So for the next four episodes after “Game Over” we enter the Matrix Arc. This storyline will follow Matrix, AndrAIa, and Frisket as they hop from game to game in search of the one game that will bring them back home to Mainframe. This gives us the ability to see new systems, like the one in ruins in the previous episode. It’s interesting to see how the other systems function, and what beings live within it. And we’ll see more of that in this episode, as we boldly go “Where No Sprite Has Gone Before”.
We open the episode as Matrix, AndrAIa, and Frisket exit the game, and enter a new system that looks like a futuristic city on a vast planet. AndrAIa is keeping a log of their adventures, and notes that Matrix is becoming more furious with each game, and he’s losing faith in ever finding his way back home. But her monologue is cut short as floating orbs of energy known as spectrals begin to move around the city. A group of sprites that look like superheroes chase after them, and with them is a hero in an iron suit that has a hairdo similar to Bob. They stop the spectrals easily.
However, it’s not Bob, but instead a sprite named Captain Robert Cursor. He also talks very similar to that of James T. Kirk. His crew includes a Spock-Like sprite named Pixel, a powerful sprite named Giga Girl, a Plastic-Man sprite named Email, and an edgy, gun toting musclehead named Powerlock, who chastises our heroes for being in the games, saying that the user must win all games. It is the hero selective to do so.
They enter the system’s hard drive, their base of operations, and they let out the spectrals. Despite what looks to be a victory for the heroes is not what it seems, as the spectrals blame the heroes for betraying them by entering the games. Spectrals have no ability to reboot inside the games, but the heroes of the system were able to become sprites by entering the game, and help to defend the system. But the heroes want to become spectrals again.One of the spectrals doesn’t believe that, and claim that they have fallen in love with their new flesh bodies, while the other tries to make some peace.
However the heroes however find it hard to reason with the spectrals. The group tries to take some time to relax, but it’s cut short as AndrAIa lets the spectrals go. She believes that no one should be hunted and caged, and manages to escape. The heroes have no choice but to hunt the spectrals down. Matrix is with them on the spectrals problem, but against the hunt. After the group exit, AndrAIa comes out of hiding. Matrix is still mistaking Cursor for Bob, to which AndrAIa tells him that despite the resemblance, it can’t be Bob. However, Matrix believes that the long exposure to the web could have changed Bob. He’s on the side of Cursor and the heroes, while AndrAIa has decided to side with the spectrals.
AndrAIa talks with the spectrals. But their chat is cut short as a tear has opened in the system. Back at the base, Cursor and the others return, telling Matrix of the tear. Cursor tells Matrix that in this form, he can’t mend the tear. AndrAIa ia busy inside the principal office, base of the spectrals mending the tear, while the one spectral from earlier is trying to claim that she plans to turn on them. She manages to get the tear secured for the spectrals to fix, but more begin to pop up. The one spectral runs off, blaming her for the problem. Believing she may have found the reason for a lot of the system errors AndrAIa and the other level headed spectrals leave to try to fix them.
Cursor and Matrix talk, with Matrix telling him why he keeps calling him guardian. It becomes more clear that this really isn’t Bob, and that he is a good sprite that wants to help defend the system. Matrix also may have a hunch as to why the errors are happening, and tells Cursor that he’s joining the hunt. AndrAIa and the spectrals find the tear, as the spectrals surround it, and easily destroy it. She notes that the tears are not normal ones, but tears being made from the same area and the same being. The one spectral blames AndrAIa and the heroes as expected, as they begin to attack her. Matrix and the others arrive and we learn that the tears aren’t being made by spectral, or hero, but by a virus.
The virus entered the system through a download, and ever since the first game cube dropped, it has been the one making tears to damage the system. Neither the heroes or spectrals doubt this, and this begins a battle between the two factions, which in turn finally causes Matrix and AndrAIa to kiss and make up. Cursor tries to make peace with the logical spectral, and they all stop their fighting. However, the one doubting spectral is found out by Matrix to be the virus, and they easily catch him. But the spectral tells them that his brother is still free to do damage.
More tears are being opened at the principal office, and the others make it there to learn that the other one causing the tears was Powelock, who is being held down by Frisket. Powerlock blames the spectrals, but Frisket’s nose rats him out. Powerlock threatens to crash the entire system, but the spectrals attack him, causing him to fire his bazooka. Cursor saves Matrix before debris falls on top of him. Matrix grabs his gun, and shoots him, causing instant deletion. Matrix checks to the dying Cursor, who deletes in front of him. But before Matrix can mourn his friend, another game is about to drop. The spectral leader tells them to take it and find their way home, and the heroes and spectrals will work together to mend and defend the system.
This is a Star Trek parody. But like ReBoot is so good at doing, that parody doesn’t have to completely overtake the episode. References within the episode are more than enough to get the message across. From AndrAIa’s log, to the mentalities of some of the heroes (including parodies of Kirk, Scotty, Chekov, and more), even Spectral’s mentioning that there will be peace. If not now, then by “the next generation”. I’m not a Trekkie in any way, shape, or form, but I was able to get all of the references.
This episode also gives us plenty of superheroes as well. Most of which being references to actual Marvel and DC heroes. We get heroes reminiscent of Catwoman, The Hulk, Mr. Fantastic, and Ice Man. The design of Cursor is very reminiscent of Iron Man. They all have great designs, and even though we barely get any time to learn much about them, they were great characters to have in this episode.
In the end, this one was a filler. It’s still a fun episode, and it’s interesting to see a bit of the evolution of being in the computer world. How the sprites were first spectrals, and how they managed to become sprites through evolution within the games. But in the end, it’s nothing that you’ll truly miss if you skipped this episode. It’s one of the lesser episodes of this season. But next time, we get into the head of Matrix, and learn what really is the driving force of his life.