Episode 13 R-D

Hey everyone! This is my first post at Paradigm City Forums and I just wanted to start by asking one question that I have always been wondering. Does anybody understand Episode 13 R-D? I've watched it a dozen times but still can't figure any of it out from beginning to end. If so could you try to explain it to me. Thanks!

Hi, Negotiator-Schmidt. I'm going to put this in a spoiler box for anyone here seeing Big O for the first time (just highlight the box if you've already seen this episode- don't read this if you haven't!) Here it is in (not so) condensed form (I'm doing this from memory):

spoiler (highlight to read):

At the beginning of the episode, there appears to be a serial killer on the loose targeting younger people. All we see of the suspect is a figure in a red cloak and hood. At each crime scene are the words "Cast in the Name of God, Ye Not Guilty" (just like Roger's screen in Big O.) Roger's latest client is one of the victims, which draws him into the case. Around the same time, Roger begins to have disturbing memories of subways, children with barcodes reflecting in their eyes, Megadeuses, and burning buildings and books . He eventually finds a building that looks somehow familiar to him. Inside he finds a library with only one book on a shelf as well as Angel, who asks him why he pilots Big O before quickly leaving. Roger takes the book, which had been written by a man named Gordon Rosewater, father of Alex Rosewater. A list of names falls out of the book, and Roger recognizes them all as victims except the last one: "RD." He goes to visit Gordon on his farm, who speaks to him almost in riddles, claiming the book was all lies. Roger does, however, finally realize that he had memories of the events of 40 years ago implanted into him as a child (along with a group of other children) by Gordon. Still trying to figure out what it all means, Roger tries to find RD. He runs into the red-caped figure, who he believes to be the RD he is looking for. He follows her into a subway. She looks and sounds similar to Dorothy and confronts him about his piloting of Big O, claiming he's unfit to pilot it. She pulls out a gun and ends up shooting him in the shoulder. Big O rises from the ground, destroying RD and saving Roger in the process. Roger finds the real Dorothy (who was innocent) in the cockpit, and is shocked to learn that Big O acted on its own to save him. As Big O continues to rise to the surface, Roger and Dorothy see three Megadeuses rise from the ocean. As they are about to face off against them, Dorothy steps into place to help the injured Roger pilot Big O, Alex Rosewater and Angel are shown saying that "It's starting," and the show fades to black: To Be Continued.

Okay, that still doesn't do this episode justice- easily one of the best of the series. It takes a few viewings to understand, watch it again and see if things start to make a little more sense. )

I really think that R-D is sorta the embodiment of what I loved about Big O... The details of everything are always a little hazy, and the mystery of it all always makes the viewers draw their own conclusions...

I just hope that season two answers some of the nagging questions, but raises more in the process...

Yes I totally agree. Thank you so much Shredder for the explanation of the episode. I look forward to season 2 and what will happen next in the series.

I can't get the spoiler font to work, so LOOK AWAY IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN EPISODE 13 YET!
Okay now:

Thanks for the synopsis of the show. I haven't seen it for a while, but it came back to me, and you cleared up some things for me - like the relationship between the Rosewaters and the children who were implated with memories.

My thought is this: Is the R-D android maybe a prototype for Dorothy? Or an earlier version that malfunctioned? We see the image of an open "casket" from which the android might have come. Maybe it was awakened by the "evil" giant robots and sent on the killing spree to murder those with memories.

I ask because Dorothy and R-D look exactly the same. The first time I saw the episode, I was heartbroken when I thought Dorothy was the savage killer chasing after Roger ("Rogerrrr!"). But then I loved it when Big O appeared and Dorothy was inside!

Hopefully it will all be cleared up in the NEW episodes. If not, it's still a fun mystery to examine and discuss. I can't wait to see what happens!!!

quote:

Originally posted by SchoolieMy thought is this: Is the R-D android maybe a prototype for Dorothy? Or an earlier version that malfunctioned? We see the image of an open "casket" from which the android might have come. Maybe it was awakened by the "evil" giant robots and sent on the killing spree to murder those with memories.

I do not think that R.D. is a prototype of Dorothy. I can't help but wonder if they really are one in the same, just because at one point...

spoiler (highlight to read):

they flash a picture of R.D's disk, not R.D. herself destroyed.

OMG, a thought, maybe R.D. called Big-O! (Oh, hope that doesn't need to be spoilered. This is a discussion on the episode though)
Ok, I really don't know what I'm saying.

Good point and keen observation. I forgot about that.

I hope the new shows clear some of it up! )

This is why I'm looking forward to the new episodes, so much needs to be cleared up. But, if they do that, we'll lose one of my favorite aspects of the show...the mystery behind everything.

Yup, You're right but I am totally sure they will keep that a huge part of the show and I know they will open up more about what happened exactly 40 years ago but still keep it a mystery. Can't Wait!!!!!!

Which reminds me, in the previous episode at the end, Dorothy notices something. I can't remember what, but I do remember it has some connection with R-D. Can anyone tell me again what it was

quote:

Originally posted by RogerSmith Which reminds me, in the previous episode at the end, Dorothy notices something. I can't remember what, but I do remember it has some connection with R-D. Can anyone tell me again what it was

At the end of "Enemy is Another Big," Dorothy notices a cigarette with a lipstick stain in an ashtray, likely recognizing it as Angel's.

oh...
I guess you're right. THANKS!!!

What if 'RD' is the origional Dorothy (the human one)... I havent seen the episode in a long while, but I don't remember anything especially android-like... I won't stick to this theory, I'm just throwing out the idea...

Her being the origional dorothy might explain the coffin
-It said that the origoinal Dorothy Waynright died...

quote:

Originally posted by Manji What if 'RD' is the origional Dorothy (the human one)... I havent seen the episode in a long while, but I don't remember anything especially android-like... I won't stick to this theory, I'm just throwing out the idea...

I don't quite think that would fit with Pen1300's spoiler.

My guess...
That wasn't so much a coffin that they showed down in the subway, so much as storage. "Evil Dorothy" came from out of it.

I'd try to explain more...but I don't really understand most of it myself.

spoiler (highlight to read):

Heck, I'm still trying to figure out why Dastun treated Roger like a suspect in the murders....he doesn't know the significance of that phrase, does he?

Maybe if I do a little more reading on these forums, though...

I think she was programed to eliminate those with implanted memories, by one of the Paradigm leaders (Rosewater).......
and that she was awakened by someone out of that coffin indeed
maybe Dastun knows Roger's favorite qoute, eh?

hmm...I've always thought R - D stood for

spoiler (highlight to read):

Roger's Destiny since that person who resemebles Dorthy said that when Roger was questioning her on what 'D' ment

hey there was another thread started by Inferno that could be relevant to this

quote:

Originally posted by Shredder quote: Originally posted by RogerSmith Which reminds me, in the previous episode at the end, Dorothy notices something. I can't remember what, but I do remember it has some connection with R-D. Can anyone tell me again what it was At the end of "Enemy is Another Big," Dorothy notices a cigarette with a lipstick stain in an ashtray, likely recognizing it as Angel's.

The question is also....where was she? Looked to be some kind of lockeroom, but was Dorothy in the Paradigm Headuqarters? What was the relevance of this place?

Yikes, what happened? This isn't a good thread?
it was a good place to discuss this episode, if ya ask me