Sentries of the Last Cosmos
Episode #37 - Sentries of the Last Cosmos
Original Airdate - May 6th, 2000
Batman finds himself in a battle with 'characters' who seem to have
stepped straight out of a popular video game. Can Terry figure out
what's going on in time?
Media by James Harvey and Bird Boy
Review by Zanna |
Credits:
Written by John Shirely, Rich Fogel
Directed by Dan Riba
Music by Kristopher Carter
Animation by Koko / Dong Yang
Voices:
Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis/Batman
Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne
Tristan Rogers as Simon Harper
Chris Demetral as Corey Cavalieri
Cree Summer as Max
Seth Green as Nelson Nash/Dempsey
Patton Oswalt as Eldon Michaels
Alex Thomas Jr. as Burfid
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Review
Terry, Max, and friend Corey Cavalieri are playing the VR video game,
Sentries of the Last Cosmos. The trio is under enemy fire and though
Terry and Max are unable to break free from the assault, Corey not only
escapes but also destroys the enemy single-handedly. The game ends and
Corey is listed as the all time high scorer. Corey is obviously a major
fan/player of the game with countless hours spent playing it. Unobserved
by the three friends, someone dressed and equipped with a flying disc
like a Sentry of the Last Cosmos is watching and taking a picture of
them. Later, at Hamilton Hill High School's computer lab, Corey receives
an email from the creator of the Sentries game and is invited to
Sentrycroft. Corey is thrilled and Max learns that Sentrycroft is the
very private, secluded, estate of Simon Harper.
Corey is admitted to the estate by a robot camera at the front gate. He
joins two other game champs and major fans and is amazed at the full
size game paraphernalia on display inside. They meet with Simon Harper
who explains that he monitors all the games by computer and has selected
them because they are the three highest scorers of the game. He invites
them to join the next level. Harper explains that the game is really a
simulation of a real conflict occurring out in deep space and that for
many years the Wise Ones have used the game to recruit capable sentries
for the real battle. All three gamesters enthusiastically join the
Sentries.
Later, the Batman of this future Gotham is investigating a break-in at
the Hall of Records when he discovers three Sentries of the Lost Cosmos
about to destroy a large data bank. Though he manages to disarm two of
them, the Sentries complete their mission and a large part of the Hall
of Records explodes. Batman must then discover the secret of the
Sentries and stop them from any future mischief.
I enjoyed this episode. Like a few recent episodes, this too did not
have a very dark theme, dramatic crime action, nor did it add to any new
information about Bruce or Terry's training. It did however show a bit
of Terry acting like a normal teenager -- enjoying some video games with
his friends. The episode also displayed several representations of
computer game, sci-fi movie (and gasp, comic book and cartoon super
hero) die-hard fans. Writers John Shirley and Rich Fogel also placed
many references to both the Star Wars movies and its creator, George
Lucas. In addition, this story had a plot device very similar to one
that was used in the movie, "The Last Starfighter". Fans of those movies
could easily point out the many references in this episode.
References to George Lucas and Star Wars stories included helmeted
fighters looking like stormtroopers and Darth Vader, fire swords instead
of light sabers, the enemy, the Dark Regent in place of the Dark Lord
and the Emperor.
Other references were Sentrycroft, which looked like a futuristic
Skywalker Ranch (see for actual Ranch pictures and information) and
Eldon Michaels, the game writer, who had a red-haired, grossly
overweight George Lucas look about him. Eldon Michaels and the villain
were former associates, like Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader (okay,
that's a bit of a reach, ;) ). The ending fight scene has the villain
dressed in a dark hooded robe, seated on a futuristic throne; in front
of a large circular window showing the starlit sky. The hooded villain
throws blue electrical energy at Batman, much like the Emperor threw at
Luke in the "Return of the Jedi" movie. Even the background music
resembled the Star Wars movie themes.
The dialogue, too, had a Star Wars theme in it. When Max asks Terry if
there is a connection between Corey visiting Sentrycroft and the
break-in at the Hall of Records, Terry asks if Jar-Jar is lame. The
writer of the Sentries of the Last Cosmos tells the Sentries to seek the
center, which sounded very like seeking the force. When the fans
question Eldon Michaels about various parts of the story, he tells them
"It all started a long, long time ago, in a cosmos far from earth..."
The plot device used in the movie "The Last Starfighter" was that an
alien military force created a video game to seek out individuals with
the reflexes, piloting and fighting capabilities that would be required
of an elite member of the Starfighter force. These individuals were then
contacted and persuaded to join the galactic militia. Sound familiar?
For those interested and cable connected, the TNT channel will be airing
"The Last Starfighter" on Saturday according to Yahoo TV li stings for
the Baltimore Comcast cable area. Perhaps other areas will receive the
signal too.
Besides the many movie references, there were some other good lines in
this story. When Batman arrives at the Hall of Records and finds a large
cavity in the roof, he deadpans the following comment, " A big, smoking
hole, could be a clue." When Bruce fails to get any more information on
Eldon Michaels besides an old address, Terry says, "Maybe he really is
from outer space." Batman points to a mysterious object and asks
Michaels if it is a word processor. Michaels angrily answers that it is
a typewriter owned by Philip K. Dick, the greatest writer that ever
lived. After the ending fight scene, when Bruce and Terry are discussing
the recent adventure, Terry asks why the villain would behave that way
when he was already rich. Bruce responds "it isn't easy to give up being
a god." Terry responds, "I guess you'd know."
The "is Jar-Jar lame?" line that Terry uses sounds a bit dated for a
futuristic setting unless you assume that the Star Wars movies
themselves become classic icons as some memorable movies do and that the
dialogue or characters become part of the real common language. Everyone
is familiar with references like "There's no place like home" or " This
could be the start of a beautiful friendship" or "You need to be kissed,
and often, by someone who knows how" or "We're on a mission from God" or
"Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" or many
others.
When Batman asks Eldon Michaels if he is a writer and Michaels answers,
"Well, duh", made me wonder if that expression would still be used in
the future. Then again, the word cool has survived many years with the
same meaning.
So this wasn't the dark, gritty story some fans prefer, but it was an
interesting look at fan mania, Star Wars, and the Last Star Fighter.
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