Mindnet
From Betamountain.org
Hi everyone! I took a break, but now I'm back to my recaps.
Today's episode is called Mindnet! This is notable because there was a device called the "Mindnet" introduced last episode. Isn't that convenient?
I mock, but to be fair, we ARE talking about an 80s show here. I think it was generally more common for our Suddenly Very Important MacGuffins to be introduced in the episode directly focused on it. So the fact that the Mindnet is introduced an episode before is actually fairly significant.
Of course, this is cancelled out by the fact that the episodes were shown in such a haphazard order (and are STILL occasionally misordered in certain the DVD sets, which occasionally ends up very obvious) that I'm stuck relying on fan timelines for episode order. Oh well.
It IS worth it to see it in order. Now, mini-rant aside: onto the recap!
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This episode begins with Goose flying into "Longshot airspace." We've actually heard mention of Longshot in a previous episode or two, but this is the first time we see it. It's a fairly standard science-fantasy research place. Lots of big computers and people in lab coats. |
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The doctor, I presume, actually agrees with him, but takes more of a "what can ya do?" attitude. Apparently their job is to keep testing it until the Board Leaders makes up their mind about it. |
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Anyway, DeSilva gets a call on his nifty wrist thingy, and we learn why Goose is there. Apparently the Board of Leaders has sent him with orders to collect Mindnet. I'd bitch about poor security, but Goose is usually fairly effective as long as he's not crashing his spacecraft. |
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When DeSilva demands identification, Gooseman leans into his personal space and pretty much shouts "ID? Get serious?" It's more than a little peculiar now. Goose decides to verify his identity not by presenting his credentials, but by walking straight toward the electric shock field, grinning maniacally, and shoving his hand into it. His fist gets all bio-defense-y, naturally. |
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As they pass the tank, the Doctor points out two dolphins as "your friends." I believe this is the first time we've encountered the pet dolphins. Awesome. Their names are Icarus and Winter (why does everyone name things after Icarus? Naming things after Daedalus makes sense, because he invented the damn things, but Icarus was just an idiot who flew too damn high. Why make overstepping your abilities to lethal consequences worthy of immortalization?) |
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Suddenly, an underling announces to DeSilva that Security's on line one. Goose doesn't take too kindly to this, and does a nice leaping kick, knocking the gun out of his hand, and punching poor Not!Zarek across the room. The Doc picks up the fallen gun, and calls for security. |
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Goose exhales in the poor Doc's face, and the Doc keels over. That's some breath! Goose, in his -just-drank-whisky-for-the-first-time high voice tells him to enjoy the nap and heads over to the Mindnet. |
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Anyway, he picks up the helmet and runs to the hanger bay, which seems like an impractically short distance to run if this Mindnet really is as powerful an dangerous as they say, wouldn't it be better to keep it under more security? But then, perhaps that's DeSilva's problem. |
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I have to compliment the people planning this show for the voice thing actually. A lot of shows would have had the original character's voice actor do the voice for the impersonator as well. This is fine if they have naturally similar voices, but a deeper voiced person affecting a higher pitched voice tends to sound very different than someone naturally speaking in that range. He sounded so weird because he was a baritone trying to speak in falsetto. |
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I'm returned from my digression by the sight of Niko, Zach, Waldo and Zozo in a really odd situation. The three men (or men-type creatures) are in this strange bowl-shaped inflatable looking thing, while Niko stands on what looks like a diving board over it. Each male-type-creature is in an odd circle. Zozo is bouncing about like a loon, it should be noted. |
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Anyway, Niko assures Waldo they won't let him get hurt as Zach hops back down to the trampoline in the background. There's something funny about that shot but I can't really explain why. |
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Niko dives from the board, hops from the tram-am-poline, and into the zero g chamber, when suddenly her badge lights up and she gasps and faints. Zozo calls for help. |
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I'm not entirely sure why that was necessary, or why he couldn't just use the trampoline thing. or why Zach who was closer couldn't use the trampoline thing. But okay. |
