron's +personal history, he has just taken box 0 back to the beginning of +everything and drugged his younger self. But now he meets another, +older version of himself, one who's just taken box 3 back. This +version of Aaron is in our Aaron's subjective future; he has not yet +become this Aaron. But there he is. The two Aarons fight, then talk. +The older Aaron (the one who emerged from box 3) convinces the younger +Aaron (from box 0) to leave town. The younger Aaron does, going to +France where we see him at the end of the film. But in affecting this +sequence of events, the older Aaron (from box 3) manages to alter his +own past. Because he WAS the younger Aaron from box 0; he remembers +drugging his younger self and impersonating him. Those events +transpired in his subjective past; they're part of his personal +history. Only now those events are prevented, because he has just +talked younger Aaron from box 0 into leaving the country. +

+ +

+Now remember, there is no indication in the movie that there's +anything like "meta-time." It makes no sense to refer to spacetime +events happening more than once. We can imagine that the "first time" +Aaron passes through this event there is no older Aaron there, and he +goes through with his plan for impersonating his younger self, then +later goes back to that event a "second time" and changes it. But this +is simply nonsense; time doesn't work that way either in the movie or +(as far as we have any reason to believe) in real life. +

+ +

+Some folks on the Internet have gotten around this by subscribing to +the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. Whenever anyone +uses one of the boxes to travel through time, a parallel universe is +created where the same events can have different outcomes. This is +lazy, to my mind. No, the proper solution to this puzzle is to embrace +ambiguity. The spacetime event labeled "Aaron convinces his younger +self to leave town" must — by the rules of the film — be a +superposition of different outcomes. One outcome is that the Aaron +from box 0 never appears, and the Aaron who's never traveled in time +goes on to meet Abe and learn about the boxes. Another outcome is that +the time-virgin Aaron is drugged by the Aaron from box 0, and the +Aaron from box 0 goes on to meet with Abe for what is for him the +second time. A third outcome is that the Aaron from box 0 is +interrupted by the Aaron from box 3, who convinces the Aaron from box +0 to leave town. +

+ +

+All three of these things must result from the spacetime event labeled +"Aaron convinces his younger self to leave town" on the diagram. All +three things must happen. Which one a subjective individual +experiences when traversing that spacetime event is a matter of +probability, and of which events lie in that individual's subjective +past. If Aaron in that spacetime event has none of the other events in +his subjective past, the overwhelming probability is that he will not +be drugged, and will not encounter any other instances of himself. But +if Aaron in that spacetime event has box 3 in his subjective past, the +overwhelming probability is that he'll meet Aaron-from-box-0 and talk +him into leaving. It's baffling, but it's consistent with both the +story we see on screen, and also quantum mechanics. +

+ +

+What would an objective observer have seen at that point in space and +time? Well, obviously the superposition of all three outcomes. You'd +see Aaron-from-box-0 spike the milk, then you'd see time-virgin-Aaron +collapse, then you'd see Aaron-from-box-3 appear and talk +Aaron-from-box-0 into leaving. Not coincidentally, this is exactly +what we see depicted in the film; in fact, this is the only version of +events we see. Which makes sense, because this is the only thing that +"really happened," from the reference frame of an outside observer. It +is, in a sense, the "final version" of events; the other two outcomes +are just first drafts. +

