[November Update: This post is one I now somehwat regret making.}
Showing posts with label Theories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theories. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Friday, April 12, 2019
Who is the Gaiseric of Berserk based on?
I'm going to do something unusual and engage in some theorizing about a fictional story I haven't actually watched or read anything of yet. I'm planning to watch the late 90s Berserk Anime someday, but I need to get myself in the right mindset for something that dark. But when you've been in the Anime community for a few years like I have now it's difficult to not hear a lot about Berserk. Berserk comes up in videos I watch about other Anime, which puts more specifically Berserk based videos on my recommended videos feed, which leads to me deciding to click on ones with interesting titles.
Berserk is a Medieval European fantasy story, but it seems to be drawing more on Continental European history as opposed to the usual British Isles focus of Tolkien/Lewis, Game of Thrones and Final Fantasy Tactics. Gaiseric is a figure in the lore of Berserk who most fans seem to think is partly based on a real historical figure, but they disagree on who with the common theories being Julius Caesar and Charlemagne.
I was drawn into this discussion by randomly clicking on this video about The World of Berserk, it argues for a theory that Gaiseric was analogous to Charlemagne and Midland is Middle Fancia from the division of Charlemegnes's Empire that Extra Credits made an interesting video on. Which would probably make his capital either Aachen or Pavia. But there are other theories that Midland is more just plain France or Germany. That video has a lot of interesting criticisms in it's comments section, like how Kushan being a Muslim empire doesn't make that much sense.
But there is something I'm sure I'm not the first to notice, but it doesn't seem to be a popular theory. And that is that there is a real historical figure literally named exactly Gaiseric, a Fifth Century King of the Vandals.
The Vandal Gaiseric reigned for about fifty years ending in 477 AD. In Berserk Gaiseric is supposed to have lived about a thousand years before the present narrative, which seems to be from what I gather near the end of or following a fictional analogue of the Hundred Years War, which was about the mid 1400s aka the 15th Century.
Most maps you see of what the Vandal Kingdom looked like are based on what they had during the time of Justinian who sent Belisarius to conquer it, which was the same chunk of North Western Africa Rome used to control and some Western Mediterranean islands like Corsica and Sardinia. But Gaiseric ruled more having conquered all of that and a decent chunk of Italy, he even sacked Rome in 455. Still he didn't ever rule the main countries Midland seems to be based on, but maybe Bersek is an alternate history where he ruled far more then he did historically? The origins of Gaiseric do seem to be a mystery to the people of Midland.
Pavia also seems to have never come under Gaiseric's control, but it was becoming the real capital of Italy already in Gaiseric's lifetime. In an alternate timeline where he conquered all of the former Western Empire, it may have become one of his capitals as well.
Their Tax Policy is complicated to compare, Berserk's Gaiseric is simply said to have levied heavy Taxes, the Vandal Gaiseric taxed the Nobility but not the common people.
The biggest problem with the Julius Caesar theory is that Gaiseric was clearly not someone who made a public show of refusing to be crowned King. But there is a secondary problem.
The Holy See in Berserk is pretty universally agreed to be based on the Catholic Church (Berserk may be like a lot of JRPGs which kinda make the God of Christianity Evil, but the Lost Chapter is of disputed canonicity). The Holy See clearly existed already at the time of Gaiseric which hurts the Julius Caesar theory. However Gaiseric was not on the same page religiously as the Holy See which makes him clearly not Charlemagne who was very much the Pope's man, it was the Pope who crowned him Emperor of The Romans.
The Historical Gaiseric however was an Arian, a sect of Christianity condemned as Hersey at both the First and Second Ecumenical Councils during the 4th century. But for a time between them it was popular in the East and because of a missionary sent by the Arian Emperor Constantius II it gained a lot of converts among the then northern Barbarians which included the Vandals, Alans, Goths, Suebi, Burgundians and Lombards. Quodvutdeus could be the basis for the Sage said to have been imprisoned by Gaiseric. That would make the Albion of Berserk Naples, that name could come from Alboin a King of the Lombards. A lot of what we think we know about Gaiseric in Berserk seems to come from the Holy See who have a bias against him.
Arianism was a non Trinitarian form of Christianity, it taught that God The Son, Jesus, was Divine in a sense, He certainly existed before His physical incarnation. But defined Him as a Created Being unlike the Uncreated God The Father. There were also Semi-Arians who refereed to this Creation as being Begotten and saw their Theology/Christology as compatible with the Nicene Creed. Modern Christian movements often compared to Arianism include the Jehovah's Witnesses, possibly some forms of Mormonism (though the Book of Mormon is quite Trinitarian and Brigahmite Cosmic Pluralism is not quite Arian either), some Unitarians, and at least one anti-Paul Hebrew Roots website I stumbled upon once. Some have also described the Logos Doctrine of Philo of Alexandria as being kind of proto Semi-Arian, and certain anti-Arians of the Antiochene School also saw some of Origen and Clement of Alexandria's ideas as anticipating Arianism. Some Neo-Arians look at the Old Testament and define YHWH as The Son and The Father as El Elyon, I don't know if there was any precedent for that among the Ancient Arians however.
