Looking at Arrival's story it seems there will be no conflict between Dot and Bob. Good. What did worry me was the fact that there might be conflict between Bob and Matrix. This has been done in Season 4, and even though I have seen one episode (Nullbot of the Bride), I have read enough episode guides to know that the Mainframers were completely out of character.
One conflict that wasnot explored in season 4 was between Enzo and Matrix. It was explored to the extent of Enzo realizing in his own abilities but it never showed how the two acted in each others company. Yeah I know we saw them react when Matrix was infected but we don't know he acts or thinks about Enzo.
In Number 7, when faced to face with his younger self Matrix looks terrified and takes a step back and says "No...not you." He even feels like he has to defend his actions and who he has become, when before he doesn't feel the need to.
Then the restart happens and Enzo appears. While Matrix might have forgiven himself, seeing Enzo had to have effected him some how.
I think team Arrival should focus on this conflict instead of another Bob vs. Matrix conflict. For one thing, Enzo and Matrix conflict would be complex and not totally out of character for Matrix. When Enzo becomes an Avatar, it will be interesting to see how Matrix will react.
If Enzo overcomes the Avatar, his whole ordeal could change his relationship with Matrix. The fact they both lost their childhood dramatically could give them common ground; giving them something to relate to besides being the same person so to speak.
Comments
19:30 Fri Sep 7th, 2007
See I didn't know that. I think Enzo turning into an Avatar will connect them more and I see Matrix helping Enzo in the aftermath. However I would like to see it explored more.
22:44 Fri Sep 7th, 2007
I hope they will explore it more in a season 3 way than season 4. In End Prog, Matrix sits beside Enzo for the musical and is smiling at him, so there didn't seem to be a conflict between them. In season 4 Matrix seemed to hate Enzo for no reason (like everybody and everything else...) I wonder what happened to him, he seemed happy and at peace with himself after the restart.
01:52 Sat Sep 8th, 2007
Slack, I have to respectfully disagree that the Enzo/Matrix dynamic was covered in S4 - "glossed over" is the term I'd use. It's one of the great disappointments of S4 that the most obvious character dynamic carried over from "Game Over" was almost totally ignored in favor of bad production numbers and a preposterous and predictable "Two Bobs" subplot. You already had two Enzos who were brought to life in a believable and internally consistent fashion - why the tortured effort to bring another Bob into the picture? Of course, given how woefully OOC everybody was in S4, maybe it's actually better Enzo/Matrix *was* ignored - it would likely have been handled badly anyway.
05:15 Sat Sep 8th, 2007
To Guardian Enzo: That is what I am trying to say. I think that Arrival is the best place to start going into more depth into Matrix/Enzo conflict. To Etoile: Are you sure he was smiling? I thought he just gave him a look. I think it was the fact that Bob was back and they vanquished Megabyte so Matrix was in a good mood. The next day however it probably hit him that there was a young version of himself running around.
09:31 Sat Sep 8th, 2007
I agree with Azalea on the Enzo thing. Matrix was just looking over at little Enzo. Matrix was probably reacting to seeing the way little Enzo acted. If you saw your self as a little kid and how you used to act wouldn't you be embarrassed or irritated? Not to mention little Enzo was a source of comic relief. He was probably embarassed. This all being stated by Slack in the first comment. As for a conflict between Matrix and little Enzo, maybe this new story will touch on it or create a new one.
18:00 Sat Sep 8th, 2007
I agree with you Raws, By the look of how Arrival is going to portray Enzo, I think the story will create a new conflict. Personally, I think Enzo should at least be 11-12 in the comic to show how long the war between Megabyte has been. For all we know Enzo's upgrade date is somewhere after the Hunt.
03:41 Mon Sep 10th, 2007
Like in S4 though, as long as AndrAIa's there to translate Matrix's bad behavior to a child who might be deeply hurt by his negative feelings, everything should be okay: AndI says ˝He's just concerned, aren't you, Matrix?˝ Huffy Matrix says ˝Yeah. That's right...˝ I don't think this interaction is out of character at all, and honestly, I wouldn't have wanted to see much of that. An adult berating and belittling a child is just wrong, even if it is in-character. Not for nothing, but that's what Megabyte did. Guess the episode Number 7 really didn't teach Matrix anything about himself. Besides, there are far worse character errors in S4 than Matrix and Enzo's interaction. I actually think they handled it decently with the two branching off after a while. Heh, and then Enzo ruined everyone's Stag Night. Yay. XD
05:42 Mon Sep 10th, 2007
To Webvirus: Matrix was rude to Backup though. He was also rude to Bob, which to me was the worst thing he has done. It is weird though hearing Dobson from Naraku. What would be cool if there was a character like Sesshomaru, who could make Matrix feel inferior. This is off topic but there alot of Post Null-Bot of the Bride fics of Bob and Dot conversations, where, Bob is realistically angry. I think there should be some Matrix and Bob Post Wedding stories; not cold heartless Bob but a Bob that is tired of being put through the ringer. I don't know. I only watched one episode of S4, and that was the Wedding. And that was enough.
