In the last episode of Rapidly Reviewing ReBoot, Hexadecimal was attacked by a creature that escaped her looking glass, and we ended the episode with that same creature attacking Megabyte, merging with him into a black version of Megabyte with glowing red eyes. How can it get any worse? We’ll soon see as we enter an episode of ReBoot that shows us what happens when you take two very different viruses and put them together. Let’s take a look at “Gigabyte”.
We open the episode immediately where we left our heroes in the previous episode, as things are already trying to get back to normal after the battle with Nullzilla. Bob is still with the weakened Hexadecimal, and wondering what it was that corrupted Hex. But the pondering is put to a halt as the corrupted Megabyte attacks Hexadecimal and tries to merge with her. With Dot’s help, Bob manages to help escape with Hex, demanding an answer as to why they almost merged. She reveals to Bob that she and Megabyte are from the same viral strain. Meaning that the two are brother and sister. She also explains their constant battles with one another is simple sibling rivalry.
Dot is unable to hold Megabyte for long, and he eventually catches up with Bob’s car, and grabs Hex. The two merge, forming a brand new virus. A large virus with one claw arm, and a mixture of parts similar to Megabyte and Hexadecimal. Bob goes to reason with the virus, hoping that the merger has created a benign virus.
However, that is thrown out the window as the new virus introduces itself as Gigabyte: Destroyer of Systems. Bob tries to use an energy beam to contain Gigabyte, but the virus easily absorbs the energy. Since it’s part Hexadecimal, it has her powers to absorb energy, along with Megabyte’s speed and strength. Bob escapes Gigabyte and warns Phong that he hasn’t used any of Hex’s powers. Phong worries that Gigabyte can use Hex’s powers to open a portal to the net, and he must be stopped before he can absorb enough energy to accomplish it. Bob tells Phong to power the city down and says that he’s going to get help.
Dot doesn’t make things any better by trying to attack Gigabyte. She escapes with Bob before the virus attack. But with the city’s power shut down, their zipboards become useless, which leaves the two cornered. Gigabyte corners the two sprites, and asks for Bob’s keytool to power him up. Bob sends Glitch away from Gigabyte’s grasp. Before Gigabyte can get his claws on the sprites, they’re saved by, of all sprites, Mouse, who lops off the virus’ claw. Of course, Gigabyte is able to simply reattach it.
Bob is grateful to see Mouse again, and astonished that she got there so fast. Mouse tells Bob that she was already on her way to Mainframe. Dot of course reminds the two that the last time we saw Mouse, she almost deleted Enzo. Despite Bob’s eagerness to trust Mouse, Dot is of course not so trustworthy. And neither is Phong apparently, who won’t allow her into the principal office. But since Mouse is a master hacker, she manages to hack through the shield and enter.
Gigabyte continues his assault on Mainframe, managing to drain the energy from random binomes, but has his eyes on the energy shield. Bob’s plan is to give the virus a jolt of energy, and the best way to do so is with a tear. Mouse and Dot are the ones who have to take on the mission, as neither are really pleased with the other’s company. Meanwhile Bob suits up in some new body armor, and does battle with Gigabyte. But the virus quickly outpowers him. But once again, before Bob is defeated, he’s rescued by of all people…
Hack and Slash!
Dot and Mouse find a tear, as Hack and Slash try to distract Gigabyte. Floating point, the part of Mainframe they’re battling on is released and moved as far away from the principal office as possible. Meanwhile, the attempts at trying to wrangle the tear go well, until Mouse almost falls to her death. However Dot comes to her rescue, which finally makes the two even with one another, as well as finally earning some respect between the two.
Bob’s plan to keep Gigabyte distracted on Floating Point has a slight hitch however when Gigabyte drains Hack’s energy. Distraught over his lifeless friend, Slash punches Gigabyte in a fit of anger. However, of course, this was stupid because his punch knocks Gigabyte back to Mainframe. Now that he’s back in front of the principal office, Gigabyte flies to the energy shield and absorbs it. Phong has no choice to remove the shield.
Enzo, AndrAIa and Frisket try to defend the principal office from the oncoming virus, which doesn’t fare well as Frisket gets absorbed. Bob and Slash arrive to stall Gigabyte as they once again shield the principal office. Dot and Mouse arrive to drop the tear on the virus, filling it up with unlimited power. Bob uses Glitch to create a portal splitter, splitting Megabyte and Hexadecimal, and sending the viruses back to their respective lairs. However, Bob notices a third portal was also made when Gigabyte was split. And the episode ends with Bob concerned that something rotten is going down in Mainframe, and although he doesn’t know it, it looks like whatever it is definitely involves Mouse.
“Gigabyte” is another great episode from this season. The main reason is that it is a great use of immediate continuity in the series, showing that this isn’t just going to be an episodic series with pointless filler from this point in. Pretty much every episode from this point on, with far bigger events happening within each episode. Which is good, because if they didn’t do anything with the dark Megabyte immediately, it would have felt foolish.
Gigabyte is a great villain. Which makes sense because he’s formed from two great villains. He feels more like a horror movie villain, with his abilities to drain the energy from others, leaving their bodies a seemingly lifeless shell. Although he does have Hexadecimal’s powers, he certainly seems like he has Megabyte’s mind, especially with his goal of trying to get to the Supercomputer. His design is great too, a solid enough mix of the two viruses. From the claws and legs of Megabyte to the mask-like face. It just looks perfect.
What makes this episode work best is the fact that it is full of action and suspense. This whole season feels more like a lot of what the censors were against previously has been thrown out the window, and the show is slowly getting more freedom. And it gets better with each episode. With this delivering on excitement. And with two episodes left this season, there’s still a lot to be excited for. And that includes another big episode disguised as a parody. The truth is out there, and the truth to a lot of what’s going on is in the next episode too.
/p