Why Scavenger's Reign Actually Feels Alien
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- čas přidán 19. 11. 2023
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SOURCES
Executive Producer Sean Buckelew mentions Herzog as an influence:
animationobsessive.substack.c...
Gandy, Matthew. “Visions of Darkness: The Representation of Nature in the Films of Werner Herzog.” Ecumene, vol. 3, no. 1, 1996, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/44251810. Accessed 18 Nov. 2023.
HERZOG, WERNER, and Moira Weigel. “On the Absolute, the Sublime, and Ecstatic Truth.” Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics, vol. 17, no. 3, 2010, pp. 1-12. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40645998. Accessed 18 Nov. 2023.
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Scavengers Reign is a text-book example of cosmic horror done right: it's not about tentacles or eldritch entities but of the indifference and smallness of humanity on the cosmic (in the case of the show planetary) level.
The show, in my opinion, also takes a lot from Stanislaw's Lem work, especially from "Solaris" and "Fiasco". Let's not forget that it's Kamen's acts of brutality to feed the creature that make it transform in that monster: it's his own insecurities, selfishness and violence that produces the change in their parasitc but bloodless relationship.
I just read Solaris and this is spot on. The themes are very similar. It’s refreshing to see art that sees humans as just a part of an indifferent system, instead of the only thing that matters.
You are right. It seems they have read Lem's work. I would add The Invincible too.
Definitely Nausicaä
I was wondering about that too , kamens creature seemed initially cute and benevolent , was it the witnessing of Kamen killing other creatures for food that caused it to become so aggressive?
I absolutly agree, and in the way the show is directed it also reminded me of the work of Andrei Tarkovsky. Especially the aforementioned Solaris, but also Stalker. When I watched the first few episodes it felt hard to believe that each episode is only twentysomething minutes long. My brain was constantly working in overdrive and it felt as if each episode is an hour long. Great show.
Best sci-fi for years. What The Expanse did for gravity, Scavenger's Reign does for biology
If I may ask, did you mean the TV show expanse? I've heard a lot about it, but I don't watch TV shows now due to time constraints. Unless they're exceptional.
@@divesh7chadha Yes, the TV show. It starts out good/okay, but it gets better with each season.
@divesh7chadha it's amazing!
@@divesh7chadhaI love the expanse so much. Its the perfect mix of politics and scifi for me. Reminds a little of the prequels but with better dialogue hahaha
great comparison
Watching the life cycles of completely alien creatures is so crazy. The blue boy in the brambles was incredibly poignant for no reason
That was actually a reference to the original short film that the series was based on.
best first half of any recent show I've watched, unfortunately the ending felt quite weak
he had a purpose
@@SuryaGupta-te7fq i disagree it was hopeful after all the strife. it brought this grown man to tears
It wasn't "no reason", it was a whole lifetime reflected in miniature, in a series that in itself was several lifetimes together depicted. A show inside a show.
I've spent time in the Amazon and while I get where Herzog's coming from, I think he missed a lot. Yes it's life stacked on top of life, and in every square meter you will find interspecies war and a level of competition and violence not seen anywhere else. But you will also discover a similar intensity of symbiotic relationships, cooperation that borders on telepathy. I think humans are very familiar with the first bit, but it's the second part-- symbiosis-- that feels alien to us. This is also what Scavengers Reign captured well imo. It wasn't the violence that made the world feel alien, it was the interconnectedness of the environment.
Yeah
What I noticed after stumbling on this series and finishing it, is how it succinctly dramatizes the way nature on a grand scale behaves
It’s not just eat or be eaten, but also adapts and accommodates with each other
Turning every living thing into a complex machination of almost Rube-Goldberg-esque sensibility
The series does this well by making this dynamic process quick and sometimes specific, as opposed to the slowness of real life that’s harder to observe and summarize
I liked that even the 'intelligent' creature they have does not seem to align to motivations or actions we understand. While its actions seem to be at least partially affected (possibly corrupted) by its human, there is nothing that we can see that would exactly align to feelings or human motivations so we can't entirely predict what it will do or why it is doing things.
