The Big O Showtime: Twisted Memories

Okay, so we're back to the old opening credits sequence. Why?

This episode feels much more downbeat than previous ones. There's a sense that this is the last lull before an explosive climax and all the characters are moving into position for the finale. Like the close of a second act and the beginning of the third. Where'd we leave our characters? Angel is still on the run from the cops, The Union has crumbled and Rosewater just needs one more thing to put his plan into action.

We pick up with Alan Gabriel reporting to Vera the Angry French Lady one last time. He informs her that Memories they're looking for don't actually exist, which would be a hell of a twist if it's true. She apparently does not like that answer though so they shoot each other. Meanwhile Roger is back at his place, contemplating the message Angel gave Dorothy for him. Something about he can't let the Union or Rosewater have the Memories. Roger says he understands but will need more info to negotiate, so goes to find Angel. He tries Dastun, but no luck. Here's what that "heading toward the climax" feeling shows, as Dastun says he and Roger should a drink together again when they have time. But the way they say it carries across that they know it won't happen. Staring at Angel's file also give Roger another panic attack about his brainwashing, but this doesn't amount to much besides him debating determinism vs. free will in the car. Though that is foreshadowing for later.

Old People of the Corn

But we have two other plots this episode, so let's not dally. Rosewater the Younger has gone to visit his dad, but it seems the old man has gone senile as he doesn't even recognize his son. This is an interesting scene for Rosewater the Younger, it's the first time we've seen him truly vulnerable. Anytime before he's been either the cool mastermind or the childish maniac, but here he seems very sad. He's trying to reach out to his father, a man he has great respect for to the point he took it personally when the Union tried to destroy his dad's city, and the man can only prattle about his harvest. Rosewater is heartbroken by this, but nonetheless hugs his dad and says he loves them. The Memory he's looking for is lost. Which makes it even more heartbreaking when he sets fire to the farm and leaves his dad to die. Initially I was confused by why he would do this, but thinking about it I figure that it plays into Rosewater's childishness. His daddy couldn't give him what he wants so he takes it out on what his dad loves. He'll justify it to himself, probably something about keeping his dad and his Memories safe from the Union, but it's actually just a selfish act. At least that's how I read it.

Beck:"Yeah, I had this combining mech. It was pretty sweet"
Alan: "Don't kill him yet. Don't kill him yet. Don't... ah, screw it"

The other plot concerns Alan Gabriel. Yes, he survived his shootout with Angry Vera. Probably because he's half-robot and voiced by Crispin Freeman. Anyway, he breaks Beck out of prison to fix Big Fau using the same tech he used on Dorothy way back in Episode 2. Beck refuses, but Alan Gabriel tells him either he helps or he'll be executed for his crimes. Which leads him to build a bunch of pink scorpion tanks to kidnap Dorothy. This is another way it feels like we're building to a climax. Beck's tanks demolish Roger's house going for Dorothy and Beck's usual manic energy comes across as dulled by the portentous proceedings. His cartoony animation has been toned down as well. That's how heavy things are. Beck, our reliable comic relief villain, is defeated and serious. His confrontation with Roger spells it all out. Where once Beck would have gloated like the Penguin over his destroying Roger's home, now he can only sigh sadly being used as someone else's tool. It's almost like he's apologizing to Roger.

Our protagonist meanwhile is still looking for Angel. He doesn't find her, but he does come across Vera the Angry French Lady bleeding from the stomach. That's what happens when you have a gunfight with a cyborg. She seems to have accepted that the Union has failed and has decided to call in her countrymen to burn Paradigm City to the ground. She also brings up Behemoth and Leviathan. There's been an undercurrent of religious symbolism through the whole show, but specifically this calls back to Episode 17. Behemoth and Leviathan are huge monsters mentioned in the Book of Job, so powerful and terrible that only God could kill them. Presumably Leviathan was Schwarzwald's dragon from Episode 17, so Behemoth is yet to be seen. But considering the "deus" half of megadeus, I think this means Roger is destined to destroy whatever it is. Behemoth is also historically connected to dinosaurs, referencing a message Vera has for Angel, but we'll get into that next time Angel appears.

"Dear Mr. Smith. We're sorry to inform you that
your homeowner's insurance does not
cover giant robot damage.

Vera launches a rocket to signal her countrymen, seemingly killing herself, and Roger is called back to save Dorothy. Thing to note, Big O moves on his own to protect Dorothy here. But despite Norman and Big O's efforts, Beck's tanks capture Dorothy. Roger arrives and this is where the determinism vs. free will thing comes in. Dorothy is putting up no fight against her capture, representing determinism, saying that this is what she has to do and it's her destiny. Roger disagrees, saying she decides her own destiny and imploring her to escape. She doesn't and the scorpion tank flies off with her. Roger climbs in Big O, trashing the rest of his house, but before he can go after Dorothy the repaired Big Duo appears, its pilot unknown. And the episode ends with the Union's air force heading toward Paradigm.

As I've said, this really feels like moving toward the climax. Roger's house is destroyed, meaning his base is no longer available and he literally can't go home again. Rosewater the Elder is dead, so any knowledge he could give us is gone. The Union's spy operations are fully defeated, leaving military force their only option. And Beck, beautiful hilarious Beck, has been leashed. His end no longer being prison but death. The endgame is upon us friends. Soon, we will have war.