The Arians were not Gnostic, but the potential to compare and confuse them does exist, since both the Gnostic Ialdabaoth and the Arian view of The Son can be seen as having their roots in the Platonic idea of the Demiurge as a Creator god who is lesser then the true original God. And many Trinitarinn Christians have had a habit of grouping everyone they didn't like together. This possible confusion could be relevant to Berserk which might like many Gnostics be viewing the God of mainstream Christianity as Evil. And there was a Gnostic presence in the West contrary to the usual assumptions it was just an Egyptian and later Persian problem, remember Augustine himself was a former Manichean, and Priscillianism was derivative of Manichean ideas. Also later during the middle ages the Albigensians appeared in southern France.
Another character in Berserk known as the Skull Knight is often theorized to either be Gaiseric or someone who was a loyal Knight of Gaiseric. The later theory suggests that Gaiseric was in a way like Griffith but made the opposite choice, and the Skull Knight was perhaps his Guts. Once I've actually watched a decent amount of Berserk I may return to this subject.
Berserk is a Medieval European fantasy story, but it seems to be drawing more on Continental European history as opposed to the usual British Isles focus of Tolkien/Lewis, Game of Thrones and Final Fantasy Tactics. Gaiseric is a figure in the lore of Berserk who most fans seem to think is partly based on a real historical figure, but they disagree on who with the common theories being Julius Caesar and Charlemagne.
I was drawn into this discussion by randomly clicking on this video about The World of Berserk, it argues for a theory that Gaiseric was analogous to Charlemagne and Midland is Middle Fancia from the division of Charlemegnes's Empire that Extra Credits made an interesting video on. Which would probably make his capital either Aachen or Pavia. But there are other theories that Midland is more just plain France or Germany. That video has a lot of interesting criticisms in it's comments section, like how Kushan being a Muslim empire doesn't make that much sense.
But there is something I'm sure I'm not the first to notice, but it doesn't seem to be a popular theory. And that is that there is a real historical figure literally named exactly Gaiseric, a Fifth Century King of the Vandals.
The Vandal Gaiseric reigned for about fifty years ending in 477 AD. In Berserk Gaiseric is supposed to have lived about a thousand years before the present narrative, which seems to be from what I gather near the end of or following a fictional analogue of the Hundred Years War, which was about the mid 1400s aka the 15th Century.
Most maps you see of what the Vandal Kingdom looked like are based on what they had during the time of Justinian who sent Belisarius to conquer it, which was the same chunk of North Western Africa Rome used to control and some Western Mediterranean islands like Corsica and Sardinia. But Gaiseric ruled more having conquered all of that and a decent chunk of Italy, he even sacked Rome in 455. Still he didn't ever rule the main countries Midland seems to be based on, but maybe Bersek is an alternate history where he ruled far more then he did historically? The origins of Gaiseric do seem to be a mystery to the people of Midland.
Pavia also seems to have never come under Gaiseric's control, but it was becoming the real capital of Italy already in Gaiseric's lifetime. In an alternate timeline where he conquered all of the former Western Empire, it may have become one of his capitals as well.
Their Tax Policy is complicated to compare, Berserk's Gaiseric is simply said to have levied heavy Taxes, the Vandal Gaiseric taxed the Nobility but not the common people.
The biggest problem with the Julius Caesar theory is that Gaiseric was clearly not someone who made a public show of refusing to be crowned King. But there is a secondary problem.
The Holy See in Berserk is pretty universally agreed to be based on the Catholic Church (Berserk may be like a lot of JRPGs which kinda make the God of Christianity Evil, but the Lost Chapter is of disputed canonicity). The Holy See clearly existed already at the time of Gaiseric which hurts the Julius Caesar theory. However Gaiseric was not on the same page religiously as the Holy See which makes him clearly not Charlemagne who was very much the Pope's man, it was the Pope who crowned him Emperor of The Romans.
The Historical Gaiseric however was an Arian, a sect of Christianity condemned as Hersey at both the First and Second Ecumenical Councils during the 4th century. But for a time between them it was popular in the East and because of a missionary sent by the Arian Emperor Constantius II it gained a lot of converts among the then northern Barbarians which included the Vandals, Alans, Goths, Suebi, Burgundians and Lombards. Quodvutdeus could be the basis for the Sage said to have been imprisoned by Gaiseric. That would make the Albion of Berserk Naples, that name could come from Alboin a King of the Lombards. A lot of what we think we know about Gaiseric in Berserk seems to come from the Holy See who have a bias against him.
Arianism was a non Trinitarian form of Christianity, it taught that God The Son, Jesus, was Divine in a sense, He certainly existed before His physical incarnation. But defined Him as a Created Being unlike the Uncreated God The Father. There were also Semi-Arians who refereed to this Creation as being Begotten and saw their Theology/Christology as compatible with the Nicene Creed. Modern Christian movements often compared to Arianism include the Jehovah's Witnesses, possibly some forms of Mormonism (though the Book of Mormon is quite Trinitarian and Brigahmite Cosmic Pluralism is not quite Arian either), some Unitarians, and at least one anti-Paul Hebrew Roots website I stumbled upon once. Some have also described the Logos Doctrine of Philo of Alexandria as being kind of proto Semi-Arian, and certain anti-Arians of the Antiochene School also saw some of Origen and Clement of Alexandria's ideas as anticipating Arianism. Some Neo-Arians look at the Old Testament and define YHWH as The Son and The Father as El Elyon, I don't know if there was any precedent for that among the Ancient Arians however.