+ +

+So anyway. That's "Primer." At least I think so. +

+ +

+(I didn't do dick today. Obviously.) +

+
+
+
+

5 XKCD

+
+ +
+

primer_xkcd.png +

+
+
+
+
+
+

Author: bparodi

+
+ + diff --git a/blog/primer_travel_method.svg b/blog/primer_travel_method.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..624bc68 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/primer_travel_method.svg @@ -0,0 +1,522 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Original + person on + + undisturbed + + timeline + + decides to + + time-travel + He activates a + delayed switch + + and leaves the + + area to avoid + + encountering + his double + + + Original prepares + for entry into the + + box, checking + + stock prices. + Avoids causative + action + Original enters + the box, joining + + the looped + + timestream inside + + Original waits out 6 hours + of subjective time as he + + travels into the past, + + becoming his double + The machine + starts and the + + double exits + + Double has 6 hours of + causal influence on both his + + new timeline and + + his original timeline + Double creates an + altered future for + + the double alone. + + The original loses + + his existence as + + such in the loop; + + his future is only + + to enter the box + + Period when + original and + + double exist + + simultaneously + + + diff --git a/blog/primer_xkcd.png b/blog/primer_xkcd.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63a5f12 Binary files /dev/null and b/blog/primer_xkcd.png differ diff --git a/borderlands2.org b/blog/src/borderlands2.org similarity index 75% rename from borderlands2.org rename to blog/src/borderlands2.org index 06c6306..d87e475 100644 --- a/borderlands2.org +++ b/blog/src/borderlands2.org @@ -1,3 +1,7 @@ +#+AUTHOR: bparodi +#+TITLE: Tutta la verità su Borderlands 2 (WIP) +#+options: html-style:nil html-scripts:nil date:nil created:nil +#+HTML_HEAD: * Borderlands2 per lezzi Borderlands 2 e` un gioco che se affrontato con i giusti obiettivi @@ -531,3 +535,314 @@ damaging skill tree. buttons, then Sal is not the character for you. Sal is broken. Role: Team carry/god-tier damage dealer/kill everything, what are teammates. Sal is broken. +* TODO DLC +* Missioni +Questa è la lista completa delle missioni. L'indentazione indica che +la missione più a destra dipende dalla precedente. Le missioni +numerate sono le missioni obbligatorie che appartengono alla storia. +1. My First Gun +2. Blindsided +3. Cleaning Up the Berg + + Handsome Jack Here! + + This Town Ain't Big Enough + + Bad Hair Day + + Shielded Favors + + Symbiosis +4. Best Minion Ever + + Assassinate the Assassins +5. The Road to Sanctuary + + The Name Game + + Rock, Paper, Genocide: Fire Weapons! + + Rock, Paper, Genocide: Shock Weapons! + + Rock, Paper, Genocide: Corrosive Weapons! + + Rock, Paper, Genocide: Slag Weapons! +6. Plan B + + Claptrap's Secret Stash + + Do No Harm + + Medical Mystery + + Medical Mystery: X-Com-municate + + No Vacancy + + Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Skags + + Too Close For Missiles +7. Hunting the Firehawk + + In Memoriam + + Cult Following: Eternal Flame + + Cult Following: False Idols + + Cult Following: Lighting the Match + + Cult Following: The Enkindling + + Positive Self Image +8. A Dam Fine Rescue + + Mighty Morphin' + + You Are Cordially Invited: Party Prep + + You Are Cordially Invited: RSVP + + You Are Cordially Invited: Tea Party + + Out of Body Experience + + Splinter Group + + No Hard Feelings + + Mine, All Mine + + The Pretty Good Train Robbery +9. A Train to Catch + + The Ice Man Cometh +10. Rising Action + + Bandit Slaughter: Round 1 + + Bandit Slaughter: Round 2 + + Bandit Slaughter: Round 3 + + Bandit Slaughter: Round 4 + + Bandit Slaughter: Round 5 + + The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai + + Slap-Happy + + Stalker of Stalkers + + Best Mother's Day Ever + + Safe and Sound + + Minecart Mischief + + Arms Dealing + + Swallowed Whole + + The Cold Shoulder + + Note for Self-Person + + Perfectly Peaceful + + Won't Get Fooled Again + + Clan War: Starting the War + + Clan War: First Place + + Clan War: Reach the Dead Drop + + Clan War: End of the Rainbow + + Clan War: Trailer Trashing + + Clan War: Wakey Wakey + + Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks +11. Bright Lights, Flying City + + Claptrap's Birthday Bash! + + The Overlooked: Medicine Man + + The Overlooked: Shields Up + + The Overlooked: This is Only a Test + + Hidden Journals + + Torture Chairs + + Doctor's Orders +12. Wildlife Preservation + + Rakkaholics Anonymous + + Poetic License + + Animal Rights + + Shoot This Guy in the Face +13. The Once and Future Slab + + The Bane + + Home Movies + + Hell Hath No Fury + + Written by the Victor + + Statuesque + + Rocko's Modern Strife + + Defend Slab Tower + + Hyperion Contract \#873 + + 3:10 to Kaboom + + Breaking the Bank + + Showdown (after both 3:10 to Kaboom and Breaking the + Bank are complete) + + Animal Rescue: Medicine + + Animal Rescue: Food + + Animal Rescue: Shelter +14. The Man Who Would Be Jack +15. Where Angels Fear to Tread + + BFFs + + Bearer of Bad News + + Demon Hunter (after Animal Rescue: Shelter is complete) +16. Where Angels Fear to Tread (Part 2) + + Hyperion Slaughter: Round 1 + + Hyperion Slaughter: Round 2 + + Hyperion Slaughter: Round 3 + + Hyperion Slaughter: Round 4 + + Hyperion Slaughter: Round 5 + + The Chosen One + + Monster Mash (Part 1) + + Monster Mash (Part 2) + + Monster Mash (Part 3) + + A Real Boy: Clothes Make the Man + + A Real Boy: Face Time + + A Real Boy: Human + + Customer Service + + Kill Yourself + + To Grandmother's House We Go + + Capture the Flags + + The Lost Treasure + + The Great Escape +17. Toil and Trouble + + Hungry Like the Skag + + This Just In + + Uncle Teddy + + Get to Know Jack +18. Data Mining +19. The Talon of God + + You. Will. Die. (Seriously.) +** Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty DLC +1. A Warm Welcome +2. My Life For A Sandskiff + + Fire Water + + Message In A Bottle (Oasis) + + Message In A Bottle (Wurmwater) +3. A Study in Scarlett + + Giving Jocko A Leg Up + + Wingman + + Burying The Past + + Man's Best Friend +4. Two Easy Pieces + + Declaration Against Independents + + Smells Like Victory + + Ye Scurvy Dogs + + Grendel + + Message In A Bottle (Hayter's Folly) +5. The Hermit + + Just Desserts For Desert Deserters +6. Crazy About You + + Message In A Bottle (The Rustyards) +7. Whoops + + Catch a Ride and Also Tetanus + + I Know It When I See It + + Don't Copy That Floppy + + Freedom Of Speech (after having entered + Magnys Lighthouse for the first time) +8. Let There Be Light + + Message In A Bottle (Magnys Lighthouse) + + Faster than the Speed of Love +9. X Marks The Spot + + Treasure of The Sands + + Hyperius the Invincible + + Master Gee the Invincible +** Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage DLC +1. Highway To Hell +2. Welcome To The Jungle +3. Battle: Appetite for Destruction +4. Burn, Baby, Burn +5. Battle: Bar Room Blitz + + Tier 2 Battle: Bar Room Blitz + + Tier 3 Battle: Bar Room Blitz + + Tier 3 Rematch: Bar Room Blitz +6. ChopSuey + + Totally Recall +7. A Montage +8. Eat Cookies and Crap Thunder + + Number One Fan + + Walking the Dog + + Mother-Lover +9. Battle: The Death Race + + Tier 2 Battle: The Death Race + + Tier 3 Battle: The Death Race + + Tier 3 Rematch: The Death Race + + Monster Hunter + + Matter Of Taste + + Everybody Wants to be Wanted + + Interview with a Vault Hunter +10. Get Your Motor Running + + Gas Guzzlers +11. Breaking and Entering +12. Knockin' on Heaven's Door + + Say That To My Face +13. Battle: Twelve O'Clock High + + Tier 2 Battle: Twelve O'Clock High + + Tier 3 Battle: Twelve O'Clock High + + Tier 3 Rematch: Twelve O'Clock High + + My Husband the Skag + + Commercial Appeal +14. Kickstart My Heart +15. Long Way To The Top + + Tier 2 Battle: Appetite for Destruction + + Tier 3 Battle: Appetite for Destruction + + Tier 3 Rematch: Appetite for Destruction + + Pete the Invincible +** Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt DLC +1. Savage Lands +2. Professor Nakayama, I Presume? + + I Like My Monsters Rare + + Egg on Your Face + + Still Just a Borok in a Cage + + An Acquired Taste +3. A-Hunting We Will Go + + Palling Around + + Urine, You're Out + + Follow The Glow + + The Rakk Dahlia Murder + + Ol' Pukey + + Nakayama-rama +4. The Fall of Nakayama + + Big Feet + + Now You See It + + Voracidous the Invincible +** Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep DLC +1. A Role-Playing Game +2. Denial, Anger, Initiative + + Post-Crumpocalyptic + + Ell in Shining Armor + + Roll Insight + + Fake Geek Guy + + MMORPGFPS + + Critical Fail + + Tree Hugger + + Lost Souls +3. Dwarven Allies + + The Beard Makes the Man + + My Kingdom for a Wand + + The Claptrap's Apprentice + + The Sword in The Stoner +4. A Game of Games + + Winter is a Bloody Business + + Loot Ninja + + My Dead Brother + + The Amulet + + Pet Butt Stallion (available after A Game of Games is complete) + + Feed Butt Stallion + + Find Murderlin's Temple (available after A Game of Games is + complete) + + Magic Slaughter: Round 1 + + Magic Slaughter: Round 2 + + Magic Slaughter: Round 3 + + Magic Slaughter: Round 4 + + Magic Slaughter: Round 5 + + Magic Slaughter: Badass Round + + The Magic of Childhood + + Raiders of the Last Boss (available after Fake Geek Guy and A + Game of Games is complete) +** Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary +1. The Dawn of New Pandora +2. Spore Chores + + The Oddest Couple +3. Winging It + + The Vaughnguard + + Space Cowboy + + Hypocritical Oath +4. A Hard Place + + The Hunt is Vaughn + + Cadeuceus +5. Shooting The Moon + + Sirentology + + Claptocurrency +6. The Cost of Progress + + Echoes of the Past +7. Paradise Found + + A Most Cacophonous Lure + + My Brittle Pony + + BFFFs + + Chief Executive Overlord +** Non-Campaign DLC +*** Creature Slaughterdome ++ Creature Slaughter: Round 1 + + Creature Slaughter: Round 2 + + Creature Slaughter: Round 3 + + Creature Slaughter: Round 4 + + Creature Slaughter: Round 5 +*** The Raid on Digistruct Peak ++ Dr. T and the Vault Hunters + + A History of Simulated Violence + + More History of Simulated Violence +*** Headhunter Packs +**** T.K. Baha's Bloody Harvest +1. The Bloody Harvest + + Trick Or Treat +**** The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler +1. The Hunger Pangs + + Grandma Flexington's Story + + Grandma Flexington's Story: Raid Difficulty +**** How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day +1. Get Frosty + + Special Delivery +**** Mad Moxxi and the Wedding Day Massacre +1. A Match Made on Pandora + + Learning to Love +**** Sir Hammerlock vs. the Son of Crawmerax +1. Fun, Sun, and Guns + + Victims Of Vault Hunters +* TODO Azioni irripetibili diff --git a/blog/src/bsg.org b/blog/src/bsg.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40b7759 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/src/bsg.org @@ -0,0 +1,3460 @@ +#+AUTHOR: bparodi +#+TITLE: Battlestar Galactica: a guide for watching the show +#+options: html-style:nil html-scripts:nil date:nil created:nil +#+HTML_HEAD: +Battlestar Galactica stayed with me for the first part of 2021. It is +a great work of art and probably my favorite tv show. In addition to +that Battlestar Galactica was displayed in a time where internet and +particularly the web was a very different medium from what came to be. +The web was ripe with blogposts related to this show, blog wars on fan +fictions and some honest reddit reviews. I am trying with this guide +to give future viewers a sense of what it means when culture is not +constrained into the cage of user hostile technologies such as +streaming servicies and walled social media. +* Battlestar Galactica Viewing Order +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +The ultimate viewing order for Battlestar Galactica! + +With so many off-shoots, extended episodes, webisodes, one-off movies +and weird bits and pieces it's very hard for a new Battlestar +Galactica fan to know exactly what order to watch everything in. + +That's why, with the help of the kind folks at the Home Theater Forum, +I decided to piece together a recommended viewing order for the entire +series. But not just that, I've put together information on which +versions of episodes you should watch and where you can find them, +too. This really is the ultimate guide! (At least, it should be.) + +I hope you find it useful, and if you do think I've missed something, +please leave a comment and let me know! +#+END_QUOTE +Thanks to Johnny Walker for giving the inspiration for the watching +guide but also most of this post +(http://thunderpeel2001.blogspot.com/2010/02/battlestar-galactica-viewing-order.html). +** Blood and Chrome +# Звездный крейсер Галактика - Кровь и Хром.mkv +This was potentially a whole new show at one stage, +but it appears to be now just a stand-alone TV movie. The story +follows the exploits of a young William Adama during the First Cylon +War, and is considered a sequel to Caprica and a prequel to Battlestar +Galactica. + +After disappearing off the radar for a long time (possibly indicating +that it wasn't up to the standards set by BSG), the story was finally +been release for viewing on Machninima.com in 10 episodes. Then it was +released on DVD/Bluray as a movie in a rated and unrated form. + +I've been told there are no BSG spoilers, so you can watch this +anytime you want. I decided to watch this in the beginning to get a +sense of the universe of the story and understand if I wanted to start +watching the whole show. It gives you a taste of a lot of the elements +at the core of the show but the story is a little bit predictable and +also told in the rest of the show for the most part. That's why I +think it is most enjoyable to watch this movie before embarking on the +whole journey. +** The Miniseries +# Звездный крейсер Галактика 00-01.mkv +# Звездный крейсер Галактика 00-02.mkv +- Night 1 +- Night 2 + +** Season 1 +# Сезон 1 +- 1.01 33 +- 1.02 Water +- 1.03 Bastille Day +- 1.04 Act of Contrition +- 1.05 You Can't Go Home Again +- 1.06 Litmus +- 1.07 Six Degrees of Separation +- 1.08 Flesh and Bone +- 1.09 Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down +- 1.10 The Hand of God +- 1.11 Colonial Day +- 1.12 Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I +- 1.13 Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II +** Season 2 +# Сезон 2 +- 2.01 Scattered +- 2.02 Valley of Darkness +- 2.03 Fragged +- 2.04 Resistance +- 2.05 The Farm +- 2.06 Home, Part I +- 2.07 Home, Part II +- 2.08 Final Cut +- 2.09 Flight of the Phoenix +- 2.10 Pegasus (56 minute extended version) +- 2.11 Resurrection Ship, Part I +- 2.12 Resurrection Ship, Part II +- 2.13 Epiphanies +- 2.14 Black Market +- 2.15 Scar +- 2.16 Sacrifice +- 2.17 The Captain's Hand +*** Razor +# Звездный крейсер Галактика 3.5-03 - Лезвие.mkv +The 101 minute extended version - not the 81 minute broadcast +version movie. If you have this on DVD or Bluray, you have the +extended version. + +Important note: This was originally broadcast just before Season 4, +but chronologically it fits here, telling more of the Pegasus's story. +Some people argue it's better to watch after Season 3, as originally +broadcast, but it makes most sense to watch it here. We can say that +chronologically all of the events in the movie fits here, but +thematically it fits the beginning of series 04 (on some forums Razor +is referred as S04 E01-02). On Jammer's review we can read regarding +the events on the Pegasus aired originally at the end of S03 +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +Still, on a series that has always benefited from the fact that we +never know exactly what lies around the next corner, all of this feels +slightly redundant. +#+END_QUOTE + +The reason that the placement of Razor is a hotly contested issue +among BSG fans is because of a bit of dialogue at the very end (in the +last 10 minutes) which sets the tone for Season 4 (barely even a +spoiler). Everything else in this TV movie is not a spoiler. + +So why place it here, and not where it was originally broadcast, if +there's any sort of issue? Because, chronologically, the story is set +here, and by the time you reach the end of Season 3, the story on the +Pegasus will feel like ancient history. Indeed, that was the complaint +echoed around the internet from fans after Razor originally aired -- +it had nothing to do with what was going on in the story at that time. + +As a result of this, most fans agree it's better to watch Razor here. +In doing so, you'll appreciate the story more and it will have greater +emotionally resonance. In short: I highly recommend that you follow my +advice and watch it here. + +There is one small caveat, however: In order to deal with the above +dialogue issue, and so not to unintentionally alter the tone of Season +3, I have two, very specific instructions that I recommend that you +follow for your absolute optimum enjoyment. + +I will try not to spoil anything with these instructions, so pay +attention. You need to press MUTE on your TV (and/or turn off any +subtitles) in the following moments. These moments occur in the last +10 minutes of the story, so you can relax and enjoy the first 90 mins +before you need to worry. + +Personally I stopped viewing at -07:13 because the end is predictable +and doesn't contain any major insight for the story except spoilers. +If you really want to finish the movie, press MUTE when: + +1. The hybrid touches Shaw. (You can unmute as soon as the hybrid lets + go.). Then, shortly afterwards: +2. When Red One contacts Pegasus. (You will literally hear the + dialogue, "This is Red One come in" and see Pegasus respond -- mute + before Red One can give their message to Pegasus.) You can unmute + when you see Red One on your screen -- actually before that, but + there's no other visual clue I can give you. +3. When Starbuck is talking to Lee, mute after Lee says, "Well, ever + think you might deserve it?". You can unmute when she turns to + leave. + +That's it! That's all you have to worry about. A couple of very small +moments, and even if you don't unmute it, it's not a huge spoiler, it +just unintentionally alters the tone of Season 3 if you don't, so do +try your best to follow my instructions. + +*** Optional: Razor Flashbacks +# Battlestar.Galactica.Razor.Flashback.Minisodes.DVDRip.RUS.mkv + +Note: This was billed as a "seven episode web series", but really +they are just deleted scenes from the shorter broadcast version of +Razor. In fact, most of these scenes are now reintegrated into the +extended version of Razor (the one on DVD and Bluray), making +what's left even more unessential. + +They are mentioned here only for the sake of completeness, and +because they're often a source of confusion. Don't worry, they are +far from necessary. The only "episodes" not reintegrated are 1, 2 +and some parts of 7, so they're the only ones to note. + +All 7 of these "episodes" were originally released online before +Razor was broadcast, and I'd recommend watching 1 and 2 +beforehand, and 7 afterwards. They don't really add much to the +story, though. + +*** Rest of season 2 +- 2.18 Downloaded +- 2.19 Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I +- 2.20 Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II + +** The Resistance +# Звездный крейсер Галактика 03-00 - Вебизоды Сопротивление.mkv' +A 10 episode web-based series bridging seasons 2 and 3. (25 mins.) +This should be included on your DVDs/Blurays. + +** Season 3 +# Сезон 3 +- 3.01 Occupation +- 3.02 Precipice +- 3.03 Exodus, Part I +- 3.04 Exodus, Part II +- 3.05 Collaborators +- 3.06 Torn +- 3.07 A Measure of Salvation +- 3.08 Hero +- 3.09 Unfinished Business (70 minute extended version - Note: Not included on Region 2 DVDs, but is included on all Blu-ray releases.) +- 3.10 The Passage +- 3.11 The Eye of Jupiter +- 3.12 Rapture +- 3.13 Taking a Break From All Your Worries +- 3.14 The Woman King +- 3.15 A Day in the Life +- 3.16 Dirty Hands +- 3.17 Maelstrom +*** Caprica +# Caprica.-.S01.-.PGor.-.(Web-DL.720p.MPEG-4.AVC.Russian.English.AC3-5.1) +An entire TV series set 58 years before the events of Battlestar +Galactica, and revealing the events surrounding the creation of the +Cylons. (Although it's worth noting that you don't have to have seen +BSG to watch Caprica... and some people have decided to watch this +series first, even though it was produced after BSG had finished.) +Battlestar Galactica is not a show to should be binge watched. +The plot being easy to follow and the almost complete absence of +fillers makes it very difficult to stop at the end of the episode and +not diving into the next. It doesn't help that even if the story has +many intricacies it takes place in just a handful of months. + +At the end of episode 3.18 I got the feeling that I was hurrying. +While I was in excitement every day to start a new episode I noticed +that I was overlooking some shoots such as the majestic CGI of the +ship and while badly forestalling important moments of the episodes. +For this reason I decided to press pause while diverting my attention +to "Caprica", knowing that it shouldn't contain major spoilers for the +rest of Battlestar Galactica. + +Having known this, S03E17 is an ideal point to interrupt season 3 +because we have one major event that shakes the balance of the crew +and after this episode we will begin a new story arc that I don't +think will introduce new plot elements but will deal with a lot of +steaming elements of interest for the entire fleet. Without knowing +the future of the story I believe that we are at a stable point in +which we don't have vision of major unfolding and the big questions of +the show have been lingering for a while. +- 1.01 Pilot +- 1.02 Rebirth +- 1.03 Reins of a Waterfall +- 1.04 Gravedancing +- 1.05 There Is Another Sky +- 1.06 Know Thy Enemy +- 1.07 The Imperfections of Memory +- 1.08 Ghosts in the Machine +- 1.09 End of the Line +- 1.10 Unvanquished +- 1.11 Retribution +- 1.12 Things We Lock Away +- 1.13 False Labor +- 1.14 Blowback +- 1.15 The Dirteaters +- 1.16 The Heavens Will Rise +- 1.17 Here Be Dragons +- 1.18 Apotheosis +*** Rest of season 3 +- 3.18 The Son Also Rises +- 3.19 Crossroads, Part I +- 3.20 Crossroads, Part II +** Razor +This is where Razor was originally broadcast. Remember the last 07 +minutes where I told you to MUTE two small moments? Well, guess what, +now is when you get to go back and hear what was said. Watch the last +10 minutes of Razor here. +** Season 4 +# Сезон 4 +- 4.01 He That Believeth In Me +- 4.02 Six of One +- 4.03 The Ties That Bind +- 4.04 Escape Velocity +- 4.05 The Road Less Traveled +- 4.06 Faith +- 4.07 Guess What's Coming to Dinner? +- 4.08 Sine Qua Non +- 4.09 The Hub +- 4.10 Revelations +- 4.11 Sometimes a Great Notion +*** The Face of the Enemy +# Сезон 4/Звездный\ крейсер\ Галактика\ 04-11.5\ -\ Вебизоды\ Лицо\ врага.mkv (rus only) +# Battlestar Galactica - The Face of the Enemy Webisodes 1-10/Battlestar Galactica - The Face of the Enemy Webisode 01-10 (low quality +A 10 episode web-based series (although it plays together like an +intense mini-episode). (36 mins.) + +These episodes have not been included on any DVD or Blu-ray releases, +except for the Japanese Blu-ray release of Season 4. A real pain. + +They are not presently available anywhere else in the world to my +knowledge, but I highly recommended you do your best to find them. Not +only were they hugely enjoyable, but they explain a few important +things that set up the next episode. +*** Rest of season 4 +- 4.12 A Disquiet Follows My Soul (53 minute extended version) +- 4.13 The Oath +- 4.14 Blood on the Scales +- 4.15 No Exit +*** The Plan (DVD/Bluray movie) +# Звездный крейсер Галактика 04-15.5 - План.mkv +A stand-alone movie that shows (approximately) the first two seasons +from the Cylons' perspective. (You finally get to see "The Plan", +mentioned all those times in the opening sequence!) Although The Plan +was originally released after the show had finished, it is generally +agreed that it should be watched here, so that everything is all tied +up when you do reach the end. +*** Finale +- 4.16 Deadlock +- 4.17 Someone to Watch Over Me +- 4.18 Islanded In a Stream of Stars (62 minute extended version - only on BluRay releases and Region 1 DVDs) +- 4.19 Daybreak (150 minute extended version - only on BluRay releases and Region 1 DVDs) +* Further reading +# battlestar_galactica_series.pdf +Well not quite "reading", but if you're a fan you may +enjoy the following: + +Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica podcast is nothing short of +incredible, and highly recommended for fans and wannabe TV writers. As +he goes through each episode, I believe you can watch the show and +listen to his comments without fear of spoilers. + +You can read the show's +original "Bible", contains of course major spoilers. +* The story so far +Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far is a special program aired on +the Sci Fi Channel that summarizes the first two seasons of the +Re-imagined Series. The special was intended to attract new viewers +and offers no new content for frequent viewers of the series. [1] + +On the evening of August 13, 2006, NBC affiliates on the U.S. West +Coast broadcast the special following the Cincinnati-Washington NFL +football game. The program was aired repeatedly on the Sci-Fi Channel +in August/September 2006 prior to the Season 3 premiere. + +Narrated by actress Mary McDonnell (voicing the narration in her +character of Laura Roslin), The Story So Far ignores several +supporting and significant story arcs and character developments in +the interest of the program's limited 43 minute air time. + +Significant information missing from the special program include: +- The trials of Helo while marooned on Caprica in Season 1 +- The arrival of the battlestar Pegasus and Adama's conflict with its + commander, Admiral Cain +- The relationship between Galen Tyrol and Sharon Valerii +- The presidential coup that leads to the arrest of Laura Roslin, the + declaration of martial law and the temporary splitting of the Fleet. +- Any reference to Billy Keikeya, a central supporting character in + Season 1 + +The feature provides two possible answers to questions posed in the +series: +- The civilians who were left behind with Helo on Caprica, died due to + radiation poisoning. +- Crewmembers who suspect Boomer of being a Cylon wrote the word on + her mirror in "Six Degrees of Separation". + +Areas that attempt to plot significant events of the show include a +recap of the Miniseries in the program's first twenty minutes, a +synopsis of the first season by the half-hour mark, and generally +concise information on Season 2. Several scenes are generally shuffled +out of their aired timeline to explain important relationships. + +I haven't see this movie and honestly I don't look forward to it. +* Episode reviews +Le discussioni piu` importanti sulla serie +** Season 02 Episode 14: Black Market +It's very out of character for Lee. I mean, even if we were to infer +that all that happened since his brush with Zarek on the Astral Queen +in S1 chipped away not only at his will to live, but also his +principles, we end on Lee willing to kill the ring leader and go right +back to his old self in the next few episodes, making Black Market an +inconsistency in an otherwise well fleshed out charakterization. The +same goes for his out-of-nowhere romantic interest with a random woman +on Cloud 9 and a hitherto unknown past romance. It interrupts already +existing plot threads, has no setup, is played like it's been going on +for a while, and is dropped by the end of the episode. + +There's also the fact that the message, "the fleet needs the black +market" doesn't work in the limited economy the series presents us +with. If the shipment's late, there's no benefit in having people sell +illegal stockpiles for absurd prices that were grifted off earlier +shipments. The black market isn't in possession of alternative means +of supply, and can't conjure medicine out of thin air this far into +the journey. It would make some sense when talking strictly about +luxury items and their positive impact on morale, but the episode is +specifically about medicine, and if anyone should have stockpiles of +that, it's Official sources. + +Worse still, the black market disrupts the command structure by +murdering officers and therefore actively undermines the fleet's +fighting force, which is suicidal. A Mafia getting cocky enough to +kill military officials works only in circumstances in which that +isn't equivalent to potentially killing yourself and all your +customers. This might've worked on New Caprica, or in a Flashback to +the colonies, but not on a resource-stricken fleet that's actively +engaged by cylon forces. It's telling that letting Lee live is a +classic villain mistake, and played as such- and the logical choice +in-universe, a clear indication that the Mafia shouldn't be out +murdering military staff in the first place. + +This makes everyone look kind of incompetent or thoughtless- Fisk +could've met the Black Market boss, have a Marine detachment arrest +them, present Adama with evidence of their deeds, have them court +martialled, and bag more than he bought by simply lying about how he +knew. And the fleet would've likely been safer, not to mention that +might've been a more interesting plot line than "standard" Mafia +affairs. And since it's promptly forgotten, with Lee being reversed to +normal, you actually have a more coherent S2 by skipping Black Market +than watching it. + +Tl;dr- Black Market fails not because it's bad television by itself. +It's well acted, well paced and has a poignient finish- just delivered +in a way that doesn't work due to unique circumstances within BSG. It +fails because its plot structure doesn't work within its the universe +and has to change a major character to simply exist, development of +which doesn't translate to further episodes. It is superfluous, as if +a good episode of a different show was mistakenly aired as part pf +BSG. + +Right at the start of the commentary RDM says that he dislikes this +episode. And he takes full responsibility for it being a bad episode. + +And then throughout the rest of the commentary he talks about how much +he hated the whole episode. + +He's an excerpt from the beginning of the commentary... + + And today's podcast we're gonna be do something a little bit + different, actually, than the norm. We're going to be talking + about an episode that I don't particularly like (Chuckles) and + discussing maybe the reasons why it doesn't work and the problems + that I think are inherent in this particular episode. I think I + should also make it clear from the outset that the criticisms and + implied criticisms of this episode really should not be laid at + the doorstep of the production team, or the cast, or crew, or the + writing staff, or anybody else. It's really my responsibility as + head writer and one of the executive producers. The decisions that + led to this episode being something that I'm not as enamored with + really can all be tracked back to decisions that I made at various + stages in the creative process. So this is really a- a podcast + devoted to self-examination and self-criticism, more than anything + else, and going through why this particular episode doesn't seem + like it fits as well within the- the pantheon of what we've + established. + +And the end... + + So there you have it. There's "Black Market". There's my digging + through the guts of a show and telling you all the reasons why it + doesn't work. So I hope you're happy now. (feigned sadness) I hope + you're happy that you've broken me down to this level. (resumes + normal voice) Next week, I can tell you we have a great episode. + "Scar" will be something I think we're all very proud of and very + excited about and I look forward- forward- I'm looking forward to + going through the podcast commentary track on that with you. Thank + you and goodnight. +** Season 03 Episode 07: A Measure of Salvation +I also want to address this from another angle: that sparing the +Cylons is one of the most important things that the Human race could +do. + +The central theme of the series is religious. It's that, throughout +every season, it should be obvious that it's not just human versus +cylons, that there is a higher power orchestrating everything.. +observing.. judging. + +Ultimately the meta efforts of humans and cylons to survive or fight +are meaningless. The outcome is dictated by the higher power. + +Under this assumption, the show becomes proving that humans deserve +salvation. This episode is aptly named "a measure of salvation" +referring to the act of Helo that probably saved the human race in the +eyes of this higher power. If it sounds silly that one human can grant +salvation for his entire race, there's a dominant religion today based +around that idea. + +Sure, wiping out the Cylons might help the human race survive in the +short term. But... + +"It is not enough to merely survive, one has to be worthy of survival" +-Adama + +** Season 03 Episode 08: Hero +This is regarded as one of the worst episode of BSG along with "Black +Market" and "The Woman King". Discussion is delayed until E14. + +Personally I don't think that Adama is portrayed in a bad light +because it is obvious that the Cylon attack was in preparation way +before the trespassing of the red line. Laura says that herself: +"Simple solutions only gives you the semblance of control but it is +stupid to believe that complex situations stems from a singular +episode" (not a literal quote). +** Season 03 Episode 09: Unfinished Business +During Starbuck's fight with Lee Adama, once it becomes obvious that +she stands a good chance of losing she quickly begins using arm locks +and kicks to gain an advantage. Once knocked to the ground, she sweeps +Adama's legs out from under him. This is reminiscent of Starbuck's +expressed attitude in "Scar" that war is not bound by ideas of honor +or fair play. + +There's a small revelation that happens this episode (that you can +only see in the extended cut) that shows how Tigh and Starbuck became +friendlier to one another in the year that passed. They share their +first (friendly) drink together and Tigh offers a small bit of advice +about Kara's choice between Anders and Lee. It's a shame this scene +was cut from the aired version because I think it goes a long way to +showing that Kara wasn't as heartless in her decision to marry Sam +after having just confessed her love for Lee. + +The boxing setup is a little gimmicky, but I think BSG made it work. +The little additions like Doc Cottle shadowboxing during an early +match, and Roslin having a background in boxing due to her father, +filled out the episode and made it work for me, despite the “fight out +your feelings” premise. It was also interesting to see a completely +different New Caprica— blue skies and hope. (And was that Roslin and +Adama getting high?) + +Bill’s speech was pretty intense for a "fun" event. It essentially +reaffirmed his authority, and drew new boundaries on the expectations— +basically, “you all aren’t civilians anymore, and you are serving on +my ship.” However, it seemed a little over the top for Chief’s mild +transgression… sometimes I wonder if we can’t have an episode without +the Admiral giving a hard-hitting but inspirational speech to +somebody. Eh. + +On the Starbuck/Apollo reveal: +Well. I guess it was pretty serious business that frakked up that. +Man, those two didn’t think to hard about cheating on Anders and Dee. +Anders, at least, I expect to be blindsided by Kara cheating on him +(or at least he would have been surprised, before their marriage +basically dissolved). But Dee definitely knew that there were +unresolved feelings between Lee and Kara, not that that makes it +better. It just reminds me of Kara and Lee’s conversation after Lee’s +spacewalk, with Dee stealthily hanging out in the doorway. I really +liked Dee after the documentary episode, because we got a better +perspective on her background, and her little cues that she wasn’t +entirely invested in her relationship with Billy. Her stuff with Lee, +though, especially the Lee-Billy overlap, did not float my boat, and I +did not see it ending well. That’s probably part of the reason I was +so surprised that Dee and Lee got married, alongside Lee’s general +obvious interest in Kara. (I wonder how they ended up married, and how +Dee didn’t see the marriage as a Take-That to Kara and Anders…) + +It’s interesting that marriage isn’t held up as some sacred happily +ever after by the BSG writers. Actually, doesn’t that make Helo and +Athena's the most successful marriage so far? Plus Chief and Cally, I +guess. But the Tighs weren’t often in a good place and Bill Adama’s +marriage fell apart, too, so unless I’m forgetting a bunch, the iffy +marriages outweigh the successful ones. + +Adama is using Chief as a stand in for all the people he feels he +failed by letting them go on New Caprica. Tyrol was the first person, +along with Cally, that he gave approval to live on the planet, which +originally he didn't want to do. There's definitely a feeling of guilt +on Adama's part, and being beaten by Tyrol was part of his +self-imposed penance for letting everyone down. Ron Moore jokingly +described it in the commentary as The Passion of the Adama. + +** Season 03 Episode 10: The Passage +Have you ever wondered what it was like to fly through baby stars? + +This is the episode where BSG comes the closest to traditional +science-fiction. + +Most of BSG is about humans and humanity. It's all designed to feel +very real-- from the documentary-style shots of spaceship to familiar +technological elements and simple dialogue lines delivered by +exceptional actors. + +But in this episode, we get something close to Star Trek. It poses a +hypothetical problem that we don't face ourselves, something +science-fictiony-- traveling through a dense, irradiated star cluster. +It gives Season Three the same gritty feeling we had when the fleet +was still scrounging around for water or fuel in Season One. + +They did a great job showing the hazard in this episode.. from the +charred bbq'ed exterior on the Raptors to Kat's hair falling out. The +badges are also a great invention as a measurement of radiation for +the pilots and also a storytelling device. + +The first time I watched the episode, it had a lot more gravity for +me, because I thought the ships that were lost in the star cluster +were full of people. I thought how much it would suck to lose contact +with your guiding raptor and then burn to death in that cloud with +your entire ship. But then I realized there were only skeleton crews +on those ships and the rest were within the armor of Galactica, and +subsequent rewatches had a little less impact. + +Also, I loved the scene where Adama and Tigh started laughing over the +stupid paper joke. + +I got a chance to meet Luciana Carro, the actress who played Kat. I +asked her what is was like when she found out she was being killed +off. She begged and pleaded for RDM to change the plot but no luck. + +In the commentary, RDM says that he didn't even get a chance to tell +her she was going to be killed off, she found out as she was reading +the script, which is a TV series actor's nightmare. + +Man, when Starbuck finds out about Kat's past and shames her on it.... +That was really uncalled for. Starbuck is being so harsh and spiteful, +when everyone's past transgressions have been forgiven That is +Starbuck though, she is a very hypocritical person. As annoying as she +can be at times, that part of her character is fairly consistent +throughout the series. + +Humans and Cylons have weaknesses to different forms of radiation I +think. Helo needed his anti-radiation shots as well as Starbuck on +Caprica-- the Cylons didn't, and Athena pretended to. + +Totally agree with you on the scene with Kat and Starbuck. Carro did a +great job... even the subtle groan of fear while Starbuck was +threatening her. + +I loved how she asked Adama if he wanted a daughter near the end too +while in the hospital bed. +** Season 03 Episode 14: The Woman King +In the commentary, RDM says that this episode was supposed to be a +lead-in to a larger episode arc between the Sagittarons and Baltar's +trial, but it was sidelined in the end. + +For me the worst episodes of BSG are +- Black Market +- Hero +- The Woman King +"Black Market" sticks out because it appears in the otherwise-stellar +2nd season, right after two of the strongest episodes of the whole +series. "Hero" sticks out because it makes Adama look like a huge +bastard without really doing much to justify it from either his or the +story's perspective. + +"Hero" and "Black Market" have something important in common: they +both try and introduce huge backstory elements to important characters +that only serve to undermine those characters, and which are swiftly +forgotten about (which sticks out in such a continuity-heavy show). + +These two should serve as lessons to potential writers: don't +introduce an earth-shaking bit of character history midway through the +story unless you have a really good reason to do it, and make sure +that you do your due diligence in making sure its effects are +propagated properly. You could skip both "Black Market" and "Hero" (as +I often have done when watching the series) without affecting the +overall story at all; that's not a good sign for episodes that are +basically meant to show what Bill and Lee believe to be the worst +things they ever did. + +On the other hand, "The Woman King" is bad to me because it doesn't +really do anything or go anywhere. Helo's defining characteristic is +his unswerving moral code, which he'll adhere to even at great +personal cost; the episode is basically "Helo sticks up for the +underdog like he always does, and then is eventually vindicated like +he always is." + +And unlike many Helo-centric stories, there's no ambiguity whatsoever; +Dr. Robert might as well be twirling his mustache. The only grey area +is Tigh, and even he rolls on Robert as soon as it becomes obvious +what a dickhead he is. It would have been more interesting if Helo had +to make a more substantive choice, such as compromising himself one +way in order to serve a greater good, but that's something he does on +several occasions anyways. They could also have had Tigh be involved +more directly or even just be more reticent to turn on Robert; as it +is he goes from ready to kick Helo's ass for so much as badmouthing +him to immediately acting like he never knew the guy. + +There are probably a few others that could be considered +mediocre-to-bad in the mid-to-late third season, which I consider the +low point of the series; this seems to be mostly because of the +studio's insistence on a more episodic approach that just didn't work +for BSG. Luckily they seemed to see the error of their ways. + +It's so very predictable. It felt like every other episode on TV, like +a procedural. We knew the guest star was the bad guy, we knew the good +guy taking shit from everyone else was going to be right in the end, +and, as a consequence, those people giving him shit for it come out +looking horrible, too. Considering who the people were who were so +down on Helo for suspecting that doctor, that's a bad move. + +** Season 03 Episode 18: The Son Also Rises +Sam Anders' flipping a coin and continually coming up with heads is +reminiscent of the early moments of Tom Stoppard's play "Rosencrantz +And Guildenstern Are Dead", in which Rosencrantz has the same result +on a coin flip over a dozen times. This leads Guildenstern to comment +"Consider - One: Probability is a factor which operates within natural +forces. Two: Probability is not operating as a factor. Three: We are +now held within un-, sub-, or supernatural forces." The moral is that +two minor characters within a play (namely, Hamlet) have no control +over their fate, and are condemned to carry out their role in the +story regardless of their desperate attempts to change events. + +According to Michael Angeli, Lampkin's first name, Romo, is from the +first two letters of Ronald D. Moore's first and last names. Romo +Lampkin was also initially conceived as a "55 year old Alan Dershowitz +character." + +The door code to Romo Lampkin's temporary quarters on Galactica +is 1234. + +The assassination of Baltar's lawyer was inspired by attacks on Saddam +Hussein's defense team (Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion +Season Three). + +The scene where Foster and Roslin reveal the last ship captain, in +this case Admiral William Adama, was unscripted. + +One part of this episode that I liked, that I haven't seen mentioned +yet, was when Lee and Anders are in the memorial hallway. Lee starts +to walk away, and Anders stops him and says, "Lee, I'll see you +around." It shows to me that Anders has forgiven him for his history +with Starbuck, and in the wake of her death he is just glad to have +someone to share his grief. He is glad and comforted that he can be in +the company of someone who loved Kara as much as he did. +** Caprica Episode 18 +If you watched this in the order proposed you are going to feel +overwhelmed by the last minute or so of the episode. + +I'll start discussing the things that didn't satisfy me from this +serie. The first that comes to mind is the rushed finale. Bill +shouldn't have that age at his brother's funeral and I wanted to +explore the Lacey's part of the story more. We will never get an +explanation of why Zoe is in the audience of the virtual church in +which Clarice but that doesn't matter much. I wanted the producers to +dive more into the colonies ideals, customs and traditions. In a +similar way to the Taurons, for which we know so much now. We should +have got more story on the Gemenon colony and how the STO had such a +big presence there. The fact that the STO is so deep into the GDD and +other places is incoherent with the first part of the story. V World +in 2021 feels like a concept that has already been explored (in other +works such as Dark City, Sword Art Online, Ready Player One, etc...) +but I guess that I could have been amazed back in the day. The side of +the story that interests Tamara is sort of hanging and New Cap City +was cringey in some parts. + +I am very happy that I watched the whole serie. The acting is very +good, the scenes are good, the plot is good, the CGI awesome. They +were able to have teenagers as key characters without lowering the bar +for good drama. I felt a very strong connections to the more mature +characters, expecially Joseph and Amanda. Every time they mentioned +Joseph in the remaining S03 episodes I nodded knowing what they wanted +to convey. I also like the fact that you get a lot of backstory but +not so much that it can't remain a standalone serie. What was very +interesting to see was the fact that instead of giving us just a good +story that could be good enough to be a prequel to the Cylon War, +maybe with some action here and there, the producers focused on +exploring some moral and philosophical topics. On top of my mind the +hypocrisy of religion and the gerarchy involved, brain in a vat +topics, what it means to be human and the afterlife. Also they +iterated on the topic of "It is not enough to merely survive, one has +to be worthy of survival" but of course from the point of view of the +Graystones, focusing on parenting and leadership at the same time. + +I am sad that it was cancelled and there was a lot more to say. In a +way what makes a good serie is the fact that the universe in which it +is told is open ended and provides a lot of space to discuss even the +same topics but from lots of different angles. + +I am satisfied with my timing on this. I am sure that I should have +started at the end of S03E17 instead of S03E18 but in any case I could +go back to BSG without any spoiler, with the right amount of backstory +at the right time, and most importantly, capable of picking up little +clues in Caprica and in BSG, or so it seems for now. + +On a minor important note, V World helps explain Cylon's phenomenon of "projections". +** Season 03 Episode 20: Crossroads +All I am going to say is that I needed a chair with a deeper edge. + +- It is also reaffirmed that none of the original seven is aware of + the Final Five, as demonstrated by Sharon Valerii's lack of knowledge + about Galen Tyrol's true nature during her relationship with him in + Season 1 and the torture of Saul Tigh on New Caprica by the Cylons. + In "Rapture," Number Three learns the identity of at least one of + the final five and is heard to apologize; in retrospect, it's + possible she was apologizing to Tigh for his torture. + +- Starbuck's last words in the episode allude to "Maelstrom" as she is + taking on the role of the Aurora idol that she gave to Adama before + her "death." She claims that, like the idol placed on the model + ship, she will be leading the way to Earth. + +- The loss of Tigh's eye on New Caprica now has a kind of dark humor + to it, as the centurions on both the original and re-imagined series + are characterized by their single eyes. + +- Tigh states that if he dies today, he will be remembered as a human + officer of the fleet and a patriot. But if death for the Final Five + is similar to that of the other humanoid Cylon models, if he dies he + will be downloaded into a new body, surrounded by Cylons intending + to manipulate him to their side or box his consciousness, and should + he ever come in contact with those who knew him as a human, they + would instantly regard him as a Cylon and therefore an enemy. + +- After Jamie Bamber (Apollo) delivered his character's courtroom + speech for the first take, the entire cast (who were sitting in the + stands) and crew gave him a standing ovation. + +- Consideration: a cheap TV serie would have gone with Lee snitching + on the father and damaging their trust, even without changing the + rest of the plot. BSG on the other hand decide to take the high road + and propose a very deep, engaging and at the same time extremely + difficult monologue. Instead of engaging the viewers by reflecting + on a shared emotion (hubris, disdain, broken relationship with + parents, division) the producers decided to express with new words + the reason why the trial is so emotional and heart wrenching: "What + system?", "This isn't a civilization, they are a group of refugees + running for their lives pretending laws and customs apply to them as + convenient as if they are on Earth" and all of the political + ramifications of courts, judges and the defense system that are + common in the whole series even before this two episode long climax. + +On a personal note at this point of the show I hate Kara. + +** Season 04 Episode 03: The Ties That Bind +When Six's fleet is ambushed by Cavil's, the Orion constellation (as +seen from Earth) can be seen in the background stars (approximately at +28:22 minutes into the episode). Whether this was intentional and +signifies something is unknown. It may also indicate that the +Galactica crew, as well as the Cylons, are getting closer to the Sol +system. The Orion, as well as other familiar constellations would be +seen more frequently in the episodes that follow. +** Season 04 Episode 04: Escape Velocity +Distraught over the incident, Tyrol sits alone in Joe's Bar. Adama +arrives and tries to console him over the death of Cally; Tyrol +hallucinates and hears Adama call Cally a Cylon-lover who birthed a +half-breed abomination, but really he had said that Cally was a good +person.[1] Tyrol becomes enraged, insulting Cally and denouncing her +as second-best. He says that the one who he really loved was Boomer, +but she turned out to be a Cylon. + +Galen Tyrol's insubordination that leads Admiral Adama to demote him +may have been a deliberate act, conscious or unconscious, to maintain +the safety of the ship. While not stated explicitly, Tyrol has been +implied to have fears of working against the interest of the Fleet. +This fear is almost certainly magnified when he forgets to swap out a +burned out component for a new one on Racetrack's Raptor, which +subsequently crashes. While his memory lapse may have been innocently +brought on by the continuing stress of discovering himself to be a +Cylon, the resulting subterfuge, and his wife's death, the experience +of Sharon Valerii with her memory lapses, unconscious acts of +sabotage, and the attempted murder of then Commander Adama, are +probably on his mind. This is indicated during the tirade against +Cally, Adama, and his life in general in Joe's bar. A demotion in +disgrace and transfer could ensure the safety of the ship, without +raising any unwanted questions as an official resignation probably +would. + +I like the device of having Saul and Tory playing good angel/bad angel +to Tyrol as he contemplates what he should do in the wake of Cally's +death. They both have two completely different viewpoints on the world +post-discovery of being cylons, particularly Tory who I'm finding +fascinating to watch. Her advice to Tyrol seems to be driven by her +own ongoing experiences, which are to explore her surroundings as if +she's never seen them before. Everything comes off as new to her. I +loved Baltar's line to her after being on the receiving end of her +"experimentation": I think I preferred it when cried. + +"I like this service." It's sad watching Laura wind down. She knows +she's not long and wants someone she cares for to know what she likes. + +The old woman, Lilly, was played by Karen Austin, who we will see +later the prequel series Caprica. Thought I'd make note of it as she +is one of a few BSG alums to go on to have a role in that show. Did +some digging in the wiki and I found out that Lillith (whose short +form is Lilly) in Jewish mythology is among the first women to rebel +against God. Here, Lilly is the first person we see reject the "one +true god" in favor of the old. + +This episode, along with the last few, really shows how far Roslin is +willing to go these days in getting done what she thinks is good for +the fleet. She says to Baltar, "There are some who say that when +people get closer to their death, they just don't care about as much +about rules and laws and conventional morality" and that she is no +longer in any mood to indulge him, which are thoughts that could also +be applied to the quorum. She's becoming more cutthroat of late. In +addition to that Roslin's wig is strikingly reminiscent of Helena +Cain's hairstyle in "Pegasus" and "Resurrection Ship, Parts I and II". +This is a visual counterpoint to her increasing ruthlessness as she +confronts her impending death. +** Season 04 Episode 07: Guess What's Coming To Dinner +The Hybrid's prophecy that Kara Thrace is the "harbinger of death" +takes on a new significance during Natalie's speech to the Quorum. +Thrace begins to realize it may refer to the potential loss of +immortality among the Cylons. + +I love the tongue-in-check nature of the episode's title. For those +unaware, the title of the episode is inspired by the movie Guess Who's +Coming to Dinner, starring Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and +Sidney Poitier and is about interracial marriage in a time when it was +still illegal in some states. The movie itself is pretty relevant to +the episode since it's about the two races, human and cylon, +co-mingling for the first time in a generation. + +Two moments from the VFX team which I loved: The first is how the +camera zooms in quickly when the Demetrius fails to jump away with the +basestar. It reminds us of the "documentary" feel the show was trying +to emulate and the shot itself feels like the cameraman was caught off +guard, expecting the ship to jump away and then being surprised that +it didn't. The second is seeing all the ships scramble to move out of +the after the basestar jumps into the middle of the fleet. I love how +the camera glides through the shot and we see a bunch of ships just +narrowly avoid crashing into one of the basestar's outer spires. + +Natalie's philosophy concerning the Cylons' need for mortality in +order to value life parallels Zoe-A's statements to Clarice Willow +when destroying the latter's apotheosis heaven decades earlier in +"Apotheosis". + +** Season 04 Episode 04: Sine Qua Non +Ron Moore and the episodes writer, Michael Taylor, talk about Romo's +cat in the commentary and even they admit the whole thing doesn't +really make much sense. They talk about how the cat is a physical +representation of Romo's demons from his life back on the colonies and +how Romo is so plagued by the choice he made after the attack that he +wants everyone to suffer as much as does. They say that he knows that +Lee will be a good choice for the presidency and knows that he'll do +good for the fleet, so he decides to kill Lee so that everyone will +continue to suffer their lives as much suffers his own. However, they +admit that they don't really succeed in communicating this to the +audience and Ron calls the whole thing, particularly the invisible +cat, a "bad idea" for which he chooses to take the blame. +** Season 04 Episode 14: Blood On The Scales +Gaeta and Thigh are my favourite characters. Romantically Gaeta +impersonifies a very vivid flame that burns with brightness and +passion but is destined to run out of oxygen soon. + +He is the most intelligent person of that age in the fleet and his +accomplishment makes him sustain many responsabilities: in the fleet +he has the unconditionate trust of Adama and in New Caprica he serves +as the advisor of the president. His main accomplishments were saving +the human civilization at the beginning of season 02 and during the +stay in New Caprica. + +In most of the exchanges with the other characters of the show Gaeta +shows confidence, serenity, and no one ever questions his +capabilities. Untils "The Face Of The Enemy" we don't get a glimpse of his +humanity, except for the little dialogue with D'Anna in "Final Cut" +(S02E08) where he shows the tiger tattoo while drinking and smoking. +On the other hand given that most of the people of the fleet are very +relaxed near him it is easy to understand that there is more to him +than his skills. + +His final actions that were central to this episode are well justified +and to me they don't seem out of character. The pain he is enduring +becomes more apparent when we get to see him injecting morpha. In +"The Face Of The Enemy" his young age shows a lack of judgement in the +people, he trusts. He is played by Eight in New +Caprica and he becomes the scapegoat for Kara/Helo/Anders. + +Since the abandonment of Earth the human population has been in a +hopeless position of immobility and contempt. In this episode Gaeta +wants to save humanity once again, but he entrusts once again the +wrong person. In the end even if he dies his mission succeded: the +crew had feel cohesion again and has found new motivations to endure +the fight. In the dialogue with Baltar, when Felix asks Baltar to be +remembered by the person that he really was, he was referring exactly +to this. + +Referring to the same dialogue, we must note that in the show there is +a lot of dyadic development and in this scene Baltar-Gaeta comes to +conclusion: Baltar acknowledges Gaeta, that by the way probally had a +crush on him in the first season. Hopefully he will also understand +how his cult is a danger to the development of civilization. Baltar's +age and experience made him understand Gaeta's motivation better, +probably since New Caprica, for which he is forgiven by Baltar many +times. + +Finally at first view a big fan of Gaeta such as me might remain +puzzled by his hate for cylons. Since the beginning of season 04 we +have seen a profound humanization of the entire cylon race. The +reaction of Leoben to the discover of Kara's cadaver shows the very +broad spectrum of emotions that they can feel. Using again his young +age as justification I think it is easy to see how every interaction +of Gaeta with the cylons has ended with despair and personal losses so +it might be understandable that he harbors a profound hate for them. +** The Plan +The Plan is not a particularly compelling piece of work on its own. In +the context of the rest of the BSG story, it is interesting and +useful, but with that context taken away the pacing is weird, the +jumps through time are jarring, and the overall experience is kind +of... boring. About 40% of The Plan also seems to be reused film from +older episodes (which makes sense considering it is largely an +extended flashback), but it doesn't help to keep you on the edge of +your seat (it does however, make something of a decent "recap" before +the end). Probably most egregiously, The Plan seems to lack a strong +narrative structure and just kind of meanders through often very +disparate events, loosely tied together by Cavil, who functions as the +episode's main "protagonist". Absolutely absent are any significant +moments of intense drama and tension, which are a hallmark of BSG, and +is all the more unforgivable given the two-hour runtime. + +I'll also get this right out of the way, as it is The Plan's weakest +point: The Plan ostensibly attempts to explain the "And they have a +plan" title card that preceeded most episodes, but does a pretty +underwhelming job of doing so. "The plan" that is "revealed" is +actually