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[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Yeah. Remember, part of the declared goal of the Hybrid programme is to give Boy and intellectual equal/rival.
Now that is a statement packed with arrogance (are you really the smartiest and pantsiest, or do you simply never really listen to anyone else because you’ve decided you’re the most clevererest of everyone ever). But, it could be kinda true. In which case, maybe up to this point in his life, Boy has always been Genuinely Right. At least to a greater or lesser degree.
One thing I did notice?
Spoiler:
When the Lungburster did its thing, it took out its container with it. That seemed to genuinely surprise Kirsh (I think it was Kirsh looking through the window? Needs a rewatch). And that I like.
So far, we’ve seen genuine care being taken to ensure containment. Our first hiccup has now presented itself, and so it’s from here things either get interesting, or Interesting.
I wonder if Nibs is just going to deactivate herself. Something is clearly not right. And going all the way back to when she was transferred? I think they’ve been not right since the get go for her.
All the performances have been superb though.
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I actually found myself at one point in the latest episode reminding myself that the hybrids aren't actually being played by child actors... which is an absurd thought to have to have, but the actors are all thoroughly convincing as kids in adult bodies. It's a fantastic performance all around.
I’m wondering if BK is going to get his wish for someone smart than him…T Occulus…
Spoiler:
Might be just me but after…er…Shaun…it might be studying its captors.
If the sheep actually died then got reanimated, maybe T Occ can do that to a synthetic person.
I had assumed it just attacked Nibs in a blind frenzy, but possibly it could adapt to a hybrid, too
Shaun has been given his open Funko Pop!
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/28 10:55:35
Brilliant fourth episode. Weaving in all the various types of horror was really well done.
Spoiler:
There's the obvious eyeball monster horror. But Wendy's unnerving Xenomorph language was creepy as hell. Then there's Nibs and her clearly not being able to process what's happening, leading to the disturbing "child playing as adult" and clear psychosis combined with her superhuman strength making her a different type of threat to the alien creatures. Good to see there seems to be some sort of contingency for this, showing that Prodigy aren't completely inept.
The hybrids continue to be a high point in each episode. I love the contrast between Isaac's (literally) childlike wonder married to his ability to instantly learn stuff, contrasted against Curly's jealousy and need to prove herself to Boy by acquiring more knowledge to try to be useful.
I've got to be honest, I have struggled with the series so far. Unlike almost everyone else I have spoken to, I just don't think it's very good.
I feel like there are 2 very good ideas at work and either on their own would have worked really well, but cramming both into one series is jarring.
A series about the rise of Weyland-Yutani and how it brought down the other corporations to become the dominant corporation in the franchise? Count me in. A seires about the development of synthetics and the psychological issues of making them "too human"? Count me in. A series about a failed Weyland-Yutani expedition cataloguing dangerous alien species to be used for their bio-weapons division? Count me in.
But roll them altogether into one show. It didn't feel like it was working. I think the series would have worked better being set in the same universe but didn't actually feature the famous xenomorph at all....
However, episode 4 was a good one and has drawn me in a bit. I much preferred the slower pace and it solidified the idea for me that this show works better when there's a lot less of the titular alien in it.
This episode did at least cover some things I had issues with, that maybe Prodigy aren't quite as stupid as I initially thought they were.
One thing I noticed though:
Spoiler:
When Boy Kavalier is talking to Atom Eins (Ade Edmondson's character who for me so far is the surprising standout) and Atom catches the bouncing ball - he has very good reflexes for a seemingly old man. Is he a synthetic? Could he turn out be the total bad-ass of the show?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/28 08:12:09
I actually found myself at one point in the latest episode reminding myself that the hybrids aren't actually being played by child actors... which is an absurd thought to have to have, but the actors are all thoroughly convincing as kids in adult bodies. It's a fantastic performance all around.
Yeah. And it’s creepy in exactly the right way.
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Zed wrote: *All statements reflect my opinion at this moment. if some sort of pretty new model gets released (or if I change my mind at random) I reserve the right to jump on any bandwagon at will.
Jadenim wrote: @straight silver I’d say that’s a distinct possibility.
One other thing that hasn’t been answered yet; BK is reading Peter Pan in a sound booth with a microphone. Who is he reading that for / to?
Also:
Spoiler:
Nibs having a full on child trauma delusion in a super human synth body has been one of the scariest moments so far. That’s just deeply disturbing.
I had assumed it was played in the hybrids rooms before they went to "bed" but now you mention it that's true......
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh, and I'm calling it now:
Spoiler:
Nibs has definitely (somehow) been invaded by Species 64. There's a scene during her mental deterioration where she sticks her finger in her eye which was repeated during the recap so obviously significant. And her behaviour has become more erratic/aggressive, much the same as the sheep. And she is now saying she is pregnant.....
