Elijah Wood Archives - SciFiEmpire.net

Tron: Uprising Season Finale ‘Terminal’ Review!

Jan 302013

Tron dying

Tron: Uprising’s first season 1 has finally ended, after the series started airing in May last year it has followed a rather irregular schedule which I think contributed to the show’s declining ratings. Disney has further honored the series by placing it in a midnight timeslot thus squeezing it off from a vital young demography. All this has irritated fans of the show who now understand that it’s first season may also be it’s last. I think Tron: Uprising is a top quality show and it’s season finale ‘Terminal’ is an example of that.

Mara blames Tron

As for the plot of ‘Terminal’…

The episode continues with immediate aftermath of Able’s death. Though Beck knows that Able sacrifice himself Mara thinks ‘The Renegade’ abducted her and caused Able to sacrifice himself. While Tron and Beck are practicing their fighting skills Tron becomes ill with the virus that he has been affected with, despite Beck’s efforts Tron warns him that he has two or three cycles left to live. While Beck is strolling through Argon he is ambushed by Cutler, who reveals that he knows that a weapon CLU built is on it’s way to Argon city. Cutler convinces Beck to meet him at the docks as ‘The Renegade’, Beck is ambushed again by Cutler but this time for real. It is revealed that CLU has repurposed Cutler and has send him to flush out Tron.

Healing chamber ruined by Beck

Beck manages to flee in a light-jet but is pursued by Cutler’s henchmen, Cutler orders them to bring in Beck alive but during the spectacular pursuit they don’t seem to care. Finally Beck is cornered, Cutler tells him that he knows Tron is ill and that he has one chance to save himself with handing himself in. Tron deliberates this, there is a chance that is Beck can interrupt the procedure he will be healed but not repurposed. Beck states they have no other choice. Meanwhile, General Tesler’s right hand man Pavel has taken over command of Able’s garage, this prompts Mara, Zed and the other workers to plan a revolt. While Tron is in Cutler’s healing chamber Beck is moving through the recognizer to reach him. Beck manages to do so just in time, Tron even succeeds into letting Cutler briefly think that he was repurposed.

Beck as the Renegade being pursued

Both Tron and Beck try to escape the recognizer but are cornered by Cutler, as Beck fights him Cutler’s repurposing seems to show cracks. Even though Beck tries to completely undue the procedure he fails and has to let go off Cutler who falls into the depths of the recognizer. After the recognizer has crashed near Able’s garage Beck fights off Pavel’s guards to help Tron escape, Mara and her co-workers decide this is the moment to start their own rebellion and join the fight. Meanwhile General Tesler angrily asks Paige what the recognizer he has never seen before is doing in Argon city, she tells him it must be CLU’s doing. The final scene of the episode show CLU’s fleet approaching Argon city with CLU being accompanied by Dyson on his flagship.

Pavel takes over Able’s garage

Conclusion…

This last episode of the season is very effectively written, all scenes have a clear purpose and pacing is very fast. The episode’s light-jet pursuit is nothing short of spectacular and so is the final showdown between Tron, Beck and Cutler. The small scene for Paige and General Tesler was a bit of a disappointment but there was little room for them in the plot. The arrival of CLU is an effective cliffhanger for the next season. My hopes are that the show will continue and that the storyline between Beck and Paige will be further fleshed, I hope there will also be more eappearances of Dyson and Quorra.

Mara and Zed

I fear however that Tron: Uprising won’t be back for another season, you don’t have to be an idiot to understand that the ratings aren’t spectacular. In part Disney themselves are to blame for that with poor marketing and the choice of an 22-minute per episode format that fails to allow storylines to be fleshed out. Creative choices such as trying to appeal to a very wide audience may also be to blame. The high-points of this show so far have been the spectacular visuals and excellent soundtrack which is now available for retail.

I hope we see Tron: Uprising back.

TRON Lives!

Best quote; Tron: ‘Good news! I’m healed! Bad news! I’m healed’ while attacking Cutler’s guards.

Score; 9 / 10.

Cutler with a bomb

Cutler’s guards

General Tesler and Paige

Tron with virus scars

Tron being healed by Cutler

Recognizer crashes near Able’s garage

Mara working in Able’s shop

Mara starts the rebellion

Cutler henchmen collides with light beam -

Cutler fighting Beck

Cutler and Beck

CLU’s new recognizer

CLU and Dyson

Beck tries to save Tron

Beck as the Renegade

Argon city harbor

Source; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tron:_Uprising

Tron Uprising ‘No Bounds’ Review!

