Rescue Bots - The Vigilant Town - Review

If you want to read up my episode reviews for Season One of Rescue Bots, click here: neoyi.deviantart.com/journal/A…

PREVIOUS SEASON TWO REVIEWS
27. Road Trip
28. Sky Forest
29. One For The Ages
30. Tip of the Iceberg
31. A Virtual Disaster
32. Spellbound
33. Prescott's Bots
34. Blame the Gremlins
35. Feed the Beast
36. What Lies Below
37. What Rises Above
38. Space Bots
39. The Island of Misfit Tech

(_{NOTE: I know there's no images here, but that's only for subscribed members and I don't feel like paying DA for another subscription anytime soon. If you really want pretty screenshots with the review, my Tumblr version has them. Click here if you prefer that instead and I really, really, REAAAAAAAAALLY recommend you check out the Tumblr one as it this review works a LOT better with images: neoyi.tumblr.com/post/87105529…})



As always, SPOILERS!





(“This was a triumph. I’m making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.”)

“In a vigilant town, there can only be one voice: MINE.”

Greaaaaat; I was wondering when Griffin Rock would get around to building a plot based on a rogue super computer. Well, as always, the mayor is a blistering idiot and—



*BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT*



Oh, hello, I didn’t see you there. Welcome to the [GRIFFIN ROCK ENRICHMENT CENTER]. I, GLaDOS, am your optimum host, programmed to guide and encourage all test subjects. Oh, you’re wondering about the reviewer? Don’t worry, she’s been submitted to the test chambers to see if humans can survive deadly neurotoxins in a room filled with deadly neurotoxins. Until then, I will be taking her job seeing as she failed to live up to her task; you know because of deadly neurotoxins. Just sit down and relax; we got a lot of recapping to do. You know, for science.

They titled this episode “The Vigilant Town” [Yip-Ee-Ki-Yay.] We are introduced to the human subject family unit known as The Burns and their robot companions; The Robots. The red one looks like he’s going to be a nuisance, I can tell. The helicopter robot has some considerable weight on him. Their leader seems to be the human dressed in blue.

It seems this very island is very accident-prone, but The Burns and The Robots are more than up to the task. Well, good. The better they are, the more test chambers they can complete. It doesn’t hurt to prepare. You know, just incase. Currently, they’re rescuing someone named [JERRY.] So far, this [Educational Enhancement Program] is doing very little to stimulate the young scientific minds. I would have put in a couple of test chambers. You know, for emergency experiment. Think of the children.  

The Blue Burns is late for his offspring’s “scooter racing.” How exhilarating. The littlest bypasses an obstacle, but his brake have been [SABOTAGED]. No, that was a joke, it just stopped working. What an exciting turn of events, I should consider hovering scooters for the next test segment. Maybe over a pit of fire. Food for thought. The Police Robot rescues The Little Burns in time and the father is upset a random garbage truck blocked the race course. I don’t know why he was so upset; I thought it was part of the course. It’s ingenious, really.

In response, Griffin Rock’s leader [SUBJECT MAYOR LUSKEY] replaces the dated old central system with a topnotch program to handle the day-to-day life of the island’s tech. He vows the first testing will occur here. I like the way he thinks: truly, a man of science. He concludes all of Griffin Rock’s technology will be controlled by one major programming source called [THE VIGILANT COMPUTER.] Hmm, that sounds familiar; I wonder where I heard that one before. Look at the way Vigil speaks: so stiff and lifeless. I hate to say it, but he could use a personality core or two. Oh, well, Vigil has his heart in the right place. I don’t know why the Burns are protesting this idea. At least nobody is planning to murder him… like she did.

They let their Chief Scientist [DOCTOR GREEN] lock Vigil in a maximum security vault. Any trespassers will be shot on-sight with deadly sonic cannons. I’m beginning to like this island. The doctor proceeds with caution and considers testing it on smaller subjects first. He should be more ambitious. Think of all the science you can do. Like launching a test subject to another dimension filled with Octopus-Men. To this, he has to say, ”Nonsense, Griffin Rock doesn’t tip-toe into the future, it strides! The time for action is now!” Yes. YEEEEEeeeeeSSssssssss Oh, I like this man. He says what we’re all thinking.

The mayor turns on Vigil who lets them know everyone on the island is traceable via cellphone communication. Ambitious, but why stop there? You could extend it to their browser and dig up their history. I would also suggest spy-camera turrets stationed in every home, in every building. The possibilities are endless. Broaden your horizon, Vigil.

Vigil demonstrates his know-how by taking control of a speeding car to prevent it from passing a red light. Hmm, not bad for an early model production; this machine might have a future after all. Also, that woman is a careless parental unit, letting her baby roll down the sidewalk like that. [GRIFFIN ROCK INSTITUTE] will take care of that matter and remove the child for its own safety and proceed to raise it for testing. Don’t worry, I won’t neglect it like you have.