@@akwysuda5905I think it was more Kamen’s insecurities and warped way of thinking that made it do that. After basically causing the ship to go down, he kinda snaps and starts lashing out at anything around him. Hence him incessantly killing everything to feed this creature and the Kamen-Creature hybrid going after any humans/human technology it sees.
I’m still iffy on whether the motivation is from Kamen or the creature, and if there’s a deeper motive or not
Because if we look at it simply, their whole behavior is aligned with basically staying alive. Eat to not get eaten instead
Kamen was the best subservient hunter the Creature got, up to a certain point. And once the Creature’s big and strong (and no longer need a servant), it protects him as property possessively. Specifically protecting their established symbiosis
So anything that could lead him away from the Creature is equally a threat as something that could kill him
Speculative astrobiology at its finest. This has been the most interesting sci-fi story I’ve experienced since Arrival.
Have you seen Annihilation?
@@AllTwoCentsibleGuy yes, it was a very good book series. I liked the idea of what if cancer was a location. But, if we went with books I really enjoyed the Three Body Problem and Ministry for the Future.
@@ricopena2053 The tree body problem series is a real blast :)
I disagree. I can't place my finger on it, but so much of the astro biology felt contrived and present only for plot reasons. The little flying creatures being used as respirators in episode one, the quick-deploy balloon animals to get out of the cave, the extra traction slime when Azi is crossing the river. Time and time again what is supposed to feel alien feels like a Saturday morning cartoon gadget with no basis in biology. I like the show, but that aspect always bothered me.
I strongly disagree, the show is cool but the organisms make no sense evolutionarily. Creatures like the gas mask ones literally have no reason to evolve to be used as gas masks by humans, the only way the planet's life makes any sense is if it was created by some intelligence, like an non-human technologically advanced species.
I totally adored this show. The pollination scene alone is one of the more moving and engrossing scenes I've seen in a long while.
This feels like one big ad. He was probably paid by the show producers to make this.
@@willtheprodigy3819an ad comparing a product with the philosophy of Werner Herzog? That's a hell of an ad
@@willtheprodigy3819 Ad or not. I loved this video and the show really deserves the atention.
I think the original pollination scene in the 2016 short film is equally good if not better.
@@willtheprodigy3819Nobody is allowed to like things and make content about them anymore? This show is insanely underwatched compared to the effort that probably went into it, and the honestly astounding results of that. The show has just over 5000 IMDb ratings and less than 4000 subscribers to the subreddit. It's performance has to be underwhelming in the eyes of HBO. Why would they waste more money by paying a random CZcamsr to talk about it, or spambots to comment on videos about it? Assuming you've watched the show, since you're here, but I'm honestly confused how someone who's seen it could make this comment.
I feel like what Herzog was trying to get at is the idea that nature is unmediated, whereas we live most of our lives in comfortable nests where reality is chewed up and regurgitated for us to safely consume. Outside the nest is a harsh world that was not designed for us and cares nothing for our survival. We are better there as food and fertilizer. Thats the feeling that Scavenger's Reign evokes.
LOVED this show, love this reflection. The whole show balances horror and wonder on a knife's edge, which just feels so real.
that knifes edge left me with existential wonder and existential dread at the end of every show.
I love this show. It seems very much an homage to Moebius and René Laloux. I do hope that there’s a season 2.
100% agreed. Thanks for dropping those names. We could mention another related gem, Miyazaki's Nausicäa.
I came here to write something like that ! Serious Moebius vibes indeed, love it !
It kinda reminded me of the world of Aldebaran of Leo in it's alien world
Moreso than Moebius, this is totally akin to the comic books of Leo, like Aldebaran etc... in my opinion. Moebius didn't create whole ecosystems, and is still very human centered in his approach, while Leo created all these original animals and ecosystems. The drawings as well are more like Leo's than Moebius'. I'd be surprised if the creators of Scavenger's Reign didn't read any Aldebaran or Betelgeuse
Oh wow, I just left a comment talking about Moebius' Les Maîtres du Temps that this show or movie that I didn't watch reminds me of, guess I wasn't wrong then.