TV-series 3 Responses »

Jan 222013

Tron Uprising is a anime series on Disney XD set in the world of TRON that received a reboot/sequel back in 2011. The film wasn’t a major success but not a failure either as another sequel has already entered pre-production. Tron Uprising however has been in the danger zone for some time, I have watched every episode and found the series to be very good. It’s 22-minute per episode format does mean the plot is a little thin while the 30-minute pilot held so much promise. Unfortunately, I have not reviewed many episodes because honestly I wasn’t sure anyone would read them. Now that we have only one more episode to go after ‘No Bounds’ I have decided to see if I can change your perception of Tron: Uprising and justify a second season.

Tron Uprising – Cyrus

As for the plot of ‘No Bounds’…

While the soldiers of General Tesler are roaming Argon city looking for hidden energy amongst the populace a person wearing a similar white outfit to that of Tron and Beck plays havoc by killing civilians for the energy. Quickly people turn against their would be liberator ‘The Renegade’. Mara is also injured in an attack and whilst learning of her story Beck sees a familiar figure standing in the crowd. After confronting the person Beck discovers that it is Cyrus, the once pupil of Tron of is determined to defeat both Beck and Tron Cyrus masterminds a plot by using Mara and Zed leverage as Beck can’t reveal to them he is ‘The Renegade’. Cyrus let’s it slip that he has planted a bomb at Able’s garage and Beck rushes back to deactivate the bomb but on arrival it is revealed that the bomb was hidden in Beck’s lightcycle which he has driven into the garage himself. Able berates him for his mistake but also blames TRON for allowing a man like Cyrus to escape. Beck questions how Able knows Cyrus, Able reveals that he built the prison for his detention.

Mara and Zed dancing

Able suggests that Cyrus is well capable of more such intrigue. He is proven correct when Beck realizes that the disc he took from Cyrus maybe a Trojan horse. Quickly Beck and Able reach Tron’s hideout but find it is too late, Cyrus has attached bombs to Tron, Mara and Zed and deposited them in two locations in Argon city. Beck tells Able to rescue Zed and Mara while he will rescue TRON. As Beck reaches TRON he is confronted by Cyrus who questions why he would sacrifice Zed and Mara. Beck doesn’t reply by saying that Able is on that task. After freeing Tron Beck leaves to help Able. Tron manages to defeat Cyrus after the latter becomes over-confident but in reality Tron seems to be no match of Cyrus. Cyrus flees but seems to have managed to get revenge for Able is killed while rescuing Zed and Mara. As Beck reaches the site where Able was killed he is recognized as ‘The Renegade’ by people in the street, they chase after him thinking he was responsible.In the final scene TRON suggests to Beck he can’t quit being ‘The Renegade’ and suggests that things are going to get much harder before they get easier.

Tron and Beck confront Cyrus

Conclusion;

This episode of Tron Uprising just shows what a fine series this can be if Disney put any effort in promoting it a bit. The studio seems hell-bent on cancelling it after they have moved the show to a midnight time-slot, and that for a series that could very well gain an audience amongst the more youthful people. Visually this series has steadily improved since the pilot. It’s creators seem very adept at reusing exciting sets from pervious episodes to spare some of the budget while making the neon-light drip from the screen. Very impressive indeed.

This series is for the most part about Beck and his revolution, earlier on in the season one would describe him as immature with Tron being the big draw for the audience whishing to see more of the TRON mythology. Now, with Able’s death in particular I think Beck is growing up. I hope the second season of Tron: Uprising will allow Beck to further grow out from under Tron’s shadow.

Able tries to disarm the bomb

Zed and Mara remain effective for laughs but their relationship does seem to be permanently in limbo, get on with it already.

I am sorry to see that the character of Able was killed in this episode, but it does seem that it is the sacrifice that the series required. In the last few episodes Able acted much like a surrogate father to Beck in the same fashion that TRON has always done. However, Able’s sacrifice is necessary for Beck to grow up out of the shadow of TRON. And if this series is at risk of being cancelled than canning a few voice actors might be a necessity, though why they hired Tricia Helfer to voice the Grid is anyone’s guess, I am betting on her needing a new pair of Louboutin high heels for next weekend was the reason she signed up.

I wish the shows creative staff and Charlie Bean in particular the best of luck with saving this show.

Score; 9 / 10. A surprisingly effective episode, shame there was no Paige.

Tron’s lair

Tron Uprising – The Renegade wanted

Tron Uprising – Mara and Zed manage to escape the explosion

Cyrus victim

The renegade

Tron: Uprising Pilot “Beck’s Beginning” Review!

TV-series No Responses »

Jun 062012

Tron Uprising is an animated sci-fi series made for Disney XD. In essence it is meant to continue the Tron franchise after the 2010 release of Tron Legacy which was itself a sequel to the 1982 movie Tron made by Steven Lisberger. Tron Legacy was however only a mediocre success financially, there has been a buzz for a third movie but they have been weak. Tron Uprising was already announced before Tron Legacy got released so I guess Disney decided to continue with the project as it would appeal to a wider audience.

