TRON UPRISING – RENEGADE (parts 1 and 2)

Let me tell you geek brothers and sisters something.  if you like to watch good ‘kids’ shows, or if you are a big fan of the TRON movies, if you haven’t checked out TRON UPRISING on Disney XD, then you need to get up on it.  If you don’t have Disney XD, then go to the website disney.go.com.

The Tron Uprising story follows Beck, a mechanic that can’t sit around and watch freedom and justice taken over by Clu and his forces.  The timeline of the series happens before Tron Legacy, but after the original film.  I think you will like the series because it fills in the gaps of when and how Clu took over the Grid in TRON LEGACY.

SPOILERS PEOPLE, SPOILERS

RENEGADE part 1 was the first episode of TRON UPRISING to air on the Disney XD channel.  But if you want to see the real pilot, go to Youtube and watch the 30 minute premiere of BECK’S BEGINNING.  I wrote a post about the online premiere episode HERE.  Basically, there is a guy named Beck that’s tired of the way Clu is taking over the Grid.  But when his friend gets derezzed right in front of his eyes, Beck goes on the offensive by blowing up a giant statue of Clu.  The episode shows how he’s chased by Clu’s number one guy Tessler and his agents.  All of this was told by Beck in flashback while he is being held by a stranger that helped save him.  You may guess who that is.

Okay, so in RENEGADE PART 1 we see Tron starting to train Beck.  He learns the lesson of ‘not’ hesitating on an action.  Beck goes into the city and befriends Cutler.  They end up being chased captured by guards, but Beck finds an escape route for them.  Beck complains that maybe he is not helping things get better if programs (people) are getting arrested for nothing.  But Cutler says that Beck has to keep fighting, that’s the only way to give hope to people.

Unfortunately, Beck and Cutler get caught again, and after they win against an unfair Lightcycle match, they are pitted against each other by Tessler in a death match.

The first thing you will probably notice about this show is that the stylized character design is unique and different.  Though to me there was a slight change in design between the BECK’S BEGINNING premiere and the first RENEGADE episode.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, the animation has those quick movements, fighting choreography and poses remind me of the classic Aeon Flux.  But what’s even better is the vast backgrounds and sleek technology that sets it apart from other tv shows.  They are at least as hot as the graphics in LEGACY.

Also, from a soul brother stand point, I was liking the fact that for RENEGADE they got Lance Reddick (the Wire, Fringe) to voice Cutler.  I love the resonance in that dude’s voice He was perfect for this animation.  And Cutler was a cool character for Beck to bounce off of.  The diversity in the show so far has been pretty satisfying.

PART 1 ends with a cliffhanger, and PART 2 picks up the story with Beck and Cutler trying to escape Tessler and lieutenant Paige.  Again, the technology designs in this show are crazy.  They end up stealing a slick hydrofoil boat and… I don’t want to spoil the whole thing.

Reddick isn’t the only talented actor to voice a character in the show.  Beck is played by Elijah Wood, Tron is played by the original Bruce Boxleitner and Lance Henriksen plays the gritty voiced Tessler.  Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Reubens, Mandy Moore and Tricia Helfer also star.  The show was created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird.  Charlie Bean directed these episodes, and has done a great job.

I hope TRON UPRISING truly finds an audience among the younger and older crowd.  it’s a great production, and it could make other companies step up their game when it comes to more mature and skillfully produced television programs.

Hey listen, if you can’t wait to watch tonight’s episode RENEGADE part 2, or if you want to catch up to part 1, then check out THIS LINK at Disney.go.com.

TRON UPRISING airs on the Disney XD channel on Thursday Nights at 9pm eastern (which is tonight).  I highly recommended this for nerds and geeks everywhere.

Geek Soul Brother

Geek Soul Brother is here to give news and reviews from the geek old school. I love to talk about movies, television, books and comics featuring science fiction, fantasy and horror.

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