Oct 25, 2008 in Podcast
Presenting “A SHORT INSIDERS COMPARISON GUIDEBOOK TO THE PARALLEL UNIVERSES: BETAVERSE”
This is a document that Robert Wertheimer wrote up while on his way to Cape Town in November 2003 to begin pre-production and filming. Part factual, part speculative, it served as a reference to what life in Betaverse was to look like and feel like.
Oct 21, 2008 in Recaps
Charlie told me once, everybody breaks. But he never did. Not once. - Karl Lubinsky
And so the story of Charlie Jade, a story one half-hour in the future, comes to a close. A bittersweet ending for sure - there was a lot of story left to tell - but a satisfying end to twenty hours of mystery and intrigue. But before we get started breaking it down, I’m going to suggest you go back and watch it again. Trust me when I tell you: even if you think you followed the episode, you didn’t. In fact, if you think you got it the first time through, you *really* didn’t. Go watch again. I’ll wait.
There you go. Now, you should be ready for this discussion. At least I hope it all made more sense the second time through. If not, you may want to try out the episode commentary at Charliejade.net. In particular, did you notice at the halfway mark that time was bent back on itself? Every moment with Charlie takes place after he’s entered linkspace, trying to remember what it is he is supposed to do. Scenes without Charlie occur before that, in the reference frame of the other players.
Let’s dig in.
Oct 18, 2008 in Podcast
Featuring commentary by Robert Wertheimer on Episode 120, “Ouroboros”.
Originally aired Space on 08/20/2005 in Canada, aired on SciFi Channel on 10/21/2008 in the USA.
Oct 17, 2008 in Podcast
Promo recap of Episode 119, “Flesh”, aired prior to Episode 120, “Ouroboros”, the season/series finale.
Oct 16, 2008 in Recaps
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Matthew 26:41
It’s all over, right? Charlie’s come back to Jasmine - and just as quickly realized he belongs in Beta - 01’s out of jail, and Essa’s in shackles. Everything is right with the verses. So why, I must ask, is that countdown clock still running? The Vexcor link countdown clock that 01 now controls.
After what seems an eternity, 01’s finally left and Bryon’s body has been discovered. Essa wants Sew Sew to bring in 01, even though the video of the boardroom is blank. He agrees to have 01 arrested on her sayso. Some time later Essa is in the boardroom in her mourning whites while the board sits in remotely. A message from Bryon Boxer is wheeled in and played, informing the board that 01 is receiving Bryon’s controlling interest in Vexcor.
Essa…does not take the news well. Neither does 01. After 01 gets notice from the ProbateBot that Bryon’s shares are his - and he utters the classic line, “please hold; your death is important to us” - he goes into an alley and starts throwing and beating garbage cans. This is intercut with Essa’s breakdown in the boardroom as she tries to destroy the message cube. From beyond the grave, Bryon Boxer is still affecting those he “loves” best.
Oct 11, 2008 in Podcast
Featuring commentary by Robert Wertheimer on Episode 119, “Flesh”.
Originally aired Space on 08/13/2005 in Canada, aired on SciFi Channel on 10/14/2008 in the USA.
Oct 10, 2008 in Podcast
Promo recap of Episode 118, “Bedtime Story”, aired prior to Episode 119, “Flesh”
Oct 09, 2008 in Recaps
Forget it, Jade. It’s Cape City.
Remember what Charlie does for a living? In case it’s been so long that it’s slipped your mind, this week’s episode should refresh your memory.
Back in his own bed and his own universe, lying beside Jasmine, Charlie finds himself unable to sleep. He’s anxious and confused and guilty, wondering what to do to save Beta. The water doesn’t even taste right to him, but spirits do the trick. Both in his glass, and haunting his memory. Blues comes to him in the night and tells Charlie he can go back to being the man he was, but Charlie’s not so sure. So he tells her a story.
Oct 04, 2008 in Podcast
Featuring commentary by Robert Wertheimer on Episode 118, “Bedtime Story”.
Originally aired Space on 08/06/2005 in Canada, aired on SciFi Channel on 10/07/2008 in the USA.
Charlie Jade Episode 118 Commentary: Bedtime Story [48:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (248)Oct 03, 2008 in Podcast
Promo recap of Episode 117, “Spin”, aired prior to Episode 118, “Bedtime Story”
Oct 02, 2008 in Recaps
Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers. - Nehemiah 9:2
Remember when we thought 01 Boxer was the epitome of evil?
Sure, 01 is a crazy bastard and has killed more than his share of people, but if we’ve learned one thing over the last two months it is this: 01 kills to save the multiverse. He kills to save billions. He kills to protect a way of life and peace and harmony with nature.
And while the sons bear the sins and wickedness of the father, we now definitely know where 01 gets his flexible morality. Bryon didn’t kill to save anyone. He killed to send his son a message that he his services were no longer needed. Recognizing his decay was happening too quickly to be reversed anymore, Bryon chose death at his son’s hands over the more painful alternative. What better way to achieve that than to take away he thing his son loved the most? He’d already caused 01’s mother’s death; now it was time to take away the rest of 01’s family.
While that Greek tragedy unfolded across three dimensions, Charlie came home to a harsh, brutal world he no longer recognized and where he no longer belonged. On returning, he caused grief for Sew Sew and Jasmine before they even saw him, but it was poor, sweet Papa Louie - who we haven’t seen since the pilot - who suffered the most from Charlie’s return.
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