Brilliant storytelling through visuals. You're introduced to dozens of alien biologies, and with a few queues you begin to understand the logic of the ecosystems.
Cue, not queue, but you’re absolutely right.
The ecosystem doesn't really have logic though, like most of this show. Flora and fauna are just made up to look cool, but it is not really believable for life to evolve in that way. And that is even without considering how many animals seem to have super useful utility for humans, which doesn't make sense at all. The oxygen breather mask comes to mind, why would an animal evolve like that? And how did those guys discover that in just a few weeks stranded there?
The show looks cool, but that's it. It has no consistency or logical sense to be a believable ecosystem.
@@tofadeldesdot This show best strength is that it's feels alien but thats the catch it's FEELS. It's not alien becouse we see a difference from our world but because we don't know the difference.
@@tofadeldesdotI believe the utility is sometimes unbelievable. But it definitely has some logic with the intertwined purposes, such as the dirt eating fishes. The point is we're not supposed to judge its quality by earth standards.
Also they were on the planet for several months by the time we join them
@@cntom8233
The thing is, they're conveniently structured like machines to be used by humans.
Yes they 'feel' alien, but they are more of machines and tools than something plausible. Everything are conveniently useful for humans and are designed to be used by humans. Weird, isn't it? For an entire environment to evolve in ways beneficial to humans when there are no humans in that place.
It is alien, yes, but there is a word more fitting. It is Artificial.
Oh how I loved this show.
From start to finish, it was so moving, imaginative and just incredible.
This show invoked a sense of wonder/terror, for which I can count on one hand from movies and tv throughout my life. Thank you for drawing the comparison of Burden of Dreams and so wonderfully breaking down a show that will be with me for a long time.
I cannot recommend this show enough to everyone. Breath taking animation and great sci fi!!
Where can I find it?
@@santiagocastro5422 HBO Max
@@santiagocastro5422 hbo max
Thanks to this video, I found out about this amazing show. 4 episodes in and this is amazing, James Cameron can only dream of achieving this level of depth and emotion.
When i was watching this show, i couldn’t stop saying how “alien” it felt unlike anything i’d seen in such a long time. I’m glad other people are thinking/feeling the same lol
I saw just one frame of the teaser and I spent the next 5 minutes desperately trying to find that show
What an absolute visual marvel
Same happened to me!
A profoundly beautiful analysis of a profoundly beautiful show. It's truly great when videos like these actively enrich and deepen my appreciation for something I already love.
Well said
Indeed!
Well said!
THAT scene in episode 4 "The Wall" was jaw dropping, one of if not the best alien encounter scene I've ever seen
I'm so glad that you covered this, hopefully, this will introduce more people to this amazing show. The majority of people who have seen it only have good things to say about it.
Still, I think it deserves more attention so that we continue to get more adult animation like this (though this year has been pretty awesome when it comes to that ngl).
I just entered this genre, any recommendations?
@@georgBOETT Do you just mean Adult Animation, Sci-Fi or anything more specific?
Blue Eye Samurai, Invincible, Harley Quinn, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and especially Scavengers Reign have all proven animation in 2023 to be a tight race!
@@georgBOETT Fired On Mars is great, also on Max
Fired on Mars, Pantheon (highly recommended) @@georgBOETT
FINALLY!!!Ive been waiting for any of the CZcamsrs I’ve been subscribed to, to talk about this show!! Thank you for this!
This show was so amazing. I hope it will also be shown internationally in more countries, because we need a season 2 of this masterpiece!
I had to claw tooth and nail to watch this show in Canada. So worth it
Me too. Its a shame its US exclusive via legitimate media. The viewership would no doubt skyrocket if they expanded to Europe.
I really appreciate that he did this video. It's my favorite Sci-fi series. It really deserves more recognition and a 2nd season.
