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On the podcast this week, Steven and Sean are trying to find out if we\u2019re actually the love children of some freaky human-robot coupling in the Denis Villeneuve film from 2017, Blade Runner 2049.

It\u2019s not often that you get a sequel that\u2019s arguably just as good or even better than its predecessor. What other films can you say that about? The Godfather: Part II? The Empire Strikes Back? The Dark Knight? This one is sitting in some pretty rarified air. The first Blade Runner film was a marvel and pushed the science fiction genre forward. Its sequel not only does the same, but it\u2019s damn beautiful to boot.

We\u2019ve got \u201cK,\u201d a replicant blade runner, who\u2019s tasked with rounding up and retiring, i.e. killing, renegade replicants. A routine retiring leads him to a pretty shocking discovery: is K actually the child of our old pals, Rick Deckard and Rachael? How would that even work? Rachael is not a human being. Giving birth to any sort of life form should be impossible. Right?

Hey, if that was the case, then we wouldn\u2019t have this remarkable film to talk about.

K\u2019s got quite the mystery to suss out. Along the way, he stumbles on the insane machinations of a large, global corporation, uncovers memories that may or may not be his own, and learns about a growing underground resistance movement (another sequel, anyone?). It\u2019s riveting and played with more depth by Ryan Gosling than you would expect from a robot.

I mean, his character\u2019s the robot. Not Ryan Gosling. We don\u2019t mean to imply he isn\u2019t human. We still want to be best friends with him one day and we\u2019re not going to blow our chances here.

It\u2019s all set in a future Los Angeles that seems bleak, oppressive, and yet, not far off from reality. It looks as if L.A. and someplace like Tokyo or Seoul joined and became one super-city. If this is the future that\u2019s in store for us, then what a curious ride it\u2019ll be. Hey, at least we\u2019ll have flying cars.

This film sounds amazing. It looks flawless (and earned cinematographer Roger Deakins his first Oscar win). It\u2019s got a brilliant story and staggering performances. I can\u2019t think of any other adjectives to describe this one. It\u2019s just wonderful and worth a watch.

(Recorded on December 28, 2020)

Links to Stuff We Mentioned:

Blade Runner 2049 - IMDb

Blade Runner 2049 trailer - YouTube

Love Actually - IMDb

Valentine's Day - IMDb

Ryan Gosling - IMDb

Blade Runner - IMDb

Judge Dredd - IMDb

Dune - Wikipedia

Westworld - IMDb

Westworld Season 1 Opening Credits - YouTube

Adamantium | Marvel Database - Fandom

Cylon | Battlestar Galactica Wiki - Fandom

Cyberman | Tardis - Fandom

MPC Replicating Rachael in Blade Runner 2049 \u2013 fxguide

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope - IMDb

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - IMDb