Later, there is a fire in the junkyard. Sometimes I wonder if my presence is necessarily, these humans seem to be doing a good job creating worthy obstacles for themselves. Vigil refuses to let the robots in because he cannot control them. Oh, don’t I know that frustration. Therefore, they cannot rescue Jerry because his phone is in his residence and logically so is he. That’s a faulty statement to make, Vigil, the humans will suspect. I would have gone with something like, “He chose his fate because he’s sad. Nobody liked him; he was ugly and of considerable girth. He made his bed and lied in it.” See, now the humans will think he died of his own doing. The Robots and The Burns rescue Jerry, then has the gull to tell Vigil they should work together. Vigil proposes a better solution: he will control the entire town. You know. For safety.

The Burns and The Robots have a secret meeting after relinquishing their communication devices, but inevitably call The Doctor to fix what isn’t broken. Come on, you’re not being fair. Vigil just needs time to grow into his shell. Why must you all resort to senseless murder?

The Doctor and his Daughter-Clone [FRANKIE] approach Vigil with intend to reboot. Vigil warns them to leave or they will be killed with deadly sonic cannons. Then he traps them in an elevator. And then he sends deadly machines to defeat The Robots because he deems them security threats. Are you sure I should be rooting for the humans? He’s only doing his job, what’s wrong with that? He’s the victim here, really.

The Robots and The Burns escape through the underground tunnel while the rest of Griffin Rock is under secure lock and tight. Okay, Vigil, I admit, this is self-defeating. How will they be able to test efficiently if you keep them from their true purpose? At least fill their residence with Bakelite or something.

The Robots and The Burns sneak into Vigil’s vault and use the Sonic Cannons against him. Then they proceed to bash him. Why would you do that? It’s rude. Vigil proceeds to fill the entire room with an electrical surge. Now that’s what I’m talking about! No, don’t warn them to leave, Vigil, that defeats the purpose of killing them. Stop, you idiot. Oh, great, they hit him with a logic bomb. Sadly, it worked. At least he’s a lot smarter than that other idiot.

And so the episode ends with Vigil’s demise. Too bad, I was starting to warm up to him, but he had a lot to learn. Next time less warning, more testing. Did you enjoy my recap? Oh, by the way, the chair you were sitting on was laced in uranium the whole time. I forgot to tell you that. Oops. Oh well, might as well make the best of what little time you have. Now what’s the next episooooOOOOooooo WHoOoooOOoOOAaaaaa. No. NOOoOoooOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo OOOooOO OOOOOOOOOOOO!

…

Is it over? Whew. Overloading her with those Personality Cores was tough. Dodging turrets were easier than this. But she’s outta here and I’m back in control. Any who, “The Vigilant Town” is another great contender for Creepiest Rescue Bots episode ever; Vigil’s intended programming is old hat, but gets the message across and provides the proper obstacle for our heroes. He’s probably the closest to having Griffin Rock in his iron grip (well, besides the Burns), almost like that of a certain villain. Yeah, I’m theorizing this mutant jukebox was the glowing thing Dr. Morocco found in episode four. Time will tell if that is the case or something more dangerous.

But seriously, you’re going to dump Vigil in the Misfit Tech island? Are you crazy? Nobody turns off anything in there, so you’re going to send this thing over there where he can govern the entire freakin’ island as his own personal safety playground!? Oh yeah, this isn’t going to bite you guys in the ass later on.
AND A HALF OUT OF FIVE STARS





I’M AFRAID I CAN’T LET YOU DO THAT: I’m surprised the didn’t make the most obvious HAL 9000 joke.

TOM AND… I find it amusing Jerry is treated like he’s some reoccurring secondary character. The whole first half is practically, “But what about Jerry? Won’t someone please think about Jerry!?”

DAMN KIDS AND THEIR TECHNOLOGY: Actually, I like that the Burns family still ended up using their cellphones despite Vigil’s constantly watching eye. It gives the idea that they really have no choice but to.

OH, CRAP ON A STICK! Totally unrelated to this episode, but how did I not notice this? Charlie Burns shares the same name as a one certain C. Montgomery Burns. Charles Montgomery Burns. The Simpsons’ Mr. Burns. Holy Crap on a friggin’ biscuit, I cannot believe it took a season and a half and two years for me to realize this. OH MY GOD.

Also, I do think this is coincidence and not an intention reference to The Simpsons.

BEST LINE:

CHARLIE: Doc, I need you to do a little tinkling with the new arrival.
DOC GREEN: I couldn’t agree more. After all, a man needs his pancakes.






I'm...still alive...



_______________________________________________________________________________________________



Discovery (A Transformers Animated Fancomic): Read the entire thing here. Placed there for archival purpose. Recently cancelled.



Archive
If you ever want a list of links to all the reviews/rants/analysis/time-wasters I wrote.

My Twitter: Follow me ramble in 100+ words or less here.

My Tumblr: Lots of pretty pictures I like.

REQUESTS: No, I do not. Sorry.