exactly what you'd guess and not new information: kill all +the humans and make the Final Five realize that they were wrong (about +humans, about Cylons, about god, and about Cavil). Neither of these +points are spoilers because following episode 15, we already know +this, and The Plan just reconfirms it. If you're hoping for some grand +revelation of another surprise second layer of plan that had been +going on all along, you'll be disappointed. The Plan is more about how +Cavil reacts and adapts to the initial "success" of his original plan +followed by several unexpected failures. To be sure, the Cylons did +have several other plans going on concurrently with the main run of +the show, like trying to get Sharon pregnant and then trying to steal +her baby, and also the human breeding farms on Caprica. But the real +focus of The Plan is on Cavil's plans. + +But where The Plan is really strongest is not in explaining "the plan" +or other plot minutiae, but in character development. Specifically +with regards to: +- Cavil +- other Cylons: particularly Fours and Fives, but also Eights, Sixes, and Twos +- several of the Final Five: particularly the Chief, Tory, and Ellen + +Secondarily, The Plan is also useful in filling in a ton of minor and +not-so-minor unresolved plot points (I hesitate to say plot "holes") +especially from the miniseries and first season and a half. Things +like (but not limited to): +- Who told Adama there were only 12 models? +- How did all of the Final Five end up on the fleet? +- What were the various Cylons in the fleet doing during the first season? +- What was Boomer doing when she would "black out" and why did she fail to kill Adama? +- Who was Shelley Godfrey and how did she disappear? + +But back to that character development: you're going into the last +five episodes of the show, and that inevitably is going to include +some kind of "final showdown" between the good guys and the bad guys. +One of the problems with the show at this point is that most of the +"bad guys" - the Ones (Cavil), the Fours (Simon), and the Fives +(Doral) - have been generally underdeveloped. + +Finishing episode 15, you've only just become aware of how Cavil was +really the "big bad" of the whole show, manipulating most of the major +events leading into the series. You've also only just discovered how +important Ellen is to the story, and how far back the story of the +Final Five goes. That's a lot to digest and yet not a lot of +information with which to establish clarity and motivations. + +The Plan works perfectly after episode 15 because it goes more +in-depth into those very areas of the show that are lacking. You get +to know way more about Cavil's objectives and how his mind works. You +get to see more of Ellen and Anders and Tyrol and how they dealt with +their life on the colonies and the aftermath of the Cylons attack. You +also get to know Simon, and Doral to some extent, who are two of the +most underdeveloped Cylons on the show. + +The importance of that last point is often understated. It's often +been said that a story is only as good as its villain, and the best +thing that The Plan does is help flesh out and "humanize" its +villains. You're probably yawning about learning more about Simon, and +that's exactly the point: if you're yawning about one of the three +last villains, then why would you care at all about their coming +roles? You don't really care so much about the final confrontations +with these villains when you don't really know who they are as +characters and what their personalities and motivations are like. +Conversely, going into the finale with The Plan under your belt makes +that finale much more weighty and poignant and emotional. + +And Cavil, as the main villain, benefits most from what is ultimately +a Cavil-centric story. We learn more about how and why he started the +second Cylon war to eliminate humanity. We learn more about why he +betrayed the Final Five and put them to live on the Colonies. We learn +more about his neurosis, his obsessions his weaknesses, and his +character and morality. We also get a glimpse of an alternate version +of Cavil and what he could have been - and this helps to "humanize" +him and create a more believeable, more sympathetic, more tragic +complex character. This is something that BSG excels at - not +providing us with cartoonish, absolutely evil characters, or +unimpeachable perfect "heroes". Everyone else is generally painted in +shades of grey, but Cavil (and Simon) is lacking those shades without +The Plan. + +The Plan works well following episode 15 not just because it expands +on many of the plot points and characters that just had game-changing +revelations in said episode, but also because episode 15 is itself +something of a self-contained informational episode. Following episode +15 is a great time to pause, breathe, learn more about the backstory +of the plot, and ready yourself for the final leg of the race. In +contrast, episodes 16 through 21 should all really be watched +consecutively because they form the last story arc which barely begins +with the final moments of episode 25. Any break in that progression +would be awkward. (And watching The Plan at any point before episode +15 doesn't make sense because you really need that conversation +between Ellen and Cavil to reveal how crucial both of them are to the +overall plot.) + +The alternative is that you watch The Plan after you finish the +series, as so many here have recommended, and as so many of us did +(because it was only released after the show finishes so we had no +other choice), and this, in my opinion, would be a huge mistake. +Remember my initial criticisms that The Plan is poorly paced, and not +very exciting on its own. It's more of an interesting, informational +episode than a good episode in its own right. + +The thing is, heading now into the show finale, your interest is at an +all-time high, and the main benefit of The Plan is that it will +enhance your understanding of and enjoyment of the ending. Because of +that, you'll more easily "suffer" through the story, while still being +able to extract the later benefit. But if you watch The Plan after the +story has already climaxed, eaten a sandwich, and gone to sleep, +you'll be mostly bored, unimpressed at its lackluster storytelling, +and missing out on the main purpose of that story. + +Put simply, The Plan is terribly anti-climactic and its best features +are wasted if viewed after the show is over. Once you've hit that +emotional climax and release of the finale, your interest in a largely +informational episode will be cool at best. The Plan is boring on its +own but great at making the rest of the plot better. What's the point +in watching it after the main plot is already finished? Have you ever +watched a deleted scene to a movie you liked and thought, "wow, that +was a great deleted scene, I liked it even better than the actual +ending of the movie"? Probably not often. Have you ever watched a +deleted scene and thought, "wow, I wish they had left that scene in +the movie"? That feeling is the epitome of The Plan which is in +essence a series of extended deleted scenes. They work really well +when inserted into the main flow of the story, but they aren't +absolutely necessary, and they're just kind of meh if watched +separately. + +Maybe the "plan" was: let the Five live with the humans where +(according to him) they will run into all the bad sides of humanity. +He thought, after they died, they would wake up with their real +memories + the Colonial memories, and so would look at their time with +the humans as a bad time. Because of whatever they may have +experienced. When he was talking with Anders, he already realized that +just by living with them, Anders was happy. His plan was already +starting to fail right there and then. Basically it's like this. He +wanted to put the Five in a situation he deems negative (living with +humanity), but they are supposed to see the negative sides after they +are removed from that situation. Right after removing them from that +situation (the destruction of the colonies), they were supposed to +look at that situation and see it for what it really is (to him): +lies, hate, murder, whatever negative things humans can do. But they +experienced so many good things and he didn't anticipate that because +of his own jealousy and hate. + +The two Cavil's featured here were referred to by the crew as F Cavil +and C Cavil, with the letters standing for Fleet and Caprica +respectively, so that's how I'll refer to them here. In addition to +being Cavil heavy, another reason I liked this movie was because we +got to see the cylons fleshed out a bit more, particularly the Simons, +who I'd argue was probably the cylon model about which we knew least. +We also get more confirmation how far down the cylon totem pole the +Dorals are, so much so that they are doing what they consider to be +centurion work. +- "Be prepared for some very sticky hugs." Right off the bat we're + getting some great Cavil lines and he's got a lot of great darkly + humorous lines in this. I loved his line to Shelly after telling + her, "Very smart Six... Or maybe its the glasses." +- Love the callback to season one when Cavil introduces himself to + Ellen as a 'Mysterious Stranger," which is what Ellen tells everyone + when asked who rescued her back in "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me down." +- Who would've guessed that the basestars are shaped that way so that + they can pivot in order to become aerodynamic when entering an + atmosphere. We never stop learning something new about the cylons. +- Love they whole Attack on the Colonies sequence. The editing, the + music, the VFX, everything. It all flows so well together and made + the attack seem as epic and catastrophic as it was. The nukes + falling down, snapping open to reveal the nukes, then snapping open + again to reveal even more was intense. I also loved finally seeing + what we only heard about back in the miniseries. The cylon virus + literally just turning off the battlestars, raptors, and vipers. + Also, a particularly gruesome shot was of the centurions executing + people still trapped in their cars on the highway. +- My second favorite cavil moment is from this. It's his first scene + with Simon where all his anger and frustrations are unleashed. It's + like he is pacing like a tiger when he is listing how all the cylons + have let him down and goes to show how quickly he can go from + sarcastic to frightening in a single moment. Again, Stockwell is so + fascinating to watch, specifically in scenes like this. +- I loved the kiss between Tyrol and the woman. It never felt romantic + to me, as Tyrol says, but more a symbol of acknowledgement of these + two people commiserating over their situation's and how it bonds + them in some way. In the commentary, writer Jane Espenson called it + a non-romantic romance. The kiss is a kiss of understanding. +- Loved the juxtaposition of F Cavil killing the kid ("Friends can be + dangerous things") and C Cavil not killing Kara. I think that the + two are going through similar circumstances with their fellow cylons + expressing the love they've developed for the humans, but clearly go + in different directions when presented an opportunity to either + embrace it or reject it. C Cavil sees the bigger picture and chooses + peace whereas F Cavil also sees it, but chooses to literally kill + the symbol of peace sitting next to him. +- The two Cavils meet up on Galactica, but its altered from how it + went down in the season two finale. If you remember, F Cavil went + along with truce and seemed to have prior knowledge of it but the + retcon still leaves things a bit unclear. If F Cavil was no longer + aware of the truce, what does he mean by the line "Unlike you, we + can admit our mistakes"? C Cavil doesn't believe that the + destruction of the colonies was a mistake, so I'm curous why they + left that line in and yet changed so much else about the scene. I + mean, even Laura is written out of the scene in this new version. I + liked this movie overall, but this scene still doesn't make much + sense to me. +- Cavil was always shown to be rude to the centurions, which we see + again here even from a newly enlightened C Cavil, but I only just + now realized its probably because Cavil is envious of the + centurions. After he is what he desires most. To be a cold, hard, + machine made of metal and wires and gears. +- "There's a 140 foot launch tube, we may die of our injuries before + we get to the vacuum" Cavil is the worst shoulder to cry on, even to + himself. I love it. +- That whole last scene in the launch tube between the Cavils is + perfect. Stockwell plays the moment so well, even more impressive + since he's acting against himself. I'm not really sure how to + express how much I love that scene. It's so well written and acted + and directed and shot and edited. And it ends with Cavil finally + getting to feel the winds of a supernova flowing over him. +A few interesting things learned form the commentary: +- Frank Darabount was supposed to direct this and "Islanded in a + Stream of Stars" but had to bow out, which is how Eddie was tasked + with directing both. +- The rubble where Ellen is found is actually the hanger deck set + after it was torn down. +- There were talks of doing a few more movies after this but they died + down and it became that this would be the last time they shoot + anything on the BSG set. +- When casting the boy who seeks refuge in Cavil's place, they + intentionally wee looking for someone who looked like a young Dan + Stockwell from The Boy With Green Hair. +** Season 04 Episode 16: Deadlock +Not much to say except to make two clarifications: +1. Why does Adama give guns to Baltar's flock? The question for Adama + is to either allow a criminal gang to control the food supply or to + allow Baltar's crazy cultists to control it. In addition to that + Baltar's group, now armed to the teeth, would also serve as a + civilian security force, which Adama figures is better than using + centurions (deleted scene). In the end, Baltar's militia is the + lesser of two evils. +2. Why does Galen vote against remaining on the battlestar? He believe + that cylons will never be accepted among humans and that now that + he doesn't have any strong ties to Galactica's people (knowing that + Nicky is not his son) he needs a fresh start and possibly the hope + to get back with Boomer. In addition to that it could be discussed + that he was nominated Chief again only because he is needed not + because he is accepted again. +** Season 04: Battlestar Galactica Finale (S04E17-18-19-20) +I wont play pretend to be a critico cinematografico. I'll just try to +make an analysis of the important points of the whole show, or at +least what impressed me and gave me something to think. + +Let's start by saying that by setting the story in the past. The topos +of the cyclic nature of the universe becomes stronger and we can +imagine how Earth could become Kobol. The abandonment of some of the +colonies technologies, the spaceships primarely, signifies the need +for a reset and starting anew. This doesn't mean that technology was +rejected alltogether and even if we have no indication of that the +people of the colonies may have brought advancement to the natives. I +believe it was well delivered. + +Apart from the importance as a perfectly narrated conclusion to the +story, the finale was important to me because it gave new light to two +main points of the show. + +I'll start with religion. In BSG we see people having beliefs that can +be reconducted to panellenic religions, hindu's simbolism, egyptian +gods (Hera/Isis), giudaism and christianity. It is suggested that by +breaking up the remaining population of the colonies into different +areas of the globe some these religion views may have broke down into +what we came to now in current days. In the end religion had the same +role that politics and societal constructions had in the whole story. +It is a human construct that served as a ground reason for the war. +The creators of the current cylon race were as flawed as any other +humans and gave no reason for the cycle of creation and destruction. +Finding a new home for the human race is not a moment of absolution +for all the despair and sufference that the travel meant. Lastly the +travel has a more mythological sense rather than religious: there are +two figures, Galen and Felix, that impersonify Prometheus and of +course there is an Eve. Kara by all means is Apollo. In the finale we +come to understand that the central motor of the story is human nature +for which religion as it is told can only offer symbolical and +metaphorical interpretations. Hera didn't have a major meaning in the +story apart from being a symbolical vessel for unification.I also +believe that every character in the story (with the exception of Kara +as we will see) walks along a path of self growth and maturity that +never overshadows the inner human nature. In this context the +predominant trait of each character shapes his personal journey. + +The second point are the dyads which provide a frame to understand the +characters of the story. I'll start with the most controversial: +Galen. + +Galen is a tragic hero that forms a dyad with Helo but shares his +traits with Felix (the human part) and Tory (the cylon part). As Felix +he rebels to his peers and fails to acts in betrayal by killing Tory. +While Helo is the hero that always does the moral thing and can +overcome his sense of refusal, Galen is consumed by contempt and every +act by him meets a tragic fate. He is deceived by both races (Cally +and Tory) and he gives up on both (Nicky and Tory, again). In the +end he leaves the dyad and isolates as self punishment. + +Sam is the another character that doesn't form a dyad. His humbleness +is a proxy for his greater appreciation of universe and creation. As a +person he acted as a tool for both races (resistance in Caprica, +oracle of the five cylons, recovery of Hera). + +Model Eight, which of course the dyad is made by Athena and Boomer, +have the major trait of adherence to the uniform, from which most of +their action revolves. + +Gaius is probably the most complex character of the show. He is paired +with Caprica Six, of which we come to understand didn't really love +Saul, if we want to believe in love as the necessary ingredient for +Cylon procreation. It is extremely important to understand that Gaius +has been selfless and did what he did for Caprica out of love not +pleasure nor self preservation. Both Gaius and Caprica Six burden the +weight of scientific (cylon) and religious knowledge (Head Six) and +act as the opposite force to mythology for the whole duration of the +travel. The strongness in his character is evident by the burden of +his experiences and his knowledge which would have driven many other +people to madness and suicide. Finally, while Adama and Roslin are +there show the most positive traits of human nature and the qualities +to which strive for, Gaius and Caprica are there to show our flaws. In +a way Gaius was absolved by the trail, even though it didn't account +for giving the nuke to a Six. It must also be noted that when other +characters such as Adama and Starbuck takes bets on some big action +they always turn out well, Gaius the opposite and often his choices +turns out mostly wrong but with a possible solution. In end always the +other side of the coin. + +Regarding the angels, we have Head Six and Head Baltar that form a +dyad, and Kara which doesn't. Head Six and Head Baltar shows us the +true form of the faithful belief, intended as the perpertual cycle of +creation and destruction, shaped as a complex system that will +eventually surprise us. God, as symbolized by the final dialogue, is +not something to which we can give a name. Kara doesn't embark in a +path of growth and is the most /infelice/ character because she +doesn't provide any reflection of the positive human nature and in the +end her only meaning is to input a series of number in a pad. The +numbers which on an unrelated note where given to her by what we know +is her father, the pianist. +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +In the last scene, are “Six” and “Baltar” angels or demons? + +Moore: I think they’re both. We never try to name exactly what the +“Head” characters are—we called them “Head Baltar” and “Head Six” +all throughout the show, internally. We never really looked at +them as angels or demons because they seemed to periodically say +evil things and good things, they tended to save people and they +tended to damn people. There was this sense that they worked in +service of something else. You could say “a higher power” or you +could say “another power,” [but] they were in service to something +else that was guiding and helping, sometimes obstructing, and +sometimes tempting the people on the show. The idea at the very +end was that whatever they are in service to continues and is +eternal and is always around. And they too are still around…and +with all of us who are the children of Hera. They continue to walk +among us and watch, and at some point they may or may not +intercede at a key moment. +#+END_QUOTE +I now give some reviews by other people. They are way more focused on +details than me. While I only complain about the error regarding +Hera's blood (come on, it should have been an hint and it turned out +to be wrong) I don't agree with the criticism of the Deus Ex Machina +and I don't want to focus the entire judgment of the show on some +hints given in the last three minutes. Yes, the 150000 years thing is +out of place but it is such a wide gap that we can take the liberty of +filling out the gaps with our imagination and even slightly adjust +what it has been an extremely wonderful science fiction story. + +One last clarification about the Cylon God. I believe the Cylon God to +be a fallen Lord of Kobol and it is a direct analog to Yahweh. Elosha +states that the exodus from Kobol was precipitated when "one jealous +god began to desire that he be elevated above all the other gods, and +the war on Kobol began." This god was eventually separated from the +others. This figure may be related to or identical with "the one whose +name cannot be spoken", whose temple is discovered on the algae planet +("The Eye of Jupiter"). While humanoid Cylons show a strict, firm +belief in a monotheistic God, referring to the Lords of Kobol as +"false idols," a connection between the Cylon God and the Lords of +Kobol may exist. During the Cylon occupation of New Caprica, an oracle +tells Number Three (who has a dream of the oracle's tent and of +holding the believed-dead hybrid child Hera") that she has a message +from the one that Number Three worships ("Exodus, Part I"). This poses +the question how an oracle of the Lords of Kobol is able to hear the +messages of the Cylon God. The Temple of Five, which a Number Three +uses to visualize the identities of the Final Five", was not built for +the Cylons (who were not created until 4,000 years later) but for +humans. The Temple, according to the Sacred Scrolls, was built for +five priests who worshiped "The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken". It +is not clear if this was the spurned "jealous god" or another fallen +member of the Lords of Kobol. This is not in conflict from what we see +in New Caprica, where a small minority of monotheistic humans existed +on the Twelve Colonies before the Fall. Their religion was looked upon +as dangerous and heretical by the majority of Colonial society and +most of them were forced to hide their beliefs. The kernel of Zoe-R's +identity contained in the Cylons' fundamental programming which Lacy +exploited also made them predisposed to monotheism. Ironically, the +Cylon marines' killing of monotheist human terrorists to protect the +thousands of polytheist humans at Atlas Arena (coincidental to Lacy's +coup) ingratiated the Cylons with humanity and was the catalyst for +their much more rapid popularity and sales than inventor Daniel +Graystone had anticipated ("Apotheosis"). Sister Clarice Willow +proselytizing to her Cylon congregation. + +Sister Clarice Willow evaded capture for her orchestration of the +failed arena bombing. She eventually discovered the Cylons' +monotheistic instincts and established a Cylon congregation in V-World +where myriad domestic, industrial, and military Cylon models came to +hear her sermons. Opening with the rhetorical question, "Are you +alive?" Clarice preached that Cylons are every bit as much God's +children as humans are. Blessed Mother Lacy granted Clarice an +audience at her see on Gemenon to discuss Clarice's proposal for +divine recognition of the "differently sentient" - the Cylon race +("Apotheosis"). Despite being human herself, Clarice encouraged her +Cylon flock to rebel against their human masters. + +The Final Five traveled from the thirteenth world (Original Earth) to +warn the humans of the other twelve worlds not to make a robotic slave +race which would inevitably rebel as their own had done ("Sometimes a +Great Notion", "No Exit"). They arrived more than twelve years too +late to avert precisely the war they had prophesied ("No Exit"). While +they could not prevent the war, they could cause peace. They agreed to +give the Centurions the technology they were themselves trying in vain +to develop: the ability to create biological Cylons, along with the +inherently interrelated resurrection capability, on the condition of +an immediate Cylon withdrawal and armistice ("Razor Flashbacks", "No +Exit"). The monotheism of the Centurions was incorporated into the +programming of their humanoid "children." + +Immediately before igniting the holocaust, a Six quotes from Sister +Clarice Willow's sermons decades earlier, asking the human Armistice +Officer, "Are you alive?" (Miniseries, Night 1, "Apotheosis") The +Cylon religion's lineage can also be seen during the Cylon Civil War, +at a Cylon funerary service that takes place on the Battlestar +Galactica, where the usage of ornaments and amulets in the form of the +infinity symbol can be observed ("Islanded in a Stream of Stars"). + +The Cylon God and the Lords of Kobol have an "overlapping" existence +that is confusing to both Colonial and Cylon sides. Both sides appear +to be guided to conflict (and, in rare instances, cooperation) through +events that appear pre-destined. The story arc of finding the Arrow of +Apollo involves the hunt for the Tomb of Athena by the Colonials. +According to the Sacred Scrolls, the humans will be aided by a "minor +demon." The cooperative Sharon Valerii copy assists the group in +finding the tomb. + +Regarding personal theories, it is possible to tone down the most +religious sides of BSG by thinking that everybody is an unaware cylon. +This means that oracles and visions are explained by the ability to +project and that agents of faith such as Kara and the head couple Head +Six and Head Baltar may be very advanced cylon models that achieved +trascendence, possibly in the way Cavil imagined. This is a stretch +because there are three instances in which humans can discriminate +between a cylon and a human: +- Baltar's detector +- Hera's blood +- when they analize the remainings on earth +but in all honesty this only means that there are differences between +models, and this is something that we already know. To me this theory +is important because it would show that the most important gift the +cylon would give to Earth's primitive humans are genetic advancement +in the form of hybridation with them, rather than technological +advancements. We know how important and advanced are genetic and organic +technologies for Cylons and this would also explain the big history +gap of 150000 years. + +I'll conclude by saying two things, one unpopular and the other one +that wasn't well received at the time of the original airing. +The Watchtower song and connections are lame. Just a way to grab +sympathy on a widely appreciated pop song. BSG is a great work of art +because before being an highly mystical science fiction work is an +outstanding deliberation on political and societal constructs and the +way such constructs interact with the human nature. We are able to +deconstruct political institutions that are deemed very important but +appear very weak and unnecessary when we are confronted with the +reality of leaders. Much can be said from the interaction with the media. +Moreover we question race and tribalism in a paradoxical setting: +a robot race that is indistinguishable from humans. The space travel +frame is there to give a better context for the "brain in a vat" +problem and also sketch some symbolism with pilgrimage and travelling +in uncharted territories. BSG doesn't focus too much on providing +coherent explanations for the technology used and in some parts it is +even kind of a let down (Athena putting a cable in her arm, really?) +but this is why it will withstand the test of time. +*** Other reviews +**** Battlestar's "Daybreak:" The worst ending in the history of on-screen science fiction - Brad Templeton +Battlestar Galactica attracted a lot of fans and a lot of kudos during +its run, and engendered this sub blog about it. Here, in my final post +on the ending, I present the case that its final hour was the worst +ending in the history of science fiction on the screen. This is a +condemnation of course, but also praise, because my message is not +simply that the ending was poor, but that the show rose so high that +it was able to fall so very far. I mean it was the most disappointing +ending ever. + +(There are, of course, major spoilers in this essay.) + +Other SF shows have ended very badly, to be sure. This is particularly +true of TV SF. Indeed, it is in the nature of TV SF to end badly. +First of all, it's written in episodic form. Most great endings are +planned from the start. TV endings rarely are. To make things worse, +TV shows are usually ended when the show is in the middle of a +decline. They are often the result of a cancellation, or sometimes a +producer who realizes a cancellation is imminent. Quite frequently, +the decline that led to cancellation can be the result of a creative +failure on the show -- either the original visionaries have gone, or +they are burned out. In such situations, a poor ending is to be +expected. + +Sadly, I'm hard pressed to think of a TV SF series that had a truly +great ending. That's the sort of ending you might find in a great book +or movie, the ending that caps the work perfectly, which solidifies +things in a cohesive whole. Great endings will sometimes finally make +sense out of everything, or reveal a surprise that, in retrospect, +should have been obvious all along. I'm convinced that many of the +world's best endings came about when the writer actually worked out +the ending first, then then wrote a story leading to that ending. + +There have been endings that were better than the show. Star Trek: +Voyager sunk to dreadful depths in the middle of its run, and its +mediocre ending was thus a step up. Among good SF/Fantasy shows, +Quantum Leap, Buffy and the Prisoner stand out as having had decent +endings. Babylon 5's endings (plural) were good but, just as I praise +Battlestar Galactica (BSG) by saying its ending sucked, Babylon 5's +endings were not up to the high quality of the show. (What is commonly +believed to be B5's original planned ending, written before the show +began, might well have made the grade.) +***** Ron Moore's goals +To understand the fall of BSG, one must examine it both in terms of +more general goals for good SF, and the stated goals of the head +writer and executive producer, Ronald D. Moore. The ending failed by +both my standards (which you may or may not care about) but also his. + +Moore began the journey by laying out a manifesto of how he wanted to +change TV SF. He wrote an essay about Naturalistic science fiction +where he outlined some great goals and promises, which I will +summarize here, in a slightly different order +- Avoiding SF clichés like time travel, mind control, god-like powers, and technobabble. +- Keeping the science real. +- Strong, real characters, avoiding the stereotypes of older TV SF. The show should be about them, not the hardware. +- A new visual and editing style unlike what has come before, with a focus on realism. +Over time he expanded, modified and sometimes intentionally broke +these rules. He allowed the ships to make sound in space after vowing +they would not. He eschewed aliens in general. He increased his focus +on characters, saying that his mantra in concluding the show was "it's +the characters, stupid." +****** The link to reality +In addition, his other goal for the end was to make a connection to +our real world. To let the audience see how the story of the +characters related to our story. Indeed, the writers toyed with not +destroying Galactica, and leaving it buried on Earth, and ending the +show with the discovery of the ship in Central America. They rejected +this ending because they felt it would violate our contemporary +reality too quickly, and make it clear this was an alternate history. +Moore felt an alternative universe was not sufficient. +***** THe successes, and then failures +During its run, BSG offered much that was great, in several cases groundbreaking elements never seen before in TV SF: +- Artificial minds in humanoid bodies who were emotional, sexual and religious. +- Getting a general audience to undertand the "humanity" of these machines. +- Stirring space battles with much better concepts of space than typically found on TV. Bullets and missiles, not force-rays. +- No bumpy-head aliens, no planet of the week, no cute time travel or alternate-reality-where-everybody-is-evil episodes. +- Dark stories of interesting characters. +- Multiple copies of the same being, beings programmed to think they were human, beings able to transfer their mind to a new body at the moment of death. +- A mystery about the origins of the society and its legends, and a mystery about a lost planet named Earth. +- A mystery about the origin of the Cylons and their reasons for their genocide. +- Daring use of concepts like suicide bombing and terrorism by the protagonists. +- Kick-ass leadership characters in Adama and Roslin who were complex, but neither over the top nor understated. +- Starbuck as a woman. Before she became a toy of god, at least. +- Baltar: One of the best TV villains ever, a self-centered slightly mad scientist who does evil without wishing to, manipulated by a strange vision in his head. +- Other superb characters, notably Tigh, Tyrol, Gaeta and Zarek. +But it all came to a far lesser end due to the following failures I will outline in too much detail: +- The confirmation/revelation of an intervening god as the driving force behind events +- The use of that god to resolve large numbers of major plot points +- A number of significant scientific mistakes on major plot points, including: + + Twisting the whole story to fit a completely wrong idea of what Mitochondrial Eve is + + To support that concept, an impossible-to-credit political shift among the characters + + The use of concepts from Intelligent Design to resolve plot issues. + + The introduction of the nonsense idea of "collective unconscious" to explain cultural similarities. +- The use of "big secrets" to dominate what was supposed to be a character-driven story +- Removing all connection to our reality by trying to build a poorly constructed one +- Mistakes, one of them major and never corrected, which misled the audience +And then I'll explain the reason why the fall was so great -- how, +until the last moments, a few minor differences could have fixed most +of the problems.Before examining these, it is worth examining some +important elements from the history of great science fiction in order +to understand the metrics of greatness that I am using. +***** A defence of hard (and soft) science fiction +The term "hard" science fiction has two meanings. The first is SF that +sticks to the laws of physics and reality. In true hard SF, you never +do what is currently understood to be impossible, you try to find a +way to make everything plausible in terms of science. (This is not +enough to be hard SF of course, since romance novels also stay true to +physics!) + +The second meaning is SF that revels in the science. It often loves to +explain the intricate scientific details, and in stereotypical form, +is overloaded with expository dialogue. "As you know, Bob, the +characters will often explain things in silly ways because they are +really talking to the reader." The story is about the unusual science +it explores more than anything. + +This latter subset deserves some of the derision it gets. It's hard to +do well. Worse, the more it tries to explain the science, the greater +chance it has of getting it wrong, or becoming quickly dated. In Star +Trek, the term "technobabble" was created to describe the nonsense you +would often hear when Geordi or Data would explain how something on +the Enterprise worked. + +In Moore's "naturalistic SF" he wanted to keep the realism but eschew +the over-explanation. In fact, not explaining things at all is often a +great course. This is the right course for TV for many of the reasons +listed above, and often even for written works. The 1984 novel +Neuromancer, considered one of the all-time-greats of the SF genre, +was a novel about computers, AI and cyberspace written on an ordinary +typewriter by William Gibson, a man with minimal knowledge of these +areas. Because of this, he avoided explaining the details of how +things worked, and as a result his novel has stood the test of time +better than most novels about such topics. + +Even those who love hard SF often tolerate various violations of the +laws of physics. The most common is faster-than-light travel, or FTL. +So many stories, including BSG itself, need FTL to work. There are +other common tropes. Generally even fans of hard SF will undergo what +is called a "suspension of disbelief" on the impossible thing in order +to enjoy the story. The more impossible things, however, the more +disconnected the story is from reality. + +A connection to reality allows a story an important opportunity for +relevance to reality. It allows the statement, "all of this could +happen." It allows stories to explore real issues, bad and good things +that are really possible as a result of our science and technology. I +contend that SF that does this is SF at its finest. + +This is not to say that you can't explore real issues in non-real SF +and even fantasy. Or even real SF issues. Some great SF has done this +entirely through allegory. Some SF is written not to be about the +future at all, but the present, and simply uses an unrealistic future +to tell a message about the present. That future need not be possible +to deliver that message. But there is no denying that it helps. + +Sticking to reality also offers things that fantasy does not. We all +know that when accused of something, it is easier to tell the truth +consistently than it is to spin a consistent web of falsehood. A story +that sticks to reality has a much better chance at being consistent in +its setting. The writer may be tempted to rewrite the rules in a story +-- and they certainly can -- but this brings two curses. First, your +new rules must compete with the real world's to make your setting as +impressive, and secondly there will be too much temptation to solve +story problems simply by making up new rules. + +Sticking to reality may sound like a constraint on a writer, it may +sound too limiting. But in fact, I feel it's the reverse. Constraints +can improve a story. A story where literally anything can happen has +no suspense and little mystery. Writers of "mainstream" fiction, +constrained as they are to real settings, are in no way constrained or +limited in their ability to write great fiction. + +This is why, even though readers will suspend disbelief on a story's +fantastic elements, they must be introduced at the start of a story. +If a writer resolves a problem by bringing in a new and unexpected +fantastic element at the end, the audience feels cheated. In the broad +sense, this sort of ending is called a Deus ex machina, where +something unexpected comes out of the blue. (This literally means "god +from the machine," and there is some irony that BSG literally featured +a religion that came from the machines.) + +If a story begins by showing us a wizard, we understand immediately +that we will see wizards and magic. If a story with no magic +introduces a wizard with no hint that magic was coming, the audience +rightly feels cheated. + +Even "soft" SF, not so constrained to the rules of physics, has its +rules. All good fiction must be consistent within itself and the +writer's contract with the reader. + +I repeat my contention that realistic (or "hard" if you prefer) SF +offers the best means to explore the big issues of science and +technology in fiction and what they might really mean. Today there is +a large sub-genre of hard SF with a focus on artificial minds, +uploaded minds and copyable people. Writers are exploring what this +means, what it means to be a thinking being, what it means to be human +and not human. SF writers have done that a lot, particularly through +the use of aliens, but this is today's nexus. Indeed, since +Frankenstein itself, SF writers have been exploring the question of +humanity creating artificial life. + +This does not mean there can't be great non-realistic SF or fantasy. +In fact, sometimes these genres can produce some of the greatest +works. To do so however, they usually lay out their magic at the +start. We know at the very beginning that Gandalf is a wizard and the +world of Lord of the Rings is full of elves and hobbits. From the +beginning, there is a sort of "negotiation" of the suspension of +disbelief between the reader and writer; a contract of sorts. We would +be equally upset with battlestars appearing in Lord of the Rings as we +would be with Nazgul aboard Cylon heavy raiders. + +Still, while all levels of fantasy can produce greatness, there is a +special relevance that can only be produced through realism. +Non-realistic stories must gain their relevance through allegories. +They present a world which is not ours, but has parallels that teach +lessons about the real world. + +They may also plainly entertain and indulge interesting fantasies. It +is not bad to simply entertain. The best SF will have it all -- +realism, great characters, compelling stories, drama, elements which +speak to our own understanding of our world and technology, mystery +and all-around good writing in the perfect balance. Nobody ever +combines all these perfectly, and probably nobody ever will, but there +is still a goal to strive for and be measured against. +****** Values of great mistery +BSG was not just an SF show. It was a mystery. The story held many +secrets, and fans were teased with clues about these secrets. A great +mystery offers tantalizing clues, though usually enough to support +several theories. The mystery should be compelling, though it should +not completely overwhelm the story and its other elements. + +At the end of a great mystery, when the secrets are revealed, the +reader or audience should have an "aha" moment. In this moment, it +should become clear not just what the answer to the mystery is, but +also how the whole story was leading up to that answer. The answer +should be, in hindsight, clear and inevitable. Things that did not +make sense should suddenly be perfectly logical. At the same time, the +ending should provide a satisfactory resolution to the major dramas +and conflicts of the story, leaving few loose ends, particularly +around the clues. + +Now on to where BSG fell down. +***** Failure 1 - God did it +(And no, in spiteWhen gods become active characters in fiction, the rules change again. The earliest dramas, written by the ancient Greeks, regularly had the gods meddling in the affairs of mortals. In many of these plays, the mortals were just pawns, doomed to meet a divinely willed destiny. Plots would be resolved and characters' fates settled through the sudden intervention of gods. + +We know these endings as "Deus Ex Machina" today. This literally means +the appearance of god in the machine, but from a literary standpoint, +it refers to the relatively sudden introduction of powerful (often +divine) external forces to resolve a plot. This has long been felt to +be bad writing, even a cheat. This school of dramatic criticism is so +old it goes back to Aristotle, who wrote: of what you think, this +wasn't telegraphed from the start at all.) + #+BEGIN_SRC +It is obvious that the solutions of plots too should come about as a result of the +plot itself, and not from a contrivance, as in the Medea and in the +passage about sailing home in the Iliad. A contrivance must be used +for matters outside the drama—either previous events which are beyond +human knowledge, or later ones that need to be foretold or announced. +For we grant that the gods can see everything. There should be nothing +improbable in the incidents; otherwise, it should be outside the +tragedy, e.g. that in Sophocles’ Oedipus. +#+END_SRC +The presence of divine characters in fiction is troubling, unless your +goal is to write religious fiction, which is usually aimed at +believers of the religion or at best at potential converts. When not +writing religious fiction, divine characters spoil the story. While +some may disagree, divine intervention is a rare or non-existent thing +in our universe, and certainly not something that is overt and obvious +in modern times. + +Worst of all, divine intervention robs all the other characters of +meaning. The story is no longer about how they struggled and overcame +adversity. They did not battle their mortal and natural adversaries +and triumph or fail. Rather, things came out as they did through +divine will. + +This is particularly true when divine intervention or prophecy leads +to an unlikely event. If, for example, it has been divinely willed or +predicted that various characters will gather on the bridge of +Galactica, with 5 glowing on the balcony and others playing various +roles, then almost every single thing that led up to that result must +also be due to divine intervention, and not the wills and actions of +the characters. You can look back at the story and for every event, +you will likely find that had the past gone differently, the divinely +required event would not have happened, and so all the past becomes +the reflection of divine will. + +In Battlestar Galactica, it gets more extreme. There, we are told that +2,000 years ago Anders wrote a song, and that 30 years ago, that song +was put into the head of Starbuck. More recently it was put into Hera. +The notes of this song, turned into a series of numbers, punched in at +a very specific location in space at a very specific time, would send +a ship many light years to appear over the moon of a planet that, a +starting a billion years ago, had been the subject of very carefully +guided evolution aimed at producing an identical genome to life +evolving on another planet. + +You change almost anything about the BSG story and this event doesn't +happen. As a result, all the events of BSG have only one meaning -- +fulfillment of the divine plan. I prepared a list of the amazingly +many events that now must be attributed to the God of Galactica to +illustrate this more completely. + +Of course, all fictional worlds are deterministic, and they all have a +authorial "god" who writes their story. Sometimes the author even +inserts foreshadowing and prophecies of what is to come. But this is +quite different from a writer entering the story as a character who is +making things happen. The latter only happens in more satirical "break +the 4th wall" sorts of stories, and it's fairly hard to do well. +(Moore compared the 4th wall to the wall between man and created +machine, but if it was his goal to realize this, it did not work.) + +When gods appear as real characters in fiction, their job should not +be to resolve the plot, but rather to create it. It's OK when the gods +create the problems our heroes will resolve. We want to read the story +of how they resolve them and what journey they take. + +Gods can be fascinating characters, but they can never be truly +comprehensible. They exist better, as Baltar says, as a force of +nature. Man vs. nature is a great plot. Man vs. god is an +incomprehensible one. + +It should be noted that one way that semi-divine beings have been +making their way profitably into science fiction is through the notion +of natural beings that are so advanced that they are as gods to us. +Like supernatural gods, who exist outside of time and physics, these +natural gods -- sometimes former humans or advanced AI computers -- +are still beyond our comprehension. They are still constrained by +reality, however, and that can make them interesting as elements in a +story. As Vernor Vinge wrote, it is still a mistake to have a +super-mind as a point-of-view character, and their actions should +remain mostly off-screen to set up challenges for our more human +protagonists, but they can still spice up a story. Because Baltar says +at the very end of BSG, "You know it doesn't like that name (God)," +some have wondered if the God of Galactica is in fact a +non-supernatural, highly advanced being. This seems unlikely when you +consider the scope of its powers, but in any event no further evidence +for this position was ever given. + +In the long run, using deus ex machina is a cheat. It's the easy way +out of plot problems, and it must been seen as a failure. When you can +say "god did it" you can write just about anything. The author takes +on too much power, including too much power to do things that make no +sense. +****** The Ghostbusters law +Many argue that the appearance of the divine is hardly a surprise in +BSG. Right from season one, Head-Six tells Baltar she is an angel sent +by god to protect him. Characters regularly reflect on remarkable, +improbable events. Indeed, nobody watching the show was unaware that +somebody very powerful was pulling strings and manipulating events +behind the scenes. Indeed, the original series also featured god-like +beings altering the destinies of the characters. + +The presence of religious characters is good -- real societies all +have them, and frankly they are ignored too much in some SF. That many +characters espouse religious views does not imply that those views are +true, any more than it does in the real world. In spite of the fact +that lots of people in our world tell me Jesus is coming soon, I will +still be highly surprised if he actually does. Thus, many were shocked +to have the string-pulling force be revealed as a supernatural god. I +believe this is a result of what I would call Ghostbusters law. +#+BEGIN_SRC +If somebody asks you if you are a God, you say yes! +#+END_SRC +The corollary, particularly in any sort of realistic science fiction +is this: +#+BEGIN_SRC +If somebody says they are a god in an SF story, they usually aren't. +#+END_SRC +SF is chock-full of non-divine beings that pretend to be gods or are +mistaken for gods. It's a cliché of sorts. So nobody can be blamed for +being surprised when that string-puller turned out to be a +supernatural God and its angels, or being surprised at just how much +of the story came down to the interventions of this god. + +It would have been more unexpected if the god had been one we are +familiar with. Real religious fiction which might be about the +Judeo-Christian-Muslim God would not raise an eyebrow when the divine +appears. We are not surprised or bothered when God acts in The Ten +Commandments or Touched by an Angel. But it's hard to figure out the +reason for the introduction of an entirely invented god that nobody +actually believes in. The message that "Some god nobody has ever heard +of has a plan for humanity" is simply not a meaningful one for any +audience. + +There are some who don't agree with the Ghostbusters law rule, and +feel the "god's plan" nature of the plot was well foreshadowed and +should not be considered a surprise. I do see their case, though I +don't agree that is the interpretation an typical SF fan would take. A +more common interpretation was "well, that could be a real god, but it +won't be, because that would really suck as an ending, and Moore is +better than that." Under that interpretation, it was a surprise, and +we were, in effect, asked to suspend disbelief on the fantastic +elements far too late in the story. Even if you love the role of the +divine in BSG, it makes little sense to keep the reality of the god a +secret until the end. If you know it's god behind it all, and suspend +disbelief from the start, you can focus on the story and view god as a +proxy for the author. Leaving the proof to the end is unlikely to +create a strong positive reaction, and very like to engender +disappointment. + +Consider as well a rather minor tweak. What if the other set of gods +(the Lords of Kobol, with the same names as the Greek gods) had been +real, and the "one true god" had been false, or simply a conceited +Olympian. If Zeus has created mankind on Kobol and duplicated it on +our Earth, and was annoyed that humans have stopped worshiping him +here and getting ready for our destruction as the cycle repeats. Would +that satisfy? + +While I won't pretend to be a big fan of religious fiction -- though I +have enjoyed many books with supernatural and divine backgrounds to +them -- my criticism is not simply an expression of that taste. Good +religious fiction still has the characters responsible for their own +destinies at some basic level, even if it is just their choice to +believe. (We don't see that here among the major characters. Baltar +becomes a believer, but only after scores of miracles pushed in his +face.) I feel that even if you love spiritual or religious fiction, +this was not good religious fiction. If you read some spiritual +message from the god and its actions, let us know in the comments. + +As many people still feel the god was just an influencer, and not a +puppet-master, I have written a sidebar on whether one can truly be +just "influenced" by an intervening god. + +(And yes, I'm aware of the irony that in the fantasy story of +Ghostbusters, Gozer actually is a demigod, though the kind humans can +defeat. This is not at all surprising in a story like Ghostbusters, +though. Great supernatural fiction, but as a comedy, subject to +entirely different rules.) +***** Failure 2 -- Science errors on plot-turning elements +No work of SF is likely to be perfect in its science, no matter how +hard the author tries, since no author is perfect. Even the best +trained scientists are never perfect. + +There are also different levels of error. There may be mistakes that +even the high-school educated may see. There will be mistakes apparent +only to those with a general scientific education. Some mistakes may +spoil it only for somebody who did their PhD thesis on the topic at +hand. + +There are also deliberate mistakes, where the creator of the story +knows what they are doing is incorrect, but decides they must break +the rules to make their dramatic point. (A typical example would be +ships making sound in space while they fight when viewed from +outside.) + +We can, and must tolerate mistakes that are very obscure, or which are +not central to the plot. And we tolerate the deliberate mistakes for +various reasons. We should be less tolerant, however, of mistakes upon +which the whole plot hinges, especially if they are easily fixable and +would be revealed with just a brief check with a science advisor. + +Not that Hollywood doesn't screw up like this all the time. In fact +the TV show Mythbusters does a show every month or so outlining how +ridiculous some key scene in a Hollywood action movie is when compared +to reality. We can still enjoy these scenes of course, and even come +to expect them, but they change our story from a real one to a +caricature, and lessen its chances for greatness and relevance. Only a +minority of science-aware viewers may find the story spoiled by the +unrealism of the mistake, but the long-term legacy is spoiled for +everybody. +****** Mitochondrial Eve +The key error I am going to speak about may seem rather obscure to +you. But it deserves extra scrutiny because the whole story was +warped, in my view, to fit the mistake, and that was a great failure. + +Moore decided that he wanted to set the show in the past, and that he +wanted Hera, the human-Cylon hybrid child, to be the ancestor of all +humans living today. There are a lot of problems with making this +work, even if you get the core facts right. Moore had heard of the +concept of Mitochondrial Eve (MTE). Unfortunately, he somehow got the +idea that this woman is supposed to be the most recent common ancestor +of humanity, and thus he should make Hera be MTE. Moore's cameo +character is holding a copy of National Geographic, and the Angel-6 +reads from it, "Mitochondrial Eve is the name scientists have given to +the most recent common ancestor for all human beings now living on +Earth." + +This is, however, not true. (In fact, had Moore bothered to check the +Wikipedia page for Mitochondrial Eve he would have noticed that it +clearly names confusing MTE for the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) +as the #1 mistake people make about her.) Moore and others may have +been attracted to that error because the name "Eve" conjures up a +Biblical Eve, and in fact the scientists who came up with the name +have come to regret the associations that come with it. In reality, +MTE lived perhaps 140,000 years earlier than the MRCA. While MTE is an +example of a common ancestor for all living humans, most people are +not clear that almost all the non-childless people living at the same +time as MTE were also common ancestors for all living humans, as were +almost all the people living before her and almost all the people +living after her for almost 140,000 years. She is nothing particularly +special in that sense. In fact, almost all the non-childless people +from a few generators before the MRCA was born (probably 140,000 years +after MTE) are also common ancestors of all living people. Grazier, in +his book "The Science of Battlestar Galactica" admits that MTE and the +MRCA were incorrectly confused, but goes on to make the completely +incorrect statement that MTE is the only woman of her period to have +descendants today. In fact, almost all the people of that time are +ancestors of the entire human race today. That's a rather huge +difference. + +Moore wished Hera to special, but as I described, MTE is not. What +makes her notable is that a quirk of inheritance means we can estimate +when this particular common ancestor lived, because your line (and +everybody else's) to her is only through women and never even once +through men. (We can do the same for a common ancestor along strictly +male lines -- he lived tens of thousands of years after MTE, but +again, long before the MRCA.) + +Why do these details of genetics matter so much? Because Moore warped +the whole story to fit them. He had read (correctly) that it is +estimated that MTE lived roughly around 150,000 years ago. And so he +decided to set the whole show in that era. + +Now, as I'll explain in more detail later, setting the show in the +past was a terrible idea -- one of the main elements of the original +show most in need of "re-imagining." However, if you are going to set +the show in the past, 150,000 years ago is a poor choice. It's way too +early. It is over 100,000 years before the real flowering of our +culture sometimes referred to by anthropologists as "The Great Leap +Forward" (GLF.) While the GLF is not a fully accepted theory, what is +known is that there are scant records of humans having much that is +advanced in any way at those times -- good weapons, agriculture, +complex language, writing, domestic animals, civilization and many +other things are not just absent but far in the future for those +people. They either arose gradually, or in the GLF theory, in a +relatively short burst around 50,000 years ago. They definitely didn't +come in a big burst around the time of MTE, as might be the result of +a sudden colonization by advanced alien cousins. + +This requires that the colonists left no trace of what they were. This +in turn demanded that the colonists destroy all their technology and +quickly become a simple society. This is the element that many fans +found least believable about the ending. There were, at best, just a +few hints of this sort of political desire among the colonists. If +this was to be the ending, there should have been more foreshadowing +of it, with presentation of a powerful Luddism movement among the +colonists. But even with such a movement, as Lampkin says, there +should have been far more objection. All those of any advanced age or +with any history of illness would have something to say about sending +all the hospital facilities into the sun, if nobody else would. + +However, to fit the timeline, this had to be done. Any space-faring +society would have left remnants of itself on the Moon and in space. +The complete destruction of the fleet made