The Arians were not Gnostic, but the potential to compare and confuse them does exist, since both the Gnostic Ialdabaoth and the Arian view of The Son can be seen as having their roots in the Platonic idea of the Demiurge as a Creator god who is lesser then the true original God. And many Trinitarinn Christians have had a habit of grouping everyone they didn't like together. This possible confusion could be relevant to Berserk which might like many Gnostics be viewing the God of mainstream Christianity as Evil. And there was a Gnostic presence in the West contrary to the usual assumptions it was just an Egyptian and later Persian problem, remember Augustine himself was a former Manichean, and Priscillianism was derivative of Manichean ideas. Also later during the middle ages the Albigensians appeared in southern France.
Another character in Berserk known as the Skull Knight is often theorized to either be Gaiseric or someone who was a loyal Knight of Gaiseric. The later theory suggests that Gaiseric was in a way like Griffith but made the opposite choice, and the Skull Knight was perhaps his Guts. Once I've actually watched a decent amount of Berserk I may return to this subject.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Summer Season Anime preparations
This may change. But after going over the expected Summer shows on MAL, I think the only one I'm likely to follow is Netsuzou Trap. And even that I may drop, my feelings on the Manga are mixed. It will be my first time watching an Anime I'd read the Manga for first. I had wanted that honor to go to Citrus, but whatever.
Some movies expected to come out I will watch, the new Nanoha movie for example. And the third Yuki Yuna Prequel film.
For the most part I'm kinda relived. I want to spend more time this season watching more older Anime I haven't seen yet. And re-watching ones I already know I like.
I may soon be changing some of what I've rated on MAL.
Very recently I have watched the Girls und Panzer film, which was awesome. And Code Geass Akito of the Exiled again since the Dub just dropped. And now I'm definitely much more certain that it's an Anime I liked.
I suspect the Dimensional Supervisor and that Skull thing that gave Shin his powers will be relevant to the upcoming Code Geass R3.
As for the Spring shows I'm not actually done with yet due to following the Simuldubs.
I wound up putting Clockwork Planet on hold. I had been more optimistic for that show then most, but during episode 6 I got kinda tired of it.
Which leaves me with only Attack on Titan season 2. Which I'm enjoying but also wishing was a bit slower paced.
Update: I learned between posting this and the day even ending that Digibro and that other guy will be covering a Summer show to follow up their Eromanga-Sensei series. That I'll probably watch for it's sake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwVKjtPVxaQ&t
I don't know what I'll think of Fate/Apocrypha. But anything they say dissing Fate/ in general I will respond to.
Some movies expected to come out I will watch, the new Nanoha movie for example. And the third Yuki Yuna Prequel film.
For the most part I'm kinda relived. I want to spend more time this season watching more older Anime I haven't seen yet. And re-watching ones I already know I like.
I may soon be changing some of what I've rated on MAL.
Very recently I have watched the Girls und Panzer film, which was awesome. And Code Geass Akito of the Exiled again since the Dub just dropped. And now I'm definitely much more certain that it's an Anime I liked.
I suspect the Dimensional Supervisor and that Skull thing that gave Shin his powers will be relevant to the upcoming Code Geass R3.
As for the Spring shows I'm not actually done with yet due to following the Simuldubs.
I wound up putting Clockwork Planet on hold. I had been more optimistic for that show then most, but during episode 6 I got kinda tired of it.
Which leaves me with only Attack on Titan season 2. Which I'm enjoying but also wishing was a bit slower paced.
Update: I learned between posting this and the day even ending that Digibro and that other guy will be covering a Summer show to follow up their Eromanga-Sensei series. That I'll probably watch for it's sake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwVKjtPVxaQ&t
I don't know what I'll think of Fate/Apocrypha. But anything they say dissing Fate/ in general I will respond to.
I was gonna wait for the Dub for Fate/Apocrypha. But if they cover it then I can't do that.
I really love the Fate/ franchise. I say this not just as an Anime, it is the best take on Arthurian/Grail legend done period in well over a 100 years. And yes I include the Indiana Jones film in that. I also really love the characters and the use of Hermetic Magick. Fate/Zero is the best so far.
Netsuzou Trap again is the only show this season I'm guaranteed to at least start. I read a good deal of the manga and i enjoyed it but ti's not as good as Citrus.
I really love the Fate/ franchise. I say this not just as an Anime, it is the best take on Arthurian/Grail legend done period in well over a 100 years. And yes I include the Indiana Jones film in that. I also really love the characters and the use of Hermetic Magick. Fate/Zero is the best so far.
Netsuzou Trap again is the only show this season I'm guaranteed to at least start. I read a good deal of the manga and i enjoyed it but ti's not as good as Citrus.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Pretty Little Liars, Season 7A
I enjoyed it, don't feel I have much else to say.
Spoilers Ahead
Spencer being Mary's kid is illogical, why then was it Aria's file stolen with Noel's?
I think ALi is lying about being Pregnant to get with Emily. It came completely out of no where, and no I don't think that one scene of her puking is sufficient foreshadowing.
I know people are trying to deny that Toby is dead, but that steering wheel was embedded deep in his skull.
I think A.D. is Charlotte.
Spoilers Ahead
Spencer being Mary's kid is illogical, why then was it Aria's file stolen with Noel's?
I think ALi is lying about being Pregnant to get with Emily. It came completely out of no where, and no I don't think that one scene of her puking is sufficient foreshadowing.
I know people are trying to deny that Toby is dead, but that steering wheel was embedded deep in his skull.
I think A.D. is Charlotte.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Aria and Noel Kahn are twin children of Mary Drake
If someone called this before me, I genuinely thought of it on my own.
I think Kenneth is Charlotte's father and Peter Hastings is Aria and Noel's father.
