Source
r/genlock•
Fragmaster

Are we missing important character development?

I feel like we haven't gotten enough team bonding/background so far. We had a montage of training and Kazu making eggs for breakfast, but where's the the bickering, conflict resolution, the catharsis?

The most prominent example to me was never resolving Val's suspicion of Yaz because she is a Union defector. How are they fighting together in a team when one of the members thinks another could be a spy? I just don't know how Val fights next to someone she can't trust, and assuming they had a heart to heart off screen would be such a wasted opportunity. Val and Yaz working out their problem would be a goldmine of character backstory and world building!

Is Haddock saving this for later? Is the pace of the story moving too fast to waste time on team member development?

Thoughts?

P.S. The ethical and existential questions brought up by the eBrain project are so compelling! Great story in that regard. So many areas are done so well that this potential oversight of character development stands out to me.

Posted Feb 27, 2019, 2:28 PM UTC

515
shatos•

Actually I’m starting to feel it’s perfect as it’s been. A lot of training and team building has no real story or plot. In stories those are experienced best at times when there is drama and story plots that put our heroes in some really dire circumstances like what happened in episode 6. I suspect 7-8 will be a lot more story building on the characters as they try to move on and find somewhere safe to go. I would say by 10 we are going to see some major plot from Yaz and really delve into everything that led her to deflecting.

15
dtape467•

except there are only 8 episodes this season

12
FragmasterOP•

What!?

2
dtape467•

yep, only 2 more episodes

5
FragmasterOP•

Maybe I've just watched too much Gundam. GenLock is doing their own thing, and I love it so far. I just didn't understand how some members graduated to mind-melding without working on these issues. Although Val and Yaz may have the most trouble in that regard.

I hope you're right and we see Yaz further developed soon.

2
axslayer33•

The thing is, we don't know how intricately entwined pilots become while melding. It could be as 'simple' as grafting your mind into the other person's mech interface.

I think we're all assuming that the interface means, oh Kazu and Val shared memories, Cammie and Yaz were aware of each other's deep thoughts. That's more of a soul merge, imo.

3
JonArc•

Ya, a lot of what were seeing in phase two seems to be closer pilot interaction but its more surface deep. Forther levels of genlock might get into that realm though.

1
KitFistbro•

Yea honestly Gundam has spoiled me in terms of character development expectations

2
Cyberwolf33•

The most recent episode really hit home for me on character/team development. It showed a lot about Val/entina, and more about Chase than I expected. Imo, the "not now" moment was well played out, as it showed how much Chase needs to grow into the team, while people like Val/entina and Cammie were initially super removed, but now integral.

8
DireSickFish•

The team building has been happening, but they didn't sideline the plot to do it. Val syncing up with Cammie and Kazu shows how the team is growing. Them trying to help Cammie overcome the horrers of her first real fight is team building and character growth. The group comparing dream sequences is team building.

I like that it's going hand in hand with the plot. Rather than having trite episodes dedicated to setting up 1 on 1 situations where two specific characters grow closer.

4
AmethystWind•

Considering how the last episode went down, now would actually be the perfect time for it. The team is separated from their support and command structures, under heavy strain, unsure of their future and probably exhausted.

All they have is each other at this point, and any frustrations are going to boil over and be addressed in the next little while.

3
PhantomToaster5•

With only 8 episodes a season (at least for the first one that is), they really don't have the time to develop the characters as much as they should be doing. They have to move the plot along at a pretty fast pace.

1
trando434•

I feel the same way. We know nothing about the Union or organizations involved, Holons are now on their third iteration of aesthetic appearance and the “Nemesis” has alresdy had its big reveal, well, revealed. All on the 7th episode in the series.

Roosterteeth has proven time and time again that it has some fantastic source material to work with, but pacing once again is one of their weak points.

Whether it’s drawn out and “soap opera-y” tacking story elements with loose strings attached onto series like RvB, or dropping end game motivation or even flat out spoiling itself like RWBY, Genlock hasn’t gotten the pacing portion of story figured out.

Don’t misunderstand though, I love all three of those shows, but Roosterteeth just hadn’t figured out the right length of string to dangle the carrot just yet.

1
FragmasterOP•

I agree, unless GenLock has some seriously long and well written plot in the works, this season seems to have eaten through it too fast. Episode 8 would have been a pretty good finale if there had been more development beforehand, but it doesn't feel like they have a plan. Especially when they show the tier 4 upgrades in the opening.

1
trando434•

Another little tidbit is that the first episode was just posted to YouTube today on Rooster Teeth's page. Probably in an effort to draw people in and watch it after the fact.

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I don't like drawing conclusions, but it almost feels like this is kind of a desperation move. At 34k views in 12 hours it isn't bad though.

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Don't get me wrong, I loved the show, but progression wasn't solid.

1