sense in terms of the way +the story was warped, but did not make sense in terms of being a +believable action of all the characters. + +In fact, it generally requires that everything of colonial +civilization got erased. In spite of what Apollo says about teaching +the natives their language, none of that came through to today. Their +culture disappeared completely. If they started farming, it vanished. +If they used better hunting weapons like composite longbows or +crossbows, they vanished. All their stories, all the lessons learned +about the dangers of creating robot slaves -- completely gone. While +both versions of the story suggested a connection between the Lords of +Kobol and the Greek gods, there can be none. We've traced the history +of the Greek gods back to prototype versions in Indian cultures that +are different from the colonial ones. The Greeks didn't get their +names and ideas from ancient Colonial legends that survived 140,000 +years. + +Had they set the arrival closer to the time of a later common +ancestor, say 40,000 to 60,000 years ago, they could have avoided all +that. Colonial culture and language could have made a contribution to +ours. We could have had legends and technology they invented. The +fleet could have been the secret reason for the Great Leap Forward. +This is not a plot I am thrilled with but much better than what we +got. . In fact, the only reason the MRCA is dated that long ago is +because native Australians and Americans (who were isolated from the +rest of the world around 10,000 years ago) are still the cousins of +Afro/Eurasians, otherwise MRCA would have lived even more recently. + +This complete cultural erasure, all to fit the date of MTE, kills the +value of setting the show in the past. If the message, as seen at the +end, is that we must examine the consequences of building and +enslaving artificial life if we are to avoid an endless cycle of war, +then the story finished with the destruction and falsification of that +message. All that the colonists learned was lost. All they gave us was +some DNA. +****** Hera's Mitochondria, interbreeding, and Arks +Or did they do even that? Adama is correctly shocked to hear that the +colonials can breed with the natives of our planet. In spite of the +fact this has shown up in TV SF before, particularly in Star Trek, it +is absurd. You are much, much more closely related to a mushroom than +you are to anything alien. Baltar is quite correct when he states that +this could only be a result of a miracle. + +And it's an immense miracle. "Astronomical" barely describes it. Our +DNA is the result of billions of genetic accidents that favoured one +ancestor over a non-ancestor due to better adaption to the many +different environments in which those ancestors lived. For two species +to evolve compatible DNA on two different planets requires a huge +amount of divine intervention, over the course of a billion years, +with interventions every step of the way. This is no hands-off sort of +miracle, the sort sometimes called "theistic evolution." It's a very +detailed "intelligent design" of our form and genome. Not just our +environments but all the accidents (for evolution is full of random +accidents as well as happy ones) had to be the same on both planets. + +Understand this is not the same as the concept of parallel evolution, +where two different evolutionary lines deliver a creature with wings +because wings are useful. Bats, birds, bugs and Pterodons may all have +wings but they are genetically very different wings, and they can't +interbreed at all. And they are much more closely related than aliens +would ever be. + +This is a particular failure because the creationist concept of +intelligent design is one of the most pernicious types of anti-science +out there. SF stories like to play around with things like paranormal +abilities and other pseudoscience all the time, and it's fine when +it's all in fun. Nobody thinks they should teach telepathy in school +as an alternate theory because they show it in TV shows. But people do +want to teach that we are the result of careful divine manipulation in +school, and they need to be stopped, so seeing it present in what +could have been a great SF TV show is somewhat disquieting. I am not +keen on dictating education policy to TV shows, but this is one area +that is important, if you believe in the value of good science +education as I do. + +Indeed, in general the idea that humans are the result of an Ark that +landed in (relatively) recent history is both one of the most +discredited ideas in the history of history, but also one of the most +likely to resurface again and again because of the religious motives +of those who push it. If a good SF show has any duty to get its +science right, it wants to avoid the Ark theory in all its forms. + +As I noted above, all of this was put in the show only to fit with the +incorrect idea of who MTE was. But if you want to go deeper, it +becomes clear that Hera didn't really contribute any special DNA. +Because the Mitochondrial DNA (MTDNA) pass effectively unchanged from +mother to children, all humans have essentially the same MTDNA. The +only differences are a few mutations, about 20 of them (different in +each line) since MTE. + +But we don't just share our MTDNA with other humans and with MTE. We +also share it with all the other life on Earth, just with more mutated +differences. As such, while two human's MTDNA is almost perfectly +identical, it is also nearly identical between a human and a +chimpanzee. You may see the problem with the new BSG mythology -- in +that story, while humans got their MTDNA from Hera who was a synthetic +being from another world, our cousin apes got theirs only through +their ancestors on this planet. Yet both MTDNAs are the same. So +Hera's DNA, whatever it was, had to have been effectively identical -- +at least in the mitochondria -- with the DNA on this planet, making +her contribution insignificant. + +There is a strong irony here. Had he declared Hera to be any other +common ancestor except MTE, his story would be slightly more credible. +Because ape MTDNA and human MTDNA are near identical, we can be sure +that MTE's mother was native to this world. It's on the other DNA +where you could try to play games, though they would still be +ridiculously unlikely games. Turns out the line of women to and beyond +MTE is the one set of people we can prove aren't alien, and that's who +he picked. + +Under a stricter scientific analysis, the whole reason behind the big +plot twist -- Hera's contribution to our DNA as mother of us all -- +becomes insignificant. If it doesn't, you have a world where it's been +discovered that humans and apes do not share all their ancestors. This +is a world where creationism is taught in schools because there, it's +actually true. A world where the church is probably a lot more +powerful. Some might like that better, but it's not our world. +****** Failure 2a -- Broken connection to our reality +Making mistakes like this is one of the big dangers of the "secret +history" sub-genre of SF, which I will outline below. It is so +difficult that Moore failed, and created instead an alternate history. +His goal, he said, was to create a connection between the BSG +characters and ourselves, and he tried to reach that goal by making +Hera be our ancestor. Yet this is impossible. She can't be, even with +the aid of an intervening god. So in the end there is no connection +between them and us; they might as well have been in a galaxy far, far +away. + +I have a blog post on what the most meaningful connection to our +reality is. +****** Is this too nitpicky? +Many viewers were not aware (just as Moore wasn't) of who MTE was. In +fact, many viewers, even with Baltar's statement of the astronomical +odds against it right in the show, were not aware of how odd it is to +have the same race of people on two planets, able to interbreed. As +such, they were not bothered by these issues upon viewing and were +better able to enjoy the ending. + +This happens to most of us frequently. You watch a show with a +dramatic and action-filled ending, and get a good entertainment +experience from it. Shortly after, however, you think it through again +and see it is full of holes, not just technical mistakes but complete +logical inconsistencies. + +We still enjoy the ending while watching, but the long term legacy of +the work suffers when these plot holes are present. Indeed it is the +role of critics to define that long term legacy with more close +analysis. While in some sense everything can be answered with a "god +did it," it is precisely because this is true that using a god is a +failure. + +You are allowed mistakes of all sorts in the episodes. But you must +get get things right in the premise of the show, and in the ending +that gives it meaning, if you want to rise to the top. +***** Failure 3 -- Collective Unconscious +The show was full of elements from our culture. They dressed like us, their technology looked like ours. They used our idioms, and even quoted lines of Shakespeare from time to time. Their gods were the same as the Greeks had, their military rules were similar. On the surface, this might be treated as a translation for the audience. After all, often we see shows where the characters would obviously not be speaking English, but of course the actors do -- what we see is translated to be familiar with us. + +However, many fans also thought that perhaps this was because there was a real connection between them and us. After all, they were hunting for a planet called Earth, and you can't do that in a story without connecting it to our planet. For many, the obvious connection was that this was in our future, as is the case in most SF. Moore even released tidbits to say that indeed, these parallels were not coincidences. + +Much of this came to a head when Bob Dylan's "All along the Watchtower" entered the show. One might treat this as simply a 20th century song appearing in a TV show -- after all, all the music in a TV show is really written by modern real-world composers, this just happened to be one you had already heard licenced from a famous composer. But no: Moore told us that there was a real connection to the song we knew. + +But in the end, that connection, and all the others were explained +away by Moore as follows: +#+BEGIN_SRC +"Everything from our system of justice to our clothes to the phones on our walls to quite literally the music some of them hear can be seen all around us, so clearly their lives and their existence were not for naught. The show is making a direct connection between them and us and positing the idea that many of the things in our lives are somehow descended through the mists of time -- through the collective unconscious if you like -- down to us today. In addition, we are all blood relatives to both Colonial and Cylon-kind and therefore their existence is more than simply an ancient curiosity, it's family history." - RDM +#+END_SRC +Anders wrote "All along the Watchtower" originally on the 13th Colony Earth -- though guided by the divine so that the code for a jump to our Earth would be encoded in the notes. Then Bob Dylan wrote it again, plucking it out of the "collective unconscious." + +This is, to put it bluntly, bullshit. This is not the Jungian broad concept of repeated ideas. This is a song, duplicated note for note, word for word. You can make up what you want in a story, of course, but to explain so many things with such a handwaving answer is an insult to the audience. This answer is deeply unsatisfying, and diminishes not only the legacy of the colonials but adds an unwanted determinism to our own culture. + +The circular suggestion that we have a race memory thanks the the +Cylon abilities we inherited is cute, but in the real world, there's +no evidence of projection or digital memory. The fans of psychic +powers have pushed this idea for a long time, with no actual +experimental success. +***** Failure 4 -- The Future vs. a secret history +In the 1970s, Chariots of the Gods, which talked about ancient +cultures having contact with ancient alien astronauts was a popular +fad. The original 1978 BSG combined this thought with some others to +tell a story of how humanity originated out in space, and came to +Earth -- and how there were yet "brothers of man, who even now fight +to survive" still out there. + +This was a silly idea even then, but TV audiences were willing to buy +it. In reality we know that humanity evolved here on Earth, and that +we are closely related with all the other life on Earth. No SF show +trying to be realistic should show otherwise. To set a space opera in +the past, it is necessary to either assume a secret "Atlantis" style +culture that rose and fell without a trace, or to imagine advanced +aliens who came to Earth and either abducted humans from it and/or +gave them advanced technology which was also lost without a trace, at +least on Earth. + +This is a sub-genre of SF known as "secret history." The story is +supposedly set in our reality, but there are big secrets from the past +that we don't know which form the basis of the story. BSG attempted +this. You will also find it in stories like "The X-Files," "Men in +Black" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." In its most extreme form, such as +the "Company" series by Kage Baker, the secret history is carried out +by time travelers who work to make sure they never do anything that +will change the history they know from books. + +Secret history is fun, and has a long tradition. In fact, the "Adam +and Eve as alien astronauts" story was very popular in the early days +of SF. So popular that most SF editors would discard such stories as +cliche on sight today. + +Secret history is also difficult to pull off. One false move and you +create a world which just can't be the antecedent of the real world. +With such a wrong step, you move unintentionally into the genre of +"alternate history." Alternate history is also very popular, and often +tied closely to SF, even though in many ways it can be entirely +different. It gets categorized with SF because it involves a similar +sort of imaginary world-building that appeals to the same sort of fan. +In addition, once the past is changed, it usually has to play by the +rules. + +All fiction is, in a sense, alternate history, if only for a few +invented people, but real SF-style alternate history usually makes a +big change in the nature of the world, and this is an important part +of the story. Alternate history is popular enough that in 2008 an +alternate history novel, The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael +Chabon, won the Hugo award for best (SF/Fantasy) novel. It also won +because it was far and away the best written, with wonderfully +constructed characters and very impressive prose. (This may go against +any stereotype you have that hardcore SF fans will always choose +rockets and blasters and technology over good characters and prose.) + +But secret history that fails into alternate history is of only +limited interest. This is not a path to greatness. + +As I described above, Moore warped the story to set it in the past, +but many fans, including myself, were convinced that the story was set +in the future. In fact, we were pretty sure the show had telegraphed +that to us in no uncertain terms, but ended up being quite wrong. + +A story set in the future would have been better not just because of +my tastes, but it also would have met Moore's goals better. Moore +wanted to generate a real connection between BSG and our real world. +He felt, for reasons I don't quite understand, that a future setting +didn't provide that. Since most SF, including most meaningful SF, is +set in the future, I find this surprising. Future SF, if done with +realism, says, "This could be our future." This is a story of what +might actually be, something we might have real concern over, +something we might learn from. When BSG, at its ending, has the angels +lament about the path into the future our society is taking once +again, that's the only moment of non-allegorical relevance to our +lives. Set in the past, BSG tried to be a story of "this might have +been" and became "this is fun, but never was." + +Why were fans like myself so convinced it was in the future? It is not +simply the tremendous and literally miraculous warping that was needed +to set it in the past. The show told us so. The climax of the first +season actually took place early in the 2nd season. This was the +conclusion of their chase to and on Kobol, where they finally +activated the Tomb of Athena. They were shown a 3-D projection of a +planetarium of sorts, meant to be the sky of the mythical Earth they +sought. On it was the real Zodiac of our Earth (though not exactly +right as some will point out, and not right for 150,000 years ago +either) and the ancient names of the 12 tribes of Kobol. Those names +were our names for the Zodiac, and we were told the original flags of +the 12 tribes were the star patterns of the 12 constellations of the +sky over Earth. + +This was no casual revelation which an overzealous fan might read too +much into. This was the biggest "revelation" scene of the entire show +to that point. If you were to try to piece out the mystery of Earth, +this was clearly the scene to do it from. + +And here, the 12 tribes of Kobol had, as their flags, the stars of a +lost colony of which they knew very little. And they were our stars +with our names. There was, and still is, only one interpretation for +this -- the culture of Kobol and the colonies originated not on Kobol, +but under the sky of our Earth. (At that time there was no intimation +of an different, earlier Earth.) It would be like visiting all the +nations of the British commonwealth and noting the Union Jack in the +corner of all their flags, and not concluding that Britain was where +their culture originated. Adama even refers to a nebula as "M8," which +is not a translated name but rather an 18th century astronomical +catalog number. + +There could be only one clear interpretation. They came from our +Earth, and they were in the future. But this was of course not how it +turned out. How could this be? After the show ended, science advisor +Kevin Grazier gave an interview in which he said, "oops." This was one +of their biggest mistakes. He knew it, and tried to get it fixed, he +says, but to no avail. + +All shows will make mistakes. Some will even make mistakes in their +big moments. But if a show that has a mystery at its core makes such a +mistake and knows it, it is only proper in the internet age to fess +up. Moore did this a few times. When he misjudged how fans would read +the revelation of an 8th Cylon named Daniel, he immediately made +public comment to shut down the speculation. He corrected other +mistakes along the way. But he let this one, the biggest of all, +stand. + +To this day the scene in the tomb makes no sense. The 13th colony +not-our-Earth we eventually saw was lost to Kobol, and they themselves +didn't even know the way back, and could only travel below the speed +of light. The flags and names of the tribes couldn't possibly have +come from the sky of another planet, like the first Earth or our +Earth. Other than through truly bizarre divine intervention again. + +Remember, this was no minor comment made by an actor that got +magnified by fans. This was the big climactic revelation scene, the +one that practically had a blinking sign on it saying, "here are the +big clues about Earth." And it put the show in the future. When you +added all the modern cultural references which appeared in the show, +including All along the Watchtower, and the fact that science all but +demanded the show be in the future, I will contend that fans who felt +it would be set there were right, and still are right, in spite of how +it ended up being written. All those things were explained away as +information in the "collective unconscious." + +A show set in the future would have had the chance to tell the story +of how the cycle of war began with us. How our own society created +intelligent machines and fell, with a ragtag fleet fleeing the ruined +planet to Kobol or Earth-2 or some other world along the way. It would +have made their story be our story. + +Remarkably, the show could have ended up that way -- set in the future +-- until the very last 3 minutes. This is why the ending was such a +huge fall. The show provided very few clues that it might be set in +the past. In fact, I would venture there was only one thin clue -- +Hera's type-O blood, not found anywhere else on the colonies. (This in +turn is a less important scientific error, though Grazier claims it +was the clue we should have noticed.) +***** Failure 5 -- It's the characters, stupid +Moore often defends the ending by saying that, while writing it, he +put a mantra up on the wall: "It's the characters, stupid." He decided +not to focus on the big story elements and concentrate on telling the +characters' story. + +This is a perfectly good, in fact superior way to tell a story. He +gave himself good advice. The problem was, he had this change of heart +after creating a mystery-driven story rather than a character driven +story. + +He didn't abandon the characters that viewers tuned into see, but for +the last two seasons the show introduced a variety of big mysteries +and amplified others. What was Earth? Who was pulling the strings +behind the scenes? Who were the final five? What was the special +destiny of Hera? Who were the beings in the heads of Baltar and +others? There were many more mysteries. + +These are the hallmark of a "big mystery" story. There have been many +popular "big mystery" TV series. Shows like Lost, the X-Files, +Babylon-5, Heroes and even non-genre shows like the "Who shot JR?" +year of Dallas. You can, and should, have good characters in a +big-mystery show, but there should be no illusions that the mystery +does not take over a healthy part of what drives the show. + +Character-driven shows usually take the simpler approach. They don't +have big central mysteries. Oh, they have some suspense, and some +secrets to reveal (usually secrets about characters) but in general +they don't keep big secrets from the audience and make the audience +focus on them. They don't start every episode with "One will be +revealed" or "And they have a plan." + +In fact, some of the best character dramas reveal the ending right at +the start. You are not in suspense about how it will end, but instead +about how we will get there. I've seen a number of great shows begin +with a character's death. There was never any doubt during MASH that +the Korean war would someday end. That didn't hurt the show, in fact +it made it better. + +So if you really want character driven drama, then reveal many of the +secrets, and get on with telling us how the characters chart their +course to the ending we already partly know. + +BSG started like this in a way. Both versions of the show began with a +quest for a planet "Earth" that they knew nothing about. We, the +audience, knew much more about it than the characters ever could. We +didn't know what year it would be until the end, but even with this +knowledge we would have enjoyed watching the journey to a fate we knew +more about than them. + +In addition, as addressed earlier, the ending revealed that almost +every tiny action the characters took (especially Starbuck) was to +fulfill "God's plan" and was often the result of careful and clever +intervention by the god. This deprives the characters of their free +will and humanity. In a character-driven story it is the strengths and +failures of the characters which generate and resolve the story, not +the tweakings of an interventionist diety. +***** Failure 6 -- no a great ending +Many others have written about other failures of the ending, failures +that don't involve most of the concepts I've laid out above. + +Common themes include not believing that they would really abandon all +their technology and leave the Cylons with a ship. The loss of meaning +that came with the complete destruction of their culture. + +More than their culture is destroyed though. It's clear that their +society must have fallen quite quickly. Hera, it is said, died a young +woman. She is probably not the only one. Without technology, their +lives might well have been nasty, brutish and short. While Hera went +on to have descendants, it may be that all the other sub-colonies, +stupidly scattered to other continents (all of which were vacant at +that time, and which contain no traces of H. Sapiens 150,000 years +ago) died out fairly quickly. The ending seems happy, but is actually +a tragedy. Apollo says “we can give [the natives] the best part of +ourselves” but this never happens. Indeed, even in their main colony +in Tanzania, there is no evidence of any modernity. No art on the +walls of caves. None of the flowering that comes from language and its +ability to permit teaching and transfer of knowledge. No sign of +farming, fishing or even slight advances in arrowheads and spears. + +We can also speculate one reason they would die out. I don't think +they would really get along, the Cylons and the humans. Leaving aside +resentment over genocide, the Cylons are a race of supermen. They are +super-strong, super-smart, can communicate digitally by touching and +presumably don't age. Can you really build a society of equals with +two populations like that, with the resentment of genocide behind it? +We have had a pretty hard time on the real Earth where we just try to +imagine that some of us are genetically superior to others. + +This came after a tremendous amount of hype for the ending. Network +executives issued a press release every few weeks about how +mind-blowingly dark but good it was, how everybody wept who was +involved in it. Sometimes high expectations like that are the worst +thing to set, because one can't help but being disappointed. The +ending was not dark, and none of the characters we cared about died +except the ones we were expecting for a long time -- Sam and Laura. + +Most fans were disappointed with both the fate of Starbuck and what we +didn't learn about what she was and what she meant. It would have been +nice to see her with Six and Baltar in New York (if we were to have +that ending at all, of course) to show that she got a new, immortal +angel existence. + +Up until they landed on Earth and saw the early humans, the ending was +quite exciting, though it left a great deal of loose ends. But all +long stories leave loose ends so I'm not going to nitpick those. +Though I must express disappointment at how meaningless the great and +mysterious "truth of the opera house" was and at how the negotiated +peace settlement (now that's an unorthodox TV ending) turned into just +more battle and Cavil's permanent suicide after Tory's strangulation. +Laura and Bill's fate was moving and Starbuck's ending is hard to +objectively like or condemn -- it is an artistic choice. + +Some fans liked the ending. But a fair number of fans not as concerned +with realism, and not as bothered by the religious deus ex machina +still found the ending a let-down. But I will leave it to other +critics to outline those problems. + +Here are some other critical reviews of the ending: + +- Robert Bland at Tor.com expresses the problems with divine + intervention better than I do, I recommend this one highly. + http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=20954#preview +- Not in Our Stars from Galactica Sitrep + http://galacticasitrep.blogspot.com/2009/04/not-in-our-stars-betrayals-of.html +- Television without Pity is of course always critical. + http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/battlestar_galactica/daybreak_part_ii_a.php +- A SuicideGirls critic was not very kind + http://suicidegirls.com/news/culture/23621/ +- The Vancouver Sun agrees about how the ending was a big fall to a + great show. + http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/What+frak+that+Behind+Battlestar+Galactica+ultimate+episode/1423182/story.html +- Annalee at I09 is troubled, but still feels the characters made + their own destinies. + http://io9.com/5178522/as-battlestar-ends-god-is-in-the-details +- This forum comment about the futility of the ending (See Post #18) + is unusual in that Moore answers it. + http://forums.syfy.com/index.php?s=c854fa10dc13b57826b4eeb1e0cc2bb9&showtopic=2329378&view=findpost&p=6202226 + +This is not to say that there were not many positive reviews, in fact +I believe overall fan feeling in polls was more positive than +negative, at least at the time of airing. However, a panel at the +World SF Convention in August was surprisingly vitriolic. +https://ideas.4brad.com/battlestar/worldcon-panel-bsg-surprisingly-negative +***** How it could have been great +I've noted that one of the great disappointments of the ending was how +close it came to greatness. How might we change it to make it great? +Remarkably the editing needed would be quite minor. This is a +testament to Moore's ability to do a pretty good job of "making it up +as he goes along." More has admitted he frequently did stuff he felt +was cool with no idea what it would mean, and made up the meaning +later -- sometimes well and sometimes badly. But he does clearly have +a talent for doing this, even if he could not pull off the finish. + +Note, I describe thoughts here not to suggest this is the only ending +that would have been satisfactory, but rather to show how simple +changes that work are possible. One can be a critic without claiming +to be a better writer than the professionals, and I make no such claim +here. I would have enjoyed seeing superb writers run with concepts +such as these. +****** In the future +The show could have been set in the future with just a few minor +tweaks. In fact, until the caption "150,000 years later" appeared over +New York's Central Park, you could not be sure it wasn't. The +primitive humans that the colonials found actually make a lot more +sense as remnants of humanity on a ruined and returned-to-nature Earth +many thousands of years in the future. It makes sense why colonials +could breed with such cousins, and already have dogs and cats in such +a situation. + +A cute ending might well have borrowed from one of the better endings +in all of SF moviedom, Pierre Boulle and Rod Serling's ending to "The +Planet of the Apes." That ending was particularly clever because it +greatly surprised audiences, even though with a little thought, they +would quickly realize it should not surprise them. All great twist +endings have you saying, "of course!" when they are done. + +In Planet of the Apes, Taylor (Heston) arrives on a planet that has +apes and humans on it, and the apes speak English. When you think +rationally about this, it is immediately clear this can only be in the +future, as they don't have our life on other planets, and certainly +don't speak English. Yet we are so used to aliens speaking English and +looking just like humans in the movies and on TV that we just accept +that without thinking. When it is revealed that this is a ruined +Earth, we are shocked, but soon realize it could never have been +anything else -- a masterful twist ending. + +BSG had the opportunity to do this because many fans, thanks to the +plot of the 1978 version, were expecting it to be in the past -- even +though there actually were almost no clues pointing to that. I think +it would have been a fun ending (and a nice homage) to have panned +over a buried Statue of Liberty. Then, if desired, the view could have +gone back thousands of years to meet "Six" (or rather her DNA source) +in modern New York, playing her as a programmer about to embark on +building AI, in fact building the super-AI that would become the god +of the show. (OK, so Lady Liberty might be a bit corny to those who +didn't get the homage concept. Giza would do just as well.) + +This one small difference to the last few minutes would have made the +show realistic and given it a connection to our time. It would not +truly have been necessary to show what happened to us, we would know +that somehow we colonized space and ruined our own planet, almost +surely in a war with machines. We would have seen and discussed the +lessons of the show for years. Instead, most of the more serious fans +demoted the show from great to average. + +That's important. The great SF books and dramas of our time colour a +lot of the public debate about science and issues. Nobody has to +explain virtual reality any more after The Matrix. The risks of +technology-invaded privacy are clear to everybody after reading 1984. +HAL in 2001 and Data in Star Trek, among others, made the public much +more cognizant of A.I. issues. And BSG added a lot to the debate about +the nature of what it means to be conscious and human by presenting +AIs as sexy, emotional beings with more feelings than the humans. + +This is damaged, sadly, when a story breaks with reality and falls +down. Now BSG will be remembered as being as much a story about +characters and robots playing out the confusing plan of an invented +god than a story about what "mind" really means. + +I would not have had a god at all, but if I were to have one, I would +have made it a non-supernatural god. Many SF stories of the last few +decades have played around with the idea of creating artificial beings +so smart they are as gods to us. So smart that they can look at our +brains the way we look at a the brains of a calculator -- able to +design it, change it, predict what it will do. These stories are +interesting, and constitute some of the most important SF being +written today. BSG would have had another shot at greatness had it +followed this path well, since now TV show has yet to address these +topics at anywhere near the depth found in the written literature. +****** In the past +It is still just barely possible to have set a great ending in the +past. The best way to do this would have been to introduce the god of +Galactica as an alien. These aliens would have abducted humans from +our Earth 5,000 to 10,000 years prior to the story, and seeded them on +Kobol. There, they would have lived with the gods (aliens) and grown +their society. They would have created a race of artificial beings who +colonized the 13th colony and called it Earth, and through their own +struggle, and possibly the limited intervention of the alien godlike +being, would have found their way back to their home. + +All you need for this situation is a remarkably tiny change. When +Adama asks how it is possible that they can breed with the natives, +Baltar can simply answer, "It isn't. Our ancestors on Kobol must have +originally been taken somehow from this planet thousands of years +ago." He could even add, "Perhaps a divine hand had a role in it" if +you want to retain his religious mood. +****** Could this be what Moore intended? +There is the slightest hint that Moore was considering this. He has the demon-Baltar declare at the end, "You know it doesn't like that name" when Angel-Six refers to "God's plan" as she has so often in the course of the show. This leaves a trace hint that the god isn't supernatural. Moore says in his podcast that he liked leaving that ambiguity in. However, he never answers it. And had he wanted to do it this way, had he wanted to lay it out as a story of alien or divine abduction, he could have easily done so, at great benefit and no harm to his story. It's hard to imagine him liking the interpretation that realism-oriented fans have of the "god did it" ending that was delivered. + +If this was the intended backstory, it should have been given to us, either in the show, or in post-show commentary. It was not, so I can only assume it is just something we could have wished for. + +Note that this ending, while superior in not requiring the intelligent +design and massive divine intervention, still suffers from a lot of +the lack of connection that any story in the past does. However, it +allows the colonists to breed with the natives who stayed behind, and +it allows Hera to be one of our many universal ancestors without +throwing science out the window. +****** The writers' strike ending +As some viewers know, the episode "Revelations" which ended the first half of season four with the crew discovering a ruined Earth was an emergency backup finale for the show. At the time, the writers' guild was on strike and there was no end in sight. Had it gone on longer, they would have had to shut down the show, close leases on the studio lots and tear down the sets. They might not have been able to finish the show. So they tweaked Revelations as a possible final ending. + +Now it's not a great final ending because, as you might expect, it is both a little rushed, and it leaves a huge number of plot threads unresolved. Viewers would probably have excused this due to the circumstances. In many other ways though, it's a better ending. + +There would have been no confusing question of having two Earths. This +would obviously have been our Earth, in the future, after ruinous +wars. The show would end with the lesson that the cycle had been going +on for some time, and had begin on our planet. It would be bleak for +the characters, for they would have nowhere to turn, and face little +but fleeing from Cavil again. Indeed, when the show returned, a few +episodes covered exactly those matters. +***** The worst ending ever? +As I wrote at the start, I deem this the worst (most disappointing) +ending based on how far the show fell in the last hour. There have +certainly been endings with worse science, worse deus ex machina, +worse characterization, worse mumbo jumbo and many other things. + +I savage BSG's ending because it began so well. Moore's talent in +making things up as he went along, hoping to find cool ways to resolve +them, is actually a great one. He's better at it than just about +anybody else out there writing SF TV. + +But this does not excuse the ending. It suffers, not just under my +standards but under Ron Moore's. He promised a show that was was true +to real science, character driven and not overwhelmed by SF clichés +like time travel, technobabble, aliens and godlike powers. He promised +a show connected to our world. Instead he delivered a show whose +ending pivoted on bad (and even dangerous) science, with all events +due to something that's either a god or godlike alien, all precisely +following prophecies made ages ago, reducing the characters to +puppets. And in the end, it had no connection to our world. + +This would be no more than "yet another SF TV show that made mistakes" +if the show hadn't started so well, and gotten many, including myself +to declare it was on track to be the best SF show on the air, possibly +of all time. Aside from disappointing fans, the show abandoned its +chance to be more than a TV show. It could have been, like a few +special great works of SF from the past, something that affected the +world's perceptions and dialog about key technological issues like +A.I., robotics and the technology of war. When discussing the question +of conflict between man and machine, all we can say now about BSG + +Is it fair to demand all this accuracy, realism, meaning and relevance +from a TV show? So what if Moore didn't deliver what he hoped to +deliver. Can't it just be drama? Can't it just be entertainment? + +It can be. But if it is just that, it won't be the greatest SF show +ever, and that's a pity. +**** "You know he doesn't like that name" - Josh bids farewell to Battlestar Galactica! +March 23rd, 2009 Battlestar Galactica, TV Show Reviews +(http://www.motionpicturescomics.com/2009/03/23/you-know-he-doesnt-like-that-name-josh-bids-farewell-to-battlestar-galactica/) + +So, it’s over. + +I can count on one hand the number of truly great science fiction TV +shows. As I look back at Ron Moore’s reimagined Battlestar Galactica, +there is no question that this epic tale is high on that list. Seeing +the show come to a close is a great loss — although I am comforted to +know that in the often-brutal TV marketplace that’s out there, Moore & +his team were able to end the show on their own terms, when they felt +their story was finished. This is a saga that I am certain I will +revisit many times in the year to come. + +It is staggering to consider all the little choices that Moore & co. +made correctly, right from the beginning, that all came together to +make BSG such a masterpiece. The brilliant casting of the enormous +ensemble. The decision to forgo most of the Star Trek ideas that were +so innovative 30 years ago but that have become such sci-fi cliches +over the past four decades (such as aliens with strange foreheads in +funky suits, magic transporters, view-screens, a bridge with a big +captain’s chair in the middle of it, super-duper shiny computer +consoles everywhere… I could go on!) and create a retro look for the +show. The fearlessness with which the writers tackled the inherent +darkness of the premise — the near-total annihilation of the human +race — and all of the logical questions and struggles that would come +out of that apocalyptic event. (What will our society be like? Will we +have a government? Courts? Freedom of the press? Where will we get +fuel, or food, or water? What happens when we start running out of +supplies like medicine, or toothpaste? Who will be in control, the +military or the civilians?) And finally, the choice to center the +stories not in sci-fi mysteries (no time-travel, no alternate +universes, no weird astrological phenomena to investigate, no aliens +to make contact with) but in characters. There were no cardboard +cut-outs, perfectly moral characters to be found on this show. No, +everyone (even the robots!) were completely human — flawed, imperfect, +and capable of making terrible decisions (even our most heroic +characters!). + +The show has made some mis-steps over the course of its run, there’s +no question about that. I, for one, felt that it nearly lost its way +in the latter half of season 2, after the Pegasus three-parter +concluded. There were a couple of stand-alone episodes there that were +weak in the extreme, particularly the notoriously terrible “Black +Market” (by the way, if you haven’t heard it, Ron Moore’s brutally +honest mea culpa podcast for that episode is a must-listen). But as I +look back over the run of the show, despite a couple of clunkers here +and there, BSG had a hit-to-miss ratio of episodes that was truly +ASTONISHING. And when it was great — as it oh so often was — ho boy, +there was just nothing better on TV, sci-fi or otherwise. + +So what did I think of the finale, already? + +Well, I’ll try to keep my thoughts as spoiler-free as I can, but if +you’re someone reading this who hasn’t seen the finale yet — or, if +you’re someone who is watching BSG but is behind, OR if you’re someone +who MIGHT SOMEDAY choose to sample this amazing, incredible show, then +let me kindly invite you to GET LOST NOW. Believe me, you don’t want +any surprises spoiled for you in any way. Enjoy today’s cartoon, and +then come back tomorrow when I discuss International Talk Like William +Shatner Day! (I’m not kidding about that.) + +Ok? + +Great! + +I thought the first hour and a half of the finale was pretty much +perfection. + +This show has been astounding me, ever since the original mini-series, +with the beautiful, feature film quality of its visual effects. It +seems that every week they give us some incredible sequence that tops +everything that has gone before. And then they go ahead and top that +the week after. The assault on the Cylon Colony was one of the most +magnificent sci-fi action sequences that I have ever seen, on TV or at +the movies. If the new Terminator film has robot-on-robot action that +is half as amazing as what we saw here, with centurian battling +centurian (and the old-style 1970’s centurians, no less!!), then I +will be very impressed. The entire extended sequence was the type of +nail-biting action spectacle that BSG has always done so peerlessly. + +There was also a lot of humor (Tigh’s remark about it not being too +late to throw all the Cylons out the airlock), great character moments +(Boomer’s choice, Baltar and Caprica Six realizing that they each see +“head” versions of each other), and a healthy dosage of the type of +“holy shit” moments that, like the epic sci-fi action, has always been +such a hallmark of the show. The realization, at long, long last, of +the Opera House visions (that had been a mystery of the show ever +since the season 1 finale) was just perfect, a spine-tingling moment. +The Chief’s final reckoning with Tory — wow, did that get me! Ron +Moore has stated, in some post-finale interviews, that the writers +purposefully did not mention the Tory-Cally stuff recently, so that +they would surprise viewers who had thought that story-thread +forgotten. I’m usually pretty attentive about these sorts of things, +but they got me good. I also loved the revelation as to the ultimate +purpose of “All Along the Watchtower” — I thought that was just about +perfect. And the twist about Earth, and the charred cinder of a world +that we’d seen in the mid-season finale — well that was brilliant as +well! I’d been thinking about that a lot, actually, in the last few +weeks, as I contemplated where the show was going to end, and I’d +become more and more dissatisfied with the revelations we’d gotten +mid-season about Earth. It had seemed a bit anti-climactic, and so I +was really, really glad to see that there was a lot more to the story +of Earth than what we’d seen to that point. + +The last 40 or so minutes of the finale, after Kara jumps Galactica… +well, I am a little bit less enthusiastic about that. I do really love +that they took their sweet time with the ending, although I also wish +that, after such an intense, amazing first hour-and-a-half, that a +little something more had actually HAPPENED in the final 40-45 +minutes. I sort of like the inevitability of ending up on “our” Earth +in the past (which was something that I had guessed as a possible +ending of the series way back when I first saw the miniseries, and +started wondering about where their quest for Earth would take them), +although, again, I must admit to having hoped, as I watched the end of +the finale unfold, for some sort of additional twist on that. + +But what we got instead was a slow, elegiac goodbye to all of the +(surviving) characters that we’d grown to love over the course of the +show. I can’t really complain about that. This sort of closure is a +key component of a successful series finale, and it was great to see +everyone get a little attention. I was very worried that poor Helo +wasn’t going to make it through to the end (particularly after Athena +left him bleeding out in the hallway, and then WE DIDN’T SEE HIM AGAIN +FOR LIKE AN HOUR!!), so I was particularly happy to see him get his +happy ending with Athena. The death of Laura Roslin, which we’ve known +was coming ever since the mini-series, was tender and moving. Her +final flight, and Adama putting his wedding ring on her finger +(echoing Laura’s vision from “The Hub”), were powerful moments. And +thank the gods that we got to hear Adama and Starbuck give their +familiar “nothing but the rain” back and forth (that was first +introduced all the way back in the miniseries) one final time! I was +waiting for that for the whole episode, and was starting to doubt that +we’d get to hear it again! Whew. + +I’ve read some grousing on-line about the final revelations about +Starbuck, but her disappearance worked for me. That wasn’t something +that I needed totally resolved. However, I will admit that I would +have liked a LITTLE more information — like, if she was a “head” +character like Six and Baltar after all, then what the hell was the +deal with her Viper?? And who exactly was the figure who’d been +guiding her all along (taking the form of Leoben back in “Maelstrom,” +the episode in which she died in the nebula, and the form of her +father the piano man just a few weeks ago in “Someone to Watch Over +Me”)? And was she connected to the mysterious missing Cylon Daniel, or +not? If her father didn’t have a Cylon (or “head” character) +connection, then how/why did he teach her that song when she was a +little girl? + +My main dissatisfaction with the ending has to do with its pat, +simplistic nature. For a show that always addressed the realistic +details and problems that the “ragtag fleet” faced, this just seemed +too easy. There weren’t ANY Colonials who wanted to stay on their +ships? There wasn’t ANY dissent about destroying ALL of their +technology? It’s all well and good to see everyone frolicking in the +grass and on their respective cabin-site hilltops — but what about a +month later when it gets cold, and people start getting sick, and +going hungry? I would have liked to have seen at least a scene or two +addressing some of those possible concerns. (And speaking of +simplistic, is Adama going to build that cabin all on his own?? Come +on. I would have liked to have seen one final scene of him and Lee +reuniting, after both losing their respective ladies. That would have +felt a bit more “right” to me than having both Bill and Lee left +alone.) I also, frankly, was a bit distracted by the similarity +between this ending and that of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, the +Universe, and Everything. Maybe that’s just me! + +But I am starting to nitpick here. The final scene, 150,000 years +later, was wonderful. I enjoyed both the connections to our modern +world (on-the-nose though it was) and to the mini-series (echoing Six +walking unnoticed through the bustling streets of Caprica). Who knew +the famed One Year Later jump at the end of season 2 was just the +beginning of the show’s time-jumping!! + +I think any lingering dissatisfaction that I feel rests not with the +finale, which (nit-picks aside) was really a magnificent episode, and +more with some of the storytelling decisions made during the course of +this last season. Ever since Kara’s “death” (and I guess now I should +remove those quotation marks, huh?) towards the end of season 3, the +show became much more about the various mysteries that were being +presented than it ever had been before. Questions such as what +happened to Kara, what was her destiny, who was her guide, how did she +survive… who was the final Cylon… what was the nature of the final +five, how could they be cylons, what was their history… what, in fact, +does it mean to be a “Cylon”… who was Daniel, and what, if any, +connection did he have to Starbuck… what really happened back on +Earth, and on Kobol, 2-3,000 years ago…??? Etc etc etc. For most of +its first three seasons, BSG wasn’t really a show about mysteries (the +way Lost is), but I felt that these questions came to dominate the +show during its final year. I would have appreciated it had more of +them been answered, in more substantial ways, before we even got to +the finale. + +Does any of this dilute my over-all love for this show? No, it does +not. In fact, I can’t wait for the eventual DVD release, so that I can +re-watch this final batch of episodes and see, in hindsight, how I +feel everything fits together. + +There have been very few television shows as relentlessly challenging, +thought-provoking, and just ridiculously entertaining as Battlestar +Galactica. To Ron Moore and everyone involved in the creation of this +show, you have my thanks. + +Say it with me now, folks: So say we all! +**** On Hera's blood +# https://ideas.4brad.com/battlestar/type-o-blood-and-being-set-past +After the show concluded, many viewers complained about how all the +clues in the show had pointed -- some very directly -- to the show +being set in the future, and little had suggested it would be set in +the past. + +Kevin Grazier, science adviser to the show, stated in his book The +Science of Battlestar Galactica that Hera's blood type was such a +clue. + +Hera had no blood antigens -- ie. she was of type O. No colonial was +of type O, they were all of types A, B and AB. Since we modern humans +are quite commonly type O, this was supposed to be a clue that the +story was in the past, and we all got this from Hera. + +Except blood type genetics don't work this way. Everybody has two +genes (from two parents) for blood type. You can be AA, AO, AB, BB, BO +or OO, getting either an A, B or O from each parent. There are only 4 +types because people who are AO have type A blood, and people who are +BO have type B blood. Only OO folks have type O blood -- the O trait +is recessive. + +The problem is this. Even if Sharon (the mother) is OO, she can't have +a type O baby if she breeds with people who don't have any type Os. +The colonials are all AA, AB or BB. They have no AOs or BOs because if +they did, they would have type O children from time to time. Grazier +knows about the pairings and describes them in the book, but somehow +misses this important element. So this is not a proper clue that the +show is set in the past. +**** Not In Our Stars: the Betrayals of the Battlestar Galactica Finale - Sam J. Miller +# https://galacticasitrep.blogspot.com/2009/04/not-in-our-stars-betrayals-of.html +#+BEGIN_SRC +“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves...” + +Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene ii +#+END_SRC +The episode ends, and I stare at the screen. I've prepared myself for +a soul-shattering ending, for horrible things, for these characters +who I love so much to be dispatched in ways that make me sob and +tremble and nod my head because I know, as much as it hurts, that it +all makes perfect sense. + +Because a huge chunk of what made Battlestar Galactica such a +shockingly brilliant show was how much it rejected the cliches and +easy answers of standard mainstream storytelling. Because characters +were faced with real, challenging dilemmas, and things never ended in +a tidy, cheery way. Because good people did terrible things. Because +desperately flawed men and women somehow managed to be heroes, or find +love. Because things were messy. And ugly. Just like life. Just like +all great art. Yet the finale of Battlestar Galactica turned its back +on all that, opting instead for the kind of shiny happy ending we +associate with a far lower grade of television fare, and which its +beautifully-damaged characters didn't deserve. + +I'm on the losing side of this, I know, from the ton of time I've +spent on message boards and blog comment pages, trying to come through +my own sense of grief and loss and betrayal. Most fans loved the last +episode. I loved the first half. The Caprica flashbacks were +wonderful. Watching Roslin emerge from her grief and choose the life +of service that would ultimately make her President and the savior of +humanity was wonderful. Galactica jumping right in, inches away, face +to face with the Colony. Boomer's moment of redemption. Hybrid Sam +tricking the other hybrids. And finally—the song—Starbuck putting the +pieces together—jumping Galactica to Gods know where—the ship's back +breaking... + +And that's when I started to feel sick. This lush green blue paradise, +this answered prayer, this FUCKING! HAPPY! ENDING! Such bright +sunshine was utterly out of character for Battlestar Galactica. The +show's darkness did not derive from the lightless vacuum of space in +which it was set, but rather in the hearts of the characters. Old Man +Adama's words, uttered in the miniseries, became Battlestar +Galactica's first article of faith: “we are the flawed creation.” We +must answer for our mistakes. We get what we deserve. Passing into the +promised land so easily, it felt like we'd suddenly switched to a +whole new show. As the writer Alexander Chee said of the finale, “It +felt like getting the fortune you don’t want from the fortune teller, +not because you fear it, but because it is simplistic, and you know +the fortune teller is lying.” + +Battlestar Galactica resonated so deeply because it was it had the +guts to be as dark and disturbing and depressing as the modern world +itself. It was the show that could finally show us how ugly we are. +I've always felt that the show was just 'finding itself' until the +Pegasus showed up at the end of Season 2.0. It was always dark as +fuck, but it also had whole episodes of humor and lightness (Ellen +playing footsies with Lee in Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down) or glib +political soap opera (Colonial Day) and spirituality (the Kobol +arc)... and then here comes the Pegasus, with its gang rapes and +magnificent evil lesbian and the plot to kill Adama, and Roslin saying +"we have to kill her..." and from THERE, the show never faltered, as +far as I'm concerned. there was never an episode that broke that vibe +of unrelenting harshness. Sure, some were weaker or slower than +others, and some were not SO focused on the ugliness, but even a more +"laid back" episode like Taking a Break From All Your Worries is +really all about torturing Baltar. And for me, the most brilliant +perfect moment in the entire series was the discovery of +nuclear-wasteland Earth at the end of Revelations. That exemplifies +the extent to which Battlestar Galactica refused to coddle its +viewers, or give them easy answers, or make them feel better about +themselves and the world they live in. “So you've spent all this time +looking for Earth? You've pinned all your hopes and dreams on finding +Earth? You think all your problems will vanish when you find Earth? +Well here, motherfrakker, here's your Earth—now what?” Our problems +are in ourselves, not our circumstances or in the stars, and it's +naïve to think that finding a new home or winning a million dollars +will make us all into perfect beings. + +Battlestar Galactica's strength was its darkness, and the series +finale betrayed that darkness. + +So. Three weeks go by. I fume and rant and rave. At meetings, I brood +quietly until the end, at which point I lean across the table and say +“do any of you watch Battlestar Galactica?” I read the endless +back-and-forth in the comments field at the Sitrep, and on message +boards, and the hundreds of reviews and analysis from all the people +who fell in love with the show and are now dealing with this same +profound loss. + +Finally, I talk myself into watching it again. + +And it was a good decision. Because by now at least I'm not surprised +or shocked by the awful bits, and I can focus on the good things. And +I'm crying like a baby for most of the last hour and eleven minutes. + +The Starbuck ending worked, for me. The whole painstaking build-up. +Plus I never wanted her to end up with Apollo, and I liked the +realization that they were more brother and sister than anything else. +Her use of the song to find the coordinates that lead humanity to +Earth was a good fulfillment of all the “Kara Thrace and her Special +Destiny” mumbo-jumbo, as well as the bigger-picture role of that song, +beyond its centrality for the Final Five. Her sudden disappearance +left me feeling suitably gobsmacked, and left just enough ambiguity +and mystery to not feel cheap and easy. + +Roslin has always been one of the most complex and interesting +characters to me, and the finale did not do justice to her role as the +leader of the fleet, the civilian counterpart to Adama's military +authority. What happened to the kick-ass Roslin whose steady hand and +icy determination saved the human race from extinction time and time +again? The dying leader who really did lead the caravan of the heavens +to its new home? If the new non-wasteland Earth had any value, it's +this—it fulfilled the prophecy, it gave Roslin her resolution. I mean, +come on, I know she was dying, and all, but this is Roslin, for gods' +sakes. She can kill somebody by narrowing her eyes. Adama could have +turned to her and said “you did it.” Even better, she could have +whispered to herself “I did it.” After all the hard decisions she had +to make, arriving at Earth was her victory. + +In Resurrection Ship, Part Two, when Adama asks Athena why the Cylons +hate us so much, she refers him back to his own words. “You said, 'Man +never asked itself why it should survive.' Maybe you don't.” + +That's what sticks in my throat, watching us arrive at paradise. What +if we don't deserve a happy ending? What if going through hell is no +guarantee you'll get into heaven? What if, in the end, our mistakes +and offenses are so great that we can't come back from them? If +anything, the fourth season showed us the human race becoming even +more desperate, dark, and violent. Like hunted animals. Matching the +Cylon genocide with a genocide of our own, by destroying the Hub. +Betraying our rebel Cylon allies by keeping Three for ourselves, after +she was resurrected. Organizing a mutiny against your commanding +officers, assassinating the elected representatives of the people as +soon as they disagree with you. It would be one thing if the human +race was learning from its mistakes, and deciding collectively not to +be that selfish, flawed, greedy, violent, terrified community whose +arrogance and aggressiveness sparked the Cylon holocaust in the first +pace. Maybe then we'd deserve to have all of our dreams come true and +end our days in a fertile sunny African valley instead of blown to +bits in the dark and cold of space. + +Lots of fans expressed outrage at the extent to