"But you ship Sparia and you just made Aria and Spencer sisters" I've shipped Incestuous Ships before.
Also the Aria is -A theorists are going to have a field day with this episode.
I think Kenneth is Charlotte's father and Peter Hastings is Aria and Noel's father.
"But you ship Sparia and you just made Aria and Spencer sisters" I've shipped Incestuous Ships before.
Also the Aria is -A theorists are going to have a field day with this episode.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Kenneth is Charlotte's biological father
He knew about Jessica's affair with Peter Hastings and decided to get revenge by sleeping with her twin sister.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
I'm calling it now (PLL theory)
Alison is Devil Emoji/The new -A.
She thinks the Liars know more then they're letting on and she wants to make them talk.
And Lorenzo might be helping her.
She thinks the Liars know more then they're letting on and she wants to make them talk.
And Lorenzo might be helping her.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
The Force Awakens theories and the Prequel references (Spoilers)
WARNING! This post will contain Spoilers for The Force Awakens. For my Spoiler Free initial reaction to the film click on this link.
This is not a full review or anything, I still need time to decide how I rank it with the others. Possibly a 2nd viewing. This post is just me speculating about how it ties into existing Lore and the possible future of the Saga.
Spoilers Ahead!!!!
The first Prequel reference was when Kylor Ren gave the order to kill all the villagers. It immediately made me think of Darth Sidous saying "Wipe them out, All of them" in The Phantom Menace.
They also name dropped the Sith, which EU wise was known before the PT but as far as film goes the PT is the only reason for Abrams to expect the general audience to recognize that word.
It seems that Planet that was destroyed was not Corusant, but it was definitely meant to feel reminiscent of Corusant same as Jakku is reminiscent of Tatooine.
But the big Prequel nod was the Clone Army reference. It's not just a casual Clone Wars reference from the one line in Episode IV. It specifically works based in the context of us knowing that the original Storm Troopers were a Clone Army.
And while the Rebels cartoons has technically made it canon that the Storm Troopers ceased being clones before the OT happened. Someone who wants to consider the Movies only their Canon can still following The Force Awakens interpret the OT era Storm Troopers to have still been Clones. In fact it kinda works better that way, I got the vibe that using these brainwashed soldiers over clones was some policy General Hux advocated, and that Finn's rebellion now threatens it.
And I like that. You see before The Prequels even entered production I had always from the OT alone gotten the impression that there was some kind of connection between Boba-Fett and the Storm Troopers, like he was a former Storm Trooper or something. I was never a big fan of Boba's character, this was the one thing I found notable about him. So what was revealed in Attack of The Clones to me was a perfect confirmation of what I already felt, though not exactly what I'd have guessed.
Because of that, Rebels saying "No the OT era Storm Troopers were not Clones, and chips are why the Clones betrayed the Jedi so Rex cans till be a good guy" really pissed me off. I felt personally insulted by that.
Now back to the Episode VII Clone Army reference. I've also been thinking what that could mean for the future.
Between Finn's rebellion and many of their forces being killed with Starkiller base. Perhaps the First Order will decide to use a Clone Army in the future. Perhaps the Kaminoans have advanced their technologically and no longer need a full 10 years to produce an army of full grown adults. And also perhaps an influential figure within the First Order who disagreed with Hux was already working on one.
What could make that route interesting to me is this. What if they use genetic material they have on record of Finn to make him the Template of the new Army? Or some of it at least? Imagine the drama that could create in future conflicts?
You may think "why use the one who rebelled as a Template?"
1. That could be ideal for testing the ability to control the Clone Army, see if clones of a person who on moral principle rebelled against them can be made to obey without question.
2. Finn is going to become an important Hero for the Resistance now. That could make a perfect psychological warfare tool and espionage asset.
3. They know Finn is a very capable at fighting, every time he fought another Storm Trooper he won. It took Kylo Ren to beat him. So really who better?
Supreme Leader Snoke
The theory of him possibly being Darth Plagueis was neither confirmed or refuted. But I feel it's increasingly likely.
Now Plagueis never needed to be the same species he was in the old Expanded Universe, plus his "resurrection" could have changed his species. Yet what we saw here does seem consistent with that species. He looks pretty much like what Plagueis theorists were anticipating, though not quite exactly.
And then there is that Scar across his face. It looks like more then just a scar like what we saw Kylo Ren receives by the end. It looks like it should have been fatal. It had me thinking Biblically of The Beast in Revelation who's Mortal Head Wound was healed. So it could very well be from when Darth Sidious killed him or at least thought he did.
And I've seen it observed his Theme in the score is virtually identical to the Music played discussing Plagueis in Episode III.
He is also called Wise by Kylo Ren. Snoke and Plagueis are the only Dark Side characters called Wise.
A specific idea I have on the Plagueis=Snoke theory is that maybe for some reason the death of Darth Sidious is what triggered Plagueis return from the Grave.
Update:
There were more Prequel references, I can't list them all. We saw a Pod Racer on Jakku.
But ya know what really takes the cake, Kylo Ren does have the traits people hated about Hayden's Anakin. And he kinda resembles Hayden with the mask off too.
Also in Rey's vision we do hear Ewan McGreggor as Obi-Wan's voice. And possibly the sounds of the Younglings killed in ROTS.
In the Present of the story we never see the other Knights of Ren. I think we could see them more in the sequels.
I still think Rey's Staff foreshadows her using a Double Bladed Lightsaber. And I really hope it's Purple.