Werner Herzog's monologue from Burden of Dreams with Scavenger's Reign might just be the best thing I've ever seen!!!! 🤯🤯🤯
I hope this show gets a season 2 there is still so much more to explore
Thanks for making a video on it, the show is amazing and needs as much publicity as possible
Amazing show, definitely needs more lov and I'm so glad you gave it a shot and talked about it on your channel!
Hertzog's "Rescue Dawn" also uses the Jungle as a character. Underrated film.
Thanks for the discovery, this show would have flew under my radar and it's now becoming one of my favorite.
The animation makes me think of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
Scavenger's Reign reminded me a lot of René Laloux, especially his movie Les Maîtres du temps (The Masters of Time). In general, the pace felt very similar to a French animated movie!
This show does feel like a spiritual successor as it really looks and feel likes Moebius was heavily involved and definitely a major inspiration along with Katsuhiro Otomo.
So glad to have found this show! I put it on randomly the other night and couldn’t stop watching
this might be one of my favourites shows of this year. the animation and world building is insane
You're an incredible curator. Got lots of great stuff to watch after nearly every essay.
For some reason I haven’t been seeing your videos on my feed in too long, good to see you still make some of my favorite stuff!
I love that whenever you release a video of a show or movie. I then go watch and come back, and am never disappointed. Thanks for talking about this show, it was a wild trip.
Hands down some of the best world-building of an alien planet I think I've ever seen in animation. This right here is exactly what adult animation should be! Thought provoking, visually beautiful, and incredible attention to detail, I hope it gets the recognition it deserves and we see more stuff like it in the future
Thank god a big channel like you has covered this. I hope this will help push the show into more people's spheres.
I hope we get more of this show. It's the best sci-fi series in fucking decades. The ALIEN feeling of this world is tremendous. It's SO foreign and strange and weird and beautiful and horrifying. It feels like there's a real ecology, it's not just dominated by 1 or 2 species that the humans have to deal with; there are HUNDREDS of creatures and plants that all interact with each other. Compelling, fascinating, and truly unique.
Thanks for introducing this show. I didn't heard of it from anywhere, and from this video sounds it's right up my alley.
As usual, SPOT on when describing Herzog's documentaries. As you mentioned his positioning of nature, I immediately thought of Grizzly Man.
Yesss, this show is my favorite thing to come out this year - hope more people get to experience it!!
Glad you made this i really hope this show gets the love and attention it deserves!
This is the first time you've written about something I have never even heard of and it's great. Your video has expanded my horizons in a completely unexpected direction. Thank you.
I watched the entirety of this show yesterday morning. Amazing timing.
I love how Herzog's words describe so well what we're feeling. I've been describing nature in the show as an imperfect machine. Which to me serves as an analog for our world, it is the same but at a different scale. The interactions in scavengers rain are much more blatant, but at the same time more confusing and it's imperfections also become more blatant. I feel like the world we live in is far more abstract, technology and nature feel so different so we need this kind of analog to remind us of nature's interconnectivity and technology.
Yoooo thank you so much for talking about this, I had not heard of this show AT ALL and had to immediately check it out
I hadn’t heard of this show before this video landed in my CZcams feed, I love it, thank you!.
Never heard of it (Scavenger's Reign). After watching your (great) video essay I definitely want to check it out. I appreciated the depth and conciseness of this short video.
Scavengers Reign is utterly and criminally underrated!!!
Scarvengers Reign was such an underrated show of this year, and i totally agree that it was the best scifi storytelling of the year or even a decade
This reminds of 80s and 90s anime like the movie akira. Where detail of the place is more impirtant that faces, which modern anime shows more of
I really love your art history videos, now this subject , thanks for the video.
Very cool! Loved the series and love your videos was stoked to see this
I loved this show! Hopefully more people will talk about it!!
Sometimes I forget you're actually a writer as I'm watching your videos, until I hear, "as something that exists outside human attempts to conceptualize it". Brilliant!
Truly beautiful analogical essay. Makes me want to watch Scavenger's Reign AND the Werner Herzog films. 😁👍
I have a friend who worked on the series. Thanks for bringing it more attention
I didn't realise this was out already! The animation looks incredible
Interesting. BTW, the aesthetic of this piece reminds me to the one of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. I remember that at least part of the same view on nature is also present in that other film, as well.