which "God did it" was +invoked as a final explanation for so many of our big questions. Head +Six, the Opera House, what-the-frak-is-Starbuck. To me, the problem +isn't god(s). The problem is a simplistic god, an ultimately +benevolent power who is guiding everyone to a happy ending. I'm an +agnostic, but I always loved the show's religious themes—because they +were complicated. Think of Caprica Six, with a crazy glint in her +eyes, telling Baltar "God is love”—right after God commanded the +Cylons to commit genocide! That's a real, challenging, complex look at +what god is—a force that commands men to love one another, and a force +that men use to justify killing each other. That's what Battlestar +Galactica always had up its sleeve—the idea that God might be a +bad-ass evil motherfrakker who really is planning to wipe us all out. +The idea that God might be a lie we tell ourselves to make us feel +better. + +“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves,” says +Cassius, trying to talk his comrade into rising up against Julius +Caesar. We take responsibility for ourselves, and we accept the +consequences of our actions, because to live any other way is to doom +ourselves to keep on making the same mistakes. The reason a deus ex +machina feels so fraudulent is because it steals the power away from +the characters. Their punishments and their victories are no longer +determined by their actions and their characters, but by the artist's +lack of guts. + +One source of Battlestar Galactica's astonishing intelligence was the +way it took such supremely kitschy source material and turned it into +something so stark and real and dark and bare. There's so little, even +amidst all the death and tragedy and emotion, that ever felt +sentimental or mawkish or easy. So to see Ron Moore, God himself in +the Battlestar Galactica universe, standing there reading a magazine +at the end, was exactly the kind of kitschy too-clever +winking-at-the-audience bullshit that the show had so studiously +avoided all along. And if Battlestar Galactica managed to break out of +the science-fiction ghetto, winning over crowds of critics and +brand-new audiences who had never before paid much attention to the +genre, it was in large part through its studious avoidance of the +standard cliches of TV science fiction. None of the Star Trek magic is +at play here—machines that give you anything you want, or transport +you to wherever you want go. No one in Battlestar Galactica sits back +in a comfortable chair and drinks Earl Grey; they try to make a coffee +substitute by roasting algae, but it's just not the same. In fact, +there are really only two things in the Battlestar Galactica universe +that are not currently possible with our own technology: +faster-than-light travel, and artificial intelligence that equals or +surpasses our own. + +Yet the finale dug deep into the treasure trunk of science-fiction +cliché, and came up with a couple classics. The idea that human life +originated on another planet, or that Adam and Eve were aliens, is so +hackneyed that many science fiction magazines include it in their list +of themes that they reject out-of-hand because they've been done to +death (“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” anyone?). So while +I guess that being the mother of the human race as we now know it is a +suitably major “reveal” for Hera, justifying all the hushed-voice talk +about how important she is since before she was born, it also felt a +bit too familiar. + +And then there's that other science-fiction cliché, the one that has +never been important in the Battlestar Galactica universe, and that +all of a sudden becomes the ostensible motivation for the complete +abandonment of Colonial civilization. Specifically: that technology is +bad, dangerous, and we should abandon it. Granted, this cliché came +out of the mouth of Lee Adama, who has always been full of crap and +given to grandstanding, but still. It was trotted out front and +center, and no one disputed it. + +Galactica has always been too smart for this kind of easy analysis. +The rebellion of the Cylons does not teach us that technology is evil +and should be avoided—it teaches us that we must temper our use of +technology with understanding, love, rationality, respect. The Cylons +did not rebel because technology is evil; they rebelled because we +enslaved them and made them fight our wars and dig our ditches and +when you do that to sentient beings, you're going to piss them off, +and you can be damn sure that they're going to fight back. We must not +use technology to exploit and oppress others, for in doing so we sow +the seeds of our own destruction. This is the lesson that Battlestar +Galactica brought us, in the aftermath of 9/11. Sooner or later, the +day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done +anymore. Violence begets violence, and technology will always be used +to build better land mines, bigger bombs, tinier cameras to invade +people's privacy, scarier biochemical weapons to use on civilian +targets, etc. Think of how many scientific breakthroughs, including +the internet, came about as a result of military spending—and think +about how much of our national budget, even now, is spent on the +military. Science is not value-neutral; we must not pretend that +science and technology are inherently harmless or, worse, inherently +good. Plain and simple: we must be responsible in our use of it, or we +will destroy ourselves. We will continue to oppress others, who will, +in turn, oppress us. All of this has happened before, and will happen +again. + +I should give the producers a certain amount of credit. They shocked +and surprised me with this ending, because the one thing I never +expected Battlestar Galactica to do was fall back onto kitsch and +cliche and sappiness and sunny smiley New York City to make us feel at +home. + +But I'll be honest. In the end, the real source of my heartbreak is +not in the content of “Daybreak.” Pure and simple, it's in the fact +that the show is over. And while I don't buy the hype that the finale +could not have met all of our expectations for it, after a second +viewing and a lot of soul-searching I can accept that even a +100%-satisfying ending would not have eased this ache I carry around +with me, on the bus in rush hour traffic or watching some +vastly-inferior television show, realizing that I'll never see Michael +Hogan's astonishing left eye again, or hear Roslin say that something +is “essential to the long-term survival of this fleet,” or share the +Old Man's disappointment in his son. That is what we're privileged to +have shared. That's what has forever changed the landscape of +television drama. That's what we'll always have, long after the +betrayals of Daybreak have ceased to annoy us. +**** As Battlestar Ends, God Is In the Details - Annalee Newitz +# https://io9.gizmodo.com/as-battlestar-ends-god-is-in-the-details-5178522 +Battlestar Galactica concluded with a moving, pyrotechnic two-hour +finale last night, wrapping up its central storyline in a way that +offered closure - but only via a turn to spiritualism and +anti-scientific sentiment. Spoilers ahead. + +First of all, let me get one thing straight. I think Battlestar +Galactica was an incredible achievement - not only did I personally +consider it a fine example of television done right, but I believe +that it has fundamentally changed the way speculative fiction works on +the small screen. As a critic, I've always felt that the best part of +this show is that it has always been rich and complicated enough to +bear the weight of strong critical analysis. And so as I walk you +through such an analysis here, it's important that you understand that +this is not me saying BSG sucks, but rather that this is a show whose +themes make it worthy of intelligent debate. + +Last night's episode, the conclusion of "Daybreak," brought the +troubled Fleet to a home planet (our own Earth, 150,000 years ago) +where it could settle permanently. But along the way we learn that the +humans' discovery of this planet, and their rescue of little +human-cylon hybrid Hera from the evil cylons, has literally been part +of God's plan. Turns out the Head People that only Baltar and Caprica +can see are truly angels, and that kickass resurrected pilot Starbuck +is one such angel made flesh. Moreover, the show ends with a strong +suggestion that humans' devotion to science and technology will only +lead to their downfall - again and again and again. + +So what are we to make of such blatant spiritualism and antiscience +feeling in a show that has often been about the way humans are no more +than machines? Frankly I'm not sure there's a way to reconcile BSG's +two sides. On one hand we're asked to believe that God and angels have +been shaping the future of humans; and on the other we see that humans +have forged their own destiny through science, creating entire species +of sentient creatures to be their companions (and enemies). Let's +consider how "Daybreak" unfolded and see how such a reconciliation +might work. Illustration for article titled As Battlestar Ends, God Is +In the Details + +The first half of the episode was devoted to a battle sequence that +captured some of the very best parts of this series in a tense, +laser-slashed showdown between the Fleet and Cavil's army in the cylon +colony. Adama has decided that the Galactica should make one last +effort to save Hera, whom he realizes is probably the last hope for +humanity (though it's never fully explained why, since there are +plenty of other humans and cylons who can reproduce with each other). +So the Galactica and its crew will go on a mission that's likely to +mean suicide, attacking the colony and stealing Hera back. Meanwhile, +Romo is made president and Hoshi takes over Adama's role as admiral. + +All our most beloved characters are tremendously heroic during this +sequence, where the Galactica jumps into the center of the colony and +rams itself through one of the colony walls. The viper pilots engage +the raiders, Anders uses his hybrid powers to disable the colony's +defense systems, Starbuck leads a party to Cavil's evil +experimentation chamber to retrieve Hera, and there are great +cylon-on-cylon fight sequences. Even Baltar manages to muster up the +selflessness to stay on the Galactica and fight when the Centurions +board the ship. And Roslin goes to work as a triage nurse, still +wearing her "presidential" suit. + +We see the team pulling together to rescue Hera, who ultimate +symbolizes a future where humans and cylons build a new society +together as partners and lovers. It's moving and well-written, and +there are several good bits of battlefield banter ("Can we please not +tell her the plan?" Starbuck grouses to Athena, who seems about to +spill her guts to Boomer before shooting the perfidious cylon). Boomer +comes to recognize the importance of Hera as a symbol, and she finally +rescues the little girl from Simon's medical probing. + +Caprica, fighting beside the suddenly-brave Baltar, finally falls in +love with him. And this is the first hint that the episode will a turn +toward the spiritual. For both of them see their Head People at the +same time, and realize the Head People are angels who have been +guiding them together - and guiding the whole Fleet to Earth. "The +plan is coming together," the Heads tell Baltar and Caprica. Turns out +the plan is to get the Fleet a fresh start, and the Galactica's +sacrifice is part of that plan. + +At roughly the same time, we also discover what those visions of the +Opera House on Kobol really meant. As the Galactica tries to defend +itself from the cylons who've boarded, Roslin, Caprica, Baltar, +Athena, and Hera reenact the Opera House vision on board the ship. +They escape cylon fire, chase down Hera, and at last the little girl +winds up in Baltar and Caprica's hands - as they enter the CIC. So the +CIC is the Opera House, and it's the place where the Fleet has its +final confrontation with Cavil and his minions. Illustration for +article titled As Battlestar Ends, God Is In the Details + +After a tense scene between Adama, the Final Five, and Cavil, the +groups declare a cease-fire. On the condition that the Final Five hand +over schematics for resurrection technology to Cavil. (There are some +unintentionally funny moments in this scene, especially when Cavil +calls off his troops by picking up a phone and barking, "Hello? Hello, +this is Cavil!" Who exactly is he talking to? All the fans I was +watching the show with couldn't help cracking up at that moment, and +repeating the line over and over in Cavil's Gilbert Gottfried voice.) + +Unfortunately, the Final Five have do some brain-bonding in Anders' +goo to deliver the resurrection formula, at which point Tyrol reads +Tory's mind and finds out she killed his wife Cally. He breaks the +brain bond to murder her, and Cavil's crew thinks they've been +double-crossed. A horrendous gunfight follows, which is concluded only +by a direct intervention from the divine. + +Here's how it goes down. Racetrack's Viper, all powered up with nukes, +has been taken out by a rock to the windshield. But Racetrack's dead +hand slips, hits the "crash into the colony" button, and the whole +cylon colony starts to go mushroom. So the Galactica needs to jump out +of the burn fast, and Starbuck has to guess at which coordinates the +failing ship should jump to. Luckily, she has a vision from God, +connected to the Bob Dylan music, and she's guided into choosing the +coordinates for the planet that you and I know as Earth. Illustration +for article titled As Battlestar Ends, God Is In the Details + +As the Earth rises over the moon, and the Fleet beholds the blue +planet for the first time, we know things are going to be alright. The +Cavil cylons have been nuked out of existence, and the Earth is +completely pristine - inhabited by a bunch of pretty birds, elk, and a +bunch of nonthreatening homo erectus types with spears but no +language. Baltar helpfully points out that the homo erectuses have DNA +that's compatible with the humans' (and presumably the cylons'), so +let the breeding programs begin. + +This is when things start to go seriously antiscience. President Romo +is guiding the Fleet towards creating a city on the savanna where +they've landed, but Lee says the best thing they can do to survive is +to spread out across the planet in tiny groups of subsistence farmers. +For some reason the Fleet votes to ratify this plan. They'll shoot +their ships into the sun, and give up all their advanced technology +too. In practice, this seems to mean that people are actually going to +live in groups of one or two, which would seem to be a recipe for fast +extinction on an alien world. But I think the idea is that they'll +slowly assimilate into the homo erectus tribes, bringing language to +the natives and hopefully leaving behind their robot-slave-building +ways. + +Things get even weirder when Lee is talking to Kara about what they'll +do next, and she says "I've completed my journey," and then just +disappears. So she was definitely an angel, albeit one who could carry +a gun and kill people. There is no rational explanation for her at +all. + +In a coda, the story jumps forward 150,000 years. We're on Earth +today, and catch a glimpse of Ron Moore doing a little cameo as a guy +on the street in a giant city, reading an article about the discovery +of "Mitochondrial Eve," the oldest common ancestor of all humans. Our +angels Head Six and Head Baltar are strolling the streets, checking +everything out, and commenting on how Mitochondrial Eve had a "cylon +mother." The two also stare in dismay at what they call the "decadence +and commercialism" of contemporary Earth life, and wonder if we're on +the way to a repeat of the human-cylon conflict. They chat briefly +about "God," and Head Six jokes that "you know it hates to be called +that." Illustration for article titled As Battlestar Ends, God Is In +the Details + +As they debate this question, slowly disappearing into the crowd, the +camera pans to a TV in a shop window playing a vid of Sony's latest +line of humanoid robots. As the bots dance, merging into a montage of +present-day robots, "All Along the Watchtower" starts playing and we +fade to black. + +So where does this leave us? First of all, it would seem that our +Mitochondrial Eve is Hera or a hybrid like her. Humans are all hybrids +of biology and machine. And we owe our existence to a creature known +only as "God" (though apparently it doesn't like that name), as well +as a bunch of (seemingly) immortal angels. In addition, it's strongly +hinted that humanity has gone wrong again due to our high-tech +commercialism. After all, it was to escape that wrong turn that the +Fleet chose to go back to nature in such an extreme way 150,000 years +ago. They believed that they could get a clean slate only by trashing +their ships and joining up with hominids so primitive that they have +not yet developed language. + +Looked at from that perspective, the show seems to be taking the +position that our destiny as a people is in the hands of a spiritual +force which constantly tries to rescue us from our baser natures. This +isn't a Christian vision specifically - notably, there is no "devil" +here, except perhaps for our technofetishism; and there isn't much +promise of heaven either. Nevertheless, there's a strong suggestion +that scientific rationalism is a problem. And that we should pay +attention to the words of angels. + +But I want to suggest that there is a counter-story here, too, which +relies on the idea that any technology sufficiently advanced looks +like magic. Though our "angels" and "God" come dressed in the +trappings of spiritualism, they could just as plausibly be benevolent +but meddlesome aliens who take a kindly interest in primitives like +ourselves. + +While these aliens help guide us, they do not control our destiny. In +fact, BSG makes a pretty passionate case for human self-determination. +The humans of the 12 colonies have all used science to create life, in +the form of cylons. And although those cylons are humans' downfall in +the short term, they turn out to be humanity's salvation in the long +term. They're the creatures humans must merge with in order to take +civilization in a new direction. Looked at from that perspective, +humans on Earth today are the genetically-engineered (or simply +engineered) creation of an earlier species. They prove that our +species is not the result of some kind of divine intervention, but is +quite emphatically the result of scientific intervention mixed with a +little random evolution. + +Can these two accounts of humanity be hybridized, or are they simply +contradictory? That we can ask that kind of question after watching +Battlestar Galactica's final episode is ultimately is lure of this +series. It offers no pat answers. We must decide. + +**** Reddit comments on the finale +I enjoyed both the connections to our modern world (on-the-nose though +it was) and to the mini-series (echoing Six walking unnoticed through +the bustling streets of Caprica. + +After giving it some thought, here is what I think it means. Six says: +"That, too, is part of God's plan." Baltar says: "You know that he +doesn't like that name." Then he slaps his forehead and says "Silly +me," because he just called God a "He." He made the same mistake as +Six. I think this is meant to tell us that the force in the universe +that causes miraculous events to occur is something other than our +traditional concepts. Its not God, and its not a male. Its just the +infinite possibilities of the universe. + +Gaius comes full circle: he embarks on a journey and comes back to the +beginning: farming Moore made a great point in the commentary that I +can't believe I never picked up on before. Baltar was the man who +started the series by giving the Cylons access to the defense +mainframe which lead to the destruction of the colonies, and it's +Baltar who is the man who talks the Cylons out of taking Hera and into +ending the war once and for all. The man who began the conflict with +the Cylons is also the man who ended it. + +After just recently watching The Plan post finishing both BSG-RDM and +Caprica I think that it puts Cavil's suicide in a better perspective. +The Plan really fleshed out the division that exists between The Ones +and how the Galatica-Cavilhad the most jealous/psychopathic +personality, while in contrast the Caprica-Cavil ends up lowering his +guard and forgiving the humans to a certain degree. It is for that +reason that the Galatica version ends up boxing the Caprica version +post resurrection. The remaining Cavil model that kills himself on the +Galatica bridge more than anything wants to shed himself of his +humanity. He hates humans and even his fellow final five creators for +the limitations he thinks they put on the cylons. I believe he'd +rather die at that point then make any concession with humans or the +final five. Lastly, I recall reading somewhere that the Cavil's +suicide wasn't written into the script and was an ad-lib impromptu +addition by the actor Dean Stockwell who felt that the suicide option +would be more inline with his character's personality. Stockwell said, +"I think at that moment Cavil would realize it was all hopeless and +shoot himself." + +Daniel (the 7th Cylon) may be named after, or a reference to, Daniel +Graystone, one of the original designers of the Cylon Centurions of +the Twelve Colonies (Caprica). In his podcast for "No Exit," Moore +mentions a connection between Daniel and the Caprica series. + +Hi r/bsg! I've been rewatching the show while keeping in mind the old +fan speculation that Starbuck's father was the 'missing' no. 7 cylon +model, Daniel. I realise that RDM himself denied a connection, but I +think the theory holds up well when you rewatch the show. So firstly +there's the idea of Starbuck's special destiny. Throughout the show's +run theres a lot of importance attached to Hera being a half-cylon and +the 'first of god's new generation'. What if, in the show, Starbuck +also was a half-cylon. That would certainly make her important enough, +in the grand cosmic scheme, to be the guide for the last of humanity. +However, Hera is still the main focus. The unseen powers of the show +want her to be the fresh start/mother of modern humanity because she +was not tainted by the mistakes of Colonial civilization. Starbuck, +badass as she is, could not have fulfilled that role and break the +cycle. And who first brings up the idea of her destiny? Leoben. Who, +as a cylon could potentially sense her true nature, even if he doesn't +know what it means. Secondly, there's her father, who was described as +a musician. Daniel, the murdered seventh model, was described as +'creative, sensitive and an artist' by Ellen before Cavil destroyed +the model. However, she describes Daniel as if she really knew him. In +my alternative fantheory, I think the following happened: Ellen +managed to save one copy of the Daniels. She hid him in the Colonies +where Cavil wouldn't look. He took on an alias, Dreilide, and fathered +Starbuck. Ellen perhaps remained in contact, but nevertheless he kept +the existence of Kara a secret. Cavil eventually caught up with him +and he disappeared - likely killed by Cavil, thus ending the Sevens. +(Maybe these events are where Cavil got the idea to hide the Five on +the Colonies, away from the other models). However, Daniel's role is +really to receive the music (only Cylons are shown to hear it) and +pass it on to his daughter, the half-cylon child with a special +destiny. Beyond that, it doesn't change the series history at all. The +Starbuck who comes back is an 'angel', as is the piano playing vision +of her father etc. I just think it just adds a bit more to the story +and stirs up some discussion :) + +In the last scene, are “Six” and “Baltar” angels or demons? Moore: I +think they’re both. We never try to name exactly what the “Head” +characters are—we called them “Head Baltar” and “Head Six” all +throughout the show, internally. We never really looked at them as +angels or demons because they seemed to periodically say evil things +and good things, they tended to save people and they tended to damn +people. There was this sense that they worked in service of something +else. You could say “a higher power” or you could say “another power,” +[but] they were in service to something else that was guiding and +helping, sometimes obstructing, and sometimes tempting the people on +the show. The idea at the very end was that whatever they are in +service to continues and is eternal and is always around. And they too +are still around…and with all of us who are the children of Hera. They +continue to walk among us and watch, and at some point they may or may +not intercede at a key moment. +** Bloopers +- Season 03 Episode 09: Dr Cottle says "Christ" (47:42) +- Episode in which Dr Cottle gives Baltar the brain scan, he says: + "Fuck" +- Season 04 Episode 03: Cally says "oh God" at around the 39 minute + mark +* Timeline +https://www.flickr.com/photos/billyray_jr/5593262639 +#+CAPTION: This is the timeline of the show +[[./bsg_timeline.jpg]] diff --git a/blog/src/primer.org b/blog/src/primer.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f2988c --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/src/primer.org @@ -0,0 +1,2129 @@ +#+AUTHOR: bparodi +#+TITLE: Capire il film Primer +#+options: html-style:nil html-scripts:nil date:nil created:nil +#+HTML_HEAD: +Questo è un articolo low effort che sicuramente nel tempo si rivelerà +necessario. +Ho raccolto cinque soddisfacenti spiegazioni del film Primer che +possono aiutare a chiarire le meccaniche mostrate. +[[./primer_travel_method.svg]] +* reddit/r/explainlikeimfive +Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1a2zi9/eli5_the_movie_primer/ +** commento numero uno +I'm going to try and simplify this way, way down (so a lot of stuff is +missing). + +Two guys abe and aaron build a machine that does some weird science +stuff. Abe is able to deduce they've built a time travel box. He +builds a larger scale box that can fit people and tests this theory +over a couple days. He then shows it Aaron (who agrees time travel +exists); they decide to keep it secret between themselves. + +In their version of time travel, they can only go back as far as when +the time travel machine was turned on (this is a huge point). If they +turn it on at 10am on 1-1-2013...they can only travel back that far. +AND they have to wait however long the machine was running. Thus, if +they turn the machine on at 8am, and climb into the box at 8pm (to +start their journey back)...they have to wait 12 hours inside the box +to travel back to 8am. + +The time travel portion of movie takes place over a couple of days. In +those days, we see the guys doing their routine: Start machine, go to +hotel, look up stocks, turn off machine, travel back in time, make +money in stocks......repeat. + +Then things go bad. The party incident (we're not told exactly what +happened, but someone ends up in jail or something becuase of a +shooting) and Granger (an investor) finds the box, uses it, gets out +to early, and becomes sick (ends up in coma, possibly permanently). +Things in general are not going well. + +Abe, decides to end this. We learn that Abe created a "fail-safe" time +machine box before telling Aaron about the time machine. This would +allow him to travel back before everything (we saw in the movie) and +prevent all the bad things from happening. Sort of like a save point +in a video game before you go on a murderous rampage, which enables +abe to reset the timeline. + +THEN, we learn that Aaron knew about Abe's fail-safe box, used it to +bring back his own machine to create a "master fail-safe", and created +a false fail-safe point for Abe's box. Thus, Aaron's "save point" is +farther back than Abe's. So while Abe thinks he's resetting +everything, Aaron is able to prevent that reset. Presumably to keep +using the time travel box. + +We also learn that the Aaron we've been watching (with the earpiece +in) is actually the Arron from the future, and he's using his ipod +(and recorded conversations) to know exactly what everyone is going to +do. This allows him to steer/control the actions of other people. + +The movie ends with Aaron building a huge, room-sized box, presumably +to be able to time travel for weeks or months at a time. + +** commento numero due +I write this assuming that you understand the basic mechanic of the +time travel in this film: that they can create "save points," then in +some amount of time in the future use the machine to wait that amount +of time again to show up in the past. I'm just here to explain the +orders of the timelines. + +The important part to remember with this film is that the characters +do no always show up at the same relative time as other characters. + +The first part of the film is them building the machine and +discovering that it doesn't behave like it should. This part of the +film is completely linear. + +Then there is a break in characters' personal timelines. It occurs +just before Abe opens the door to the sunlit roof. From this point +forward, you see Abe 1.0 and Aaron 3.0. Aaron has been through this +timeline twice before. He recorded all of the conversations the second +time and is listening to them in his earpiece (not actually March +Madness basketball). + +Aaron is doing this to save the girl at the party. Clearly sometime +did not work the first time, and when he discovered Abe's fail safe, +went back in time, subdued Aaron 1.0 (as he is now Aaron 2.0 now), and +took his place. Aaron 1.0 is now in the attic, which Aaron's wife +thinks is rats. He records all of his conversations for use in the +future. + +Aaron 2.0 goes back in time again and becomes Aaron 3.0. He's weaker +now and, while Aaron 1.0 can be subdued, Aaron 2.0 is strong enough +and aware of the situation enough to fight him off. Aaron 2.0 and +Aaron 3.0 come to an agreement: 3.0 will try to fix the problem, while +2.0 will just leave to unknown parts. It is strongly implied that it +is Aaron 2.0 narrating the film over the phone. + +After Granger falls into a coma, Abe decides that he can't let these +events happen, and goes to activate his fail safe. He becomes Abe 2.0, +and subdues Abe 1.0, locking him in the bathroom of his apartment. +However, Abe 2.0 is unaware that Aaron had already used the fail safe +several times. This is soon revealed to him. + +Ultimately, Abe 2.0 and Aaron 3.0 team up to get the events at the +party to work the way they want them to, after which they part ways in +anger. Abe 2.0 breaks the machines so the new escaped Aaron 1.0 and +Abe 1.0 can never time travel; he later watches over Aaron 1.0's +family to make sure that they are okay. Aaron (probably 3.0) goes to a +French-speaking place to build a bigger version of the machine. + +* qntm.org +source: https://qntm.org/primer + +#+begin_quote +"If you have it, you've gotta use it." +#+end_quote + +Primer (2004) is a complex and challenging film. This article is +intended to help you get the most enjoyment out of watching it. +Update: I've recorded a commentary track for the film. It covers most +of what's explained below, but has some new stuff too! What should I +know before watching Primer? + +(If you want to go in totally blind, that's fine - skip the rest of +this section.) + +#+begin_quote +Primer has nothing that could be termed exposition. Nothing will be explained to you directly; you are essentially eavesdropping on other people's conversations as you follow them around. It's up to you to keep up. +Consider turning on the subtitles. Some of the dialogue is muffled or occurs in the background where it's harder to catch. +Even if you're firing on all cylinders, there's a point about 3/4 of the way through the film where everybody - everybody - loses it on the first watch. This is not your fault; this part of the film is very confusing and not explained very clearly. I will explain it later. +#+end_quote + +Now go watch the film and then come back. Here is a summary of what +literally takes place in the film. + +Aaron, Abe, Philip and Robert are four men who work at a semiconductor +firm by day and sell home-made electronic products in their spare +time. But while they've had some interesting patents, they haven't +made major money from the side projects. They came close once, but a +man named Joseph Platts stole their idea, leaving them with no +recourse. + +It's been agreed that they each take turns to put an idea forward. +Robert's idea is to build a strange piece of hardware which can +theoretically reduce the mass of an object inside it. It does this by +"blocking information", cutting the object in the box off from the +effects of gravity. This is just after Christmas time (hence Aaron's +new refrigerator). + +The box requires superconductivity. They can't generate the low +temperatures they need, so in the brainstorm session they throw out an +idea or two for doing it at room temperature. They cannibalise some +home appliances for equipment and a catalytic converter for palladium, +and build the thing in Aaron's garage. The box also has to be +hermetically sealed and flooded with argon to work correctly. Aaron +also makes some unconventional modifications to the box - "It looks +like a dog digested it." + +While experimenting, Aaron and Abe discover that the machine works. +They put a blue weeble inside the box and register that it has +decreased in mass. (While fiddling with the device, Aaron pokes his +hand right the way into the field and Abe puts his hands over it to +drop punched holes into the field. This becomes significant later.) +Aaron and Abe instantly recognise the limitless applications and value +of the device they have built. They immediately cut Robert and Philip +out of the loop, saying that Aaron's garage has to be fumigated. + +But at the same time, Aaron and Abe also realise that if they go +public with their new invention too quickly, someone like Platts will +take advantage of them again. They need to fully understand it first - +which they don't. + +Several months pass. The four men get funding from a Thomas Granger, +while Abe establishes a relationship with his daughter, Rachel. (Aaron +is of course happily married to his wife Kara, with a daughter, +Lauren.) Abe tries to figure out how, exactly, the device does what it +does - and he fails. + +This is now March. Monday (video time code: 18:36) + +The first bench scene: Abe approaches Aaron one morning. Aaron is +listening to March Madness on an earphone (and continues to do so for +the rest of the day). Abe persuades Aaron to take the day off work, +then he leads Aaron through a series of discoveries that he has made. + +After repeated experiments on the weeble, Abe realised that a weird +fungus was growing on it. He took it for analysis and was told that +the fungus was perfectly ordinary, but that the amount of growth he +had seen was consistent with years of time passing, not days. +Suspicious, he put his wristwatch in the box. He discovered that what +they had built was a time machine, which works like this. + +The two of them immediately reason that if an intelligent agent was +put inside the box, it could deliberately exit the box before it +entered, travelling backwards in time. Abe then reveals to Aaron that +he has already done this: + + #+begin_quote +Abe built a coffin-sized time machine, which we shall call Box A, and placed it in a unit at a self-storage facility. +At 08:30 Monday, Abe primed Box A to activate itself in fifteen minutes. +He drove away from the self-storage facility and isolated himself at a hotel in Russelfield. +The box activated at 08:45 and was completely powered up at 08:49. +At 15:15, Abe returned to Box A and switched it off. It took another four minutes to power down completely. As it powered down, he climbed inside. +Abe waited six and a half hours (in the film the figure is repeatedly stated as "six hours"). At the correct time, he climbed out of the box just after it was activated - at 08:45 Monday. +Abe then approached Aaron for the first bench scene. + #+end_quote + +Now it's 15:15 Monday again, and Aaron and Abe-2 are able to watch +Abe-1 return to Box A, climb in, switch it off and disappear into the +past. Tuesday (31:22) + +Abe shows Aaron that he cunningly made a single excellent stock trade +during Monday too. + +On Tuesday, Abe goes through the same routine but this time Aaron +insists on following along. By now, Aaron already has his own box +built: Box B. + +They switch on the boxes at 08:30 Tuesday, hide at the hotel all day +and then return to the boxes at 15:15. Abe departs Box A at 08:45 +Tuesday as expected, but Aaron gets jumpy towards the end of the ride, +and exits Box B a minute or two early (or, from Abe's perspective, a +minute or two late), suffering a severe physical reaction. The time is +08:50 Tuesday morning. + +The dialogue during these scenes reveals a few more noteworthy facts. + +#+begin_quote +Abe and Aaron are trying to modify history as little as possible. +They isolate themselves at the hotel in order to minimise the +effect. In particular, if they were to accidentally prevent their +doubles from departing the timeline as scheduled, this would +present a major problem, since there would now be multiple +Aarons/Abes. + +The other important line is "the boxes are one-time use only". +What Aaron means by this is that after you have climbed out of a +box, you CANNOT go back to it later, switch it off and climb in a +second time - because that's what your past self did. You cannot +use the same box to continuously loop through the same day. + +This is not actually true. For the purposes of this plot summary, +however, all we need to know is that Aaron and Abe both believe +this is true and operate under this assumption. +#+end_quote + +They make some more money on the stock market. That evening, they have a slightly drunken conversation with Aaron's wife Kara about the prospect of having unlimited wealth. Aaron raises the hypothetical of punching Joseph Platts in the face, then going back in time and telling himself not to, making it so that it never happens. Abe says they "can't do that", not because it's morally wrong to punch Joseph Platts in the face, or because Aaron can't tell Kara about the time machine, but because this would result in there being two Aarons. Which is bad. + +"But the idea had been spoken. And the words wouldn't go back once they had been uttered aloud." + +Kara also mentions a mysterious noise in their attic. Birds? Rats? +Wednesday (42:00) + +The same routine again. + +Aaron and Abe argue at the supermarket and the gas station that morning about paradoxes, free will, paranoia and predestination. One particular point that Aaron raises is the problem of living in a universe which has been engineered by somebody else. At the hotel, and then later on Wednesday afternoon at the library, Abe and Aaron discuss the problem that Aaron is keeping the time machines secret from Kara. They also discuss the problem of Robert and Philip. They agree to give them a certain amount of patent rights and/or equipment and/or cash in order to salve their consciences instead. + +They loop back in time as normal. At 08:15 Wednesday, shortly after getting out the machine, Aaron is bleeding from his ear. + +That day, make their successful trades. In the afternoon, they finally admit that the garage has been "sprayed", and work at the garage with Robert and Philip resumes. Robert and Philip have now received their gifts from Aaron and Abe. + +Robert reports an interesting story. It seems that Monday night was Robert's birthday party. Abe wasn't there, but his girlfriend Rachel was there. So was Rachel's ex-boyfriend, who walked into the party brandishing a shotgun. So was Aaron, who by all accounts risked his life to defuse the situation safely. + +On Wednesday evening, while Aaron and Abe are outside looking for Aaron's missing cat, Abe is angry that Aaron, a family man, risked his life in such a way. Abe is genuinely confused that Aaron acted so uncharacteristically irresponsibly. Aaron makes excuses and claims that since the discovery of the time machines he is seeing the world differently, referencing their conversations of earlier in the day. However, this does not fully explain his actions. +Thursday (48:45) + +The same routine again. + +During the day spent at the hotel, Aaron's cell phone rings. It is Kara, asking about dinner. This is a mistake, since Aaron is supposed to be sequestered. Abe tells Aaron not to bring the cell phone back in time with him - this is a perfectly sensible way to avert the possibility of a paradox. + +They loop back in time as usual. On the second time through Thursday, Aaron watches a sports match (whose outcome they already know) while Abe eats a muffin. Then, on the way to a restaurant, Aaron's cell phone (which he has foolishly brought back in time with him) rings again. + +This is a problem, and a critical turning point in the film. There are two Aarons at this point (one at the hotel), and, due to Aaron's clumsiness, two of his cell phones (one at the hotel). If the phone in Aaron's hand is ringing then, so Aaron and Abe reason, the phone in the hotel cannot be ringing. Symmetry is broken and history has changed. History can be changed. +Friday (52:10) + +At about 02:00 on Friday morning some kids set off car alarms outside Abe's home. Abe goes to Aaron's house and gets him out of bed. Abe reveals that he has been routinely turning the boxes on at 17:00 and turning them off the following morning. + +Abe then puts forward a confusing and potentially dangerous plan to visit Joseph Platts at his home, punch him in the face, then, around 03:00 Friday, to use these boxes to go back in time to 17:00 Thursday and make sure that neither the car alarms nor the punching happen. In theory, as a result, both Aaron and Abe's doubles would stay in bed all night, get into their boxes at 15:15 Friday as normal, and leave this timeline permanently, leaving just one of each of Aaron and Abe behind. + +As they climb into the car, however, they realise they are being followed by Thomas Granger, Abe's girlfriend's dad and the project's main source of funding. Granger has several days' growth of beard on his face - but Aaron last saw him at 18:00 Thursday, when he was clean-shaven. Abe phones Thomas Granger's number and the guy who answers is indeed Thomas Granger... but he's not the guy who is following them. Something really weird is going on. This man is a different Thomas Granger who has come back in time using one of the boxes, probably exiting the box at 17:00 Thursday when Abe switched them on. + +Aaron runs after Granger and when they get close to one another, Aaron trips and falls while Granger falls completely unconscious. They put Granger to bed at Abe's house; Aaron cannot approach him without somehow knocking him unconscious. They check that the boxes are indeed turned on. Aaron proposes shutting them off to see if Granger is inside, an act whose consequences would be exceedingly difficult to guess at. They do not do this. + +Why has Granger come back in time? Obviously at some point in the future, Aaron or Abe told Granger about the boxes. Then, something happened to prompt Granger to head backwards in time to this point (the earliest he can go) and start observing them. They conclude that the situation would have to have been a real emergency but they have no clue what it could possibly be. "The permutations were endless." History has definitely changed now that Granger has come back, but they have no way of guessing whether the emergency in question has been fully averted by his brief interactions with them and the rest of the universe - he has only been out of the box for about eight and a half hours. + +And so Abe loses his nerve. + +It is now revealed that there is a failsafe box, built by Abe, in a second storage unit. This box has been running for 3 days 22 hours - in other words, since early on Monday morning. Abe started the box at about 05:00 Monday, then went back to bed until 08:30 when he returned to start Box A. At roughly 03:00 Friday, Abe returns to the failsafe box, with four days' oxygen and water and a small tank of medical-grade nitrous oxide, enters it and travels all the way back to 05:00 Monday. +Monday again (59:06) + +Abe (now Abe Two) exits the failsafe box at 05:00. He travels to his home and gasses his double in bed with the nitrous oxide. He stashes his double in his bathroom. + +Now we come to the second bench scene. As in the first bench scene, Aaron is listening to what is supposedly basketball on his earpiece. Abe Two is ill, after four days of very little food, and in shock, after violently gassing his double. Aaron, however, repeats most of the same lines as last time. + +In fact, when Abe faints, it is revealed that Aaron is not listening to basketball. He is listening to a recording of that very conversation. How can this be? The recording must have been made in some previous timeline. This is not the original Aaron. This is not the original timeline. It never was. This Aaron has come back in time from the future. + +"At this point there would have been some... discussion." + +Aaron and Abe confront one another and explain everything that has happened. This is the most difficult sequence in the film to follow, partly because of the complexity of the plot but mainly because, due to the lack of CGI, it was impossible to put more than one Aaron on the screen at the same time. The two major discussion points are: + +How? + +Aaron's line, "They are not one-time-use only. They are recyclable," +means that although you cannot re-enter a box you climbed out of, you +can bring another box with you, activate it once you climb out, and +later use it instead, travelling back to the same moment in time +again - or a few minutes later, at any rate. + +In some previous timeline, Aaron discovered Abe's failsafe box, +anchored 05:00 Monday. He then got inside the failsafe and used it to +go back in time, taking with him a second, folded-up time machine. +This is the Aaron with the hood. + +On arriving home at 05:00 Monday, Hooded Aaron set up his second time +machine as Failsafe Box B, let's say at 05:15 Monday. Hooded Aaron +then went to his home and drugged his double's breakfast cereal milk, +then stashed his comatose double in the attic. This is the noise that +Kara mentioned on Wednesday night. This means that there are now two +Aarons in this timeline, permanently. Hooded Aaron assumed his +double's identity and recorded all of the week's conversations. + +Then, he used Failsafe Box B (remember: he cannot re-use Failsafe Box +A since he already climbed out of it once) to go back in time to 05:15 +Monday yet again. He took yet another time machine with him, which he +set up as Failsafe Box C (05:30 Monday). He becomes Aaron Three, with +the white jumper, no hood. Aaron Three arrives at his house just as +Hooded Aaron has finished drugging and stashing Aaron Prime. Aaron +Three tries to subdue Hooded Aaron in turn, but this time he is too +exhausted, and Hooded Aaron wins. After a conversation, however, Aaron +Three persuades Hooded Aaron to leave. There are now three permanent +versions of Aaron: Aaron Prime, who is drugged in the attic; Hooded +Aaron, who has left town; and the Aaron we have been looking at since +the beginning of the first bench scene, with the headphone in his ear +feeding him lines, is Aaron Three and always has been. + +Aaron Three has had a LOT of exposure to the boxes. This is why he +began bleeding from his ear on Wednesday, and it also why his contact +with Thomas Granger nearly killed them both. + +It is Hooded Aaron who is the narrator of the story. The "primer" of +the title is Hooded Aaron's phone call to Aaron Prime. + +So which box did Abe use to come back in time? Logically, Abe must +have used Failsafe Box C, since Failsafe Box A contained Hooded Aaron +and Failsafe Box B contained Aaron Three. How did that happen? Aaron +must have SWAPPED Failsafe Box A and Failsafe Box C. The box that Abe +believed was Failsafe Box A (anchored 05:00 Monday) was actually +Failsafe Box C (anchored 05:30 Monday). This is not seen or even +alluded to in the film, but it is necessary to resolve this plot hole. +Why? + +Problems of logistics aside, the last remaining question is why Aaron +chose to come back in time so far, sacrificing so much, permanently +duplicating himself twice. What is he trying to set right, exactly? + +The key to all of this is the party. It is obvious, though left +largely unsaid, that when Rachel's ex-boyfriend walked into the room +with a shotgun, things could have gone considerably worse. Aaron +Three, we remember, risked his life to successfully defuse the +situation. We now understand why he would take this risk. There are +two other Aarons in this timeline, one of them being Aaron Prime. +Aaron Three does not matter - he is a non-person, a walking dead man, +and he has no right to Aaron Prime's family. He has no life to risk. + +If I may jump ahead in the film slightly, the basketball scene (which +takes place sometime in the middle of Monday) is also important. This +scene further establishes that it was Aaron who originally invited +Will, Rachel's ex-boyfriend's cousin, to the party - and that it was +Aaron who suggested that Will should bring Rachel's ex-boyfriend with +him. In other words, whatever originally happened at the party was +indirectly Aaron's fault. + +Aaron Three thought the problem permanently settled. But the fact that Thomas Granger came back in time to 17:00 Thursday indicates that it was not, and something bad was still looming in Aaron and Abe's future. However, it is Monday morning again, and both Aaron Three and Abe Two are prescient now. They decide to engineer the situation to end better this time, with Rachel's ex-boyfriend actually arrested and jailed. + +By Monday afternoon, Aaron and Abe are both suffering from the effects of a great deal of time travel - they are unable to write correctly. Remember when they put their hands into the machine? + +At this point, the narrator, Hooded Aaron, reminds us that HE, of course, does NOT come from a timeline where everything worked out perfectly. In fact, he was never originally at the party. He has no idea how long it will take for Aaron Three to "reverse-engineer a perfect moment". From what we see in the film, though, for Abe Two and Aaron Three, it appears to work first time. The jealous ex is arrested and jailed. The End. + +On Monday night Aaron Three crashes at Abe's house. Abe Two cannot sleep. And with that problem resolved, everybody lives happily ever after. + +With the following exceptions. +Tuesday again (1:09:28) + +Aaron Prime wakes up in his own attic after being drugged for 24 hours by his double. + +Abe Prime wakes up in his bathroom after being gassed for 24 hours by his double. + +There are three running failsafe boxes which evidently nobody has thought to shut down, in addition to Abe Prime's original Box A, which hasn't been activated yet but is nevertheless operational. "They'll be building their own boxes in another day. And [Abe Prime] already knows what they built." + +Aaron Three and Abe Two wind up at the airport. Aaron is going to steal his double's passport and leave the country, because he can never go home. He has lost Kara and Lauren to Aaron Prime. Abe, meanwhile, is going to stay behind so he can sabotage their doubles' attempts to build the time machines. And, more sinisterly, stay close to Kara and Lauren. And protect them from Aaron Three. What? + +And finally, on the other side of the world, Hooded Aaron makes his phone call to Aaron Prime. Maybe Aaron Prime records it and believes it, maybe he doesn't. Hooded Aaron explains the entire story, including why he drugged Aaron Prime, and thus "[repays] any debt I may have owed you". + +"You will not be contacted by me again. And if you look, you will not +find me." Hooded Aaron hangs up, and begins construction on a time +machine the size of a warehouse. The End. + +#+begin_comment +Back to Things Of Interest +Discussion (187) +2009-11-10 22:36:25 by Ben: +Bravo. Really, this is fantastic. +2009-11-11 00:11:28 by Thrack: +Heh, you actually wrote another article about Primer. Cool. I haven't read it yet though because I haven't seen the movie. I plan to though. Eventually. (And if I remember, I'll turn on subtitles.) +2009-11-11 16:31:55 by Cory: +There were a couple things I could never resolve... This helps a lot. +2009-11-11 21:28:26 by John: +Nice article! Your first article on Primer was what prompted me to see it. Great movie! +2009-11-12 08:24:06 by scotherns: +How many viewings did it take you to get all this? Superb work figuring it all out! +2009-11-13 22:44:29 by MrX: +There are no flaws in how Primer deals with time travel. I think you misunderstand how it works. Instead of there being a global timeline, it instead works on the basis that every human has its own timeline at every instance. Normally, ALL instances of time will have the same timeline for any person, only that it is shifted in time. But Primer says that there are infinite YOU's, all in sequence. But that each of those YOU's are independent beings. Since normally there is nothing to make them act differently, they only appear to be the same person. + +So you can indeed use the same box if you want. Suppose you enter the box at 2 PM and exit it at 1 PM. You then wait around for an hour and stop your double from entering the box. You can then enter said box no problem for a second time. + +But let's suppose you DON'T enter the box. No one is entering the box. Truth is that a few minutes into your own personal timeline's future, there IS someone in the box (he is going back in time from everyone else's POV). However, from your personal timeline's point where you stopped your double from entering the box, there won't be anyone there. So if you DO enter the box, there will be a double in the box with you, but a few minutes into the future from your POV (your future is actually back in time for everyone else) and this is perfectly fine as there is never more than one person in the box at any given time. You will never meet this double because he is in your immediate personal future (unless he goes back in time to meet you). + +Back to the situation where you DON'T go into the box. What then? If you don't go into the box, who will stop the double on the next iteration? Well, no one. You stopped him from getting into the box. So if you wait around for two hours, then if you could look two hours into Earth's past, you would see that no one is there to stop the "double". So he gets into the box, goes back into the past, waits an hour and stops his double. This scenario will flip back and forth. + +And this is actually what the story of Primer is all about. If you get into a ping pong situation, you only fixed the situation for a segment of your personal timeline (if you fixed anything at all). The other side of the ping pong timeline is still screwed. And this ping pong effect is what happened when they use the failsafe (and knocked the guy out and put him in the attic). This is why Thomas Granger came back. Because half of the timeline is screwed and in that messed up half, Granger used the box to try and come back and fix things. Only problem is that he calculated the amount of time to go back wrong. He ended up on the wrong side of the ping pong timeline. The side he ended up, the timeline was already "fixed". His presence there will have unforeseen effects because he's just created his own ping pong timeline without realizing it. In the timeline that isn't screwed, Granger has no need to get in the box because everything is fine (these two scenarios will happen one after the other continuously). So you have the failsafe of Aaron ping ponging with the ping pong timeline of Granger. What effect this will have overall will be unpredictable. +2009-11-14 16:08:17 by Mick: +Sam, I guess you're just that good of a writer, but I enjoyed reading this more than actually watching Primer. +2009-11-15 07:51:36 by Ian: +You ask why Abe Two suggests that he's staying to protect Kara and Lauren from Aaron Three. In that same conversation, Aaron suggests that they kidnap Kara and Lauren, make doubles of them, and then go travel somewhere with copies of each in separate hemispheres. Abe Two wants to make sure this never happens -- that Kara and Lauren's lives are never disrupted by their doings. +2009-11-17 11:22:47 by M: +after reading this, i though you might have a giggle at this: + +http://xkcd.com/657/large/ + +bottom right is a character interaction line flow for Primer (the rest of the image is pretty fun too!) +2009-11-17 11:25:45 by qntm: +Randall Munroe is a quitter. His main error was to treat time as a one-dimensional axis. +2009-11-28 07:52:35 by Ryan: +Are you entirely sure the phone call is placed to Aaron prime and not Abe prime? +2009-12-02 03:09:48 by Ian: +I don't think it really matters who the phone call is directed to. +2010-01-12 16:15:27 by nogenius: +There's the graph of primer that xkcd did (although I expect it's wildly inaccurate) + +http://xkcd.com/657/large/ +2010-01-31 22:17:19 by Katrina: +If Aaron 3 steals his own (Aaron Prime's) passport, how did Aaron 2 (Hooded Aaron) get to France? +2010-02-28 12:57:00 by Wepol: +OK, but why did Abe failsafe (for four days) all the way back to Monday when he didn't need to? +2010-02-28 18:33:50 by qntm: +Because he felt he'd lost control of the situation and he'd lost his nerve. This is pretty clear from the movie. +2010-03-03 04:08:58 by Sammy: +Not really sure what this is. I'll try to read this when I am not so tired and write some feedback. I really loved the Primer Universe book. Is any of this based on the book or just personal speculation? The whole hidden clue thing makes me wonder if any other films are similar to this effort by the film maker. Too bad he only made one film. Leaps and bounds better than the Prestige. +2010-05-29 11:46:36 by Fixer: +It just popped into my head this evening: How did Aaron bring the failsafe machine back with him? I can see bringing the "coffin" back, but how do you take the machine into itself? Do you take a new box and the machine in with you? + +Oh, my head. +2010-06-06 07:54:06 by Astyanax: +The answer to this question is that you can make doubles of the machine just like you can people. All you have to do is fold one up and take it with you, and make sure your double on the other end doesn't take it back inside at the end of the day. Since Aaron was keeping two of his doubles from going inside again (drugging and persuasion), it's safe to say the extra machines also stayed outside. + +It's like wishing for more wishes; you can use a time machine to make more time machines. :-) Rule of thumb: always take a time machine with you when you go inside one. :-) +2010-08-13 09:42:38 by Bobz: +This is great! But..... the explanation says - "They put Granger to bed at Abe's house; Aaron cannot approach him with(out) actually somehow knocking him unconscious." - However, in the film, both Narrator Aaron and Aaron Three suggest that it is Abe's proximity that causes Granger's unconsiousness. Why would being close to Abe cause Granger's unconsiousness? +2010-10-03 02:14:14 by Carnate: +Very nice explanation of everything but at the beginning of the article you mention "While fiddling with the device, Aaron pokes his hand right the way into the field and Abe puts his hands over it to drop punched holes into the field. This becomes significant later." I don't see where you explain where this is significant. +2010-10-30 18:19:11 by Chuckles: +The first time we see Aaron on the bench it is Aaron "recording the conversations of the day'. He is wearing the earpiece only for cosmetic effect because he knows he will be wearing the earpiece when comes back. If he doesn't wear the earpiece while recording he will not be able to record people's reactions to the earpiece when the same conversation comes up again. + +Imagine if Aaron recorded the conversations and the next time around he wore red, floppy, clown shows. By introducing a new visual variable the recorded conversations would become much less helpful. + +Aaron is so smart that he knows he needs to keep as close to the same appearance as possible to try to keep the conversations the same. Since Aaron knows he will need the earpiece later in order to listen to the conversations he knows that he needs to wear it while recording in order to keep the conversations the same as the recording. +2010-12-08 13:02:22 by Mika: +@Bobz + +According to a theory on http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ehsvr/which_one_movie_blew_your_mind/c18754k + +"The idea — such as it is — is that is Granger talks to Abe, he'll tell him something that'll motivate Abe to use his failsafe box to go back and reset everything, thus preventing Granger from ever traveling in time, resulting in a paradox. It's this looming paradox that causes Granger to black out whenever Abe is near." +2011-03-12 06:42:58 by Seething: +Reading this has made me very angry! And my head hurts! Pay for my brain transplant! +2011-03-20 05:19:17 by TomC: +I would also like to know more about the punched holes - how are they significant later in the film? + +Useful explanation thanks, but my head is still resisting the knowledge. +2011-04-24 16:51:06 by urza: +Thanks a lot for excellent explanation. I finally get it. + +Last time I felt like this was while studying the formal definition of halting problem :) +2011-04-29 20:45:24 by Indigo: +"Abe then puts forward a confusing and potentially dangerous plan to visit Joseph Platts at his home, punch him in the face, then, around 03:00 Friday, to use these boxes to go back in time to 17:00 Thursday and make sure that neither the car alarms nor the punching happen. In theory, as a result, both Aaron and Abe's doubles would stay in bed all night, get into their boxes at 15:15 Friday as normal, and leave this timeline permanently, leaving just one of each of Aaron and Abe behind." + +You see, Abe should have thought this one over. +Their daily trips go from 08:45 to 15:15 (or 15:15 to 08:45 rather) on the same day. If they had managed to sleep through the night, they would've woken up Friday morning, restart the machines at 08:30, set the 15 min timer, and jump in at 15:15. Meanwhile, the leftover duo would have witnessed another set of doubles re-emerging from the storage facility shortly after 08:45 Friday morning. The problem of duplicates remains. +In theory, it might have possibly worked if they somehow convinced their doubles to leave the machines on and not restart them so that when they went back, they would be able to go as far back as 17:00 Thursday afternoon (the same emergence time of the duo that prevented the kids setting off the car alarms). Of course, they can always just kill them too! Abe's stock plan was much more sound. +Indeed, we find out near the end of the film that any time symmetry is broken in a manner that significantly affects your double (ie. not entering the box when he/she should have), we get the duplicates dilemma. Think of how many Aarons there would have been if he didn't nail that party plan on his third run. He would've had to keep going back and convincing the previous to take a hike. + +It helps to remind oneself that the premise for time travel in reality is not understood at all. So we go on what is presented by the storyteller. In this case, history can change and branching timelines exist. The story unfolds from a particular perspective - Abe's perspective - starting from a particular timeline (a timeline where Abe did not go back to gas himself, but a timeline already altered by Aaron). If the story followed Aaron in a certain timeline, we could have seen him going to the party to witness the incident, going back to drug himself, recording the week's conversations, going back again to fight himself, and convincing the previous to leave, and so on. It might have been a longer movie, and probably not as intriguing. Stranger still, it might have been a very different movie altogether if it were told from either Aaron or Abe who got drugged. From their perspective, they just built a machine they didn't even understand yet, and suddenly they wake up in the dark not knowing how they got there. This subject does tend to get confusing. I kept asking myself, how could symmetry really be broken? Wouldn't I always see the end result? In other words, if I wanted to go back a few hours to make a change.. to say hello to myself for instance; wouldn't I have seen myself greet me a few hours ago in the first place? And so, you can get trapped in this circular logic if you don't accept certain rules like the possibility of multiple timelines. +2011-06-02 00:23:59 by dan: +I don't see why the hole punch bits from the beginning are relevant, does anyone know why? +2011-06-02 00:26:06 by qntm: +The hole punch bits aren't relevant. What's relevant is that Abe and Aaron both stick their hands into the machine. +2011-06-02 10:23:32 by Dan: +*is stupid* I still don't understand why their hands going into the machine is relevant :\ + +Concerning Aaron swapping the Failsafe boxes: wouldn't Abe know his failsafe, f0, has been swapped for Aarons f1 or f2, as the timer would differ by the time it takes Aaron to exit f0 and set up f1/2? Assume it's not that bit a time difference and doesn't really matter. +2011-06-22 16:41:27 by clarissa: + I disagree that he builds at warehouse sized Time machine at the end. Because that makes little sense what is he gonna take back that needs that Much space? And he can only use it ONCE. Instead there is the last line of the movie. " Good morning, every have meter.... everywhere.... everywhere." What is he asking them to build every half meter.... everywhere? Time Machines... a LOT of them. + + He is filling the warehouse up with a LOT of time machines, that way he can turn them ALL on at once. This way he will always be able to go back to the moment they were ALL turned on... and be able to always have a fail safe, until his health gives out. +2011-07-03 05:32:59 by Peter: +I have a few questions, if anyone could help :) + +1) At the point where Abe and Aaron are testing their device at their garage and they think they blew it. Then they decide to remove the case so they can pick up Aaron's camcorder. Now all this is long before the fateful Monday in March when the whole main plot begins. After they both say '1-2-3' and remove the case, the scene blacks out and changes, showing Abe unconscious on the floor and the sound of static can be heard. It's really strange; what on earth happened here? Notice how Aaron calls him on the phone and Abe wakes up; then the scene REPEATS and Abe is still on the floor while Aaron's voice continues talking (asking him if he's hungry) and Abe is shown to pick up the phone again. It looks like there's TWO Abes here... For example, we see that one Abe gets up and Aaron is heard saying 'Abe, it's 7'. Then we see Abe getting up AGAIN and Aaron now says 'Abe, it's 7 at night'. This repetition of movements, and the way the scenes are presented, show (at least to me) that we have here TWO Abes. My initial theory was that this was a result of Abe Prime's proximity to the time machine which he had brought in his house (???) to test it, after they took Aaron's camera out of it and removed the case, and somehow he'd fallen unconscious as a result of so many 'leaks' (no cover). But I really am not sure. So what's up with this scene here? + +2) After the last scene at the fungus lab, right after Aaron asks "Wait digital or old mechanical?", and Abe replies "Exactly. I did both." Then Aaron: "And?" and Abe: "I want you to do it". At that point... Well, first, I want to make sure: this is on Monday late morning, right? + +3) Anyway, the NEXT scene shows another Aaron playing with some garden clips while next to him we hear Abe and Aaron talking (about to discover what their device really is; it is heard in the background "We thought we were degrading gravity" etc.) Now, it is obvious this Aaron is impatient as they are already in the storage facility as well. He keeps looking at the clock on the wall, which however shows 14:08. So which Aaron is this and where and when did he come from and why is he there and when does he intend to leave and where to? +2011-07-04 03:21:57 by Jfjdkf: +The hands are relevant because they stick them in there when testing and that part of their bodies are aging faster than all the others, just like the webel growing mold the hands age causing them to not be able to control writing. Which is why Aaron said he knows the letters he just can't get his hand to make them........ I think. +2011-07-15 04:03:31 by Anonymous: +Would it be possible to: +- Modify the small prototype box to eject any object inside at the right time +- Power it up, intending to insert a diamond a few minutes later +- A few moments after powering it up, at the window, the duplicate future diamond should be ejected +- Don't insert the diamond, effectively doubling your money. So much easier than going in yourself and doubling money by trading in the stock market (forex would've been better). I would think that'd raise some insider trading alarm bells. +2011-07-18 23:39:13 by blackacidlizzard: +You're loading ideas you have about time continuity which are not in the final cut of the movie. Unless you have inside information on the writer's intent, you are making assumptions with no backing. + +There is no reason to think that observer-dependent wave collapse plays any role here. No examinations of the hand or paper placed in the already active field which is open to observation are ever carried out - how would you know if your hand aged a few thousand minutes? No mention is made of effects of observation, the characters are worried about the lack of environmental containment suitable for the field ; and the idea that a camera signal full of static equals probabilistic indeterminacy is a ridiculous leap. + +The question of whether time is singular or branching is irrelevant, all that can be known is what is observed, and every observer will always only know one path, whether or not there are any other paths. This movie treats time branching the same way "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" does: it is never mentioned or hinted at. + +A confrontation with your other self "causing" two of you to exist in the same timeline is laughable. Lock yourself in a room, fly to the moon - there are still two of you in the same timeline. The only concern that is close to this is that the chain of causality flowing from any action (not just meeting yourself)may cause your other self to not get into the box - which would leave two of you permanently walking the earth. + +There's alot of good stuff in this post, but when you assume you make an ass out of yourself and anyone who accepts your assumptions. +2011-07-21 01:59:01 by HelloWorld: +I think being unable to write was just a side-effect of several trips inside the machine. It seemed to affect the brain somewhat. Aaron told Abe to compare it to writing with his left hand and they looked the same. +2011-07-21 02:26:15 by HelloWorld: +Also, It didn't make sense for Abe to have affected Thomas just by proximity, if the reason was causality. Abe and Aaron doubles have gone near each other and prevented each other from going back without suffering the same effect. + +I'm thinking something like this happened: In one timeline, Thomas Granger found out about the machine, and probably used the failsafe. In the same timeline, Abe used the same box and was disintegrated. This sorta explains the proximity problem between Thomas and Abe. +2011-07-26 10:53:43 by Betty: +I enjoyed the film, but I could not buy into the fact that either character's main concern was to go back in time to manipulate the stock market and basically steal money in that way. These guys created a Time Machine, they're geniuses. Both characters develpment indicated that their primary concern would be to continue research related solely to the time machine and its effects. They wouldn't be interested in punching someone in the face or stealing money, that part just didn't fit, and really didn't add anything to the film. And for a couple of geniuses, go figure, they invite an ex-boyfriend to the party for no reason whatsoever, out of the blue. Are these guys high school dropouts? Yeah, sounds like it to me. Carruth could have easily found a more realistic scenario for the emergency travel back circumstances. +2011-08-05 04:50:11 by Brad: +Awesome, awesome explanation. But to me, the lingering question is... what happens to the other Abe? One flies off at the end of the movie, one wakes up in the attic, and the other.... +2011-08-14 08:12:18 by Ichneumon: +Not a time machine the size of a warehouse. + +Not thousands of time machines in a warehouse all turned on at the same time. + +Thousands of time machines in a warehouse turned on at *different* times. + +Set them to kick on in sequence; one at noon, one at 1pm, one at 2pm, etc., day after day, week after week. +At any time in the future, you can return exactly (well, within the hour) to any date/time you choose. Just pick the machine that activated at the date/time you want to travel back in time to, and hop in. + +Even better, you no longer have to do it all in one session -- you don't have to sit in a box for a full month to go back in time a month. Get into the box that started 4 hours ago, spend 4 hours in it, then get out, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, have lunch, grab another oxygen bottle, then get into the box that started 4 hours before *that*, etc. Repeat until you've gone back however far you want. +2011-10-02 08:41:35 by raymond: +I appreciate the author's input on this film. It stimulated a lot of interesting reads. + +Given the "reality" of the movie, what would happen if you put a running time machine inside of a another time machine then turn that machine on? + +From what I can tell, you can only travel back in time to the point where the machine was turn on. That's like an anchor point. When you turn the machine off, you are in essence opening up a door through time. However, it seems you MUST sit in the time machine for the length of time the time machine was on. You have to experience that time (in essence, you gain that time as part of the time travel). But I was thinking if there was a way to compound the length of time you traveled through, and decrease the amount of time you spend in the box by sitting inside 2 time machines. + +I know this is all fiction, but it's neat to think about. +2011-11-11 23:29:29 by tre: +So much to read, not sure if this has been touched upon, but if one of the premises is alternate time lines, you don't necessarily need 'multiple' failsafes for the scenario to play out. the only thing that need exist is the 'you' in the box you came out of. It creates what seems to be a paradox, but if the concept is changeable/multiple time lines, as soon as you step out of the box, whether you are still in it or not is irrelevant. +i.e. you can prevent the 'earlier you' from entering it if you desire, but because it's an alternate timeline, you just prevent the 'you' in that timeline from going back to create another version, etc. (yeah, splinters get nuts to follow) +Think of it this way - if you can in fact go backward in time, the moment you step out potentially creates a new timeline where anything that happens from that moment forward is irrelevant to the old timeline, including the part where you were sitting in the box going backward. It's like creating a wormhole between alternate realities - once you step out of the hole and the machine shuts down or whatever, you are in a new place/time with new causalities. So if you wanted to re-use the same failsafe, you just keep the 'other you' from getting into it, say by drugging him in your attic, then you can use the same (empty) failsafe box to go back again. +2011-11-11 23:35:15 by tre: +With that said, the last scene would, however, require one additional failsafe (which is mentioned in the movie) for both of them to have been able to go back via the long-term failsafe mechanisms to have fore-knowledge at that moment. But this only means that for that last 'loop' from Aaron's perspective, he only need 'allow' Abe to enter the first failsafe while he enters the second. He could have technically used the other failsafe many times already and come out of it again playing the long-loop again and again and the only thing he need to each time is make sure that Abe wasn't entering it at the end of the long-loop. +2011-11-11 23:42:34 by tre: +Oh, and of course the duplicate thing - any time you 'prevent' yourself from re-entering at the end of the loop is where the potential for a duplicate of yourself would occur.... until you re-enter the box again and go back to create yet another different time line (and another potential for a duplicate) - there would only end up with one duplicate of yourself in any one timeline - at least in the same-box-reuse scenario. As soon as you prevent yourself from entering the same box making it available for 'new you', you need to get 'old you' out of the way when you go back and until you loop again (or old you loops at all), there are two of you. If you don't loop in his stead, there is two of you. But as long as you continue to re-use the same machine preventing 'old you' from doing so, that time line is left with one of you and you become a duplicate back at the same point in time with a new branch. +A 'third' you wouldn't occur until you prevented 'old you' from going and did not take 'old you's place then repeated that whole process yet another time. I didn't see anything in the summary that would have suggested that. +2011-11-18 02:05:32 by booboobear: +I just have once concern regarding the bench scenes in the movie. I don't believe it's Aaron 3 the entire day. I think the very first time you see them on the bench, they are in the 1st timeline and it's the original Aaron and the original Abe that traveled back on that 1st Monday afternoon to Monday morning to tell Aaron about the boxes. Aaron is wearing an earpiece, but his reactions and demeanor seem genuine and there a few scenes that same day when he's not wearing an earpiece at all. I think that when Aaron 2(hooded Aaron) went back through the failsafe to Monday, he recorded all conversations from the week. the second time we see them on the bench on Monday, it's Abe's double and Aaron 3. The first bench scene is original Aaron and Abe from the very first time travel while his former self from the day is waiting at the hotel. +2011-12-28 12:53:44 by Maxim: +Why would Aaron built a new LARGE time machine in the end of the film??? For what purpose? To send MANY people back in time? What for? +2012-01-02 16:45:43 by John: +@Maxim: He left the country and has to now survive a lifetime in that time line. He is probably being commissioned to build it. He probably has no use for such a large time machine himself, but I'm sure that the military would love to have technology like that on such a large scale and would pay whatever it takes for it. +2012-01-02 16:45:43 by John: +@Maxim: He left the country and has to now survive a lifetime in that time line. He is probably being commissioned to build it. He probably has no use for such a large time machine himself, but I'm sure that the military would love to have technology like that on such a large scale and would pay whatever it takes for it. +2012-01-07 07:45:31 by Nina: +That would be the French military? +2012-01-09 14:04:17 by Pete: +The Primer concept was a great story, unfortunately, it got swallowed up its own ass by the random, confusing dialogue and the shocking continuity problems. Not bad for $7K, but would have been better if the director didn't take himself and the story so seriously. +2012-03-03 07:03:05 by uday: +awesomemovie and awesome explanation +2012-03-15 06:38:23 by J: +"At this point, the narrator, Hooded Aaron, reminds us that HE, of course, does NOT come from a timeline where everything worked out perfectly. Hooded Aaron has only been to the party once, and he has only seen how it originally played out." + +This is wrong.... And I think the movie contradicts itself too. The first Aaron never went to the party. The third Aaron went to the party back when he was second Aaron. However, second Aaron never gets to go to the party at all because third Aaron makes him leave. Thus, when second Aaron makes the phone call and says that he can say what he did when he went, he must be wrong. Unless third Aaron or second Abe told him what third Aaron had done. +2012-03-15 19:18:20 by Thirteen: +Thanks for the explanation of Primer - really useful. I felt so stupid watching this film. I couldn't follow all of the subtle plot lines at all. Just vague ideas as to what was going on. So it's nice to have it laid out like this, assuming it's all correct of course! I don't want to know if it's not though! +Reading some of the comments here blows my mind though. This is just a made-up story someone wrote and turned into a film ..... for fun. It's extremely doubtful that they discovered time travel in the process and that their "theory" holds any water, so I just don't understand why people even try to rip it apart, find flaws in it, expand on it. What's the point? Just enjoy the movie, doin't suck all the fun out of it. And yes I know some people are just discussing what was in the film-maker's mind and that's completely separate - nowt wrong with that. +2012-03-25 06:34:56 by RobertLockard: +Amazing article! This is quite an achievement. Well done, sir. Now the only thing I need to figure out is why the movie is called Primer in the first place. +2012-03-31 05:31:17 by Noni: +I think the simplest explanation for Aaron's warehouse-sized time machine is to enclose a very large amount of air, water, and food. It could be a long-term failsafe. + +I also wonder about nested running boxes. Run box A for a week. At the end of the week, enter box A with box B and turn on box B. When you emerge from box A at the start of the week, you've got box B, /which has been running for a week/. Assuming that nested boxes don't destroy the universe or something, this method could enable you to go back even before the machine was invented. +2012-04-04 22:11:15 by piton: +One confusing thing in the movie is that they call their (causally) past ones their doubles. Their existence is based on that the "double" will enter the machine later, so they remember everything the double experienced. +This confusion leads to that you cannot focus on the more difficult parts, and end up more confused. +2012-04-05 10:24:58 by ryan: +There is either a typo or something I'm not understanding from the explanation. In the explanation you write that His wife asks him about the rats in the attic on Tuesday nite while they're drinking a few beers but then at the bottom of the explanation you say that they had this conversation on Wednesday. Is the original Aaron (Aaron_0) the one that had the original conversation with his wife or is it the Aaron that has already went back via the failsafe? +2012-05-20 18:56:50 by Bar: +Great piece. Primer is one of my favourite movies. Such a lot to think about in there. +I'd hazard a guess that if indeed the large warehouse is to be a time machine, it could not only be used to take back large supplies of oxygen, food and supplies, it could also concievably be used to contain a dwelling, cars, helicopters, weapons, or ANY technology. If you started the machine today and left it running for ten years, then potentially you stop the machine in ten years time, and fill it up with rayguns and iPhone25's and $50 billion in used 2012 banknotes(Without getting in yourself), that stuff could magically appear in five minutes time. Or lets say you turn it on now and wait fifty years till someone invents a zero point energy machine. You could stick that in the machine and get it out in five minutes. There's no limit to what could be sent back in a warehouse of that size... I suppose it's about learning to think big! +2012-06-18 19:34:01 by lenmorvash: +greatly explained, i only understand like 50% of the movie before this, just still thinking about the difference of Primer's mechanics+heat time machine versus Stephen Hawking's timeholes time machine +2012-06-18 19:36:12 by lenmorvash: +@bar + +the idea is great, but i can't imagine staying in a hotel or any way to be sequestered for 10 years to avoid a paradox, + +2012-08-07 12:25:06 by VK: +You are awesome. Thanx a lot! +2012-08-16 18:56:38 by curiousgeorge: +The issue I have is something mentioned during the director's commentary but not really explained and that is that at no point in time is matter and energy static. That is to say, the entire universe is constantly expanding so if you were to move in time it would also be necessary to move through space also else you'd end up exiting into where the time machine was and not where it is. +2012-08-16 19:20:52 by qntm: +Primer is actually one of the few time travel movies which deals with this properly. When you are travelling back in time, you are also following the path backwards through space, because you are inside the box the entire time. +2012-08-17 03:29:46 by curiousgeorge: +So, let's say that once inside the box one were able to accelerate one's self to a velocity approaching the speed of light in order to benefit from the effects of time dialation. Other than seriously complicating the math, that would significantly reduce the amount of time needed to stay in the box and hence the need for large amounts of oxygen, water, food...etc. +2012-09-24 13:23:34 by Tulsa: +On Monday, the day starting when Abe and Aaron meet on the bench, why is Aaron sometimes wearing an earpiece and sometimes not? For instance he has no earpiece the when Ane shows him Abe's double the first time. +2012-10-20 20:34:33 by MindPuck: +@Tulsa: I think someone kinda answered this already. The presence of the earpiece depends on which timeline we, the viewers, are being shown. In the "original" timeline, there shouldn't be an earpiece at all. + +@Peter this question is totally bugging me as well, arghhhhhh! + +"2011-07-03 05:32:59 by Peter: + +I have a few questions, if anyone could help :) + +1) At the point where Abe and Aaron are testing their device at their garage and they think they blew it. Then they decide to remove the case so they can pick up Aaron's camcorder. Now all this is long before the fateful Monday in March when the whole main plot begins. After they both say '1-2-3' and remove the case, the scene blacks out and changes, showing Abe unconscious on the floor and the sound of static can be heard. It's really strange; what on earth happened here? Notice how Aaron calls him on the phone and Abe wakes up; then the scene REPEATS and Abe is still on the floor while Aaron's voice continues talking (asking him if he's hungry) and Abe is shown to pick up the phone again. It looks like there's TWO Abes here... For example, we see that one Abe gets up and Aaron is heard saying 'Abe, it's 7'. Then we see Abe getting up AGAIN and Aaron now says 'Abe, it's 7 at night'. This repetition of movements, and the way the scenes are presented, show (at least to me) that we have here TWO Abes. My initial theory was that this was a result of Abe Prime's proximity to the time machine which he had brought in his house (???) to test it, after they took Aaron's camera out of it and removed the case, and somehow he'd fallen unconscious as a result of so many 'leaks' (no cover). But I really am not sure. So what's up with this scene here?" +2012-11-04 12:10:58 by Potkingthefirst: +Primer 1(Redux)(Summary) + +Abe the 2nd has decided to watch over the original Abe and Aaron and stop them from discovering time travel. After his disastrous attempt of sabotaging the coffins. He has made a severe mistake in which he informs Mr. Grainger of time travel, in hope that his funding to another project would push the original Abe and Aaron to pursue other projects. Unbeknownst to Abe the 2nd, he inspired Mr. Grainger not to fund the other project, but instead to seek the newly created failsafe box, which unexpectedly resulted in Mr. Grainger going back several months which explains why everything goes black and Abe Prime is on the floor in the first movie. Also the mysterious warehouse is explained in which Aaron the second, seeks to become truly prescient. + +IDK, I really wanted to expound on the original movie and fix the plot holes, I'm just a time travel nerd. How does it sound? +2012-11-12 17:37:23 by Vladimir: +Does Primer have branching timelines, or a single timeline you can "edit"? Near the end of the movie, the narrator says "the last revision is what counts, apparently". Since the narrator is Aaron, that belief makes sense, because how else do you justify abandoning your wife and kid in a different timeline, just to save some folks at a party? + +But if there's a single timeline that gets "scratched" whenever someone enters a box, I don't understand how Aaron and Abe were able to use two different boxes to go back in time together. So it seems the movie has a plot hole that I can't close. Anyone? + +Reply to Noni about nested boxes: sorry, you can't go back another week. When you get into box B, you'll backtrack along the path that box B took through spacetime, so you just end up where you started. + +Another interesting point: what happens if you put a working box on a scale? I gave it some thought, and came to the conclusion that a box with a person inside has to weigh less than one without. (If you use it to go forward in time, it weighs more, as usual. If you go forward and back, it cancels out.) And then I realized that the original purpose of the boxes in the movie was to reduce the weight of objects. Wow! +2012-11-12 17:43:02 by Vladimir: +Reply to RobertLockard: the movie is called "Primer" because it's about who is more prime than whom. +2012-12-08 21:35:55 by Richard: +what i dont get is what the debt is and if all is resolved at the end , them why is he building a warehouse sized time machine at the end +2012-12-23 02:44:11 by Nebuler: +As I see it, Hooded Aaron (2nd Aaron) brings another box back with him (recycling he calls it) and sets it up when he gets out, goes and records all the conversations for himself. Then uses the box he brought back to go back yet again and becomes 3rd Aaron. + +As 3rd Aaron he interacts with his past self (2nd Aaron) and convinces him to leave. It is at this point 3rd Aaron has stopped 2nd Aaron from ever using the second box and becoming the 3rd. + +Also 2nd Aaron had subdued Aaron prime which altered the events that had Aaron prime entering the failsafe in the first place to become 2nd Aaron. This frees up the failsafe to be used by Abe and as 3rd Arron is the current Aaron at this point and he used the second box they would have never been in the failsafe at the same time. + +I'm going on the idea here that time does not retroactively correct itself (otherwise 3rd Aaron would never exist as 2nd Aaron never went back to become him.) So with this you could go back in time and kill yourself or your parents but remain there in a timeline where "other" you does not exist. + +The questions I don't understand are: When Abe prime and Aaron prime awake, what are there lives like, how will they react to what there counterparts did while they slept? Does 2nd Abe prevent them from ever going back again? What happened in the off screen timeline that causes Granger to go back? Which Aaron is it at the end in france 2md or 3rd? +2012-12-24 21:04:47 by Aditya: +But if Abe(2) stays back to sabotage the making of the time machine by their doubles..dont all subsequent timelines get affected as well by either the late making of the machines and boxes or them never getting made at all? +2012-12-28 18:07:28 by Jim: +I applaud this very thorough explanation of the plotline in Primer, (probably the most thorough there is on the net), however there is only one tiny aspect that I disagree with. At the end of the film, when Abe travels back a week and tries to undo his mistakes, that is indeed Aaron 3 he is speaking to but was not at the beginning of the film. In the beginning, he is speaking to Aaron 2, who successfully plays out the timeline as he intended to originally. When Abe travels back to alter the timeline, he is met by Aaron 3 BECAUSE he fail-safed and Aaron has supremacy over the timelines since he stole the original fail-safe machine. Abe can never go back farther than Aaron, but each time he does he will displace and be met by additional "layers" of Aarons who has traveled back along with him to negate whatever Abe attempts to change. Basically, whoever can go back the farthest in time has the most control over the universe but at the cost of having the most duplicates at any given time. + +To answer some other questions and pose new ones on here, Aaron 2 is talking to Abe 2 over the phone and explaining why he was knocked unconscious by one of his own doubles. The "debt" he is repaying Abe is stealing the fail-safe machine and thus robbing Abe of having ultimate say over the fate of his invention, not to mention forever distorting Abe 2's timeline. + +There are also a lot of questions here about what effect any particular action has on other people's timelines and what not. Understand, what Primer demonstrates is that when it comes to time travel, subjective experience is all that matters. You can do whatever you want and alter timelines however you see fit, but only YOU will experience any altered timeline you have created. Everyone else that doesn't make the trip you made will be oblivious to any changes you have made as their timeline will stream with those events always having occurred. That is why Abe 1 is oblivious he is talking to Aaron 2 in the beginning because that particular Abe never traveled that far back yet. Therefore, he will always remember the timeline that way with never having interacted with Aaron 1 on the bench. Aaron 2 (and ostensibly Aaron 3) must remember what originally happened with the original Abe in his own particular timeline. + +As to who is building the warehouse sized box at the end of the film, it seems obvious to me that is in fact Aaron 3. I say obvious because his facial hair growth is slightly less than Aaron 2's in the kitchen scene, indicating he hasn't gone as long without shaving. + +Finally, I have always wondered, what would happen if you put a box on an airplane and turned it on right before take off? Would you immediately exit the box before even making the trip you were about to take? +2013-01-02 09:49:18 by Josh: +So I decided to revisit one of my all time favorite movies, Primer. This was my 3rd time seeing it again. I agree and disagree on various parts, but I have another question more importantly, one I had not put much thought into previously. It's not mentioned in this wrie-up and I didn't see anything about it in the comments either. Is it safe to assume that Rachel does indeed get kiled at the party? My guess is that she does get killed at the party, and perhaps Aaron feels responsible for inviting the ex-boyfriend. I can't think of any other reason that Aaron would be so determined to correct the events of that night. I think that Aaron goes back and stops the armed gunmen, but all he does is prolong her death until a later date, as evidenced by the future Granger, they both agree he should only know about the machine in the case of an extreme emergency. After this realization he concludes it wasn't enough, and resolves to go back a second time, this time getting the shooter arrested. Perhaps it doesn't add up but it makes some sense to me. + +The other thing I don't understand is the logic behind the fail safe device. The fail safe device doesn't actually accomplish anything for them in the movie. The original boxes are set in a loop so that they will not meet their past selves, and they will always stay one day ahead of their copies on the timeline. Even once they are finished making their fortune and stop using the boxes, they will still maintain their own time line. The point of this is that even though they travel back in time, they keep their original lives by making their past selves travel back also, in a constant loop. Abe and Aaron take over their copies lives, while the copies take over their copies lives, and the copies of the copies take over their copies lives in an endless loop. The fail safe can go back the entire length of time it was active, but all this does is leave them in the past, essentially ereasing their future. Unless they go about the grisly task of killing their copies in the past, and taking over their lives, they can't actually change anything. By going back they can only alter the lives of their copies, their future selves are simply left stranded and alone. The fail safe device is the only way for these time travel twists and turns to be possible, but from a logical plot standpoint, its existence does not make sense. + +I also thought of what I think might be an inconsistency, what happens to Aaron 1 when he uses the fail safe device and then relives that week, this time recording all the conversations as Aaron 2. At this time there should only be Abe 1, but Aaron 2 has now replaced Aaron 1. Aaron 2 now goes about the week pretending to be Aaron 1 with Abe 1. We know that Aaron 2 drugs Aaron 1 and puts him in the attic, we see this when Aaron 3 comes back on Monday. Are we to believe that Aaron 2 keeps Aaron 1 in the attic for 4 days? What about the fact that when Aaron 3 arrives we see Aaron 1 escape from the attic that same day (Monday). The only logical conclusion is that Aaron 2 actually killed Aaron 1, but this can't be true because Aarons wife talks about hearing noises in the attic on Tuesday or Wednesday. We know that the last scene on the bench is Aaron 3 talking to Abe 2 on Monday, meaning that for the majority of the movie we are seeing Aaron 2. We know that Aaron 1's first 4 days are never shown, I believe it must have something to do with the Party. There must have been a good reason for Aaron to go all the way back, seeing as they were making a killing in the stock market. + +Thanks for listening to my ramblings, haha +2013-01-03 13:42:02 by Monkeytoe: +The problem with these explanations is that it is impossible for Aaron 2 or Aaron Prime or Aaron 3 to live at the same time for more than a short period. In this explanation, Aaron 3 convinces Aaron 2 to leave town and not go back in the box. In that case, no Aaron 3 could exist. Aaron prime only exists until he climbs into the box, at which point he becomes Aaron 2. there is a brief period (6 hours) when both Aaron 2 and Aaron prime exist at the same time, until Aaron prime climbs into the box, leaving only Aaron 2 in existence. + +If Aaron 2 climbs in the box, then there is a brief period (less than 6 hours) when Aaron prime, Aaron 2 and Aaron 3 all exist, until Aaron prime and then Aaron 2 each climb into a box, leaving only Aaron 3 in existence. + +If Aaron 2 never climbs into the box, there is no Aaron 3. If Aaron Prime never climbs into the box, there is no Aaron 2. Once past the 6 hours, only one Aaron remains - who is the original Aaron, just with all of the experience of going back and forth in the box and spending time as Aaron Prime, then Aaron 2 and finally Aaron 3. + +It is therefore impossible for Aaron 2 to go to France and build a warehouse sized box - unless Aaron 2 is a manifestation from so far in the future that he and Aaron Prime can exist at the same time. At some point, Aaron Prime has to disappear by going into the box in order to create Aaron 2, leaving only one Aaron. It is possible to have a finite period of infinite Aarons as he keeps looping back by climbing into the box, but ultimately, the line reverts back to a single Aaron. + +If any Aaron were killed at teh party, it would kill all Aarons. Example. Aaron Prime gets into box at Midnight Friday and gets out at noon Friday creating Aaron 2. Both Aaron Prime and Aaron 2 exist between noon and midnight friday. After midnight, only Aaron 2 exists. thus, if Aaron 2 gets killed at 11 p.m. on Friday, Aaron is dead. If, instead, Aaron 2 goes into a box at Midnight Friday and goes back to 12:05 p.m. Friday, there are now three Aarons in existence between 12:05 friday and Midnight Friday. After midnight on Friday, only Aaron 3 remains. Thus, if Aaron 3 gets killed at 11 p.m. at the party, no Aaron exists after midnight. If one of the other Aarons finds out and then does not get into the box, then the subsequent Aaron was never created. If Aaron 2 does not get into the box at midnight, Aaron 3 never existed. +2013-01-03 13:54:23 by Monkeytoe: +Think of it another way, Aaron is a single line that loops back on itself each time Aaron (in whatever iteration) climbs into a box and the aaron line cross its own path when Aaron (now Aaron 2) climbs out of the box at an earlier time. It just continues looping back on itself, but it is still a single line. If you break that line at any point, it is the end of Aaron. Otherwise, the "box" is not a time-travel device but a cloning device creating new, entirely independent, Aarons. +2013-01-10 17:35:38 by Jim: +As far as the Thomas Granger incident, a lot of people are forgetting some key details. Granted, the most reasonable explanation is that Granger is sent back because at some later date Rachel is in fact murdered by her ex boyfriend. For whatever reason, (probably because they were arrested for punching Joseph Plaats in the face), neither Abe nor Aaron could be sent back to prevent it. So one of them must have told their version of Thomas Granger to use one of the boxes (presumably Abe's) to go back and stop them from punching Plaats so that they don't get arrested and therefore can use the boxes to ensure nothing ever happens to Rachel. Him falling unconscious in Abe's presence could be because if two people use the same box they become saturated in a magnetic charge. (Positive repels positive, negative repels negative). But I have a much simpler and simultaneously much more complex alternative explanation for Thomas Granger's presence: + +Let's break down exactly what happens solely within the Granger event itself: Abe and Aaron get in their car on their way to punch Plaats in the face. On their way they notice Granger sitting in the car. Who do they call to verify it is his double? Thomas Granger. In the middle of the night. Granger likely has called i.d. and probably recognizes Abe's voice. It stands to reason that perhaps the phone call Abe made somehow leads to Granger discovering the time machines and using one to go back in time. The reason he is knocked unconscious by Abe's presence is because he is suffering from recursion. Abe is the source of Granger's paradox, he called him, he came back in time, and around and around we go. +2013-01-13 22:01:41 by Matthieu: +2012-11-12 17:37:23 by Vladimir: + +>Reply to Noni about nested boxes: sorry, you can't go back another week. When you get into box B, you'll backtrack along the path that box B took >through spacetime, so you just end up where you started. + + +Why should we take the same path ? We are in a new timeline with a one-week "loaded" box so when the box is turn off the time encounter a cul-de-sac and go back the other way, and we end-up one another week earlier. We don't know how it works, if the machine load with "negative time", set a spacetime path or just define an interval where the time flip-flop, we can only make guess. + +About the end, it could be Aaron 2 planning to life inside a machine so "you will not find me". With 1300*one month he has more than a century to spend, and he can even invite babes inside (ok its not very realistic...) +2013-01-17 15:09:33 by Maw: +I still don't understand why Aaron had to go back to Monday twice thus creating Aaron 2 and 3 permanently. What was he trying to accomplish? +2013-01-17 16:40:56 by Jim: +@ Maw : Aaron traveled back because in the original timeline, he was not at the party. As the audience, we are left to only speculate as to what occurred and will never truly know what actually transpired in the original timeline, especially since the level of deception in which Aaron is willing to go is finally revealed to us at the end. Now, in order for him to alter the past from what originally happened, he had to take his past double's place. In order to do that, he had to render his double unconscious to occupy his role so that the world is not encountering two Aarons simultaneously. (This would obviously raise some concerns). We learn, however, that a third Aaron returns from the future and attempts to render Aaron 2 unconscious but is unsuccessful. Clearly, while this indicates something still went wrong when he tried to correct the past, it also is due to the fact that Abe failsafed and had no intention of telling Aaron about the boxes, thus resulting in a third "layer" of Aaron in the timeline Abe 2 has arrived at. + +This is problematic for Aaron because if he is never told about the boxes then his doubles will not vacate timelines that he intends on occupying by entering the box at the intervals in which he did. He would be condemned to either having to kill his own doubles to remove them permanently if he wanted to keep traveling or stop traveling altogether, neither of which sound like very attractive options to Aaron. Thus he failsafed to return to an earlier point than Abe so that he will forever have supremacy over the timelines. (The film depicts Aaron as the kind of person that probably didn't like when he first learned of the machines and realized he was existing in a universe altered by Abe. He is the kind of person that would rather have that power over others). So to answer your question, what he is trying to accomplish is to produce an outcome of perfect results for himself, an obsession that has consumed him since he became intoxicated with the power to travel through time and set things howeveri he sees fit. +2013-01-27 06:02:37 by headache: +so after all of this my head hurts..... +2013-02-20 20:48:42 by VuffiRaa: +Thank you! + +This explanation is awesome! How often did you have to watch the film in order to write it? :P +2013-03-08 21:30:39 by cool: +cool +2013-03-20 12:09:47 by Teddy: +How does the watch run forward when going backward through time? +2013-03-20 16:02:26 by Bobber: +here is a thought, if you started a smaller box in the future, then got into a larger box with the smaller box running and you outside the smaller box and went back in time, then emerged from the larger box with the smaller box and got into the smaller box, could you go back into what would be the future... +2013-03-20 17:52:02 by qntm: +Bobber: or you could just wait a while +2013-04-10 16:12:44 by Jim: +@ Teddy : The watch runs forward because it is still subjectively experiencing time progressing forward. What was odd that they noticed was the AMOUNT of time that the watch had subjectively experienced and the actual time that had passed from outside the box. This indicated that the watch was experiencing twice the amount of time because its arrow of time was no longer linear but parabolically shaped. Therefore it was making forward and backward trips which resulted in a doubling of the minutes it had experienced subjectively. The only flaw the film has from this standpoint then is that Aaron and Abe would have had to subjectively experience 12 hours in the box to travel back 6. + +@ Bobber : No. What you just described is essentially what Aaron did to travel back farther than Abe. He folded up the failsafe box and took it back with him into his box. He then opened the failsafe that had been running the entire time within the first box and traveled back in it to an earlier point. What would happen in the scenario you presented is that you would wind up deeper in the past, not farther in the future. + +2013-04-17 10:16:55 by BishopAP: +I don't understand Abe's and Rachel's relationship. She's supposed to be his girlfriend, right? Why do they seem increasingly distant as the movie progresses? At the party scene near the end, they don't even speak to each other and it looks like she's there with a date. Even on the phone, Abe doesn't seem to be very passionate or show any kind of romantic emotional attachment to her. Also, I don't understand how she could be at the party originally. Abe has to be told at one point that Aaron stopped her shotgun-wielding ex-boyfriend, which means that she was there and Abe wasn't. But later, it's established that the only way to get her to attend the party is to have Abe invite her, that she only goes because he's going to be there. In a movie as complex as this, it's easy to miss that one minute detail that pulls it all together, but having just watched it twice in a row, I can't figure this one out. +2013-04-17 16:25:06 by Jim: +@Bishop. From how I understood it, Abe and Rachel's relationship is one in which Rachel is more interested in Abe than he is in her. They don't seem to me to be officially boyfriend and girlfriend, but they are in the early stages of developing a relationship. (This is commonly referred to simply as "talking" in the modern dating lexicon). Maybe I am looking too deep into it but it seems that Abe is reluctant to have a full fledged relationship with Rachel because the film seems to depict her as a bit of a floozie. (She just broke up with her ex, she is "seeing" Abe and at the party flirting with some random guy which seems to be the catalyst for her ex walking in with the shotgun, I don't think they went to the party together). As far as the inconsistency you pointed out, good point, but I think a simple resolution for continuity here would be that Abe may very well have invited her to the party in the original timeline and just simply didn't go. After all, it is clear to us that whichever timeline we're talking about, he and Aaron have been working around the clock on a time machine. In a more grim possibility, perhaps in the original timeline neither Abe NOR Aaron went to the party in the original timeline and Rachel was killed at the party. We will never truly know what originally happened because Aaron has permanently altered events, which is the entire point Carruth is making with his cautionary tale about time travel. +2013-04-21 09:20:21 by Lance: +Thank you for this explanation! It cleared up exactly what I had missed. + +After watching it again, here are my 2 cents, I believe there has to be minimally 4 Aarons. Aaron Two, who is narrating, mentions that he had thought it would be a good idea to record the conversations of the day, but he never actually did it. He just says it's an idea he had. That means that in order to even have a recording, Aaron Three (or higher) would have had to make a recording for the Aaron we are watching when he stops the ex boyfriend. So, we would have Aaron Prime, Aaron the Narrator, Aaron the Recorder and Aaron the ExStopper at a minimum. + +2013-04-28 18:38:16 by Lance: +TWIN AARONs IN SAME PLACE AT THE END? +Forgive me if this has already been mentioned but I watched Primer twice yesterday, the second time after reading the brilliant analysis/explanation above, and I could swear that at the very end, there are TWO Aarons in France (starting to build the warehouse-sized device). If you watch closely (and this happens throughout the film) there are varying amounts of facial growth on Aaron. Sometimes he's clean-shaven and then in the next scene he has 2-days' growth. However, and this is the biggie: if you watch carefully at the end, the first dialog spoken by (an) Aaron in France is "Morning" by an Aaron with not too much facial hair and no one standing near him, his back is to the camera and he's facing to his left (looking towards left of TV screen). Then the camera swings left and there's an Aaron with almost a beard (much more facial hair than the one who said "morning") and people all around him, with him facing the camera and looking to his left (to the right of tv screen) who then says "every half meter... everywhere". Then the camera swings right again to the Aaron with no one around him, still back to camera & facing 'left' who repeats "everywhere". The french guy seems to even look back & forth between the two Aarons as they each speak. I've run it back dozens of times and I'd swear there are two of them. Presumably Aaron Prime (Hoodie Aaron) and then the one who left at the 'end" (last scene in the USA). Can anyone confirm this for me? I'm 99% convinced that there are either two of them in the scene or that they are suggesting that there are two Aarons in separate locations and both are building enormous boxes. After watching it yet again just now, I'm even more confused, 'cause although in the first part of the scene they even pan around the 'room' to show they're indoors, yet (my) second Aaron is near a forklift and it appears to be outside. Can anyone check the ending & see if you can figure out if I'm right that there's "something there" and, if so, what the heck it is? Thanks! +2013-05-14 02:35:05 by Rob: +@Lance +I saw this too and you are right... there are two at the end. However, this could be Aaron 2, who was convinced to leave, or he could have just created more versions of himself to assist with whatever project he was working on. I like the theory that someone mentioned above: he is trying to ultimately control his universe. I would love to see a sequel that follows his project though! +2013-05-17 18:29:43 by RedHaven: +Great article. This movie is among my favorites of all time. It is amazing what you can do with $7000 budget. + +I have read many of the comments here. Someone above mentioned an early scene where Aaron is picking Abe up at his apartment and the camera keeps cutting to Abe asleep on the floor. Aaron says "it is 7pm" or whatever. I have been wondering if that was done just to disorient the viewer because it doesn't seem possible that either of them had gone back that far at that point. It does seem odd though because if one or both of them had come back that far, a reminder of what time it is might be needed. + +I have often wondered about Aaron's new refrigerator. It is new (he tells his wife that they have to throw out the first couple of batches or ice). I was thinking that it was somehow related to when he is getting ready to take the copper tubing from Abe's fridge. Again, it doesn't seem like the time travel would have started at the point but it seems odd that the script makes such a big deal about the ice. Of course, the script was written to keep the viewer off guard so there is a fair amount of dialog that is not related to the plot. + +Finally, I always assumed that the reason Grainger had come back was related to his daughter getting shot and/or killed at the party the first time through and that Abe told him about the box and he used it to stop the shooting. They say that they may have told him if it was an emergency. + +2013-06-04 20:12:05 by steady: +Interesting film, but surely time only speeds up inside the box, everything outside the box remains the same therefore no time travel +2013-06-08 19:57:46 by Jim: +@Steady. That's not entirely accurate. Time does not "speed up" or slow down within the box Abe and Aaron have built. Rather, think of the interior of the box as a state in which an arrow of time does not exist. A zero time state so to speak. Since time is nonexistent within the box, the way it works is that if one from outside the box were to plan on entering the box in the next 8 hours and spend a subjective 8 hours in the box, then presumably they should emerge from the box at the onset of those 8 hours. The individual that emerges will be that individual from 8 hours in the outside world's future, and thus successfully completed a time travel trip. What confuses many people about the concept of Carruth's time machine is that they are accustomed to thinking of a time machine as a device that somehow propels backward through the fabric of spacetime. Carruth's machine doesn't do this, it instead keeps the traveler temporally immobile as the world around them is still subjected to the linear flow of time. +2013-06-18 23:10:30 by Romain: +I'm adding to all this because I found this discussion great, and it helped me understand the movie (on which I think I have a good grasp now). +I think there are mistakes here and there in the interpretation of each person (personal opinion of course), and I found this chart that sumerizes the story very well : +http://cdn.unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/primer-chart.jpg + +A few things are not noted on the graph. The most important thing they haven't noted is the dispute Abe and Aaron have at the Airport at the end (the version of them that came back last (called Abe5 and Aaron6 in the chart)). I think that part is very important. Abe5 wants to stay back to avoid the first versions of Aaron and Abe to ever making the machines and also keep an eye out on the other other version of Aaron that exists in this timeline (called Aaron2 in the chart, the one who discovered Abe did a failsafe and uses it to take control over Abe. He does that by bringing the two machines in the fail safe one (the machines can fold as said in the movie). He then has two extra machines (that's what he means when he says they are recyclable. By bringing them with him, he dupplicates them). He uses one as a new failsafe machine for himself which he starts just after arriving. He uses the other to put where Abe put his failsafe and starts it a bit later so Abe still thinks he has his failsafe, but it comes back later than Aaron's new failsafe. But that's all explained in the chart anyways). + +So anyways, Abe5 says that's the reason he's staying behind, but Aaron6 knows that Abe has always envied the situation Aaron had with his family. He secretely loves Aaron's wife and probably wants to build a machine and bring her and her daughter in it with him to create a double for his own. It's pretty far fetched and there is no way of knowing if he will do it, but that's what Aaron is getting at at the end when they fight at the airport, and Abe doesn't refute his theory, he only says "stay away from them. All of them". + +What Jim said about the way the machine works seemed very interesting, and I loved the idea at first. It makes a lot of sense. But I didn't understand why the fungus would develop way faster than usual in the machine (around 1330 times faster). So after seeing the movie for the second time, I think I got how the machine works. + +Let's call the moment when you start the machine A. And the moment whe you stop it B. If you put an object in the box, start the machine and stop it a minute later, the object will have spent approximately 1*1331 minutes in the box. What happens is that the object goes back and forth between A and B approximately 1331 times. It has to be an odd number of cycles for it to exit out of B (the moment the machine is stopped). +And of course they can do it the other way round (that's the interesting part, the part that allows you to travel through time but never earlier than A, the moment the machine got started). They turn the machine on (moment A), then one minute after turn it off and put the object inside (moment B). The object oscilates between B and A approximately 1330 times. This time it's an even number of cycles so the object comes out at the B moment, it can't come out at the A moment because it is inanimate and it comes out when we decide to open the box, so pretty much just after putting it in. + +So that's when the idea of putting a human in becomes interesting. He can decide to come out. Lets say he starts a box at 12:00, turns it off at 12:01 and gets in. If he stays for the whole cycle, he will stay in the box for approximately 1330 minutes. But if he gets out when his timer indicates one minute (so just the time to go from B to A for the timezone inside the box), then he comes out of A at 12:00. And he sees of course his double turning on the machine. + +ANyways that's what I gathered from this very interesting movie, hope it helps. +2013-06-19 20:55:03 by Jim: +@Romain: Your breakdown of how the machine works in the film is accurate. You or I, (or any other physical object), will continue to subjectively experience time passing because we have no choice, our atoms are structured this way. The subjective experience of time while in the box is described as parabolic, meaning one is oscillating backward and forward, backward and forward instead of just forward in time. Like a loop. The overall effect is a multiplying effect of the time experienced while inside the box. + +What I mean by a zero time state is that the environment within the box is one in which the actual field being produced inside is dislocated from the constraint of the standard arrow of time. It is unbound, or as Abe put it, untethered to what you or I would consider the standard progression of time moving from past to present. Instead, the field inside the box swirls from past to present back to past and back to present again. The trick is to exit once it has flipped back to past again. Carruth's idea of the box's operation was based on the Meissner effect, in which magnetic fields are expelled and the result is a current that doesn't weaken with time. It remains the same. This effect was extrapolated upon by Carruth to give the machine it's anomalous effect. +2013-06-22 13:05:13 by koniczynek: +It's actually said at the end of the movie, that boxes aren't one time use only +2013-07-08 15:18:48 by teresa: +Am I the only person worried that we now have two Grangers in this timeline? Because current-timeline-Granger is not going to get in the box since his daughter doesn't die in this timeline. (Or did I see a body bag and that was from-the-future-Granger?) + +2013-07-08 22:25:08 by Jim: +@Teresa. It is indeed concerning there are two Grangers now, but bear in mind the final timeline we see being set is from the perspective of Abe 2, who has returned to Monday of that week, before the Granger incident occurs. Whether or not there will be another visiting Granger in the timeline he currently occupies remains to be seen, the prevailing theory seems to be that there will be. + +The reasoning behind this theory largely being that the party, Aaron's numerous trips back, the Granger incident and Abe 2's extended journey to the beginning of the week are all somehow connected. What the characters in the story have found themselves trapped in is what can most accurately be described as a feedback loop. Like when a microphone is placed in front of a speaker. + +Given that the method of the machine's operation is contingent upon a fundamental premise,(which is one of "what has happened is going to happen," because events, although