In order to make full use of that, she'll have to be in a battle where she is outnumbered, two on one like Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon vs Darth Maul. And I think that could be why having up to 6 supporting Knights of Ren will be useful. I think she'll take some of them on, and in Episode VIII Luke will battle Kylo Ren.
I don't think we'll see Snoke use a Saber till Episode IX. But I do think we'll see more of him in VIII then we did in VII.
This is not a full review or anything, I still need time to decide how I rank it with the others. Possibly a 2nd viewing. This post is just me speculating about how it ties into existing Lore and the possible future of the Saga.
Spoilers Ahead!!!!
The first Prequel reference was when Kylor Ren gave the order to kill all the villagers. It immediately made me think of Darth Sidous saying "Wipe them out, All of them" in The Phantom Menace.
They also name dropped the Sith, which EU wise was known before the PT but as far as film goes the PT is the only reason for Abrams to expect the general audience to recognize that word.
It seems that Planet that was destroyed was not Corusant, but it was definitely meant to feel reminiscent of Corusant same as Jakku is reminiscent of Tatooine.
But the big Prequel nod was the Clone Army reference. It's not just a casual Clone Wars reference from the one line in Episode IV. It specifically works based in the context of us knowing that the original Storm Troopers were a Clone Army.
And while the Rebels cartoons has technically made it canon that the Storm Troopers ceased being clones before the OT happened. Someone who wants to consider the Movies only their Canon can still following The Force Awakens interpret the OT era Storm Troopers to have still been Clones. In fact it kinda works better that way, I got the vibe that using these brainwashed soldiers over clones was some policy General Hux advocated, and that Finn's rebellion now threatens it.
And I like that. You see before The Prequels even entered production I had always from the OT alone gotten the impression that there was some kind of connection between Boba-Fett and the Storm Troopers, like he was a former Storm Trooper or something. I was never a big fan of Boba's character, this was the one thing I found notable about him. So what was revealed in Attack of The Clones to me was a perfect confirmation of what I already felt, though not exactly what I'd have guessed.
Because of that, Rebels saying "No the OT era Storm Troopers were not Clones, and chips are why the Clones betrayed the Jedi so Rex cans till be a good guy" really pissed me off. I felt personally insulted by that.
Now back to the Episode VII Clone Army reference. I've also been thinking what that could mean for the future.
Between Finn's rebellion and many of their forces being killed with Starkiller base. Perhaps the First Order will decide to use a Clone Army in the future. Perhaps the Kaminoans have advanced their technologically and no longer need a full 10 years to produce an army of full grown adults. And also perhaps an influential figure within the First Order who disagreed with Hux was already working on one.
What could make that route interesting to me is this. What if they use genetic material they have on record of Finn to make him the Template of the new Army? Or some of it at least? Imagine the drama that could create in future conflicts?
You may think "why use the one who rebelled as a Template?"
1. That could be ideal for testing the ability to control the Clone Army, see if clones of a person who on moral principle rebelled against them can be made to obey without question.
2. Finn is going to become an important Hero for the Resistance now. That could make a perfect psychological warfare tool and espionage asset.
3. They know Finn is a very capable at fighting, every time he fought another Storm Trooper he won. It took Kylo Ren to beat him. So really who better?
Supreme Leader Snoke
The theory of him possibly being Darth Plagueis was neither confirmed or refuted. But I feel it's increasingly likely.
Now Plagueis never needed to be the same species he was in the old Expanded Universe, plus his "resurrection" could have changed his species. Yet what we saw here does seem consistent with that species. He looks pretty much like what Plagueis theorists were anticipating, though not quite exactly.
And then there is that Scar across his face. It looks like more then just a scar like what we saw Kylo Ren receives by the end. It looks like it should have been fatal. It had me thinking Biblically of The Beast in Revelation who's Mortal Head Wound was healed. So it could very well be from when Darth Sidious killed him or at least thought he did.
And I've seen it observed his Theme in the score is virtually identical to the Music played discussing Plagueis in Episode III.
He is also called Wise by Kylo Ren. Snoke and Plagueis are the only Dark Side characters called Wise.
A specific idea I have on the Plagueis=Snoke theory is that maybe for some reason the death of Darth Sidious is what triggered Plagueis return from the Grave.
Update:
There were more Prequel references, I can't list them all. We saw a Pod Racer on Jakku.
But ya know what really takes the cake, Kylo Ren does have the traits people hated about Hayden's Anakin. And he kinda resembles Hayden with the mask off too.
Also in Rey's vision we do hear Ewan McGreggor as Obi-Wan's voice. And possibly the sounds of the Younglings killed in ROTS.
In the Present of the story we never see the other Knights of Ren. I think we could see them more in the sequels.
I still think Rey's Staff foreshadows her using a Double Bladed Lightsaber. And I really hope it's Purple.
In order to make full use of that, she'll have to be in a battle where she is outnumbered, two on one like Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon vs Darth Maul. And I think that could be why having up to 6 supporting Knights of Ren will be useful. I think she'll take some of them on, and in Episode VIII Luke will battle Kylo Ren.
I don't think we'll see Snoke use a Saber till Episode IX. But I do think we'll see more of him in VIII then we did in VII.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Supreme Leader Snoke
Will be played by Andy Serkis. It seems confirmed he's a Mo-Cap character. He's going to be the ruler of the First Order, what remains of The Empire. And it also seems confirmed will be a Dark Side Force user and Kylo Ren's master.