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/28 08:44:58
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
She was a little twitchy to begin with. During the composite scene of the other Lost Boys being created (a fantastic bit of editing!), she’s the only one I notice/recall having a look of blank eyed horror.
Spoiler:
But….yeah, you have an interesting argument! Spesh as it was going for them on the ship.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/28 09:14:44
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The show's doing well enough to already have it's own Funko Pops
Spoiler:
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
It's curious that they've hit one of those so hard to hit points; We know Boy Kavalier is basically 'too dumb to live' like a lot of horror characters, but he's so well portrayed by his actor and compellingly written, you can't look away from the oncoming trainwreck. There's not rolling your eyes at the inevitability of it all or the clear dumbness of the characters. It's just that very very flawed person who is walking headfirst into disaster and can't see it and you're just there watching it all play out.
I don't think he's coming across as 'dumb'. He's very much self-absorbed and convinced of his own superiority, but his actions are only stupid because of things we know as outside observers, not because they're not logical things for him to do. That's a large part of why the character works... he wouldn't be believable as the boy genius if he was actually stupid. He's ultimately going to run afoul of hubris and ignorance, rather than stupidity... and that's much more satisfying to watch.
I'm more referring to his whole child experiment, which is just a series of explosions waiting to happen and none of the are illogical to see coming.
If everyone turns stupid at the end, we'll know that Ridley Scott had more creative control than we thought.
One thing about Noah's other works, is his characters aren't usually dumb... even when you think a character isn't the swiftest boat in the fleet, they surprise you.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/29 02:37:07
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
It's curious that they've hit one of those so hard to hit points; We know Boy Kavalier is basically 'too dumb to live' like a lot of horror characters, but he's so well portrayed by his actor and compellingly written, you can't look away from the oncoming trainwreck. There's not rolling your eyes at the inevitability of it all or the clear dumbness of the characters. It's just that very very flawed person who is walking headfirst into disaster and can't see it and you're just there watching it all play out.
I don't think he's coming across as 'dumb'. He's very much self-absorbed and convinced of his own superiority, but his actions are only stupid because of things we know as outside observers, not because they're not logical things for him to do. That's a large part of why the character works... he wouldn't be believable as the boy genius if he was actually stupid. He's ultimately going to run afoul of hubris and ignorance, rather than stupidity... and that's much more satisfying to watch.
I'm more referring to his whole child experiment, which is just a series of explosions waiting to happen and none of the are illogical to see coming.
Surely that depends on failsafes? Strikes me that as a concept prototype, they exist to help iron out the wonk. Whilst I do think using child minds is immoral? If it was adult minds? Well, with informed consent I can see a fair percent of the population taking “risky experiment which promises a longer life” over “well, sadly we’re now at the point where you are going to die in the next few weeks”. But at some point, such a concept needs to be put into practice.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Boy has remote off switches for all the Lost Boys. I mean, he could turn off Wendy’s hearing - and importantly, it seems she had no ability to turn it back on herself. I do mean seems, as not knowing you can do something, and not being able to do something aren’t exactly the same thing,
What we may see is…
Spoiler:
Underestimating the gribblies.
We’ve seen one such instance, where the Chestburster went straight through the glass containment. Given the care and caution shown so far, that does seem to have been genuinely unexpected.
And whilst having learned all existing research and experiment notes Kirsh isn’t starting at square one? That doesn’t mean he’s full aware and appreciative of all the risks involved.
We do of course expect things to end up going very, very wrong. But what might cause that remains to be seen. Though I’m not sure it’ll be due to stupidity, rather the Unknowable.
Good example here would be Alien Ressurrection. In hindsight, keeping multiple specimens in a single cell is what did for them. But up to that point, nobody had any point of reference which might even suggest they’d sacrifice one of their own to make an escape. That’s not say “one per cell and you just don’t have a movie”. We know now they’re cunning buggers. But it’s still a reminder of just how little was known about them and their capability for reasoning.
What I’m interested in is how the new learning is put to use. For instance, Wendy doesn’t exactly know what they’re saying - but they now have evidence the beasts do communicate in a verbal fashion. And which wavelengths to monitor as a result.
What we’re seeing is, arguably, Good Science. Take it slow. Make meticulously records. Plan your experiments. Things Not Going To Plan is an expected part of that. It’s just when you’re dealing with Xenomorphs, one tends to only get the one mistake before you’re all horribly killed to death.
I’m expecting Boy’s downfall to be rooted in a number of things. Nibs going bonkers and him refusing to back down. Slightly being put under remote control peer pressure and Boy wanting to see how far that might go. And of course underestimating his new pets. So, all down to his hubris, yes. But a combination of whoopsies which, perhaps if they happened one at a time, were individually Not That Bad.
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It is, yes. But that was the whole reason for using kids in the first place.
I'm wondering if that's part of Boy's interest in the aliens... The hybrids are potentially a path to immortality for humans, but not for him personally, so he's starting to look elsewhere for ideas.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
I think my argument still stands, that the concept at some point had to be put into practice.