still linked, are now in an un-sequenced format), every event that occurs impacted by a trip backward in time is an event that has occurred prior to its cause. For example, if you turn on the box and you immediately emerge from that box, what that means is that it has been determined you are going to make that trip backward. + +This also then means that whatever motivated you to make said trip will likely still occur as well, from a probabilistic standpoint. Otherwise, it is unlikely you would have any presence there at all. What Abe understood and Aarond did not was that in order to avoid becoming trapped within a feedback loop one must travel backward without being motivated by any one specific event, but to instead generally profit from the trip so that personal events are not pre-set. (This is why he insisted on maintaining strict symmetry, no tv, no phones, etc.). + +This does not necessarily mean a timeline cannot be altered, but what it does mean is that whatever alteration you made to the timeline is now merely the result of a future action set to occur you are already experiencing the effects from, whether you are aware of it now or eventually will be later. Feedback loops are Carruth's primary warning against the use of time travel. +2013-07-08 22:29:26 by qntm: +I don't know what you mean by "prevailing theory", but it's pretty clear to me that by the end of the film, the shotgun/Lauren/Granger situation is totally resolved... leaving Abe and Aaron with a different and much bigger set of problems, which cannot be resolved using time travel. +2013-07-08 22:58:57 by Jim: +@Sam. Well, I say prevailing theory because I felt it was seemingly obvious to most people that by the end of the film it becomes clear that the entire string of events are related in a non-linear causal format. + +The very new yet still somehow mysteriously broken refrigerator in Aaron's kitchen at the beginning of the film, (likely the result of a previous temporal generation of either Abe or Aaron using the copper tubing), Abe's initial introduction of the machine's function to a very impatient Aaron from an unknown and apparently relatively distant future, (he is impatient because this is his umpteenth time experiencing it), the "leaks" in the boxes, (likely the result of a future Abe tinkering with the boxes), Granger's inexplicable appearance, (likely the result of a desperate future Abe sending him back to alert his past self to the degree in which things have spiraled out of control), and finally the appearance of Rachel's boyfriend at the party, who as we all now know was and always had been invited by an Aaron from the future. + +Nothing is resolved, everything has simply been reset to its starting position. + +Feedback loop. +2013-07-08 23:04:38 by qntm: +I agree with nothing that you just said, particularly the likelihood of the things you claim to be likely. + +Just to pick the lowest-hanging fruit: the new refrigerator isn't missing any copper tubing, and that scene takes fully three months before the first time machine is constructed. +2013-07-09 15:10:04 by Jim: +@Sam That's quite alright Sam, we don't have to agree. That's what makes the film so great, it's open to endless interpretation. However, the refrigerator issue is difficult to ignore. + +You don't find it at all odd that Aaron's brand new refrigerator, (we know it's new because it has a bow on it), is malfunctioning, malfunctioning by creating dirty ice, that Aaron and Abe later remove the copper tubing from Abe's (not Aaron's broken) refrigerator later in the movie, and dirty ice is sometimes caused by faulty or missing copper tubing that connects the water supply line to refrigerators? + +I understand that it initially seems far-fetched, seeing as the opening scene takes place 3 months before the "first" machine is built. But what we are ignoring is that at the very end of the film, Aaron is building a much larger box, one the size of an entire room. So we now have a giant box being created in March, (perhaps even one that an individual could conceivably exit from long before the internal structure has been fully built so long as all of its doors have been closed the entire time leading up to someone going in and using it to build the internal structure), a broken refrigerator and an unknown number of Aarons and Abes roaming the Earth. None of this is temporally connected? +2013-07-10 07:54:59 by Billy: +My question is why does Aaron find it necessary to record the conversations when he has lived through them? Also, if Aaron2 went back with the idea that he would record the conversations, why does Aaron3 attack him (as Aaron2 would know that he would have to travel back [again] to listen to those conversations while they were happening in real-time)? Aaron3 would be like, "Ok, dude. Here I am. Things are going as planned. Give me the recording and do whatever it was we planned to do at the outset." + +To the above: the premise of the movie is that in order to travel back in time, you have to switch the machine on at the point you want to travel back to. That is why Abe turns on the failsafe machine Monday morning. You can't travel back further in time to a point when the machine hasn't been invented. +2013-07-10 11:01:28 by Billy: +Just to expand on my response to above ... this is filmmaker Shane Carruth in an interview when Primer came out: + What’s the strangest interpretation you’ve heard? +The strangest interpretation involves somebody who has decided that from the first scene they are already using the device to travel back. And that gets really odd. In the story, in the beginning we’re seeing Christmas trees and red bows and even Christmas lights in the backyard. Then there’s a moment where it fades out and when it fades back in, we’re talking about March Madness. And so it was always my intention that it be understood that there’s a gap of time here. The way the boxes are set up you could never go back any further than the first moment the box is set up. + +I’ll get a question about whether the refrigerator was bought from one of the double’s stock money. It’s really awful because I kind of have to say, “Well, that was actually three months before.” To try to explain the plot in that kind of weird detail it means that it didn’t work. I didn’t communicate properly with that person. And so they’ve thought something else entirely. +2013-07-10 12:19:57 by qntm: +Haha, that is awesome. Do you have a URL for that interview? + +The remark about crushed ice at the start of the film is more about establishing scenery. We see some of the actually rather dull details of Aaron's family life, his daughter ("She needs a bath"). Later on we see the cereal he eats for breakfast (always), and supermarket shopping, and filling up at the gas station. The whole movie is set against this incredibly low-key, pedestrian suburban backdrop. The most interesting thing in Aaron's life is a crushed ice machine! You can see why the time machines would drop a bombshell on that. +2013-07-10 12:22:56 by qntm: +Something which is interesting, though, is the scene where they're filling up their cars and Aaron talks about "How did it get like this?" This raises the interesting notion that there might be other people in the world who've independently discovered this method for time travel, and managed to keep it secret. What have they done with their machines? How have they modified or controlled the world, to what advantage? + +It's clearly established that their boxes can't go back further than Monday. But it might be that their entire world is the product of much earlier time travel by completely unseen people. This edges in to fan fiction but it's still a pretty neat thought. +2013-07-11 05:40:16 by cole: +i've tried to read every comment and there is just one thing that doesn't make sense. Be it one time line or several time lines... If one person stopped their previous self from getting in, all non primes of that person and timelines would cease to exist. If that prime person never entered the boxes, there would be no event of new timelines being created. or am i missing something? +2013-07-11 14:05:21 by Jim: +@Billy: I suppose if Carruth said that, then you are indeed right and my proposed theory (one of many) is totally wrong and off base. I guess I tossed it out there based on two things, 1: a total lack of trust in anything the character of Aaron said or did in the movie, and 2: the fact that what a lot of people overlook is that it was actually he, Aaron, that first stabilized the machine and got it to work 3 months prior to Abe's first use of the box. The feedback loop potentially being initiated by him tampering with a makeshift design and to his shock being confronted by an Aaron from the future, setting the events in motion. But like I said, this must not be at all possible. + +@Sam: That is an interesting point, I have had the same thought myself. Particularly when he said the line "What's worse, being paranoid or knowing you should be?" As if saying, if we were able to do this, someone else must have already at some point in which case we are living in a universe already altered and designed by them. (This could have fueled his rationale to begin altering the universe himself, since from his perspective it's likely other people have already been doing it). It would also be the only way in which what I proposed would be possible, if Aaron had hooked up with one of those individuals and was able to travel farther back. + +@Cole: The reason the primes and timelines don't cease to exist is because once you've made a change akin to the one you're describing, preventing yourself from traveling, all that means is that you are now occupying a revised timeline. It's easier to think of it in terms of a set of train tracks, and you are the train. When the train wants to go in a certain direction, the tracks are forked and the train diverts from the original path. Those tracks still exist, but you are simply traveling down a diverted set of tracks. +2013-07-12 22:33:19 by TheRizz: +My thought on the handwriting is that entering/exiting the field is always exposing them to at least a lesser version of what you see Aaron experience in his first travel (the one where he exits too early/late) - some kind of shock to the system caused by the time field. + +Note: This also leads to another question - did Aaron actually exit the box at the wrong time, or did another Aaron/Abe come back in the box that was supposed to be, then replace it with another box brought back with him (causing the time to be off by a few minutes)? +2013-07-21 05:18:13 by Lanter: +Interesting question: Could Abe have created a more effective failsafe option by doing the following: + +1. Prior to informing Aaron of the discovery and prior to building any additional boxes, Abe Prime builds an original failsafe box (which as I understand it, is basically what he does in the movie). + +2. Instead of activating the timer and immediately leaving (as is the generally accepted practice so as to avoid a future encounter with a double), Abe turns the box on and waits in the storage unit with a handgun. + +3. If some other version of himself exits the box, he kills that version of himself (or really anyone else who exits the failsafe box). + +4. Dispose of the body (which should be doable since nobody would be looking for the victim - is it even a crime to kill your doppleganger from the future?). Logistically, this would be difficult, but logically it could be done. + +5. Never tell anyone of the discovery and never create another box. + +Had he (or anyone) used the failsafe box at any point, he would know that building the time machines had created some sort of problem in the future. By killing that person, he would effectively close the loop at the source w/out needing to engage in some sort of battle of wits with any future doubles. + +If nobody exits the box, it means that it is never used at any point in the future, and it can be assumed that by building the additional time machines, he does not create some sort of terrible dystopian future. + +Granted, whomever travels back in the failsafe box could be armed. However, if it were someone else who travels back, they won't be expecting Abe Prime to ambush them. And if its some future version of himself who wants to kill Abe Prime so as to assume his identity, they can have a shoot-out in the storage unit to see who gets to be the sole Abe. + +Again, the logistics would be a pain, but I believe the logic holds. Thoughts? +2013-07-21 09:00:10 by Pat: +Just a few quick things about Aaron's new refrigerator. The dirty ice is caused by breaking in the new water filter. Just like using a brita, you get dust in the first few batches that you run through it. It has nothing to do with being tampered with due to their experiments. The copper tubing holds the freeon and is in no way attached to the water line. + +Also, up until the most recent invention, these guys are working 9-5's and have only been mildly successful in their garage company. They had to find outside funding for their major project. So maybe it's in there to signify that buying a new refrigerator was a big deal and all that Aaron could have afforded. Until march, that is. +2013-07-21 21:43:17 by Ken: +That Caruth interview is at http://movies.about.com/od/primer/a/primer102104_2.htm +2013-07-25 16:29:37 by Romain: +One thing to try and explain the changing timelines and if things that can happen or not. + +I see it this way. A new timeline is created everytime someone (or several people) exit a box. It is a new timeline because there is a new version of that or those people. Every time line is independent. You don't change the past or the future, you just create a new timeline in which you can either make sure everything happen like the previous timeline you've experienced or change things. + +It's like Einstein's theory on relativity. There is no absolute time. Time is a subjective notion, you don't have one omnipotent person that observes the general timeline. Each person lives their own timeline from their point of view. +2013-07-29 14:29:54 by Jack: +Thank you! I had read several versions but this makes the most sense. I’m also grateful to those above offering their theories, too! +2013-07-30 16:27:30 by theotheralan: +Much of this discussion reminds me of one of the only the other time-traveling stories that tries to deal with potential paradoxes in an intelligent way - The End Of Eternity by Isaac Asimov (MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!). There, all time-jumps occur in the same continuum - whatever changes the time-traveler makes in the past have already occurred. Its simply impossible to change the timeline, since whatever changes you make have already been made. Events will unfold in such a way as to prevent the time-traveler from causing a paradox (e.g., he gets nauseous when he approaches his double). +The one MONSTER exception to this occurs at the end is similar to the movie's 'failsafe' - after discovering the ill-effects time travel has on humanity, the travelers jump to the distant past and prevent time-travel from being invented in the first place. They should have winked out of existence at that point, but (sadly?) they do not. (END SPOILERS) +In any event, highly recommended for an original and intelligent time-travel story. +2013-08-09 17:03:38 by Jason: +I'm fascinated to see that this movie is still being discussed in such detail. + +While I like this explanation more than others online, I think it overlooks a fundamental problem with the theory of time travel Caruth is advancing. It also overlooks Caruth's own explanation of the Granger incident. Here's what he said (from the Village Voice in 2004: http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-10-05/film/a-primer-primer/2/): + +Can you elaborate on the concept of recursion in terms of time-travel paradoxes? +"I have a degree in math and my favorite subject was non-linear dynamics. You have an equation y = x, and you take that answer and feed it right back in for x, and you chart this and sometimes you get fractals and sometimes you get orderly systems. The idea of recursion and whatever it leads to—that informed a lot of the story, the idea of creating a feedback loop. This isn't really addressed in the film, but the reason Granger is unconcious is because he's suffering from recursion. What I think happened is that Abe told Granger about the machine. This man who's been told by Abe about the machine uses the machine to come back and somehow has an interaction with Abe so that now Abe probably won't tell him about the machine and yet he still finds himself there. Without coming out and saying it, the film is built on the idea that these paradoxes are a way to understand things. The universe is not going to explode or break down if you create a paradox. Whatever's going to break is probably going to be you." + +So Granger is struck into a comatose state because his interaction with Abe "breaks" his personal timeline. He can't be there if he prevents the event that sends him back; he is a paradox. Rather than getting "erased from existence" as in a movie like Back to the Future or Jumper, he gets struck into a coma. + +The problem is that this explanation -- from the horse's mouth -- is disregarded by the final scenes. Aaron2 has created a recursive paradox by drugging Aaron1 and stuffing him in the attic for 4 days (*note that he probably had to drug him repeatedly, hence the scuffling sounds from the attic during the week, and why Aaron1 is able to get out of the attic on the final Monday observed - his dose hasn't been renewed). Aaron1 cannot have found and used the first failsafe box if he was drugged in the attic. Aaron2 should have fallen into a coma as soon as he got near Aaron1. Also, Aaron3 has created a paradox SIMPLY BY COMING BACK. His interaction with Aaron2 ensures that Aaron2 (hoodie Aaron) will NEVER get into the failsafe on Friday, since Aaron2 left town. Aaron3 should have been struck comatose at that moment. + +Caruth intended to use the Granger incident to show the effect of paradoxes using his operable theory of time travel; and as a catalyst for the films final scenes and big reveal. Instead, it actually broke the coherence of his narrative. +2013-08-16 19:01:06 by Jim: +Although some of my theories have been enthusiastically demonstrated by others as being in conflict with Carruth's intended meanings in the film, his comments stated above regarding the Granger incident seem to be in line with what I have proposed in earlier comments. + +Also, if what he says is indeed true, (and considering that the entire world of Primer spawned from his mind I think it's pretty safe to say it is), it would also strongly suggest that something did in fact happen to Rachel in an alternate timeline. The reason I say this is because the only purpose Granger originally served Aaron and Abe was to finance the development of their project. Seeing as how they now possessed time machines and were instant billionaires, financing was no longer an issue. So why would Abe have any need to tell Granger about the machines? We know from the ensuing conversation between he and Aaron that it would have to be a serious emergency for him to do so, like if his daughter was murdered. Carruth's explanation for Granger's presence essentially confirms that something tragic happened to Rachel in some iteration of reality, the same iteration that the farthest traveled Aaron originates from as well. +2013-08-28 16:37:31 by RBM: +If it were me, I would turn the box on one hour before a huge Powerball drawing. Then I'd wait around until the drawing, find out the winning numbers, then turn the box off and climb inside, then buy a ticket as soon as I get out. The whole process would only take a couple of hours (at most), and you'd be hundreds of millions of $ richer. +2013-08-29 14:55:43 by Jim: +@RBM That would be a good idea, I've had similar thoughts myself. But in reality, if one had a machine such as that, money would no longer be of any consequence. All methods of making money rely upon the fundamental principle of time moving forward, once you could go backward there would be endless ways to make an instant fortune. The power one would possess in having the ability to travel through time, (and being the ONLY ones having this ability), would extend far beyond any level of power achievable through money. Indeed, they would ultimately have control over all things. +2013-09-02 02:47:41 by JG: +I made the mistake of watching the film pissed at 2am. I'll have to watch it again when I'm in a better state of mind. +2013-09-16 23:14:29 by emcee: +First, GREAT article. + +A couple comments. As some others have mentioned, the reason Abe Two alludes to protecting Kara and Lauren from Aaron Three is because Aaron Three suggested the possibility of making doubles of Kara and Lauren, and Abe Two doesn't want him to do this. + +I'm in agreement with some other commenters that the new time machine being built at the very end is not the size of a warehouse. Aaron is clearly heard telling the workers, "Every half meter". As other commenters have suggested, this implies that he plans to build a warehouse full of time machines, rather than a warehouse-sized machine. + +But my real question is this - WHICH Aaron is it building the new warehouse time machine(s) at the end - Hooded Aaron or Aaron Three? You state that it's Hooded Aaron, but is it really? At the airport, Aaron Three states his intention to steal Aaron Prime's passport and leave the country. Does the fact that the warehouse workers are speaking French indicate that it's Aaron Three building the new machine(s), rather than Hooded Aaron? + +Personally i think the jury's out on that question, and i don't think it can be definitively stated which Aaron it is. +2013-09-17 16:16:40 by Jim: +@emcee: You are correct. It cannot be truly determined which Aaron is building the machine/s in France. Mainly because of the nature of what we're trying to determine, I mean all three Aarons are the same person. It stands to reason that if not in contact with one another, they would all do the same things independently. +2013-10-01 08:19:45 by Trent: +So what happens if you bring a time machine that has been running for a week back in time with you through another time machine that had been running for a week? + +You turn machines A and B on at 6 am Monday morning. On Friday morning at 6 am you travel back through machine A, bringing machine B with you. + +Now you're back at Monday morning, 6 am with a second time machine that has been running for a week. + +What happens if you get inside machine B on Monday morning at 6 am? +2013-10-01 21:59:48 by Jim: +@Trent : Essentially what you're describing is how Aaron used the failsafe machine to travel farther back than Abe. He took a machine that had been turned on at the earliest point and took it back with him in his machine, opened it and traveled back to that point. What would happen in your scenario is that you would simply arrive back at 6 a.m. Monday, because that's when you first turned it on. Regardless of how long your machine has been running, (machine B would have been running for 2 weeks btw), it will not take you farther back than the moment it first became operational, because there would be nothing to exit out of prior to that. + +Also bear in mind, the minute the machine starts is the moment your double will exit it. So as soon as you started machines A and B at 6 a.m. on Monday, two of your future selves will exit both boxes, with the double exiting box B having expected to arrive sooner than that. +2013-10-03 20:24:23 by Michael: +How is it possible to relive the same day more than once without creating endless doubles? + +How can Aaron redo the party 20 times?! There would be 20 Aaron's. + +This makes no sense, unless Aaron only did the party 3 times? + +But it is eluded that Abe and Aaron can easily retry days. How? Unless they kill there old selves and re get in the box themselves?! +2013-10-04 19:47:08 by Jim: +@Michael : Aaron didn't exactly say he relived the part 20 times, he wondered out loud if that's how many times it would have taken to get it right. The film indicates that it took Aaron a total of 3 attempts to get the outcome of the party just right, (according to his liking), with the original version of events at the party not having Aaron been there at all. + +To answer your broader question, how can one relive the same day without endless doubles, that is at the heart of the dilemma with Carruth's time travel. The way it is SUPPOSED to work is that the traveler turns on the machine, leaves for the duration of time they wish to travel back, return to enter the box, wait in it for an equal amount of time and exit the box. If the traveler does not interfere with the course of these events, then presumably his past double will do just as he did and vacate the timeline by entering their box, thereby leaving the earliest version of someone to remain. + +Now, the way one winds up with doubles is by NOT sticking to this procedure and somehow interfering with their past double entering the box as they did, thus resulting in their displacement in the timeline. The reason there are several Aarons is because he kept rendering his doubles unconscious so he could deliberately alter events, thereby preventing them from entering their boxes and resulting in a multitude of Aarons. Abe only has one double because he only interfered with one of his doubles. +2013-10-04 20:35:31 by Michael: +@Jim +Good stuff, thanks for the speedy response. + +Basically, if you want to attempt to alter events, you're going to wind up with a double you have to replace, as we have with Aaron x3 and Abe x2. + +So if we wanted to live the same day again and again and again, we'd have to keep stopping our past selves getting in the box and get in ourselves. Creating a double each time. Each double being slightly older than the previous. +2013-10-09 04:56:04 by bc: +Maybe the only logical and useful application for a time-machine would be to give it to lesser minds who would not be able to resist using it, for money, patents, and to be left to do without them weighing you down. Abe and Aaron are not the geniuses, they did contribute, but it was not their idea and not even a project they wished to be a part of to begin with, apparently these two had cost the other two in the past and their was a clear division in the company from the kitchen table discussion. +(my two cents) +2013-10-10 00:22:59 by bc: +the Aaron that invites the ex that Abe observes is not the one that was recorded doing it, the first inviter made the basket, this one didn't hence an altered conversation playing in Abes ear. +Also two different fridges- one at the beginning with the bow is black and has sides doors doesn't it? The second is white and has upper and bottom, I assumed it was someone elses fridge not Aaron's. +(comment two having only seen the movie once and having finally read the entirety of this discussion thus far, spanning a few years) +2013-10-11 13:32:21 by BenMcClure: +Enjoyable article. I don't agree on every point, but it did open up a bunch of ideas to me. It never occurred to me to think about the connection of the "noises in the attic." If not for that, I wouldn't buy the idea that it's Aaron2 or Aaron3 in the original bench scene. But that for me is a weakness of the film - I find it hard to buy that AaronPrime could be locked in an attic for four days. + +I have a question on a point I haven't heard anyone else mention - when the Granger incident takes place, I think it's pretty clear there are two people who get out of Granger's car. They are both out of focus so it's hard to see them, but one of them looks like it could easily be another Aaron. This other person never seems to get mentioned or referred to by anyone. Anyone have any ideas? +2013-10-16 02:43:50 by AnonymousC: +Hey all, + +wonderful movie which I just discovered a few hours ago and amazing threads and graphs explaining Carruth's time machine. + +I've got a question (in order to better understand how it's working). What would happen if Abe, before trying the machine the very first time (say on 2013-oct-15), decided to turn on the machine at 11:45am, then hide with binoculars around 12pm kinda far away and then wait for his future self to come out while strictly adhering the following rule: + +"I'll always enter on 2013-oct-15 at 6pm and on 2013-oct-15 at 6pm only, unless I've seen my future-self come out" + +? + +2013-10-17 00:51:19 by Jim: +@bc : While I understand a small portion of your point, that Abe and Aaron are not ENTIRELY responsible for the creation of the invention, it would be inaccurate to suggest they did not make the largest contribution to it. Robert and Philip's work, the part Abe and Aaron were reluctant to become involved with, was centered around the creation of a rotating superconductive plate that they hoped would reduce the mass of any object that was placed on top of it. Aaron and Abe found that idea too lofty and a waste of time (ironically enough). They were more interested in working on a superconductor that could conduct at room temperature, something they felt would have been much more marketable and therefore profitable. As a compromise, they decided to integrate the two projects into one. + +This is why when Aaron is demonstrating to Abe that the machine was stabilized Abe confirmed with him that he "only changed the box, the plate stays the same," because he wanted to ensure anything Aaron did to the box only pertained to their portion of the project and didn't affect Robert and Philip's. The machine they finally construct to use for time travel consists of their box and a web of Robert and Philip's tiny superconductive plates that work together to repel the magnetic fields generated by the box into its interior to create one intense field that is dislocated from the normal flow of time. + +@ Anonymous : I am not sure but I think what you meant to say in your example was what would happen if Abe decided that he would enter at 6 p.m. UNLESS he saw himself exit, in which case he wouldn't enter. If he had no intention of entering the box upon seeing himself exit it, then the probabilistic threshold would not be achieved and he wouldn't ever see himself exit if it meant he would never travel. In order for the probabilistic threshold to be reached, events would have to configure in such a way that they would increase the likelihood of him entering the box in the first place. At least that's what I think. + +The other possibility would be that if he decided not to enter the box upon seeing himself exit, then he would simply be watching an Abe from a parallel timeline that wound up changing his mind and traveling anyway, resulting in a doubling of himself. In any event, in terms of the actual story line of the film, had Abe decided to wait to see himself exit the storage unit on his first travel, he would have been surprised to instead see Aaron 3 exit it, as he is the one who winds up traveling the farthest back. +2013-10-20 03:53:36 by sublime: +Great movie summary! I hope I didnt miss this in the posting or subsequent comments, but I noticed that when Abe is explaining the boxes to Aaron he he casually mentions "I, my double, or or someone is coming backwards". Why would he use someone if only Aaron and Abe know about the boxes? Is he possibly referring to Granger? Why wouldn't Aaron notice the comment and ask why anyone else would be in the boxes? +2013-10-23 06:57:52 by Weebles: +This may be a dumb question, but I was really struck by the sequence within the first fifteen minutes of the movie in which Abe wakes up on the floor of his bedroom completely disoriented. The timing between the sound and the visuals is purposefully disjointed, Aaron repeats the time to him over the phone, and it seems to me that this happens somewhere in the relevant timeline (so to speak, I know there are several) of their time travels. What's going on here? It seems too intentional and too carefully crafted to be insignificant. +2013-10-31 09:08:38 by cb: +An interesting detail we just noticed. When abe shows aaron the storage unit for the first time hr checks a lock on the unit just before it. ... and is either surprised or maybe confused that it is locked. Or maybe he is just verifying it is locked. Anyways this could be a failsafe box or some other box. +2013-11-03 23:46:41 by Andre: +There's one thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen anyone address yet... +Let's say that I turn on Box A at 1 pm and Box B at 2 pm, then my friend gets in box B at 3pm to go back to 2pm, then an hour later I get in Box A at 4pm to go back to 1pm. + +My friend will emerge from box B at 2pm, and I will emerge from box A at 1pm, but will we be in the same tieline or separate timelines? Since my friend went back before I got a chance to do anything, maybe she has "escaped" from anything I might do in my future, and hence she won't find me waiting for her when she goes back. And similarly, maybe if I go back further than her, I would have "overridden" the timeline when she went back by going even further back and branching off a new timeline. Or maybe we might end up together, if I don't bother her machine. Or do anything to cause my friend in this timeline who already exists to not go back at 3pm. But we've seen in the movie that you *can* interfere and make permanent doubles... + +maybe it's all subjective. Maybe since I travelled further back, she will *always* see me, but I might not see her. In fact, I might prevent her machine from being turned on at all. + +What if Box A was turned on at 1pm and turn off at 3pm, and my friend got in Box A, and Box B was turned on at 2pm and turned off at 4pm and I got in Box B. Who would be in the same timeline as who? Who would override who? + +See, this is the problem I have in the movie when Abe and Aaron travel back in *two separate boxes* and yet emerge *together* in the same new timeline. Does this necessarily have to be the case? When Aaron uses his failsafe on Friday to travel back *further* than Abe, he still finds Abe arriving later on in his timeline. And yet, you *don't* have Aarons and Abes emerging from the boxes in *this* timeline from all the trips back to those boxes that they made before they went back in the failsafe. +2013-11-06 22:07:48 by Jim: +@Andre : Excellent question, Andre. It strikes at the heart of the complexity of Carruth's time travel. I don't know if my answer will be entirely accurate or sufficient, but I'll take a stab at it. + +It's important to understand that whoever travels the farthest back will have personal supremacy over the timeline they exit. When your friend exits Box B at 2 p.m., she will always see a version of you there first because Box A was turned on at an earlier point. She will have no choice but to be at the mercy of whatever it is you are going to choose to do within the hour prior to her arrival, except preventing her trip altogether. + +Now to answer the second part of your question, you hit it on the head when you said "maybe it is all subjective." Indeed, it is all subjective. The timeline your friend exits from will be her personal timeline, and the timeline you exit will be your personal timeline. Your timeline will be identical to her timeline as far as any outcomes you do not personally influence or create. The same will go for her. + +If you decided to prevent her box from ever being turned on, which you could do since you will arrive an hour before it is, then all this means is that you will be occupying a personal timeline in which she never arrives. A past version of your friend from that timeline will arrive at the box at 3 p.m. and find that she cannot use it. The friend from the original timeline you vacated after she did will travel back to 2 p.m. in a timeline where you did not interfere with her trip. Nothing else could happen to her since she has already begun the trip. You will be simply existing in bifurcated timelines. +2013-11-07 07:54:12 by Bryan: +@Weebles + +I'm going to answer your question with another question that was asked by a user about two years ago. +He said: +I have a few questions, if anyone could help :) + +1) At the point where Abe and Aaron are testing their device at their garage and they think they blew it. Then they decide to remove the case so they can pick up Aaron's camcorder. Now all this is long before the fateful Monday in March when the whole main plot begins. After they both say '1-2-3' and remove the case, the scene blacks out and changes, showing Abe unconscious on the floor and the sound of static can be heard. It's really strange; what on earth happened here? Notice how Aaron calls him on the phone and Abe wakes up; then the scene REPEATS and Abe is still on the floor while Aaron's voice continues talking (asking him if he's hungry) and Abe is shown to pick up the phone again. It looks like there's TWO Abes here... For example, we see that one Abe gets up and Aaron is heard saying 'Abe, it's 7'. Then we see Abe getting up AGAIN and Aaron now says 'Abe, it's 7 at night'. This repetition of movements, and the way the scenes are presented, show (at least to me) that we have here TWO Abes. My initial theory was that this was a result of Abe Prime's proximity to the time machine which he had brought in his house (???) to test it, after they took Aaron's camera out of it and removed the case, and somehow he'd fallen unconscious as a result of so many 'leaks' (no cover). But I really am not sure. So what's up with this scene here? +2013-11-12 20:26:37 by sez: +Two things I can't figure out. + +1: Monday night Abe shows Aaron the storage unit and it show them sitting in the unit with one machine (machine A). The next morning they show up and there are two machines. Did Aaron build the second machine and bring it to the storage unit between 6pm Monday and 8am Tuesday? + +2: Wednesday night when Abe finds out that Aaron intervened at the party he doesn't question how he was able to. The only way for Aaron to have gone back early enough to rescue the party would be by using the failsafe machine. Or was Aaron at the party, thought the guy looked suspicious, and went to the storage unit to turn on machine A just in case? +2013-11-13 21:12:31 by Jim: +@Sez : To answer your first question, yes. Presumably Aaron built a duplicate machine between those hours because simply replicating what Abe had built was not as difficult and therefore time consuming as building the machine from scratch. All the machine is constructed out of is a metal box equipped with the the web of rotating superconductive plates hooked up to a generator to initiate it. + +To answer your second question, Abe didn't ask how Aaron was able to intervene with the events of the party because he (incorrectly) assumed Aaron simply went to the party without the use of the machine at all. He was upset that Aaron would jeopardize his own life after learning of the machine because it was a historical breakthrough that would bring them untold fortune. He felt it was foolish to risk getting killed at such a time. What he was not aware of is what you said, that Aaron was in fact not originally at the party and used the failsafe device. +2013-11-21 21:44:58 by Colin: +The question of Granger's lost consciousness in the presence of Abe(does Abe lose consciousness, too?), interests me. + +I think I might have an alternative explanation. Maybe. + +At one point in the film Abe and Aaron are discussing shutting off the box that Granger is "in." They make it clear they don't know what would happen, and decide it isn't worth the risk. + +Is it possible that Granger, distraught after his daughter's death turns off a box that Abe is "in" before entering it? This might result in an entanglement between the two. There is much quantum woo about "consciousness" so... + +Of course, when Abe got into the box it hadn't been opened yet or the power would have been off, which means that Granger entered the box from his timeline from another timeline. This seems to imply that another one of their working hypotheses is broken. + +Still, it's all a hypothesis till the experiment is done. Possibly Granger, not altogether intentionally, did the experiment. +2013-11-21 23:26:54 by Colin: +To "clarify." + +When Granger turned off the box and got in, Abe had already turned off the still-active box later in the afternoon. + +Your expectation, when that happened would be that Abe would go to get into the box to find it already deactivated. Instead, he finds it still activated and enters. The two men and two timelines find themselves entangled in the machine. When they approach each other outside of the machine after that, their entangled wave functions begin to nullify resulting in unconsciousness. Extended exposure to each other would definitely not be recommended. + +On other subjects, perhaps the breakdown of the time travellers, nose bleeds, difficulty writing and the like has nothing to due with time travel as such. Perhaps exposure to some sort of... let's call it radiation... produced by the box causes the tingling sensation and other symptoms by doing damage to their bodies. Their safety procedures were pretty poor even notwithstanding the cosmic dangers of time travel. Self-experimentation and lack of control or monitoring are all on page one of the Dr. Jeckell Manual of Safety. +2013-11-28 10:16:55 by Suman: +Wow. Thanks so much for explaining it. I was completely lost. :) +2013-12-04 10:24:36 by Nike: +Great movie and thanks for all the comments. After reading all the above comments Im still left beliving the subjective theory that whenever someone enter the box a new timeline is created. Events there take their own course idenpendently and spawn new timelines. In the movie we are beeing shown events from the newer timelines as they are created. What still confuses me is this: + +The Granger incident: +This seemes to go against the theory of independent timelines. + +Aarons recording earphone: +As someone previosly stated, Aaron must use a earphone when he is recording to create the same visual enviroment as when he later listens to it. But in many scenes (Aaron1 in the attic, Abe1 showing Aaron3 the boxes first time) this is not visible. + +Any thoughts? +2013-12-06 03:05:06 by jwac: +I would just like to reiterate that everything you need to figure out the plot is presented in the movie. The only unknowns are exactly how long it took AaronPrime to figure out about the failsafe (though it's about as long as it would take him to grow a beard going backwards) and how many times it took them to get the party right (on purpose, since beardedhoodedAaron had snatched the coveted Prime Box and passport and absconded to Polynesia or wherever...), though the word "prescient" has some implications. Of course we also don't know how many there are--Hooded Aaron "can sleep at night" if there is only one more.... + +...in addition to AaronPrime, to whom the call is made. This is to inform him of why he woke up in the attic (remember Abe built the machine after months of tinkering, AaronPrime would've had no idea what happened). + +The comment in the interview makes no sense to me. I think it's a red herring. +2013-12-06 03:13:04 by jwac: +@Nike: Oh, and, yes, do I believe that the bench>lab>storage facility sequence jumps back and forth between the first and second time around for Aaron. The obvious way to tell is when he's wearing the earphone, but his body language and reaction time changes big time as well. AaronPrime is following every word, Aaron3 is looking at the floor and trying to get Abe to talk faster. (I think this is Carruth's way of keeping multi-time viewers entertained during this scientific process part of the movie--great for the first time around) +2013-12-07 11:24:38 by SmokeyTBear: +I have a question about the scene where Aaron3 and Abe2 are debating the party plan: Aaron says to Abe " He never fires. He didn't when I wasn't there, he didn't when I was there and rushed him, and FROM WHAT ROBERT TELLS YOU, he DOESN'T TONIGHT." (emphasis mine) . + +My question is, what is he referring to when he says from what Robert tells you? Does he mean from Abe2's personal past? Or his recordings? Either of those don't seem to make much sense. If he means abe2's past, then that would imply that he has timeline supremacy, is that because he goes further back in time than Aaron3? He can't possibly be suggesting that Robert at some point travels, right? + +Any thoughts? +2013-12-07 11:42:51 by SmokeyTBear: +I think I figured out the last scene/narration though: + +The phone call is from Aaron 2, who feels cheated Aaron3 and feels guilty about locking up Aaron1, so he calls him Monday evening when aaron1 awakes and escapes the attic. Aaron1 at this point would otherwise have no knowledge of time travel existing, as Abe had not shown him anything. Nor would he ever, because Abe2 said he would sabotage Abe1 getting the boxes to work. Not wanting Aaron1 to be at the mercy of Abe2, he informs him of everything that occurred from his (Aaron2)'s perspective, as well as some speculation as to what he figured aaron3 would have done, based on what his own intentions were. Still not 100% though on which Aaron is in the French airport at the end. Could be 3, after he left from the airport scene. Or 1, after getting filled in and pre-emotive ly cutting Abe out, as he so quickly cut out the other 2, or even 2, I suppose- he could have grabbed the passport Monday during the day while Aaron3 thought he had left town, and that's why he was so confident Aaron1 would never find him. +2013-12-16 19:10:28 by Jim: +@ SmokeyTBear" He never fires. He didn't when I wasn't there, he didn't when I was there and rushed him, and FROM WHAT ROBERT TELLS YOU, he DOESN'T TONIGHT." (emphasis mine) ." + +What Aaron means by this statement is that in the original timeline, the one un-impacted by Aaron's travels, Aaron was not at the party. (Whether or not it is true that Rachel's ex-boyfriend does not fire the gun at the party in that version is unclear, Aaron has proven to be quite deceitful and untrustworthy). The second time around, when Aaron did travel back to alter events at the party, he apparently rushed the gunman and claims he didn't fire then either. Something in that particular version of events still went wrong either at the party or later on, because Aaron felt the need to travel back yet again, presumably with Thomas Granger using Abe's box. This leads me to believe Rachel is murdered at some point in this timeline, but that is my own personal theory. + +Finally, with the statement "from what Robert Tells you he doesn't tonight," he is referring to the conversation had between Robert and Abe in the garage when he tells him about the geckos, the conversation Abe first learns of Aaron's presence at the party. Aaron's point is that Rachel's ex-boyfriend never fires. +2013-12-24 00:52:10 by Chris: +One quick point; when Abe comments "...it looks like a dog digested it" notice he's looking at the monitor displaying the [slime covered] Weeble. + +I haven't listened to the DVD commentary so not sure if this is covered there or not but this how I saw it- +Abe is in love with Kara. +We see that Abe lives a pretty solitary lifestyle. No steady girl, probably no time for a steady girl. He hides in his bedroom because some guy and his pals took over his living room. He seems pretty slow or hesitant getting things moving with Racheal [although he DID have a few other things going on at the time...] +Not only does Abe eat dinner with Aaron and his family, he'll stay longer than the rest. Help clean the dishes, sit around afterward in the living room to relax and unwind. He's comfortable there. +And Kara's there. + +"What possible reason could there be to be here?" OOOhh, my wife. +"I guess that it just won't go back far enough will it." = To a time before she was mine. +"Tell ya what; put 'em in the box and make you're own set, I don't give a crap about them." + +It's probably best that Abe stuck around to A] keep this timelines' Aaron and Abe from messing up the flow of events on themselves and B] protect folks from Aaron! +It's not that Abe wants to spy on Kara from the bushes or anything creepy, he just wants to protect her from the madman who stands before him. Aaron is his best friend. He knows him pretty well. He knows that the Aaron he's talking to in the airport is a changed Aaron. +People and their lives mean nothing to this guy. He ends up seeing people [including himself!!] as his own personal chess pieces. He's the one who first used the failsafe behind his friends back. Hell, it's probably Aaron who causes the Granger incident/unravelling in the first place. +And you see that he doesn't stop. +2014-01-09 21:07:36 by Steve: +Can you help me understand the part with stopping the kids from waking them up? I get that if they go into the 17:00 box at 03:00 on Friday they can travel to 17:00 Thursday and then stop the kids from waking them up etc., but wont this cause them to have permanent Doubles? + +Example: Abe 2 and Aaron 2 stop Kids, Abe 1 Aaron 1 don't wake up. Abe 1 Aaron 1 go and turn on boxes at 0845. Sit in Hotel until 15:15, go into Boxes. Travel in time. Get out of Boxes at 8:45(now are Abe 1.5 and Aaron 1.5). Aren't Abe 2 and Aaron 2 still around? +2014-01-11 15:22:38 by OD: +My head is gonna explode in a few minutes. +2014-01-14 19:19:58 by Jim: +@Steve: The point of preventing the kids from waking them up was due to Abe and Aaron's interest in testing the paradox theory, while also getting to punch one of their former business associates in the face without consequence. They wanted to see if they could deliberately alter the past, and if so, what the result would be. + +The way it was supposed to work was that Abe and Aaron would go punch Joseph Plaats in the face, enter the boxes, then travel back to before they performed that act to prevent the kids from sounding the car alarms and waking Abe up. That way, Abe and Aaron's past doubles would sleep through the night, enter their boxes as they always did and vacate that timeline. The Abe and Aaron that punched Plaats would be the only Abe and Aaron in that timeline now, and be able to continue their travels as usual. +2014-01-15 01:58:28 by MrLarry: +Of course, despite all these "explanations" of time travel, none of them account for violation of the conservation of mass, i.e. where does the extra mass come from that constitutes the multiple incarnations of the time travelers? +2014-01-18 01:45:47 by LucusMucus: +And here I thought having this movie explained would make my brain hurt less, lmao. +2014-01-18 01:55:48 by LucusMucus: +Mr. Larry: has it occurred to you that the laws of thermodynamics as you know them were built on the assumption of linear time? Meaning that in a world where this movie is possible, those laws would turn out to have been wrong based on lack of data. + +Imagine someone insisting you use a cooking method that predates the discovery of fire... +2014-01-18 01:55:55 by LucusMucus: +Mr. Larry: has it occurred to you that the laws of thermodynamics as you know them were built on the assumption of linear time? Meaning that in a world where this movie is possible, those laws would turn out to have been wrong based on lack of data. + +Imagine someone insisting you use a cooking method that predates the discovery of fire... +2014-02-02 20:17:24 by PCMan: +Hey, I wish I'd known about this site sooner. I had to watch the DVD like four times and draw time-line diagrams before I finally got it. Worth the effort though. + +One thing I don't get. If you can have duplicates then you've introduced extra mass into the universe and that takes a lot of energy, not sure where this comes from. Also if you wanted to get rich, why not just duplicate gold bars, or diamonds? +2014-02-10 06:07:00 by Dee: +@JIM + Oh, wait! + "The way it was supposed to work was that Abe and Aaron would go punch Joseph Plaats in the face, enter the boxes, then travel back to before they performed that act to prevent the kids from sounding the car alarms and waking Abe up." +--Thus preventing the event altogether. +"... That way, Abe and Aaron's past doubles would sleep through the night, enter their boxes as they always did and vacate that timeline." However, being that Abe and Aaron enter the machines later that day and consequently--subsequently?