This animated series has some familiar characters from the first two movies such as Clue and Tron but mostly introduces new characters such as Beck (voiced by Elijah wood) as the protagonist, Mara (Mandy Moore) and Able (Reginald VelJohnson) on the good side and with Paige (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and General Tesler (Lance Henriksen) on the side of the bad guys. As I said the character of Tron also returns and is voiced by Bruce Boxleitner who played the character of Alan Bradley and Tron in the movies.

As for the plot of Beck’s Beginning…

The story opens by first explaining the background of the Tron franchise. Brilliant programmer Kevin Flynn (played by Jeff Bridges in the movies) has managed to travel into the digital world by the method of laser uploading. In ‘The Grid’ that he has created he is able to do many marvelous things that could potentially affect the real world in fantastic ways. He takes along with him into this world Tron, a program designed by his friend Alan Bradley (played by Bruce Boxleitner). With Tron’s help Flynn was able to defeat the Master Control Program that had threatened an early version of the internet. Flynn also created Clue, a program made in his own mirror image to help him run the Grid when he is not there. However, due to the conflicting nature of the orders Flynn issued to Clue he seeks to purge the Grid of all undesirable elements including Flynn. Tron manages to help Flynn effect his escape but not before Tron is mortally wounded by Clue.

The story now jumps to the time just before the movie Tron Legacy takes place. In a series of Flashbacks the character of Beck explains as the prisoner to one of Clue’s cronies just how he became a renegade. For a long time Beck had worked in Able’s garage fixing everything from bikes to quads with his friends Mara, Zed and Boadie. While playing Disc Wars after work their city is suddenly taken over by the armies of General Tesler under the orders of Clue in his drive for total Grid domination. While Tesler’s soldiers erect a statue of Clue Boadie challenges them and gets killed. Beck swears revenge. During the night (if there is such a thing as nighttime on the Grid) Beck returns to the statue of Clue and blows it up, while escaping with his light cycle Tesler’s guards think they are chasing the legendary Tron because Beck used Tron’s logo on his suit. Even Clue intervenes with Tesler to say that it is impossible for Tron to be still alive.

Beck manages to defeat Tesler’s guards easily enough but not Paige, Tesler’s right hand woman. Paige and Beck fight it out for a long time until Beck manages to escape by jumping out of an airship. Later on Paige suggests the man they are chasing isn’t Tron, Tesler orders his capture nonetheless. Now that Beck has told all that has happened before he manages to release himself and starts to fight his unknown captor, after being defeated a second time his captor reveals himself to be Tron after all. Tron was indeed mortally wounded in a fight by Clue and is as of yet not capable of fighting Clue again and instead must do Clue’s bidding by being Rinzler, his enforcer. Tron suggests that Beck continue to pretend to be him in order to inspire others to rise up against Clue.

Beck manages to return to Able’s garage where none of his friends know that it was him who blew up the statue, though Able suspects otherwise. Paige also shows up at the garage with a small army and demands that Tron gives himself up, if he doesn’t than programs will be rounded up and brought to the arena to fight to the death. For General Tesler even this threat isn’t good enough and arrests a random group of programs to make Tron give himself up. It just happened that Tesler has picked out all of Beck’s friends. While chasing the train carrying Mara and Zed Beck has to fight one of Tesler’s soldiers, by sparing his life Beck surprisingly gets his coöperation with busting his friends out. None of them suspects that Tron is really Beck, but before Beck manages to escape General Tesler shows up and fights Beck with his unique ability to extend his fists as far out as he wants. Beck manages to prevail in the end by cutting Tesler’s arms off but Tesler manages to escape with the help of Paige. She does seem to suspect who Tron really is.

The last scene shows Beck and Tron watching the Grid from Tron’s secret lair. Beck says he is ready to be Tron, Tron says he is not but that he will be with his help.

Review…

The first episode of Tron: Uprising was a lot better than I thought it would be, I feared that the combination of Disney and animation would mean the Tron franchise would be dumbed down, instead the opposite seem to be true. The producers seem to use the animated format as a way to keep cost down while managing to visually produce such a stunning world that I say even beats Tron Legacy. The unbridled depiction of the death of Beck’s friend Boadie shows that the creators aren’t afraid to tackle controversial subjects even on a Disney channel. The pilot does suffer from some common problems associated with the first episode of a new series, it tries to shoehorn too much into 31 minutes and as a result it might have ‘jumped the shark’ just a little bit. Also the secondary character seem a little wooden. I hope that the next episode will be better when it comes to fleshing out all the characters. The voice of Elijah Wood is furthermore very distinctive, I keep imagining Hobbits fighting Tesler’s soldiers instead of the character of Beck.

Score; 8 / 10.