I do wonder if the “it doesn’t work on adult minds” has an unspoken “yet” at the end. I mean, this can’t have been a cheap thing to develop to this point. So you try it with the minds you’re pretty sure it will work with, and once that’s proven? You can work out the kinks of whatever is preventing it working with adult minds.
As for Boy? It’s genuinely hard to tell. I think he’s pretty amoral. But I’m not sure he’s actually evil. Just….really arrogant.
He’s clearly fascinated to have alien life in his hands. What he wants to do with them? I guess he first needs to figure out What Are, and How Do?
Which to be honest is what makes him so interesting as a character. Hes a Techbro Billionaire. And clearly as arrogant as they come. He of course does questionable things - but we’re yet to see him cross the line from reckless enthusiasm to uncaring buttmunch. And so I can’t right now say he’s Malevolent or Evil. Just massively arrogant.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/29 06:56:44
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
I got the impression that they had started with adults and progressed onto children when that went badly. But I don't recall if that was explicitly said, or if I've just assumed it.
That's not to say that the process can't be improved later, but it definitely seemed like this was the only way they could make it work.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/29 07:39:58
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Actually. Boy is a John Hammond.
So wrapped up in the “could” and its possibilities, lost sight of the “should”.
Albeit to a more worrying degree. But for now, not to the point of being evil as such. He genuinely believes his Hybrid programme and its experiments to be Worth It, regardless of cost and morale quandaries. The “got to break some eggs to make some omelettes” type. Too focussed on achieving his goals to really stop and moralise about the path being taken.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Maybe with a slice of Dr Strange. Where once he’s seen a solution, to his mind it becomes the only solution.
It must be. He’s the smartest guy in any room. Therefore the solution he comes up with must be the only possible solution, and so any cost is justified in the long run.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/29 07:49:29
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Wendy wasn't the first. Boy Kavalier is actually a child in an adult's body. He was the first, a synth with a human mind, but got lonely and wanted friends..... They keep bringing up the line "everybody needs friends".
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
I’m not gonna rule that out, now you mention it.
Spoiler:
Might be worth rewatching the last two episodes, see what time he spent in the presence of the eggs.
We’ve seen them not respond to the Hybrids, so it may be an indicator. However, the Cyborg was in the same room as them, and they did nothing. So may not be conclusive, depending on how far away he was.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
So wrapped up in the “could” and its possibilities, lost sight of the “should”.
Albeit to a more worrying degree. But for now, not to the point of being evil as such. He genuinely believes his Hybrid programme and its experiments to be Worth It, regardless of cost and morale quandaries. The “got to break some eggs to make some omelettes” type. Too focussed on achieving his goals to really stop and moralise about the path being taken.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Maybe with a slice of Dr Strange. Where once he’s seen a solution, to his mind it becomes the only solution.
It must be. He’s the smartest guy in any room. Therefore the solution he comes up with must be the only possible solution, and so any cost is justified in the long run.
With Slightly's new quest, there are some uncomfortable parallels with the first jurassic park, aren't there? Perhaps we have some clumsy, overly strong hybrid sabotage coming to create the opportunity to egg someone. LOL, and he's totally going to try to egg Hermit. That's the only human he has access to that he wouldn't mind having 'a bad couple of days'.
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them down dark alleyways and mugs them for loose grammar.
Egging Hermit is the most likely outcome - then Wendy will be able to communicate with the Xenomorph with her bother's DNA and treat it like her "brother" and somehow, no doubt, the Xenomrph will "remember" Wendy..
Egging Hermit is the most likely outcome - then Wendy will be able to communicate with the Xenomorph with her bother's DNA and treat it like her "brother" and somehow, no doubt, the Xenomrph will "remember" Wendy..
.
Spoiler:
That.... that's terrible, and likely accurate. Gives new meaning to nuke it from orbit just to be sure! .
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them down dark alleyways and mugs them for loose grammar.
Might be worth rewatching the last two episodes, see what time he spent in the presence of the eggs.
We’ve seen them not respond to the Hybrids, so it may be an indicator. However, the Cyborg was in the same room as them, and they did nothing. So may not be conclusive, depending on how far away he was.
Spoiler:
The egg in the lab reacted to Boy when he got too close, prompting Kirsh to shunt him out of the room.
Egging Hermit is the most likely outcome - then Wendy will be able to communicate with the Xenomorph with her bother's DNA and treat it like her "brother" and somehow, no doubt, the Xenomrph will "remember" Wendy..
.
Spoiler:
Wendy is already communing with an alien that has her brother’s dna mixed in. The one that came out of her brother’s lung has her brother’s dna.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/08/29 21:33:21
Dakkadakka: Bringing wargamers together, one smile at a time.™
Hermit is giving me distinct Final Girl vibes, honestly. He's either going to be the only one to get off the island, or he's going to be the one who blows it all up.