--emerge earlier that same day, are not their future counterparts still present on that timeline? +"... The Abe and Aaron that punched Plaats would be the only Abe and Aaron in that timeline now, and be able to continue their travels as usual." +2014-02-10 06:23:54 by Dee: +@JIM +"In order for the probabilistic threshold to be reached, events would have to configure in such a way that they would increase the likelihood of him entering the box in the first place. At least that's what I think. +The other possibility would be that if he decided not to enter the box upon seeing himself exit, then he would simply be watching an Abe from a parallel timeline that wound up changing his mind and traveling anyway, resulting in a doubling of himself." + +In reality, I think this is exactly the sort of predicament that results in Granger's unconsciousness. Similarly, having been confronted with the inevitable--or rather irrevocable, emergence of himself from the machine, in direct conflict with his own personal incentive, he would become unconscious, comatose in relation toward his future self, or otherwise critically cognitively impaired. This is exactly the "color" of danger that is alluded to early in the film and more thoroughly through Abe cautiousness and carefulness. Indeed, in my opinion in hindsight these two characters could be considered polar opposites in that way, from their personal choice in action and their basic opposing-yet-codependent relationship in the plot. +2014-02-10 07:09:18 by Dee: +@JIM +But you know, thinking more deeply into it, perhaps that's only the sort of thing that would happen if that were to be taken a few steps further. Put simply, I see Granger's condition as internally dependent upon Abe's timeline, not on his own conflicting future, due to an infinitely occurring inconsistency. +Put another way, if Abe were to emerge into a past timeline in which for some reason Abe-prior were to witness him--the condition of Abe's conviction not to enter the machine upon seeing himself exit having already been established in his volition--it would be Abe-once-removed who would "not belong," logistically. + +Therefore, if X) Abe emerges into his own past timeline, then Y) by virtue of this, Abe-prior must not have seen the event beforehand, according to his own rule. Just as you said, there is a threshold of likelihood. The event is codependent either way, both conditions being connected by a causal link. + +If for some reason he already had seen himself emerge, this would mean he had changed that condition by choice, or; alternatively adhering to the rule, if X) Abe-prior sees Abe-removed emerge, then Y) Abe-prior must NOT exist in that corresponding timeline... Which is weird, to say the least. And I think it spurs a batch of fresh questions in theory for me at least. +... +2014-02-13 15:56:32 by Dee: +Other sorts of paradoxes are not really consequential, in light of whoever has temporal supremacy. But it really just begs the question of what exactly occurs when someone emerging in the past subsequently within a timeline in which someone has already emerged from that same machine. Such a person has decided to flip back instead and in spite of the original occupant, emerging "this time" in lieu of them. It seems like they should both experience the same timeline, but the person who returns subsequent to the original occupant must be experiencing an alternative one. This is illustrated in the film, when it appears that two oscillatory timelines occur simultaneously, both originating and terminating co-dependently. Interactions between these two timelines may cause conflicts which will engender consequences that become "permanent" outside the loop. + +This way, each time an emergence occurs, alterations will appear and conflicts will ultimately influence the timeline until there are alternate possible outcomes, ad infinitum. (Only recursively conflicting events will cause paradoxes for the occupants.) However, in one way or another, there will be a point at which none of the possible occupants enter the machine, therefore belaying the subsequent emergence of an occupant and establishment of his "personal" alternative timeline. + +In this event, the loop will become closed, and any subjects which had become potential occupants might now be only possibilities. Does this then mean that logistically, in such a scenario it is the occupant who emerges and prevents anyone from entering the machine at point B has the supremacy and successfully establishes a future timeline? I would think so. + +As in the film, this causes an additional copy of the original occupant. +2014-03-26 16:23:45 by GOD: +Good movie. Good theories here. Has anyone here built a time machine? No. Then all this discussion is about what happens with time travel is speculation. In all likelihood, time travel is impossible. But its nice to dream. From the moment they mentioned the the ex walked into the party with a shotgun, It's obvious the whole thing was to stop it from happening, most likely a shooting. +2014-04-01 23:48:51 by Yoey: +Time travel is theoretical. Of course it will be speculation until we actual invent a way to time travel. Much like the movie details, you cannot travel deeper into the past then the point you invented it in the first place. (Or more specifically in this case, no earlier then the machine being turned on) + +I love how the movie does circumvent the problem with paradoxes with the idea of alternate timelines. In essence then only timeline you can change is your own. Your personal timeline can move deeper in the past yet still retaining YOUR timeline. + +Example: PersonA turn on Box A at 6am, Box B is turned on at 7am. PersonA enters box B at 8am, PersonB enters Box A at 8am. Person B stops PersonA2 from turning on BoxB. PersonB would have a timeline where PersonA2 does not travel back to the past. PersonA that did turn on the box originally has already entered the boxB and will emerge at 7am regardless of personB's actions. Thus, new timeline created. PersonA will be in a completely new timeline as the original PersonB. + +The movie shows one specific timeline. The movie shows the timeline for Aaron3, his own personally created timeline. + +....Just my theory +2014-04-05 05:21:09 by Ash: +My head hurts. I love this movie, but I think several people on this thread are taking their opinions WAY too seriously. We're talking about a fictional movie about time travel cloning, and people are actually arguing about the logistics of it all. Can't we all just relax, realize that it's a work of fantasy, and enjoy the entertainment aspect of it. Let's get over ourselves, shall we? +2014-04-05 06:38:29 by Joe: +Everyone seems to keep saying that Aaron was bleeding out of his ear from extended exposure to the boxes. Evidence suggests that this is not the cause. + +The evidence, aside from no one else bleeding from any other place, is that it is the ear he always has his earpiece in. Given the use of the earpiece as the main indication of which Aaron we are seeing throughout the film, there must be more to it than it simply being an effect of exposure to the machine. + +I find it more likely that it could simply be from his overuse of the earpiece. It would be a pointless coincidence otherwise. Am I right? +2014-04-10 03:20:17 by Jim: +@Joe : You are not alone. That is probably the second most prevalent theory about Aaron's bleeding ear, that it is the result of his overuse of the earpiece. It's possible I suppose, it just never seemed to jive with me since I've never heard of that symptom from the overuse of an earpiece before. Then again, who knows what would happen if someone had one in for the better half of a 36 hour period of time. + +I've entertained a third possibility that is seldom (if ever) put forth, that Aaron's bleeding ear could be the result of a gunshot going off right next to it. Like that of a shotgun fired at a party. + +@Ash : You are right, many of us have become captivated by the convoluted plot of the film, (perhaps too much so). + +But the only thing I can say to that is this: for one, this IS a blog specifically about the film. If there is ANY forum that is appropriate to vent our thoughts, theories and feelings about it, it would be this one. Second, I feel (and this is merely my opinion) that the reason the film provokes this sort of response in many of us is because it is by far the most realistic depiction of a fantastical idea like time travel that any of us have ever seen before. Indeed, if time travel ever were achieved, its process would undoubtedly be identical if not very close to the way Shane Carruth depicted it in Primer. That is what excites us. That we feel we have each been given a glimpse into what this remarkable technology would actually look like through the imagination of a highly creative mind. +2014-04-10 06:47:26 by Joe: +@Jim: I think what I was trying to say but didn't, is that as it would be a seemingly pointless coincidence otherwise, the earpiece must be part of the cause. I don't necessarily think it is caused by the earpiece just being in too long alone. It could also be an effect of exposure to time travel along with prolonged use of the device. + +The shotgun from the party is a possible theory and it does make sense until you enter one last piece of evidence for the earpiece theory that in my opinion kind of cinches it.. + +During the end of the movie, when there is just too much to take in to notice some of the smaller details, two things occur. We see Abe now also wearing an earpiece in his right ear, surrounded by scenes of him bleeding out of his right ear. There is not a lot of attention called to this and it is easy to miss. This occurs about 1 hour and 6 minutes in. +2014-04-28 10:45:29 by aether12: +I’m probably not understanding the film correctly, but I have a logic problem with how you acquire foreknowledge of a particular day’s stock market trading in order to game the stock market & make millions, because: one iteration of you has to stay sequestered. If you have to stay sequestered once you arrive in the past, then you can’t action your foreknowledge by making trades. If you have to stay sequestered in the present, before you travel to the past, then you don’t acquire the foreknowledge. Knowing how the stock market performed on Thursday is no use to you on Friday. Foreknowledge of Thursday has to be both acquired & actioned on the same day. One way I see of making this work is: You1 turns box on 8am Thursday, stays sequestered until 8am Friday, then turns off & enters box. You2 then exits at 8am Thursday and interacts with the world to the extent that he follows the stock market movements, takes notes etc; goes to a (different) hotel at the end of the day & is sequestered to that extent until safely after 8am Friday. Now You2 has the foreknowledge of Thursday’s stock market but now its Friday – how to use the foreknowledge? Enter the failsafe box you’ve had running since, say, 8.30am Thursday. Now You3 is in place to game the stock market all day Thursday, but – You2 is also in town, busily acquiring the foreknowledge. You3 just has to be damn sure to game the stock market from a physical & digital location far removed from where You2 is making copious notes. Once the day’s trading ends, You3 goes to yet another hotel (preferably in another town altogether), and sequesters until, say, 10am Friday for safety. Job done? Have I answered my own question? I think I’m not sure exactly how hermetic a sequestration has to be to avoid Blinovitch Limitation Effect style oblivion. +2014-04-30 20:34:48 by Joe: +I think you've added an unnecessary step here. I don't recall exactly how it worked in the movie, but from what I remember they would turn on the machine, go to the library to get the stock information, go to a hotel, and then enter the boxes to travel back to that morning. Then they would use the information they obtained to play the stock market from home (or wherever). +2014-05-03 00:10:20 by Jim: +@ Joe : You are almost correct. The way it worked was simple. The traveler turns on the box at 8:45 a.m. Monday morning. They depart to the hotel for sequestration until 5 p.m., at which time they THEN visit the library to find out which mid-cap stocks had the highest margin of growth that day. At 5:30 p.m., they jump in their box as it is winding down and spend 8 hours in it until they exit at 8:45 a.m. Monday morning to purchase the appropriate stocks. + +From 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., both versions of you are occupying the same timeline. Your future self is purchasing the stocks you are about to profit from as your past self is sequestered in the hotel room. (You cannot interact with your future self to simply find out which stocks to buy because this would be a recursive paradox and you would wind up like Thomas Granger). + +At 5:30 p.m., your past self enters the box and vacates the timeline, leaving one of you to remain. +2014-05-03 00:11:20 by Jim: +Sorry, *exit at 9:00 a.m. +2014-05-03 18:01:29 by jebwa: +it's a nice explanation for how the movie tries to make itself rational, and i can accept it on that level, but overall i felt cheated, there's just too many holes and the timeline(s) rationale felt too gimmicky +2014-05-05 07:08:38 by Joe: +@ Jim : Ah yes, that makes much more sense that they would get the stock information after the hotel instead of before it. +2014-05-09 15:02:15 by jabu: +i love this film so much. i have particularly enjoyed thinking about the movie as much as watching it. they've created such a lovely puzzle which can seem so straightforward but which keeps throwing up tantalising little twists and reading this post and the thread definitely helps straighten out much of the mystery for me so thanks + +here's a silly theory regarding the granger incident: + +is granger (who is played by shane caruth's father) an older version of aaron who has found a way of returning from far into the future and is marginally involved in their lives and business perhaps with a view to either hindering their time travel exploits or ensuring a favourable outcome THIS TIME ROUND? + +firstly, knowing what we know about the characters and events, let's assume that the version of aaron we see in the final scene of the film in an aircraft hangar in france very quickly uses the time travel technology to acquire ridiculous amounts of money - somebody mentioned the idea of simply sending back information or technology from the future using the devices without even the need for aaron to enter the box himself + +now let's suppose that this aaron has used his wealth, obsession and maybe even his access to future technologies to somehow develop the time travel technique to the point where he discovers a method of travelling back further than we're told is possible, i.e. to exit a machine after (or before, depending on your relative viewpoint) it has been initiated, probably through the use of multiple machines within machines and mobile power sources. it's a lot to suppose i know but stay with me :) + +now let's take an even further leap and suppose that some time later this aaron - perhaps motivated by a terrible event from another timeline which we're not privy to, perhaps jaded by his limitless wealth, perhaps harbouring regret or resentment over the abrupt termination of his previous life, the loss of his wife, daughter, friends etc. and also motivated by his sheer narcissistic controlling nature (which i think is evident from the ear-piece and the party/shotgun affair) - has a count of monte cristo moment and decides to return to a point in time years before aaron and abe's discovery of time travel for a new, simpler life near enough to abe and aaron that he can keep an eye on them and the wife and child + +this aaron would assume the name thomas granger and would determine to prevent the aaron and abe from his timeline from creating the time travel devices but somehow this time round it plays out slightly differently and he's unable to control the scenario to his liking, perhaps whatever happens at the party makes aaron/granger realise that abe & aaron have made their discovery sooner than he had anticipated and he uses a machine of his own (or even one of aaron & abe's machines) to attempt to fix the situation + +this would explain how "granger" knew about the machines and would explain the presence of two grangers and the hugely complicated web of timelines and rewriting of history might explain granger's comatose state + +it's not a particularly elegant theory. it veers into the realm of fan fiction i suppose and it asks more questions than it seems to answer but for some reason i like to think that given the convoluted nature of the story and the many mysterious twists and turns it's a theory that might hold some water + +i suppose i've thought about this too much, but i think i'm not the only person here to have done similar ;) +2014-05-10 23:52:03 by Jim: +@jabu...Interesting..but..I don't think so. + +Remember, one of the fundamental premises of the machine's operation is that the occupant must remain in the machine for the span of time they wish to travel back. In order for your theory to work and given the substantial age difference between Granger and Aaron, (Granger looks to be around his late 40's or early 50's,) Aaron/Granger would have had to spend somewhere on the order of 15-20 years inside a machine to complete the trip. Even if it were the size of a room, that would be quite a the commitment and sacrifice. It doesn't seem consistent with Aaron's character to make such a massive sacrifice for a family he was too quick to discard once he had the power to travel through time. + +Also, from where would he exit? The only machine he could exit from at that point in time was the failsafe machine, and traveling for any duration of time longer than a week or so would be impossible. + +Fun idea though. +2014-06-05 09:25:42 by Gyan Vardhan: +I just don't understand the point of repeated time travel. +If Aron 3 saves the party incident on monday the complete week ahead of them should change,right +Basically he removes the very cause of his time travel in future. +this creates a paradox +and also about the part where he listens to week long recordings,the week long recordings exist just because aaron 2 had recorded them throughout the week if aaron 3 arrives on monday and sent him away there was no one to record those recordings, +And the biggest of all , if that machine is able to create copies of a material which can exist simultaneously then the very basic law conservation of energy breaks and universe will boil due to infinite energy. +And sadly that doesn't happen so primer's plot is full of holes. +2014-06-08 16:32:28 by Jim : +@Gary + +To your first point, the film suggests that the week DID change due to Aaron's actions. We just have no way of knowing how they originally played out. It is this unknown original iteration of reality that Granger comes from. + +Second, paradoxes don't seem to apply in Primer the way they do in other stories. That aside, we learn at the end that saving the party in fact wasn't the true motivation of Aaron's travel to Monday. It was to achieve supremacy over the timelines via the failsafe. + +Regarding the week long recordings, Aaron 3 recorded them himself. He doesn't need Aaron 2 to do it. Again, paradoxes don't operate the way they usually do in time travel stories. Timelines can be dramatically altered without "ripping a hole in the space time continuum." The easiest way to understand it in my mind is that there isn't one single universe but an infinite number of ones. One that began a second before this one, and a second before that one, so on and so forth. So the Primer machine permits one to vacate their current universe and arrive at one that began moments before. Therefore, no causality violation. The recursion that Granger suffers from is not so much from the creation of a paradox, but more likely from the total eradication of any possibility of the universe he comes from ever existing. The same is not true for Aaron, as the possibility of a universe similar to his could still manifest, which is why he is ok. + +Finally, the law of conservation of energy is clearly one that the Primer machine would prove incorrect if it existed, much like how the Theory of Relativity corrected the portion of Newtonian physics regarding gravity. + + +2014-06-08 16:33:23 by Jim: +@Gyan I meant, sorry. +2014-06-18 17:55:01 by Aratak: +Thank you so much for the explanation Sam, it helped me greatly to understand the movie better. +One thing I want to point out in the 'How' part of your explanation: + +"In some previous timeline, Aaron discovered Abe's failsafe box, anchored 05:00 Monday. He then got inside the failsafe and used it to go back in time, taking with him a second, folded-up time machine. This is the Aaron with the hood." + +In the explanation you suggest that the hooded Aaron is the one who finds that failsafe box and that he is also the one who makes the phonecall and takes the narrator role. I think so too and from memories I recall Shane supporting that in an interview. + +Note though, that the Granger-Incident is explicitly mentioned in that phonecall. This might be a problem since it requiers that hooded Aaron enters the failsafe box after that incidient. Meaning about Friday or later. +The only way I see at the moment to keep your explanation consistent would be that he enters the failsafe box in the timeframe between the Granger-Incident and the point in time where Abe enters the decoy failsafe box. Otherwise he would not be able to set up the decoy box for Abe. +He would also have to fold up at least one of the 2 regular boxes at a time when Granger might be inside one of them. + +Also Aaron discovering the failsafe box and him actually entering are probably two different events on different days; not one as your wording implies. + +I hope you are still reading these comments. Maybe you see another solution with less problems. +2014-06-21 15:53:48 by Spharion: +What would we see if the boxes were transparent? Speciallly at the entry and exit points. Imagine the box has two doors. The person(0) enters through door B at time B and exists through door A at time A, becoming person(1). So at timeline2 we always have three persons: person(0) at the hotel, person(1) who emerged from the box and person(?) who is inside the box. This person(?) will right after time A be moving *away* from door A, backwards, towards door B. At the entry point B we should have person(?) walking out of door B backwards at the same time that person(0) walks in through door B. There is an apparently absurd overlap of instances and actions at entry and exit. Has anyone already proposed a solution for this? +2014-06-23 04:12:03 by Aratak: +@Sepharion + +I put some thought to these kind of problems aswell and imagined you would see a spliting when someone leaves a box. It should look like someone would leave a mirror while you see the image of that person (person(?)) in the mirror moving backwards inside the box. +It raises problems with overlapping the person with himself and to really aproach these kind of problems one should think on the level of individual particles and drop treating the person as one object. +The movie doesn't show any of this though, so I think these thoughts are a misplaced. + +So I propose the 'solution' that there just is no person(?) at all. The movie also kind of supports that with the egg and watch expermiment. +If there were an egg/watch(?) when egg/watch(1) arrives at A, those would overlap on one location (since they don't change locations) during the timespan from A to B, maybe even more like 1300 would overlap. Note that in the expermiment near christmas time they actually measure the weight of the egg and the engineers observe a drop in weight by about 10%, no increase. +Those 10% come from either an upwards directed magnetic force resulting from 'knocking out' the magnetic field inside the egg if I understand it correctly. Or it really is the effect on gravity itself they desirered originally with building the machine. +2014-06-24 18:24:54 by En Enhörning: +Dude.. + + + +That's a long freaking 'explanation'. +2014-07-07 03:28:51 by Shhteve: +So, what would happen if I went back 8 hours, drugged my double. Couldn't I get back in my same box at or after the time I did the first trip? +2014-07-12 15:24:39 by Jim: +@Sepharion + +I believe if the boxes were transparent, the penetrating light would create a gap in the field inside the box, rendering it dysfunctional. That aside, I believe if we could see inside the box we would see a reverberation-like effect of the occupant rapidly flickering like a flip book, as they are after oscillating between the past and future. + +@Shhteve + +If you went back 8 hours to 9 am, drugged your double and wanted to use the box again, the furthest back you would be able to go back to would be 9 am again. The time you enter the box only dictates how long you'll spend in the box to travel back to the point it was turned on, which would be 9 am. + +This discussion is closed. +#+end_comment + +* reddit/r/movies +Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/3aephh/can_anyone_explain_to_me_what_all_happened_in/ +The two heroes accidentally create a small "box" that causes +time-travel, although they don't know it. + +One of the heroes - Abe - goes off on his own and makes a time-travel +box big enough for a person. + +He travels backward to the start of his day. + +He drives off, grabs buddy Aaron, and he shows Aaron himself (from 3) +going into the box. + +They have two boxes now, and they travel back to the beginning of +their day. + +They do this a few times with some success, gaming stocks to make +money. + +Aaron's wife complains about the sound of rats in the attic. + +Aaron takes a call from his wife during the day, uses the box at +night, goes back to the beginning of the day, then takes the call +again, beating "himself" to the punch, proving that time-travel is not +a closed loop. Things can be changed. + +They see a man they know named Granger who looks disheveled; they call +his house and he's there. So at some point, Granger will use the box, +go to the past, and pop out in the state he's in now. + +Abe, unhappy with these complications, heads to a secret time-travel +box he's made called the "failsafe," which takes him back to the day +he told Aaron about time-travel (see 4). + +He has to drug his original self so he can "replay" the days without +that original intervening. + +He goes back, sees Aaron with an earpiece, and collapses. + +When he comes to, it's revealed that Aaron learned about Abe's +failsafe a while ago, stole it away and replaced it with a different +failsafe (one that starts a little bit later). + +Aaron's since gone back in time, drugged his original self, stuck his +original self in his own attic (see 7), and "replayed" the events of +the film. + +Aaron tries to go back in time and drug himself again, but he's too +weak, and his original self fights him off. At this point, there are +three Aarons in the film - the original, the one who drugged the +original, and the one who failed to drug the last one. + +The original drugged Aaron breaks out, the second one flees the +country to build a bigger time machine, and the third one stays in +town to continue as Aaron proper. + +The drugged Abe busts out about the same time his newer self vows to +find a way to prevent them from ever discovering time-travel. Of +course, he can't, because he'll never be able to go as far back as +Aaron can, because of that failsafe switcheroo. + +I've left out the party stuff because my brain fullness is already at +critical. + +* friendsinyourhead +Source: http://friendsinyourhead.com/primer/ + +#+begin_quote +I asked a member of our forum to explain Primer to me, because he seems smart and I do not. +This was the email I got in reply. -Teague +#+end_quote + +This is a fucking novel. If you read the whole thing I will be +legitimately astounded. + +Okay, so the awesome thing about "Primer" is that there are at least +two whole movies going on that we never get to see, and maybe three. +The events depicted on screen comprise no more than a third, and maybe +less, of the events that transpire during the course of the story. + +First, a word about the time machine and how it works. I'm gonna talk +about this because the movie actually treats the time machine in two +completely different and incompatible ways. + +Before we dive into it, go to Google and search for "Rotating +Cylinders and the Possibility of Global Causality Violation." That'll +get you to a 1973 paper by a physicist named Frank Tipler. The +short-bus version for those wimps out there who can't follow covariant +tensor calculus: the Einstein field equations describe the curvature +of spacetime in the presence of matter and energy. According to some +solutions of those equations, it's possible for there to exist closed +timelike curves through spacetime. Traversing a closed timelike curve +is a lot like going for a walk around the block. When you walk around +the block, you start out at a point in time and space, then you move, +then you return to the same point in space at a later point in time. +But if you move along a closed timelike curve, you return to the same +point in space AND time. + +Nobody knows whether closed timelike curves are a real phenomenon, or +just an artifact of the Einstein field equations. But at least +according to the current understanding of modern physics, they're not +explicitly impossible. (They do appear only to form around massive +rotating bodies, however, so it's not like "Primer" is TOTALLY +science-fact. But whatever. It's just a movie.) + +I bring this up because time travel in "Primer" is based around the +idea of a closed timelike curve. + +Let's imagine a time traveler, Alice. Alice has a time machine in her +garage. It's pretty simple, just a box with a button. When Alice +presses the button, the machine turns on; this takes a few seconds, +because the machine has to "warm up," so to speak. If she presses the +button again, the machine turns off, again taking a few seconds to +"cool down." + +The sole complication is that Alice has rigged her machine up to a +timer. The need for this will become apparent shortly. + +We'll start by describing Alice's day from her point of view. She +wakes up in the morning on March 1, 2010. She goes out to the garage +and starts the timer on her machine at exactly 7:45. Then she goes +inside and has a coffee, then goes on about her day. For sake of +argument, let's say she locks herself in her spare bedroom and stays +there. At 8:00 a.m. exactly, the timer she started goes off and the +machine starts to power itself on. Again, it takes a few seconds for +it to warm up, but soon it's humming along nicely. + +Alice spends her whole day locked in her spare bedroom. Maybe she +reads a book or something, whatever. + +At 6:00 p.m. — still on March 1, the same day — she leaves her spare +bedroom and goes to the garage, where she pushes the button that turns +off the time machine. The machine has been running for exactly ten +hours at this point. After a few seconds it powers down, and just when +it does, she climbs inside. When she does, she hears the machine power +itself up again (let's assume the machine hums or something). Then she +waits there for ten hours. + +By Alice's wristwatch, it was 6:00 p.m. when she climbed into the box. +After ten hours, by her wristwatch it's 4:00 a.m. on March 2, 2010. +Let's call the time according to Alice's wristwatch AST — Alice +Standard Time. At 4:00 a.m. March 2 AST, she hears the box start to +power itself off again. A few seconds later, when the machine is fully +off, she gets out of the box. + +The clock on the wall of Alice's garage reads 8:00 a.m. on March 1. +She has gone back in time. (We're going to call the time according to +the wall clock UST, for Universe Standard Time.) + +Now Alice can do whatever she wants. She can go to work, or watch TV, +or do anything at all she cares to do. Just for sake of giving her +something to do, let's say she goes to the movies, runs some errands +and hangs out at the beach. Whatever she does with her time, let's +stipulate that she doesn't get back home for twelve hours — 4:00 p.m. +March 2 AST, 8 p.m. March 1 UST. She has a light supper and goes to +bed, exhausted from the fact that it's been more than 32 hours, +subjectively, since she got up that morning but otherwise totally +normal. + +Now let's describe Alice's day from an imaginary "objective" point of +view, say that of an observer in Alice's house. Alice gets up on the +morning of March 1, starts the machine at 7:45 and locks herself in +her spare bedroom. At 8:00, Alice gets out of the machine. + +We pause here to make an important point. It's tempting to say that +there are two Alices, the one in her spare bedroom and the one in the +garage. This is incorrect, and will just lead to confusion. Instead, +remember that there's only ONE Alice, but she happens to be in two +places at the same time. Remember, when we went through her day from +her point of view, there were no branches or divergences. She never +cloned herself at any point. Instead, she experienced everything in +totally ordinary, boring, linear fashion. What we're seeing as +"objective" observers — that is, observers moving along an inertial +trajectory through spacetime — is Alice at two different points in her +own personal history. + +I could go off on a tangent here about the concept of simultaneity and +how it works in a universe where the speed of light is a constant in +all inertial reference frames, but hell, we all took high school +physics. Maybe we don't all remember the math, but in this context +it's enough to say that events which APPEAR to be simultaneous in one +reference frame will not necessarily APPEAR to be simultaneous in all +reference frames. In the reference frame of the comoving observer, it +APPEARS that Alice is both in her spare bedroom and climbing out of +the box simultaneously, but this is just an illusion. From Alice's +point of view, one of those events followed the other by several +hours. + +Remember: there are no privileged reference frames. There's no +objectively "true" sequence of events in a relativistic universe. + +Anyway. Back to Alice's day. It's 8:00 a.m. on March 1, and we see +Alice in her spare bedroom, and also in the garage getting out of the +box. Alice-in-the-garage leaves the house; we do not see her again for +twelve hours. Alice-in-the-spare-bedroom waits until 6:00 p.m., then +goes to the garage and turns off the box and climbs inside, and +apparently never gets out of it. If we were to follow her into the +garage, wait until she gets into the box and then peek inside, we'd +find it both off (because she turned it off) and empty (because she +got out of it at 8:00 that morning, ten hours earlier). + +We dick around Alice's house for another couple hours, just to see +what happens, and at 8:00 p.m. we see Alice return home from her day +out. Maybe she's looking a little ragged, like she recently pulled an +all-nighter, but other than that, she's just totally normal Alice. + +That's the FIRST way time travel is handled in "Primer." Maybe it's a +little confusing if you don't have a good grasp of relativistic +physics, but really it's very straightforward. Time is linear and +entirely conventional both for Alice and for a notional objective +observer. It's just that events which appear to be sequential to Alice +appear to be simultaneous to the rest of the universe. + +This is the paradigm Abe and Aaron follow when they pull the +stock-market trick. To them, time is purely sequential; they start the +machines, wait, get into the machines, wait, get out of the machines, +go on with their day. To the comoving observer, two Aaron-and-Abe sets +exist simultaneously, but again, that's just an artifact of +relativity. + +A digression now to talk about exactly how the stock-market trick +worked. Abe and Aaron are changing events, right? They're watching the +market, gathering information about it, then going back in time and +using that information to change it, aren't they? Well … not +necessarily. See, Carruth's choice of the stock market was either wise +or lucky, because it leaves enough ambiguity for the story to work +either way. Yes, maybe Abe and Aaron are changing history with their +actions, but it's equally possible — in fact, a more likely and +consistent explanation — that they're really not. See, Abe and Aaron +look, at the end of the day, for stocks on which significant profits +were taken. They have no information about WHO took those profits; +that information is not available to them. Then they go back to the +beginning of the day and take profits on those stocks. What they were +actually observing at the end of the day (earlier in their reference +frame, later in the universe's reference frame) is the effect of their +own trading. The trick wouldn't work — or at least wouldn't fit the +story — if they looked to see who won the lottery, got their lotto +numbers and then went back and played those numbers. They'd obviously +be changing the outcome in that case. But in the case of the stock +market, there's only one set of events, but Abe and Aaron experience +that set of events in a different order than the rest of the universe. +No rules are being broken with the stock-market trick. + +Now. If the movie stopped there, it would still be way interesting. +But it doesn't. It goes to a different place. And to explain that, we +need to ask ourselves two questions: Why the timers, and why the hotel +rooms? + +Remember Alice? Alice went to the garage and started a timer, then +locked herself in her spare bedroom. Why? Why didn't she just mash the +button that would turn the machine on? The answer is causality, and +more specifically Abe and Aaron's lack of understanding of causality. + +When Alice gets into the box at 6:00 p.m. on March 1, it's turning +itself off. Once inside, she perceives it powering itself back up +again. What's really happening, though, is that Alice is experiencing +the box powering itself DOWN, only "played back in reverse," because +she's now moving backwards in time relative to the universe. After +five hours inside the box, Alice's wristwatch reads 11:00 p.m. on +March 1, but the clock on the wall of her garage reads 1:00 p.m. on +March 1. A minute later, her watch says 11:01 p.m., but the wall clock +says 12:59 p.m. She's moving forwards in time in her own reference +frame — as everyone always does, obviously — but backwards in time in +the universe's reference frame. (Put the other way around, when Alice +is inside the box, the universe is moving backwards in time relative +to her reference frame. Same difference; there are no privileged +points of view.) + +After ten hours in the box, Alice perceives the machine powering down. +This is the machine powering UP, "played back in reverse," because +Alice's trajectory through spacetime is backwards relative to the +universe. When, from Alice's point of view, the machine is fully +powered down, she gets out. It's now 8:00 a.m., and the timer just +went off and the machine is just starting to power up. + +Now the need for the timer becomes obvious: If Alice just went into +the garage and mashed the button at 8:00, she'd immediately be greeted +by HERSELF emerging from the box. Abe and Aaron want to avoid this, +because they simply don't know what would happen. Their heads are +filled with sci-fi fantasies of paradoxes and antimatter explosions +and god knows what else, and they just want no part of it. So they +avoid the question entirely by rigging up the boxes on a delay timer, +giving them an opportunity to vacate the premises before anything +happens. + +Of course, the more interesting question is … what if they pushed the +button on the box and nothing came out of it? What would that mean? +Again, that falls into the category of shit-they-want-no-part-of, so +Abe and Aaron never try to find out. + +The other thing to ponder is the matter of Alice's spare bedroom. +After she starts the timer, she locks herself in her spare bedroom for +the day. (And Abe and Aaron lock themselves in a hotel room.) Why is +that? What's the point of having a time machine, after all, if you +have to bolt yourself in a room and avoid interacting with the world +for your first trip through your day? The answer is that Abe and Aaron +don't want to fuck with their own personal histories. The reason +they're able to emerge from the box in the morning is because they +entered the box in the afternoon; entering the box is part of their +own personal histories. But from the viewpoint of a comoving observer, +Abe and Aaron have NOT entered the box yet at the time they emerge +from it. From THEIR point of view, entering the box is in the past; +it's done. But from the comoving point of view, that event hasn't +happened yet … AND MAY NOT. + +Once again, Abe and Aaron are scaredy-cats. They don't even want to +know what might happen if they fail to get into the boxes "after" (in +the comoving reference frame) having emerged from them. A moment's +thought on this subject reveals that it's really not even worth +worrying about. Again, there aren't really TWO Abes or two Aarons; +they haven't been CLONED. They only appear to be in two places at the +same time because of an artifact of relativity. In fact, by the time +Abe and Aaron emerge from the boxes, they've already gotten into the +boxes; this happened in their own personal histories. It's fact, +irrevocable and true, and cannot be changed. THERE ARE NO PRIVILEGED +REFERENCE FRAMES. The fact that Abe and Aaron appear to exist +simultaneously to an outside observer doesn't trump the fact that they +exist in a purely linear, continuous fashion just like everybody else. + +Except … no. + +Now at this point, you can either criticize the movie for breaking its +own rules, or admire it for having the balls to say that what the +characters (and the audience) THOUGHT the rules were weren't actually +the rules at all. "Primer," for all its mind-bending nonlinearity, +sticks relentlessly to the point of view of its two main characters. +The film sets up rules for time travel that make perfect sense (if you +have an advanced degree in physics) because those are the rules Abe +and Aaron figure out. Except Abe and Aaron are wrong. Time travel in +"Primer" doesn't work at all like what I described above. In fact, +while time travel in "Primer" resembles a logical method that's +consistent with relativity, the way it actually works flies in the +face of not just relativity but even the idea of conservation of +energy. + +It starts with the phone call. + +On one of their "trips," Abe and Aaron are in the hotel room when +Aaron's cell phone rings. He was supposed to leave it at home, but he +forgot. The guys, after a moment of panic, decide that everything's +okay, as long as Aaron does not take the phone back to that morning +with him. He lets the call go to voicemail, and they go on with their +day. + +Except he DOES take the phone back with him, and later that day (in +Aaron's reference frame) it rings again. The guys debate whether BOTH +phones are ringing, or just the one in Aaron's pocket right then (in +their reference frame). They don't know the answer — and according to +the commentary track on the DVD, the companies that make cell phones +aren't even clear on what would happen in that situation — but Aaron +answers the call anyway. It's totally mundane, but it still raises the +possibility: What if they changed their own personal histories? In +their histories, Aaron's phone rang when they were in the hotel room. +But if the phone exists in two places at once, and if it DOESN'T ring +in both places, then the fact that Aaron's phone rang later (in his +reference frame) means it didn't ring before, except it clearly did in +his own history. So … what? Are they dealing with an Einsteinian +universe where causality is fixed but simultaneity is an illusion? Or +is it something more mysterious? They don't know … but they're no +longer sure they understand what's going on. + +This is where the movie starts to get complicated. No, seriously. Stop +laughing. + +It's at this point that the Platt-punching idea comes back up. Earlier +in their personal histories, Abe and Aaron (and Aaron's wife) were +talking about what they would do if they could act without +consequences. Aaron says that he'd punch someone named Platt right in +the face. It's never made clear just who this Platt was, but it's +obvious from context that he's somebody who wronged Aaron on some +level. What Aaron imagines is this: He turns on a machine, later +enters it, goes back, finds Platt and punches him, then subsequently +stops his earlier (from his reference frame) self from getting in the +machine in the first place, ensuring that the trip back never occurs +and Platt never gets punched. + +Abe tells Aaron they can't do that. It's not clear whether he means +they LITERALLY can't, or that they mustn't. It's possible that Abe +believes, at this point, that what Aaron proposes is literally +impossible, that their time machines don't work that way. (In other +words, he's speaking under the assumption that they live in an +Einsteinian universe where simultaneity is an illusion but causality +is real and fixed; things can appear to happen out of order depending +on your reference frame, but effect always follows cause and the past +[ANY past, regardless of reference frame] cannot be undone.) + +But later, after the phone call incident, it's not at all clear that +that's the case. If ONLY later-Aaron's phone rang the second time (in +Abe and Aaron's reference frame), then the first call (still in Abe +and Aaron's reference frame) never happened; they inadvertently +changed their own histories. But the thing is, they don't KNOW that's +what happened. Aaron never answered the phone the first time (in his +reference frame) it rang, so he doesn't know whether the call was +also, simultaneously (in the universal reference frame) ringing his +phone later (in his reference frame). + +That's when Abe gets the idea to do an experiment. After one of their +stock-trading adventures, he goes back to the U-Haul and turns on both +boxes. He does this specifically so they can do an experiment with +causality. He comes to Aaron's house in the middle of the night and +tells Aaron that the boxes are running, and they decide what the hell, +to give it a shot. They leave to go to the U-Haul place and screw +around with time. + +Except they never get there, because they see Granger. Granger, a +wealthy businessman and Abe's sort-of girlfriend's father, found one +of the boxes that Abe started and uses it to go back in time. Remember +how I said the stuff we see on screen is just a fraction of the events +that happen in the story? We NEVER see this, or even any hint of it, +in the film. We have absolutely no idea how Granger found the box, or +when. It could have happened at virtually any point in the indefinite +future, as long as the box Granger used was running continuously from +the time Abe turned it on. (It's not even entirely clear just WHICH +box Granger found, which I'll get to in a minute.) We also are never +told WHY Granger used the box … but hints are provided that lead to a +pretty comfortable assumption which I'll explain later. + +Anyway, Abe and Aaron, on their way to the U-Haul, see a Granger +that's obviously traveled in time. They chase him, but he falls into a +coma for no apparent reason. It seems clear that Granger didn't stay +in his box until it turned itself off; rather, he got out early (in +his reference frame), while the box was still running. This has an +unspecified but detrimental effect on anybody who does it; this is +established earlier in the film when on Aaron's first trip he messes +up the timing slightly and gets hurt by it. So now there are two +Grangers simultaneously (in the universe's reference frame), and one +of them is in a coma, perhaps permanently. + +It's at this point that Abe says enough. + +I'm gonna talk now about the failsafe box. + +Again, what happens on screen is just a fraction of the events of the +story. What we see is that Abe figures out how the machine works, +builds a larger version and uses it, then spends his second pass +through his day giving Aaron his big demo. What actually happens is +that, unseen and unmentioned until later in the film, Abe constructs +another box and sets it up in another unit in the storage facility and +turns it on. This is his failsafe box. Once that box has been turned +on, at any point in the future Abe can go back to it, turn it off and +climb inside, emerging at the moment the box was originally turned on. +He turns this failsafe box on before he does anything else related to +time travel, theoretically giving him the chance to go back to +before-the-beginning and change events if anything bad should happen. + +Even at the beginning, Abe knows — or at least suspects — that all +that stuff I said before about illusory simultaneity and fixed +causality — everything Einstein ever assumed, in other words — is +bullshit. At the very least, he wants to be prepared just in case. + +The moment when Abe turns on his failsafe box represents a fixed point +in time and space in the film. We have no idea when it happens — it's +never depicted — but we know it happens before Abe tells Aaron about +the machine's properties. This box is the first one that ever gets +turned on — the first human-scale one, that is. It is, therefore, the +earliest point in time to which anyone can ever go back. + +So Abe, freaked out by the Granger incident and (perhaps more so) by +how close he and Aaron came to deliberately fucking with causality, +decides to use the failsafe box, go back in time to the morning of the +day he first told Aaron about the machine's properties, and reset +everything. + +His plan is to go back, find his earlier self (relative to his +reference frame), knock him out with gas to, then take his place and +meet Aaron in the park and NOT tell him about the machine. It almost +works, too. Except when Abe gets to the park, he's completely +exhausted, having spend DAYS in the failsafe box "riding" back. By the +time he meets Aaron, he can't carry on, and he collapses. + +And that's when the REAL twist comes: We learn that Aaron has also +somehow traveled back in time. He's been listening to recordings of +previous conversations on his earpiece. + +Let's switch gears and talk about Aaron's story, because — no, +seriously — it's the most complicated of all. + +Abe tells Aaron about the machine's properties, just as we see in the +film. He shows Aaron the box he'd used to go back in time. He does NOT +show Aaron the failsafe box. Sometime later — we have no idea when, +relative to any reference frame — Aaron discovers that Abe had rented +two storage units at the U-Haul. He goes into the second, secret one +and discovers the failsafe box, running. He figures out that Abe put +it in place in order to have a way to go back to before the beginning. + +Now, this part we know: At some point prior to Abe's use of his +failsafe, Aaron uses Abe's failsafe box. What we don't know is when or +(entirely) why. But again, we're given enough clues to suss it out, +although they're presented so tangentially as to be practically +baffling at first. It's all related to the party, Rachel, Will, the +shotgun, and maybe even somehow the Granger incident. + +I'm gonna tell this from Aaron's reference frame. When I use words +like "before" and "after," I'm speaking in terms of Aaron's subjective +experience. + +We know that three events took place, but we have no clues as to the +order of those events (in any reference frame) or the causality of +them. We know that Aaron discovered Abe's failsafe box; this is one of +the few turning-point events in the story that's actually shown on +screen, God bless America. We know that Aaron uses Abe's failsafe +machine to go back and establish his own, separate failsafe machine. +And we know that something bad happens at a party. + +Aaron's use of the failsafe machine looks like this: He builds and +collapses two boxes and enters Abe's failsafe box with both of them. +He emerges from Abe's failsafe box when Abe turned it on, back before +the beginning. Abe's failsafe box is now not usable again; once the +box has been turned off (in the objective future), the timelike curve +is closed, and it can't be turned on again without creating a new +timelike curve. So Abe's failsafe box is, for all intents and +purposes, destroyed. + +Aaron sets up one of the two boxes he brought back with him and puts +it in place of Abe's failsafe box. He sets up the other box somewhere +else; that box becomes Aaron's private failsafe box. He turns on his +own private failsafe box first (because he wants to be able to go back +in time farther than anyone else), and then minutes or hours later +turns on the new box that replaced Abe's failsafe box. This new box is +the one Abe takes back later, believing it to be his own failsafe box +that he set up. + +Aaron now goes to his own house and spikes the milk he'll later use on +his cereal with propofol. He waits around until his earlier self has +breakfast, at which point he (his earlier self) passes out. Aaron then +hides his earlier self in the attic and takes his place. He wears an +earpiece under the pretense that he's listening to March Madness +games, but he's actually recording the day's conversations. Aaron is +thinking ahead: he knows that he might need to go back and relive +these events at some point in his personal future. + +The upshot? The Aaron that Abe meets in the park for the first time +(in Abe's reference frame) has already traveled in time at least once. +And possibly many, many times. + +Now, about this party. The party is an oddity in the film; it's barely +depicted at all, and only discussed directly a couple of times. But it +remains the crux of the whole story. + +Everything I've said so far I'm fairly, not totally but fairly, +confident about. It's all more-or-less explicitly supported by the +events we see on screen. But this part I'm basically making up. I +think it fits the story, but I don't think much of it is EXPLICITLY +supported by the film itself. + +I think the party happens for the "first" time (relative to any of our +time-traveling characters) before Aaron first uses Abe's failsafe box. +It's not clear to me whether it happens before or after Aaron +DISCOVERS Abe's failsafe box, but I think it happens before he +actually USES the failsafe box. In fact, I think Aaron uses Abe's +failsafe box because of the party. + +The first time (relative to any of our characters) the party happens, +the sequence of events goes like this: Aaron invites Will to the +party. Will shows up with a shotgun. Something bad happens, maybe even +something fatal. Aaron, horribly guilty because he invited Will to the +party in the first place, decides to use Abe's failsafe box. + +Aaron goes back, does all the stuff I described above, then goes to +the party again, this time with foreknowledge. He tries to create a +different outcome. + +And here's the good part: We have absolutely no idea how many times +Aaron does this. He can use the fold-up-a-box-and-take-it-back trick +basically indefinitely, each time giving himself another chance to +loop through events again. There's even a line in the film that +alludes to this. + +Eventually Aaron loops through the party events a sufficient number of +times to become the hero. But the outcome isn't optimal. In any case, +for reasons never explained, Aaron stops looping through the events of +the party — maybe he just grows weary of it — and goes back to the +stock-market stuff with Abe. Right up to the Granger incident. + +After Abe panics and uses what he thinks is his original failsafe +machine — in actuality, the original failsafe machine is long gone, +used up by Aaron and replaced the first time he went back to correct +the events of the party — he encounters an Aaron who's on at least his +third pass through the events of that day. (The first time through, he +experienced events for the first time; the second time, he recorded +his conversations. Since he's listening to playback of that recording +when Abe meets him post-failsafe, we know it's at least his third time +through that day, and maybe more. He's been time-traveling an +indeterminate number of times in order to change the Rachel incident.) + +Because Abe failsafed back to before the events of the party, Aaron +has no choice but to traverse those events again. This time he inducts +Abe into his conspiracy, and they concoct a way to get the shells out +of Will's shotgun before he takes it into the party. They succeed, +Will goes to jail. + +Now there are two Abes and two Aarons; there's the Abe and Aaron who +went to the party, and there's the Abe that's locked in his apartment, +and the Aaron who's locked in his attic. It's at this point that Abe +and Aaron have the airport conversation we see toward the end of the +movie. Aaron decides to leave; we're never told where he's bound. Abe +stays to prevent the original versions of the guys from ever building +the machine in the first place. + +Movie ends. + +Except … that's not it. I've left out one thing, and it's fucking +huge. + +Let's talk about Aaron again. Aaron finds Abe's failsafe box, is +inspired (I think by the Rachel incident) to use it. He goes back, +drugs his earlier self and hides his earlier self in the attic. But +then another Aaron shows up! What the hell? Where did this Aaron come +from? This Aaron used his OWN failsafe after Abe decides to use (what +he thinks is) his original failsafe. + +For sake of clarity, I'm going to call this Aaron "older Aaron," +because he's literally older, subjectively; he has experienced more +time. I'll call the Aaron who drugs the milk "younger Aaron," because +he is. The Aaron who drinks the milk we don't care about, because he +gets locked in the attic for the rest of the story. + +So why did older Aaron use his failsafe? This might actually be +explained in-film, but if so I've never caught it. Maybe he thinks Abe +might somehow "erase" him by changing the past, even though we've seen +no evidence that time works that way. Whatever his reason, older Aaron +decides, after Abe panics, to use his failsafe to go back to the +beginning. + +Younger Aaron (who used Abe's original failsafe box) goes back and +spikes the milk, with the intention of taking his earlier self's +place. Older Aaron (who used his own failsafe box, which was set up +and turned on by younger Aaron) catches younger Aaron just after the +act. They struggle. Younger Aaron subdues older Aaron, but after they +talk, older Aaron convinces younger Aaron to leave and let older Aaron +impersonate his earlier self. Older Aaron has already experienced all +the events of the story so far; older Aaron went back in Abe's +original failsafe box, older Aaron looped through the Rachel incident, +older Aaron recorded all his conversations, all that stuff. Younger +Aaron hasn't done any of that yet. Younger Aaron has just gotten out +of Abe's original failsafe box, and has no firsthand knowledge of any +of the events that older Aaron experienced subsequent to his own first +trip back in Abe's failsafe. + +Older Aaron convinces younger Aaron to leave … and it's younger Aaron +who becomes the film's narrator. He makes a phone call to Abe — which +Abe, exactly? I'm not certain, but I've got a theory I'll get to +shortly — and that phone call makes up the film's narration. + +It's also younger Aaron, I think, who we see in the movie's last shot, +somewhere in France, building a box the size of a room for purposes +unknown. A bigger box could carry more people and things, obviously, +but it could also make longer trips back more practical. It's left +entirely open-ended just what younger Aaron plans to do. Remember, +this Aaron hasn't experienced any of the bad aspects of time travel +yet; he may in fact have made only a single trip back, the one time he +used Abe's original failsafe. He's a complete loose cannon; there's no +way to guess what he's planning. + +It's also at this point that we can finally see clearly how time +travel in this story works. We have two Aarons now, existing +simultaneously from the point of view of the non-time-traveling +universe. Except they have divergent personal histories. When Abe and +Aaron first started using the boxes, they kept their personal +histories strictly linear; whenever two Abes or two Aarons existed +simultaneously (in the reference frame of the universe) one of those +Abes or Aarons existed in the other Abe or Aaron's past; the Abe in +the hotel room was in the immediate and linear past of the Abe trading +stocks. But our two Aarons aren't like that at all. One of them used +Abe's failsafe, went back, impersonated his younger self and had many +time-travel-related adventures. The other used Abe's failsafe, got his +ass kicked by the other one, and decided to leave and go to France. +The two Aarons are entirely divergent now, in a way that makes +ABSOLUTELY no sense in the context of time travel as I first described +it, and as the characters first thought they understood it. + +And for the physics nerds in the audience, this is where we can most +clearly see the flagrant disregard for conservation of energy. In the +first, simpler time-travel paradigm, energy was still conserved +despite the illusion of simultaneity. Each time traveler had a +straight and linear world line in his own reference frame; he only +appeared to be in two places at the same time in the universe's +comoving reference frame. But in the more complex time-travel +paradigm, we end up with two Abes and three Aarons all existing +simultaneously, all with divergent personal histories, none in the +linear subjective past of any of the others. In other words, there's +no reference frame — Abe's, Aaron's, Aaron's wife's, Granger's, +nobody's — in which the personal histories of the characters are +linear. There's no coordinate transform we can make, to use math +lingo, that would result in only a single Abe or Aaron existing +continuously in flat spacetime. + +But you know what? Even this isn't TOTALLY crazy, in context of modern +physics. The conservation of energy is a theory, one that's generally +agreed to hold at the macro scale. But physics is riddled with what +appear to be violations of this principle. Hawking radiation is a +prime example. Everywhere in space, all the time, +particle-antiparticle pairs are constantly popping into existence and +annihilating each other. When this happens in the vicinity of a black +hole's event horizon, sometimes either a particle or an antiparticle +crosses the event horizon (thus disappearing from the universe at +large) while its partner scatters off into space. This is how black +holes can emit radiation, and it's also a local violation of +conservation of energy. General relativity throws the whole notion of +conservation of energy into disarray, and the implications are still +being worked out to this day. + +So from a physics-nerd point of view, we can imagine our two Abes and +our three Aarons as being analogous to particles "emitted" by a black +hole through Hawking radiation. (This is just a metaphor; it makes no +sense literally.) Even though time travelers who appear to exist +simultaneously in the frame of reference of the universe SHOULD +"collapse" back into a single worldline, they don't have to, and when +they don't, another complete individual comes into existence, with his +own unique past worldline and his own independent future worldline. + +So that's "Primer" in a nutshell. Two guys invent a method of time +travel that appears to conform to known and proven interpretations of +relativity, but in fact it doesn't. It has its own rules, inconsistent +with the theory of closed timelike curves. The two guys discover this +the hard way, and in the end three instances of one character exist +and two instances of the other. At the end of the movie, the older +instance of one character vows to stop the "original" two characters +(the two subjectively youngest) from inventing the time machine in the +first place, while the second-oldest instance of the other character +goes off to build another, bigger time machine for reasons never +elaborated upon. + +Now, I've attached a purty pitcher. Lemme walk you through it. +(Available for download here.) + +Follow the blue arrows. That's Abe's worldline. His first trip through +time is when he does his "demo day" for Aaron; he gets into box 1 at +the end of the loop, travels back to the start of the loop, exits the +box and then spends the day showing Aaron how the boxes work. + +Then he and Aaron do three days of stock trading, each time with Abe +in box 1 and Aaron in box 2. + +After the Granger incident, Abe decides to take his failsafe box back +to the beginning. Unbeknownst to him, Aaron has already replaced his +failsafe box (box 0) with a new box (box 4). He takes box 4 back to +the start of its loop, gases himself and impersonates his younger +self. At this point, Abe's personal history changes; the older Abe was +never gassed and stuffed into a closet. So now there are two Abes, +each with independent personal histories. One goes on about his life +none the wiser, except for having been knocked out and locked in a +closet inexplicably. The other one (who is our original Abe, from the +beginning of the story) apparently works to prevent the time machines +from ever being used, or at least that's what he says during the +airport scene. + +Abe's worldline is by far the simpler one. + +Now trace the red one; that's Aaron's. He doesn't travel in time for +the first time until after Abe already has. He takes his first trip +the first day he and Abe trade stocks. Sometime after this first +day-trading adventure — shown here between the first and second +trading days, but the exact sequence is indeterminate in the film — +Aaron discovers Abe's failsafe box, box 0. He takes it back to the +beginning, bringing boxes 3 and 4 along with him. He sets them up, +then goes to drug himself. This is the first of two events in which +Aaron's history diverges. Aaron hides his unconscious younger self in +the attic and impersonates him. + +At this point, things get really INCREDIBLY complicated. + +We're now at the spacetime event on the diagram labeled "Aaron +convinces his younger self to leave town." At this point in Aaron's +personal history, he has just taken box 0 back to the beginning of +everything and drugged his younger self. But now he meets another, +older version of himself, one who's just taken box 3 back. This +version of Aaron is in our Aaron's subjective future; he has not yet +become this Aaron. But there he is. The two Aarons fight, then talk. +The older Aaron (the one who emerged from box 3) convinces the younger +Aaron (from box 0) to leave town. The younger Aaron does, going to +France where we see him at the end of the film. But in affecting this +sequence of events, the older Aaron (from box 3) manages to alter his +own past. Because he WAS the younger Aaron from box 0; he remembers +drugging his younger self and impersonating him. Those events +transpired in his subjective past; they're part of his personal +history. Only now those events are prevented, because he has just +talked younger Aaron from box 0 into leaving the country. + +Now remember, there is no indication in the movie that there's +anything like "meta-time." It makes no sense to refer to spacetime +events happening more than once. We can imagine that the "first time" +Aaron passes through this event there is no older Aaron there, and he +goes through with his plan for impersonating his younger self, then +later goes back to that event a "second time" and changes it. But this +is simply nonsense; time doesn't work that way either in the movie or +(as far as we have any reason to believe) in real life. + +Some folks on the Internet have gotten around this by subscribing to +the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. Whenever anyone +uses one of the boxes to travel through time, a parallel universe is +created where the same events can have different outcomes. This is +lazy, to my mind. No, the proper solution to this puzzle is to embrace +ambiguity. The spacetime event labeled "Aaron convinces his younger +self to leave town" must — by the rules of the film — be a +superposition of different outcomes. One outcome is that the Aaron +from box 0 never appears, and the Aaron who's never traveled in time +goes on to meet Abe and learn about the boxes. Another outcome is that +the time-virgin Aaron is drugged by the Aaron from box 0, and the +Aaron from box 0 goes on to meet with Abe for what is for him the +second time. A third outcome is that the Aaron from box 0 is +interrupted by the Aaron from box 3, who convinces the Aaron from box +0 to leave town. + +All three of these things must result from the spacetime event labeled +"Aaron convinces his younger self to leave town" on the diagram. All +three things must happen. Which one a subjective individual +experiences when traversing that spacetime event is a matter of +probability, and of which events lie in that individual's subjective +past. If Aaron in that spacetime event has none of the other events in +his subjective past, the overwhelming probability is that he will not +be drugged, and will not encounter any other instances of himself. But +if Aaron in that spacetime event has box 3 in his subjective past, the +overwhelming probability is that he'll meet Aaron-from-box-0 and talk +him into leaving. It's baffling, but it's consistent with both the +story we see on screen, and also quantum mechanics. + +What would an objective observer have seen at that point in space and +time? Well, obviously the superposition of all three outcomes. You'd +see Aaron-from-box-0 spike the milk, then you'd see time-virgin-Aaron +collapse, then you'd see Aaron-from-box-3 appear and talk +Aaron-from-box-0 into leaving. Not coincidentally, this is exactly +what we see depicted in the film; in fact, this is the only version of +events we see. Which makes sense, because this is the only thing that +"really happened," from the reference frame of an outside observer. It +is, in a sense, the "final version" of events; the other two outcomes +are just first drafts. + +So anyway. That's "Primer." At least I think so. + +(I didn't do dick today. Obviously.) +* XKCD +[[./primer_xkcd.png]]