Shorts Review: Red vs. Blue Season 13, Episode 20 ‘The End’

Spoilers Below:

At the beginning of the year, Miles Luna announced that season 13 would be the final installment of the Chorus Trilogy. That information begged one logical question: how would it all be wrapped up? Would the ending be a happy, satisfying conclusion that tied up all the loose ends? Or would it take a heavier, more somber note – addressing the real, devastating human toll of war? Based on the second-to-last episode, it looked like Red vs. Blue could go either way.

With the arrival of Hargrove’s ship, the world of the Reds and Blues was instantly plunged into chaotic warfare, thanks to a ton of mantises wiping out soldiers on both sides. The good guys decided that their only hope was to somehow deactivate all the machinery, but were greeted by the Chairman’s men instead. With some help from F.I.L.S.S. (who was illegally reassigned to help Hargrove), Tucker (and Epsilon-Church) eventually achieved their goal of shutting down the androids, but still had to defeat the bad guys.

In the last scene, just prior to the final showdown, Tucker donned the Meta suit, and Epsilon-Church spoke in prerecorded message, telling his friends that if they’re hearing it, they won. He thanked them for helping him live on through his programmed memories, creating a unique personality, and forming new memories. Epsilon-Church then revealed that in order to properly run the suit, he’ll need to deconstruct himself and leave behind the memories of the other AI fragments.

The episode ended with Epsilon lamenting that heroes who sacrifice themselves never get to enjoy the victory, and don’t even find out if their efforts were successful or in vain – they just have to have faith.

And that was all she wrote.

In Case You Missed It:

1) Doc: “I think I just developed a fear of heights. And planes. And all of you guys.”

2) Sarge, after “accidentally” stepping on a UNSC mug aboard the Staff of Charon: “Whoops.”

Let’s keep this as simple as possible. Last night we were given the season finale for year 13 of Red vs. Blue. It had barely any humor, barely any action, and despite all the plot content: barely any closure.

With all the false endings this season, it was odd to see a slightly ambiguous finale. I mean, you kind of have to assume that us hearing Epsilon’s message means that the Reds and Blues’ mission was successful, but that’s never confirmed. After seeing Felix and Locus bested twice in a row, only for the Chairman himself to arrive and rain all over our friends’ victory parade, I was really hoping to finally get some solid closure. No such luck.

Still, wasn’t that the point? Epsilon said it himself: self-sacrificing heroes never get to see the end result. So we, like them, just need to have faith. Personally, I’m going to believe the Reds and Blues emerged victorious, because that’s what I think the ending implied, and I don’t see the Rooster Teeth folks having it any other way. I also wouldn’t think they would end on such a humorless note, but again, I am not surprised.

“The End” closed out a series arc that wasn’t nearly as serious as the Project Freelancer years, but instead walked a line between those and all the previous ones. The finale could addressed this dichotomy by taking a well-rounded approach like the other “fake” finales featured, giving fans of all types something to like, and everyone could go home happy. But that’s the easy route.

Instead, for what has arguably been the best years of Red vs. Blue, a dignified closing is fitting, appropriate, and the best call.

I don’t know what the next chapter will bring, but if nothing else, we have thirteen years of reasons to be hopeful. Sure, number fourteen could be a complete failure, but why be so pessimistic? After all, when strong, intelligent, good-hearted people have to face immense challenges, more times than not they end up succeeding.

We just need to have faith.