Brilliant observation of the correlation between this show and Hertzogs take on nature and so beautifully articulaed in a manner i could never conceive or convey. I just watched because i love good animation and good sci-fi; fortunately for me this show had both. Not to mention a gripping, suspense driven story that had me craving for the next episode.
I had completely missed this show! Have to see it.
Absoltely breathtaking show! Has better world building than the Avatar films
Wonderful episode!!
Dude Good to Hear you,
I haven't seen anything this fresh from you in awhile.
This was a cool set of observations.
I really need to take some time and check out this new show.
This show deserves more recognition and marketing!!
Can't decide if I should watch Herzog's or this show now. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for bringing this show to my attention. I'm a couple episodes in and am enjoying it. The environments feel otherly like Princess Monoke or perhaps alien like those of Nausicaä.
I've never heard of this and now I'm really interested in it
I watched the whole season just so I could appreciate this video more! But I'm glad I did.
I think the feeling you're talking about at the end 5:41, Evan, is awe. It doesn't occur much anymore, but I feel it strongest when I look up at the night sky.✨
The forest did not need to repute the Spaniard's claim of domination; the forest never heard heard him make it. The forest never noticed that he was ever there...
Amazing show... hopefully we get more seasons
Scavengers the short was great, and this series is a pretty cool extension
Sublime show. Can't wait to watch.
“Because in the end nature is horrific and teaches us nothing.” - Futurama.
One of your best videos imo. Your presentation also reminded me of two scifi books: Solaris by Stanislow Lem and the Gateway Saga by Fredrick Pohl. Both I think also highlight how nature may be indifferent to our conception of it. Thank you.
Found out about the show because of this. Thank you.
I just finished the show and man, I’ve been waiting for something of this level for years
such a great show. was very surprised when I stumbled upon it.
Spot fn on mate it’s the indifference of nature that they capture. Or the nature of nature. Very glad you watched this such a great piece
I've being watching your content for like, two years and this might be the first time y comment something: Don't wanna make spoilers, so just gonna say that you "Herzog stuff" in this video was great. Love your videos, keep up the good work, mate. Greetings from Iquique, Chile.
Great video! I loved this show!
I had no idea this existed, and now I can't wait to watch it
The original short also seemed a lot more... mechanical to me. It was a completely unfamiliar familiarity, with a unknown, but certain outcome
I remember that I really liked Nausicaa, when I was young, for this alien feeling of a fungus world!
Years passed until I felt something similar. Thank you HBOmax!
always insightful
I have to check this show out now... thank you for this recommendation
"Humanity loves its illusions of control and understanding" Great quote !
It's gonna be one of those "Imma stop this video and go watch the show first" moments. Appreciate the recommendation!
I watched the original short film "Scavengers" years ago. It was amazing. Scavengers Reign was well worth the wait and I hope there are a few more seasons made. Truly impressive world building.
Nerdwriter. The absolute best on You Tube and it's not even close
Thank you for all you do, sir.
One thing that I really adore about this series is that it shows the brutality that goes on in nature. The one scene where the giant beetle looking thing enters inside and starts ripping up the sea creature. Or the other scene where the alien plant takes a sample from a host, makes a copy of them, and then uses that clone to spread itself.
So much chaos and different ways each and every creature on this planet does to try and survive.
I had no idea this show existed, will check it 👍🏼
Yessss, one of my favorite CZcamsrs and my new favorite show, together!
This show was amazing. i couldn't have enough. i love it so so much.
A live action of this with the same quality or much more is a must.
Thank you for shining light on this unique, beautiful and awe-inspiring show. I'm very happy it exists at all, in spite of the current entertainment media landscape
i hadnt heard of this series b4. it actually looks... really fucking cool. thank you for this video!
I really liked your connections and comments to how the Vesta Minor eco-system is deeply reflective of our own relationship nature in many cases.
I just want to thank you for introducing this show to me. I just finished binging it and MY GOD is it incredible.