I was really hoping that the remnants of The Empire and the Sith or their replacement would be separate from each other. After all, we saw in the Original Trilogy that the purely military people in The Empire weren't exactly happy having Vader and his religion around. That would have made for a more complicated scenario, but whatever.
There has been some speculation about Snoke, one rumor is he will be some kind of Snake or Reptilian alien. If that is what happens a lot of Conspiracy Theorists are going to have a field day with it.
Whatever kind of Alien he is. I have a hunch that he may turn out to be Darth Plagueis.
If what this Trilogy is going for is making Star Wars into a sort of Trilogy of Trilogies, then that is would be a good way make them interconnected. A villains who was mentioned as an important plot device in Episode III but never seen.
One of the main things we know about him is that he supposedly learned how to cheat death. So revealing he wasn't as dead as Sidious thought would fit.
Remember the old EU isn't canon anymore, so nothing about the old Darth Plagueis novel has to be stuck to. Including whatever species he was said to be there.
I was really hoping that the remnants of The Empire and the Sith or their replacement would be separate from each other. After all, we saw in the Original Trilogy that the purely military people in The Empire weren't exactly happy having Vader and his religion around. That would have made for a more complicated scenario, but whatever.
There has been some speculation about Snoke, one rumor is he will be some kind of Snake or Reptilian alien. If that is what happens a lot of Conspiracy Theorists are going to have a field day with it.
Whatever kind of Alien he is. I have a hunch that he may turn out to be Darth Plagueis.
If what this Trilogy is going for is making Star Wars into a sort of Trilogy of Trilogies, then that is would be a good way make them interconnected. A villains who was mentioned as an important plot device in Episode III but never seen.
One of the main things we know about him is that he supposedly learned how to cheat death. So revealing he wasn't as dead as Sidious thought would fit.
Remember the old EU isn't canon anymore, so nothing about the old Darth Plagueis novel has to be stuck to. Including whatever species he was said to be there.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
What if Killer Frost is actually Caitlin from another Earth?
That's a theory I've been thinking of.
You may think "that's be a cop out" but no, nothing done with the Caitlin we know at all hints at her going down a Dark Past.
If someone had watched Season 1 of Smallville genuinely ignorant of the Superman mythos, that Lex Luther had the potential to turn to the dark-side was still obvious.
Same with the Star Wars Prequels, even if you showed them to someone who legitimately knew nothing about the OT, the foreshadowing on Anakin's potential dark future was still there.
And even using a non Prequel example, Faith in Season 3 of Buffy, she was set up as the Dark Slayer from the start. But she didn't turn evil till the season was like 2 thirds over.
Caitlin Snow is a much more obscure figure, people who are ignorant of her being a villain in the comics are not so rare. To any of them the Caitlin we've been following suddenly turning evil would seem like an ass pull.
I don't have any particular reactions to the latest episode. It was good.
You may think "that's be a cop out" but no, nothing done with the Caitlin we know at all hints at her going down a Dark Past.
If someone had watched Season 1 of Smallville genuinely ignorant of the Superman mythos, that Lex Luther had the potential to turn to the dark-side was still obvious.
Same with the Star Wars Prequels, even if you showed them to someone who legitimately knew nothing about the OT, the foreshadowing on Anakin's potential dark future was still there.
And even using a non Prequel example, Faith in Season 3 of Buffy, she was set up as the Dark Slayer from the start. But she didn't turn evil till the season was like 2 thirds over.
Caitlin Snow is a much more obscure figure, people who are ignorant of her being a villain in the comics are not so rare. To any of them the Caitlin we've been following suddenly turning evil would seem like an ass pull.
I don't have any particular reactions to the latest episode. It was good.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Only Two episodes of PLL 6A left
Here is what I'm thinking.
Red Coat isn't Charles, Red Coat is the Ally who sent Charles that portrait.
Charles is either someone who hasn't appeared in this half season, or is Andrew who I said before I found suspicious how quickly they exonerated him compared to other Red Herrings who started a half season. Plus his explanation for what he was doing doesn't line up really.
I really feel like Wren would be the most satisfying solution, there are so many dangling plot threads with him, the thing about his involvement in getting Veronica removed from Ashley's defense, the police speculating on that one white board he's not a real doctor.
Charles certainly pushed Marion Cavanaugh off the roof and Bethany saw it.
Charles can't be someone we have seen existed before "That Night". He's not gonna be one of the boyfriends (Toby and Ezra and ruled out by the timeline anyway). And it'd be really cheap if he's someone we didn't meet till this half season. I feel like this character needs to have been around since Season 3 at least. So for people we have seen this half season, that really only leaves Andrew.
Red Coat is most likely CeCe.
Red Coat isn't Charles, Red Coat is the Ally who sent Charles that portrait.
Charles is either someone who hasn't appeared in this half season, or is Andrew who I said before I found suspicious how quickly they exonerated him compared to other Red Herrings who started a half season. Plus his explanation for what he was doing doesn't line up really.
I really feel like Wren would be the most satisfying solution, there are so many dangling plot threads with him, the thing about his involvement in getting Veronica removed from Ashley's defense, the police speculating on that one white board he's not a real doctor.
Charles certainly pushed Marion Cavanaugh off the roof and Bethany saw it.
Charles can't be someone we have seen existed before "That Night". He's not gonna be one of the boyfriends (Toby and Ezra and ruled out by the timeline anyway). And it'd be really cheap if he's someone we didn't meet till this half season. I feel like this character needs to have been around since Season 3 at least. So for people we have seen this half season, that really only leaves Andrew.