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A fellow with blue hair and an oddly old-school Battlestar Galactica style cape appears on the view screen. He introduces himself as Senator Wheiner (pronounced "whiner") and explains that a) Mindnet's stolen, b) Goose looks like the culprit, c) Zach's to bring the Rangers for a formal inquiry, and d) Zach's got to arrest Goose. |
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The Rangers now stand before Commander Walsh. Zach asserts that Goose isn't a traitor, while Doc asks a pertinent question: "Just where are the other Supertroopers that survived?" |
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Walsh points out that on high settings it could allow control of intelligent life. Waldo, of all people, quips that it's fortunate Senator Wheiner is safe. Heh. I get the feeling he's not popular in this bunch. |
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We go to a weird tower on a barren moon type thing, where Kilbane is presenting Mindnet to the Queen. Eek. She's upset though, because she wants ALL of Mindnet, not just one part. Kilbane insists that half would still boost her powers, but the Queen knows how to play him and snaps back that he'd told her he was the most powerful of the Supertroopers. But in actuality, he's just able to imitate Gooseman's powers for a few seconds. |
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Oh, I see! The bad clothing choices are a supertrooper thing! That makes perfect sense. I mean, think about it. Say you breed up a bunch of soldiers who escape (as they are wont to do), to find them, just look for the most idiotically dressed people in the crowd! Perfect! |
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Meanwhile, back at Beta, Zach warns Niko that her powers are going to be stretched to the limit. Apparently the plan involves some sort of computer link-up. Doc's helping of course. Niko's willing to do whatever it takes to clear Goose. |
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She tells Goose to picture the other Supertroopers in his mind and holy hell, apparently no one was breeding for looks. EGADS. |
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They finish just in time, as a group of soldiers force the door open. Niko points out that they can't let the soldiers stop them, and both Niko and Zach turn to face the poor saps. Chief poor sap tries to get them to stand down as a bunch of other soldiers surround them. Zozo gets the drop on him, kicking him in the back of the knee and knocking him down. |
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Niko wants to take the component with her, so she can trace the rest. Which strikes me as a good idea and a bad idea. A good idea, because well, she probably CAN trace it. But a bad idea, considering that it amounts to bringing the other half of the Mindnet right into the hands of the people who want it. They get into the ship and blast off. (Apparently sunglassed robot is coming too!) |
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As they take off from Earth, we see Mustached Man of the Comanche again. So now I'm not entirely SURE whether this episode is before or after Traash. I'm tentatively guessing after. It's possible that only Niko knew what the Mindnet was for, after all. |
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Yay, Stock footage of Ranger One beneath that one particular Tortuna rock cropping! It's a good thing the Queen's forces never found that spot, or the animators would have to draw something else! |
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Kilbane apparently is inside and trying to use the Mindnet. Sorry Ryker, but I think you have to HAVE a mind to net. Shane kicks in the door and they run to Kilbane, who cackles and reveals both himself and the Mindnet on his head to be a fake. Metal walls crash down, trapping the Rangers. Then the floor opens beneath them. |
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Kilbane and Gooseman have their own sort of bizarre brotherly reunion. Kilbane gloats that the "Runt" is "still a loser." Shane calmly retorts that he's still the man that Kilbane never beat. The Queen however is having enough of this and wants the rest of Mindnet. If they won't give it to her, she'll burn their minds out of them. The Mindnet starts to glow, and the men start groaning and recoiling, but Niko taps her badge. |
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Goose has an ace in the hole though. Because the only thing more powerful than Mindnet in this room is Kilbane's ego. He challenges him to a one-on-one fight "like the old days." With the winner getting both halves of Mindnet. Niko protests, and the Queen is offended by the defiance. But Kilbane is intrigued. |
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In the arena, Gooseman wants to know about the other Supertroopers: "Gravestone, Dark Star and the rest." Supertroopers have weird names. Kilbane retorts that Goose shouldn't worry. They'll live longer than him. Looking at them side by side, Kilbane appears to have a slight size advantage. He's kind of pasty though. |
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Kilbane attacks first with his halitosis attack. Goose counters via badge, and goes kind of lizardy. Kilbane pops his claws. Goose gets a good hit in, but it enables Kilbane to grab a weapon first and shoot him. But then that's what bio-defenses are for, and now he's an ARMORED lizard-bug thing. |