08:48 Mon Sep 10th, 2007
Wow, only one episode?! Damn, the reason I came here was because of season 4. In fact I had just finished re-watching the series and was really pissed that season 4 ended at 8 episodes when I found this site. When you've been in a foriegn country for three months away from everyone you love you get a bit emotional/sentimental when watching something that reminds you of home. But living in Japan as an intern is besides the point. There were some essential things that happened in that season; one being the end of the series. Looking back on it I can see that the characters had changed and that may seem to some as being OOC but I think it reflex how the characters have been affected by all that had happened. Well thats all I have to say for now. Sorry to get off the topic of Matrix and little Enzo.
22:37 Mon Sep 10th, 2007
When s4 came out I was in Junior High and the bus was always late when picking my sister, me and my friends up to the point where Reboot episodes were already over. The Wedding episode was on a break so I got to see it, but I had to go back to school right after.
03:45 Wed Sep 12th, 2007
To Raws: The reason why I wanted reboot back is because I hate cliff hangers and also because I fell in love with reboot all over again. It is all right that you went off topic. What do you think about Matrix and Bob post Wedding stories? Do you know any? I always read fanfics about Bob telling Dot how he felt; Alryssa's "Hope" is the best.
Please login or register to comment
Slackbot
17:40 Fri Sep 7th, 2007
Actually, Season 4 did explore the Enzo-Matrix dynamic. In 'Daemon Rising' (S4E1) they ended up in the same game together. A snippet of that ep: ***** Enzo: Alphanumeric! Matrix: [embarrassed] Please tell me I never used to say that! Enzo: Well, you must have. I'm you. We're the same! Matrix: We're not the same! [Matrix and AndrAIa click their icons.] Matrix and AndrAIa: Reboot! [Light explodes around them. Matrix becomes a bald green-skinned man in a white suit. AndrAIa gains a '70s getup with a silver halter top and purple hair. Matrix looks at himself. Enzo stares at him, then covers his mouth and grins widely. AndrAIa looks at Matrix and laughs. Matrix holds his hand up to his face and extends his pinky toward his mouth.] Matrix: [as Dr. Evil] Marvelous. ***** Matrix found Enzo embarrassing; he's living evidence of the "weak little kid" he used to be. In Cross Nodes Enzo became rebellious and renamed himself 'Little Matrix.' Clearly he admired Matrix enough to want to emulate him: **** Enzo: [mockingly] Young Enzo, young Enzo! Everybody says 'young Enzo' this or 'little Enzo' that! Well, it's gonna stop! Phong: [surprised] My child, what is the problem? Enzo: [pointing at the VidWindow] I've just watched all the things I've done. I'm a Guardian now, and I'm big! With a cool gun and a babe for a girlfriend! No one's going to call me 'little Enzo' ever again! [As Phong watches, light flashes.] Phong: Oh, dear. [Frisket looks up.] Enzo: No. [The camera is tight on Enzo's face. He now has an earring and is no longer wearing his ballcap.] Enzo: [continuing] From now on, you can call me- [The camera pulls out, revealing Enzo in a Matrix costume. Enzo poses proudly.] Enzo: [continuing] Little Matrix! ***** However, he was not so enthralled by Matrix that he couldn't stand up to him (with the help of Frisket) in 'Sacrifice.' IMO, that showed a good bit of maturity on Enzo's part. He was acting, not reacting, an important distinction. Matrix is all too often a reactive character. In 'My Two Bobs' Matrix tried to keep Enzo from going into a game cube, and, interestingly, used the same line on Enzo that Dot used on Glitch Bob a moment later. That implies a protective role, rather than the earlier 'get away from me' attitude. And in the next ep, 'Life's a Glitch,' Matrix was dismayed to find that Enzo had entered the game with them, but after Enzo Saved The Day, Matrix actually gave him a spontaneous compliment, which really shows he'd mellowed toward Enzo: ***** Matrix: [giving a thumbs-up] Yeah, that was okay, kid. Enzo: Ah, pixelacious! AndrAIa: [walking over to Matrix] High praise indeed! ***** In Null Bot of the Bride' there were a few little hints - Matrix and Enzo were both seen wearing tuxes with no hint of embarrassment on Matrix's part, he even made small, affectionate gestures like putting a hand on Enzo's back. So, the Enzo-Matrix dynamic was covered in Season 4. It didn't come to the front very often - they had so much else to cover - but it was present. And, yes, I have transcribed these episodes. Whay, you think I could have typed all that from memory? ;)