Red Coat is most likely CeCe.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
This Red Herring kinda sucks
For the first 5 seasons I didn't mind that PLL had such obvious blatant red herrings. Partly because they've developed such a Meta style about it over the years.
I enjoyed wondering what the real answer would be. Even in 5B while I was kind of annoyed the Liars thinking Ali was -A went on so long, I enjoyed the whole Mike situation.
But this thing with Leslie is just coming off cheap to me. Red Herrings about who Charles is is what I was looking forward to. The Charles mystery was/is the chief selling point of this half season, we already know his name is in the finale. So the idea that they're going to spend the middle act of the season under the pretense that he's dead really feels like a waste of time.
I was fully expecting that Kenneth would claim or think Charles was dead. But not that the Liars would buy it this easily.
Now I imagine, we will indeed find out Leslie knew Charles and will maybe provide the key to understanding how his death was faked and how he connects to the Bethany/Toby's mom plot elements. That's gonna give this detour some justification, but it still feel unnecessary.
I enjoyed pretty much everything else about the latest episode.
I enjoyed wondering what the real answer would be. Even in 5B while I was kind of annoyed the Liars thinking Ali was -A went on so long, I enjoyed the whole Mike situation.
But this thing with Leslie is just coming off cheap to me. Red Herrings about who Charles is is what I was looking forward to. The Charles mystery was/is the chief selling point of this half season, we already know his name is in the finale. So the idea that they're going to spend the middle act of the season under the pretense that he's dead really feels like a waste of time.
I was fully expecting that Kenneth would claim or think Charles was dead. But not that the Liars would buy it this easily.
Now I imagine, we will indeed find out Leslie knew Charles and will maybe provide the key to understanding how his death was faked and how he connects to the Bethany/Toby's mom plot elements. That's gonna give this detour some justification, but it still feel unnecessary.
I enjoyed pretty much everything else about the latest episode.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
My PLL Season 6 theorizing begins
This Charles mystery is getting intriguing.
1. I am suspicious that Andrew was cleared so quickly, and they hardly explained everything that made him a suspect. His explanation makes it sound like this started only once the girls were kidnapped. It might be they are plotting to pull a Scream.
2, In episode 3 when "Charles" threatened Sarah, the message said "someone will die", which is odd terminology considering he was apparently threatening someone very specific.
Rosewood is often a place where everything seems right by each other, but Sarah got out of bed and both started and finished a shower before the girls finished rushing to Emily's house?
3. The Dress thing from the Christmas episode continues to make Charles being Trans an option. Going that way could have a lot of troubling unfortunate implications. But at the same time if someone like Cece were a trans woman it'd be a helpful representation in that people are used to thinking of Trans individuals as always turning out to be a very unappealing example of the Gender they identify with.
4. Spencer is Awesome
1. I am suspicious that Andrew was cleared so quickly, and they hardly explained everything that made him a suspect. His explanation makes it sound like this started only once the girls were kidnapped. It might be they are plotting to pull a Scream.
2, In episode 3 when "Charles" threatened Sarah, the message said "someone will die", which is odd terminology considering he was apparently threatening someone very specific.
Rosewood is often a place where everything seems right by each other, but Sarah got out of bed and both started and finished a shower before the girls finished rushing to Emily's house?
3. The Dress thing from the Christmas episode continues to make Charles being Trans an option. Going that way could have a lot of troubling unfortunate implications. But at the same time if someone like Cece were a trans woman it'd be a helpful representation in that people are used to thinking of Trans individuals as always turning out to be a very unappealing example of the Gender they identify with.
4. Spencer is Awesome
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Flash Theories
First about Grodd.
I don't think this is the real Grodd exactly, or perhaps more accurately not the final Grodd. Let me Explain.
This Grodd was still too dumb to me, maybe that's because it's still his Origin, but I don't know.
Many people may be upset about removing Ape City in exchange for making Grodd another product of the Accelerator. But here is my idea.
I think this Grodd will somehow get time traveled back to the distant past and become the founder of Ape City. And then in a future season from that will come the proper Grodd. Someone named after the City's founder.
Now unto Eddie Thawn. I do not believe he will become Cobalt Blue, I think all HGobard's talk about him being "almost completely forgotten" says he's not a big player.
Question is, if he is such a failure, what's the one thing that left him still a little remembered? Many are remembered only for being the Lover of someone far more important.
I think Cobalt Blue will as usual be Barry's twin, but this time it's a female twin. And she becomes Eddie's future Wife and also ancestor of Eobard.
One more thing, I ship SnowWest now.
I don't think this is the real Grodd exactly, or perhaps more accurately not the final Grodd. Let me Explain.
This Grodd was still too dumb to me, maybe that's because it's still his Origin, but I don't know.
Many people may be upset about removing Ape City in exchange for making Grodd another product of the Accelerator. But here is my idea.
I think this Grodd will somehow get time traveled back to the distant past and become the founder of Ape City. And then in a future season from that will come the proper Grodd. Someone named after the City's founder.
Now unto Eddie Thawn. I do not believe he will become Cobalt Blue, I think all HGobard's talk about him being "almost completely forgotten" says he's not a big player.
Question is, if he is such a failure, what's the one thing that left him still a little remembered? Many are remembered only for being the Lover of someone far more important.