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The two characters have very different fighting styles, interestingly. Kilbane's more of a brawler, I think. Using brute force and strength. Shane's style has more gymnastics and skill. Kilbane is not without transformative ability though, and when Shane challenges why he's the one backing away, Kilbane uses it to get all scary and ogre-y. |
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It's funny that the others keep urging he save his charge, but except for the first time, Goose really isn't making any move toward his badge. It brings to mind what I said about what New Frontier indicated about their use of their abilities. Doc and Niko (and now Zach) use their abilities as tools, so naturally, they expect in this situation, Goose to be using the charge for an advantage. |
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Anyway, Kilbane's technique doesn't work very well for blade fighting, and despite a halitosis attempt, our man Goose is victorious. Shane urges Kilbane that "it doesn't have to end this way" and "we can help you." "And be like you? A slave?" Kilbane retorts. The Queen's had enough of vague homoeroticism and puts an end to it, by claiming the Mindnet back, as they never made the bargain with HER. Niko agrees. She can have it if she lets them free. Of course, she has a plan. The Queen agrees. |
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When the Queen's presented with the other half of Mindnet, the Rangers are freed (sadly, Kilbane and Goose are clothed again), and Niko warns cheerfully that she should use the low setting. The Queen is not inclined to listen, and as she places the Mindnet on her head, the Rangers gather around and share power, so Niko can shield them. |
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The Rangers watch and then fight. Doc gets to punch two out, while Niko gets a fun somersault kick on another. Zach punches out a slaver lord, which must be cathartic. Shane, for his part, faces Kilbane, who's in the midst of a number of robots. Kilbane cryptically announces that "WE know you're coming after us, and I'll be waiting for you." With a surprising guttural scream, Goose attacks the robots. Kilbane escapes though. |
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But I'm distracted by Shane and Kilbane, as Shane tells him to WARN the others. He's not a supertrooper anymore and won't be again. Kilbane demands then to know what he is, if he's not human NOR a supertrooper. Gooseman, of course, answers that he's a Galaxy Ranger! Yay! |
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Back at Longshot, it's revealed that the Mindnet was damaged when Buzzwang saved Niko with it. Zach doesn't necessarily think this is a bad thing though. The Doctor says they won't experiment again without better safeguards. Walsh is just happy that the Board had to recognize Goose's innocence. |
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The Doctor points out that a lot of Longshot's inventions could use "unusual people" to test them. Shane likes the idea of an inside hook-up to more things to blow up. Doc is more skeptical, but is open to the idea of useful inventions like "stunt clones" and video for robots. Everyone laughs and the episode ends. |
I love frame-up episodes. I admit it. There's nothing like seeing the team band together to save one of their own from injustice. :-) It really emphasizes the all-for-one/one-for-all element and it's really the best wish-fulfillment part of being on a team like this. Someone's always got your back!
I'm enjoying that the show has FINALLY figured out what they want to do with Niko. The fainting psychic thing did make a brief return here, but was overpowered by general awesomeness such as outwitting the queen and kicking people in the face.
I guess that the Queen using the Mindnet helmet also explains away the stupidity of bringing the half of the device she doesn't already have straight to her. Which makes me feel a little better about that.
We also learn that the Rangers can lend power to one another via Implants. Well, at least, we know they can feed power to Niko. It remains to be seen if it can work in any other direction.
I spent most of the episode trying to figure out if this episode possibly should have been BEFORE Traash, but the damaging at the end pretty much settles the issue. I suppose Walsh had to explain what the Mindnet did just to remind the audience why we care. It's just a bit odd, because normally they're really good about things like that.
Of course, the biggest part of the episode was the appearance of Ryker Kilbane and the tidbits of information about the Supertroopers.
Before this episode, all we really knew about the Supertroopers came from Shane's comment about genetic engineering (Chained), that the program had been shut down a few years back and DNA was still being smuggled out (Smuggler's Gambit), and that apparently Supertroopers are known for their temper. (One Million Emotions.)
Now we know a bit more. And it's all pretty ominous.
The most ominous part is probably that whole emphasis on the surviving Supertroopers. That's never a good choice of words. At all. Moreover, we learn that certain people on the Board of Leaders are very leery of Supertroopers, Goose included.
