[8.2/10] Definitely the best Zeta Project episode so far in my book. I like how this one complicates Bennet as an antagonist, makes you sympathize with Zeta even more, and deepens the relationship between Zee and Ro.
For the Bennet part, he himself becomes a more interesting bad guy because he has a point in the things he says to Zeta and Ro. When he talks to Zeta, he seems a little nuts, assuming that Zeta’s been programmed by others or working at someone else’s behest. But eventually, he softens a little bit. It’s too much to say that he has empathy for Zeta, but he expresses sympathy at the idea that it must be hard not to know what you are. He has a fair point where Zeta may think he’s good and that he’s changed and that his choices are his own, but that he might not know what someone else has done to him. The existence of a chip or transmitter or something else in his brain that neither he nor the NSA recognizes suggests he might have a point there.
Likewise, when Bennet tells Ro that however much Zeta may mean to her, he was designed as a weapon, and it’ could be dangerous to be with him, he’s not crazy. We’ve seen how Zeta protects people and the kindness he and Ro have shown to one another, so we’re inclined to want them to stick together. But he’s been used for harm before and as this episode shows, could be used for harm again. It’s not wild to think that Ro might be in danger hanging with him.
Granted, that’s because the NSA tries to erase his memory. In truth, that always felt like false jeopardy, since it seems a touch too bold for a Saturday Morning Cartoon to wipe away the recollection of everything that’s happened on the show for its title character. But even the suggestion of it, particularly as dramatized through the flash of images Zeta sees and his holographic transformations, is harrowing in an understated way. You can really feel for Zeta here, trying to convince his captors that he’s good and decent and practically begging them not to wipe away who he is.
That also makes things pretty scary when Zeta reverts to his base programming and starts trying to hunt and attack people. This show’s actually not great on the action front. There’s a lot of infiltration and exfiltration set pieces and swerves but don’t make sense. But Zeta turning into a killing machine again is frightening in a way that makes up for it.
But it’s worth it to see what snaps him out of it. Ro’s response to Bennet’s warnings is a firm rebuke. She’s seen Zeta protect her, put a roof over her head, keep her secure in a way no one else has. She trusts him, and that’s not about to change. On the other side, hearing Ro’s voice reminds Zeta of who he really is and allows him to complete his workaround for the NSA’s mindwipe. It’s a great tribute to the symbiotic relationship the two runaways have, and the emotional bond between them that sees each through their worst moments.
Overall, this is the clear highpoint for The Zeta Project so far -- an episode that combines the series’ lore, character stakes, and emotions to deliver the show’s most satisfying half hour yet.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-07-18T19:25:41Z
[8.2/10] Definitely the best Zeta Project episode so far in my book. I like how this one complicates Bennet as an antagonist, makes you sympathize with Zeta even more, and deepens the relationship between Zee and Ro.
For the Bennet part, he himself becomes a more interesting bad guy because he has a point in the things he says to Zeta and Ro. When he talks to Zeta, he seems a little nuts, assuming that Zeta’s been programmed by others or working at someone else’s behest. But eventually, he softens a little bit. It’s too much to say that he has empathy for Zeta, but he expresses sympathy at the idea that it must be hard not to know what you are. He has a fair point where Zeta may think he’s good and that he’s changed and that his choices are his own, but that he might not know what someone else has done to him. The existence of a chip or transmitter or something else in his brain that neither he nor the NSA recognizes suggests he might have a point there.
Likewise, when Bennet tells Ro that however much Zeta may mean to her, he was designed as a weapon, and it’ could be dangerous to be with him, he’s not crazy. We’ve seen how Zeta protects people and the kindness he and Ro have shown to one another, so we’re inclined to want them to stick together. But he’s been used for harm before and as this episode shows, could be used for harm again. It’s not wild to think that Ro might be in danger hanging with him.
Granted, that’s because the NSA tries to erase his memory. In truth, that always felt like false jeopardy, since it seems a touch too bold for a Saturday Morning Cartoon to wipe away the recollection of everything that’s happened on the show for its title character. But even the suggestion of it, particularly as dramatized through the flash of images Zeta sees and his holographic transformations, is harrowing in an understated way. You can really feel for Zeta here, trying to convince his captors that he’s good and decent and practically begging them not to wipe away who he is.
That also makes things pretty scary when Zeta reverts to his base programming and starts trying to hunt and attack people. This show’s actually not great on the action front. There’s a lot of infiltration and exfiltration set pieces and swerves but don’t make sense. But Zeta turning into a killing machine again is frightening in a way that makes up for it.
But it’s worth it to see what snaps him out of it. Ro’s response to Bennet’s warnings is a firm rebuke. She’s seen Zeta protect her, put a roof over her head, keep her secure in a way no one else has. She trusts him, and that’s not about to change. On the other side, hearing Ro’s voice reminds Zeta of who he really is and allows him to complete his workaround for the NSA’s mindwipe. It’s a great tribute to the symbiotic relationship the two runaways have, and the emotional bond between them that sees each through their worst moments.
Overall, this is the clear highpoint for The Zeta Project so far -- an episode that combines the series’ lore, character stakes, and emotions to deliver the show’s most satisfying half hour yet.