I think Cobalt Blue will as usual be Barry's twin, but this time it's a female twin. And she becomes Eddie's future Wife and also ancestor of Eobard.
One more thing, I ship SnowWest now.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Barbara Kean becoming Batwoman theory
Is a theory I've expressed before. Some people who I've told this to elsewhere, have said they find it bothersome because they think Barbara current self-destructive state is simply unfitting. I'm thinking these Kate Kane fans have forgotten her back-story.
From the DC Wiki page for the Pre-Flashpoint Kate Kane page.
P.S. THIS IS MY 100TH POST ON THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!
From the DC Wiki page for the Pre-Flashpoint Kate Kane page.
The details are different but in fact Kate seems to have come from a very similar place.Jacob Kane eventually married weapons heiress Catherine Hamilton. This new wealth established Kate as a socialite in Gotham City's upper crust. She became notorious for her partying and drinking.One night after a party, she was pulled over by officer Renee Montoya. Instead of being fined for drink driving, the two entered in a relationship. They broke up when Renee told her she had no direction in her life, no education, and no apparent goal.
P.S. THIS IS MY 100TH POST ON THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Originally Nora Allen didn't die
That's the theory I've come to after the latest episode. It did not look in that fight like Nora was the object of the battle for either party.
Originally both Barry's parents lived and he didn't become The Flash till like 2020. Somehow in his time traveling adventures he and Eobard Thawne became enemies. Eobard didn't realize originally that he needed The Flash to exist to use his powers.
Eobard traveled back in time to kill Barry as a kid. Future Barry followed him to stop him but Nora would up being killed by accident. Eobard got stranded in the past, and from there on history plays out differently.
Originally both Barry's parents lived and he didn't become The Flash till like 2020. Somehow in his time traveling adventures he and Eobard Thawne became enemies. Eobard didn't realize originally that he needed The Flash to exist to use his powers.
Eobard traveled back in time to kill Barry as a kid. Future Barry followed him to stop him but Nora would up being killed by accident. Eobard got stranded in the past, and from there on history plays out differently.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
My thoughts on Welcome to the Dollhouse
After sitting on it awhile, I loved it, it was an intense Finale, total Homage to The Prisoner.
It did not seem like it was really Mona's face to me at first., it was to creepy and weird looking.
Mona counting down the seconds in her head when the Power is out reminds me of Code Geass season 2, when Lelouch confronts Rollo and he had been counting the seconds in his head that whole time.
Spencer as usual is totally Sherlock Holmes. She did the full on Mind Palace thing just like on Sherlock.
Spencer and Mona are like Tony Stark in a cave with scraps.
I loved seeing the Hastings finally put Tanner in her place.
It just so happens I'd been into listening to Natasha Bedingford recently, kind of inspired by Attack on Titan videos on Youtube. Unwritten is one of her best.
I didn't notice Campbell being Andrews last name and the farm name at first, maybe Chalres father is Andrew's father and Andrew and Charles are half brothers.
They way he almost let Spencer unmask him is kinda like Michael Myers in some Halloween movies.
Charles killed Marion Cavannah.
Some people theorized that Jason being played by two different actors is factor.
I believe Charles is either Wren or Wilden is alive.
Charles being Trans wold bug me only because of the possible unfortunate implications. Also if "he" were a Trans-Woman I don't think she'd have been dressing so Masculinly.
I still think Veronica killed Jessica.
I still think Pastor Ted has a connection to Wilden and the NAT Club.
As for Mona being Alive. The explanation for her body being seen in the Trunk is that she was drugged. I can't be that. Her skin was turning grey, just like when we saw Garret dead. I'm afraid that is unavoidably a plot hole.
But it has been pointed out that Grunwald's sensing of where Mona was is still accurate. I remember people speculating at the time that that could have an alternate meaning.
It did not seem like it was really Mona's face to me at first., it was to creepy and weird looking.
Mona counting down the seconds in her head when the Power is out reminds me of Code Geass season 2, when Lelouch confronts Rollo and he had been counting the seconds in his head that whole time.
Spencer as usual is totally Sherlock Holmes. She did the full on Mind Palace thing just like on Sherlock.
Spencer and Mona are like Tony Stark in a cave with scraps.
I loved seeing the Hastings finally put Tanner in her place.
It just so happens I'd been into listening to Natasha Bedingford recently, kind of inspired by Attack on Titan videos on Youtube. Unwritten is one of her best.
I didn't notice Campbell being Andrews last name and the farm name at first, maybe Chalres father is Andrew's father and Andrew and Charles are half brothers.
They way he almost let Spencer unmask him is kinda like Michael Myers in some Halloween movies.
Charles killed Marion Cavannah.
Some people theorized that Jason being played by two different actors is factor.
I believe Charles is either Wren or Wilden is alive.
Charles being Trans wold bug me only because of the possible unfortunate implications. Also if "he" were a Trans-Woman I don't think she'd have been dressing so Masculinly.
I still think Veronica killed Jessica.
I still think Pastor Ted has a connection to Wilden and the NAT Club.
As for Mona being Alive. The explanation for her body being seen in the Trunk is that she was drugged. I can't be that. Her skin was turning grey, just like when we saw Garret dead. I'm afraid that is unavoidably a plot hole.
But it has been pointed out that Grunwald's sensing of where Mona was is still accurate. I remember people speculating at the time that that could have an alternate meaning.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
BigAreveal aftermath tweets
My earlier theories are more or less dead. Thought Ted could still shady in a non -A way
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