This episode does seem to explain a lot of the mixed feelings that Shane appears to have about the whole Supertrooper thing. Especially if, as the end implied, the majority of the surviving Supertroopers have more in common with Kilbane than they do with Goose.
Actually, it looks as though Shane is specifically set AGAINST the other Supertroopers. Kilbane doesn't say "We know you're coming FOR us." He says, "We know you're coming AFTER us." Which is a completely different implication entirely. Especially considering that he wants Kilbane to WARN them. But at the same time he does appear genuinely concerned/worried for them. And even after being set up, he tries to convince Kilbane that they can HELP him.
Whatever happened to the Supertrooper program must have been one heck of a doozy. But it does indicate that for all that Goose insists he's not a Supertrooper anymore, he does still feel a connection.
And we have a few more questions: Are the Supertroopers considered human or not? And what did he mean by being made into a slave? What IS the deal with Gooseman and the Galaxy Rangers? (He certainly doesn't seem at all reluctant or forced to be there...) Hopefully, we'll find these out as the series continues.
As a dark mirror to Goose, Ryker Kilbane is an interesting character. They have the same powers, but they use it differently. As mentioned before, Shane uses his powers unconsciously or automatically. Kilbane, in contrast, flaunts his powers. It's one of the many giveaways that the Shane Gooseman we see at the very beginning of the episode is an impostor.
It's pretty awesome actually that it IS so apparent that the impostor is fake. He might LOOK like Shane Gooseman, but he talks differently (as I mentioned previously, he SOUNDS like a baritone trying to force himself into tenor range), he gets angry differently (Shane growls, he doesn't shout), he even walks differently (Kilbane-as-Shane has more of a swagger) and then there's the GRINNING!
We also get the impression that Goose, at least, spends a fair bit of time in Longshot. Long enough at any rate, that while the doctors and security chief may or may not seem to know him well, (to be fair, they did intend to test him further), the dolphin-minders definitely do.
And I love that they're just randomly all "Oh, look. Your dolphin friends!" Of COURSE Goose would have dolphin friends that just get gratuitously pointed out in this episode!
I love this show.
But anyway, Kilbane's definitely interesting as a contrast. He's loud, crazy, ego-driven and at the same time, incredibly insecure. I suppose that's not really surprising though, because if you consider Kilbane as super-soldier type material, he fails miserably.
Granted, he has POWERS and is clearly physically strong. But he cares only for his own self-interest, doesn't follow orders, and is, to put it bluntly, pretty stupid. And since this is not a show that tends to dumb down its villains, that means something. Where Goose himself is a fairly good indicator of how scary a functioning Supertrooper could be (Powers + intelligence and the capacity for subtlety), Kilbane's like a rabid animal. Dangerous, but not all that scary. At least for now.
I definitely enjoyed the shirtless fighting though. :-)
OT
- Which ship is Nat commanding? https://twitter.com/betamountain/status/966647071389470725
- Do we have an opportunity for a "GR FR?" game (see above tweet)
- Clothing under clothing
- Doc's missing mustache
- Does the Queen have a prop maker and if so...?
- Do we see Mindnet again in the series? Yes...Battle of the Bandits
- What was wearing Mindnet B?
- Was that Mindnet A or Mindnet B that hit the Slaver Lord
- Was that Mindnet A or Mindnet B that the Queen got away with?
- Battle of the Bandits makes us assume A
- More quizzically, did Buzzwang find stairs down to the inner chamber or did he enter the building and drop down the floor trap?
- Mindnet-Episode
- Episodes
- Anchovie Brain-Episodes
- Buzzwang-Episodes
- Commander Joseph Walsh-Episodes
- Commander Nat Blight-Episodes
- Crown Agents-Episodes
- Doctor Gruber-Episodes
- Icarus-Episodes
- Niko-Episodes
- Pathfinder-Episodes
- Ryker Killbane-Episodes
- Senator Wheiner-Episodes
- Security Chief Desilva-Episodes
- Shane Gooseman-Episodes
- Walter Hartford-Episodes
- Zachary Foxx-Episodes
- Waldo-Episodes
- Winter-Episodes
- Zozo-Episodes
- The Queen of the Crown-Episodes
- Slaverlords-Episodes
- Supertroopers-Episodes