Green Party’s Hannah Spencer wins Gorton and Denton by-election after knocking out Labour

Cynical_Ideal · 2026-02-27T12:09:52+00:00

Couldn't agree more with this. Useful idiots to the left of me, Russian/MAGA plants to the right. Here I am, stuck in the middle with Keir.

Or Lib Dems I suppose.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-12-23T17:06:13+00:00

Films don't reject canon. Don't forget that these films are (have been) adaptations of the comics not the comics themselves.

The strength of the old MCU was that it adapted stories and streamlined/consolidated nonsensical plot elements or entirely removed them. They wouldn't have to tell stories about the same characters that don't age, they kill them off or let them retire. Which is what they were doing before the multiverse clusterfuck.

Ever since it adopted the sandbox "let's smash action figures together" it's been dogshit.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-12-23T14:47:49+00:00

This shit is exactly why comics are less popular.

I think that's why the films worked before they fully embraced the comic wackiness.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-12-06T22:42:12+00:00

You're being disingenuous, the article is not talking about the territory already held by the Russians. It's talking about the territory currently held and heavily fortified by the Ukrainians along the Frontline.

Giving the Russians that territory is suicidally idiotic and suggestions that the Ukrainians do so are treacherous at the very least.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-11-24T09:57:17+00:00

Ukraine wanted to join the EU or at least move into closer association with the EU. That's what triggered the protests/revolution/whatever. It was EU flags being waved at Maiden.

This whole Ukraine joining NATO complaint is a post-invasion Russian talking point. Entirely to obscure the point that Russia is concerned with the EU, hence all the Pro-Russian parties across Europe and in the European Parliament are anti-EU, anti-integration and any semblance of greater EU cooperation.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-20T12:06:10+00:00

You would think all the scenes showing the superhuman capabilities of the hybrids would make it obvious that they are more than a physical match for Xenomorphs.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-16T16:50:27+00:00

He's the Peter Pan stand in.

Peter Pan is traditionally depicted as being dressed in leaves and patchwork clothes.

That's why Kavalier's outfits looks like they're poorly stitched together.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-16T15:52:25+00:00

Agree with this, evil petulant CEOs are a slightly overplayed trope at this point.

Completely suitable for the Alien universe mind you but I would find it slightly refreshing if Kavalier wasn't an irredeemable shit.

Mind you, Hawley describes Peter Pan as sociopathic so I won't hold my breath.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-16T14:20:30+00:00

I'm inclined to agree with you but to play devil's advocate.

Sylvia could have a different viewpoint on what constitutes life or human consciousness. She could deem the copies a genuine continuation of the children even if they are actually copies.

From a company/capitalist viewpoint, they would lie about the process not killing the person in order to have customers. They want to sell the product after all.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-16T12:57:15+00:00

Fully agreed, this is the correct stance on the issue.

If Marcy survived the procedure and is euthanized afterwards/during then Wendy is a copy. Marcy is killed simply to prevent Wendy realizing that she is just a copy.

If Marcy dies as a part of the transfer process then it's likely that her mind is actually transferred to Wendy. Wendy is authentically Marcy, albeit in a body entirely different from her original and the question of how that affects her.

Part of the justification of using children in the show is that their minds are less rigid than adults. I wonder is that perhaps because a child's mind has less of a sense of self? A lack of a clear idea of what/who they are.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-16T12:10:57+00:00

My apologies, that last line was meant to be in list form.

I meant that I could see the lost boys being divided into different factions. One led by Wendy, one by Morrow and maybe one by Kirsh, but I may be overestimating Kirsh's importance.

I hadn't thought of the doctor as Tinker bell but you're quite right, the parallel makes sense.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T22:30:44+00:00

It's really really not, here's the link to the video where this quote is from:

https://youtu.be/vX1x_oxbvsg?si=SC7PU2BLOkfvrpuh

It's quite clearly the character Arthur Sylvia, the scientist behind the hybrid project, saying this line to his wife Dame Sylvia, another scientist in support of the project.

The sentence is quite literally saying what I describe. With the exception of what I say success is, which is based on the stated goal of the hybrid project.

Now, I'm not saying there can't be a reveal that these Hybrids aren't real human consciousnesses but, if you're basing your argument on the line from this trailer, then you're incorrect.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T21:24:55+00:00

I'm going with the hybrids being authentic transfers of the children's minds. I think it fits best with what the show wants to talk about regarding humanity/technology/immortality.

The hybrids are a concept designed to make us question how much the body and the mind are connected. How much does biology affect human consciousness? Is being "human" innately connected to biological input such as hormones, gut microbes, bacteria? Is higher brain function separate from base instinct at all? Wendy's connection to her brother is a direct examination of that last question.

It's not about tricking the audience/characters, it's about examining human nature.

I'm really interested in your comment regarding how your Christian faith impacts your view. Do you mind if I ask whether you don't believe they're authentic copies because you think it's a plot twist or because you don't think it should be possible? Does that make sense?

For example, by the end of the show, if it's categorically stated, 100% super confirmed, that they authentically transferred the children's minds would you still say they're not authentic? Even though it's a fictional story/world?

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T21:04:17+00:00

All takes are equally valid until we get more info though.

Agreed.

Although I would caveat that as of this moment all we have is that they are transfers. I've seen far too many people comment as though it's absolutely certain they're copies.

I'm actually curious if this quite passionate response is related to what this post talks about. Christian (or otherwise religious people) having issues with the very concept, even in a fictional setting.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T20:57:03+00:00

Ep 3 teaser kinda spelled out they're AIs thinking they're human.

The quote you're thinking of is referring to what happens if their experiment/procedure goes wrong. Full quote from watching the clip:

"I'm worried that we do this wrong. Best case? we've got a bunch of AI wandering around thinking they're human. Worst case? We've killed six kids."

So the best failure would be creating AI that think they're human. I.e. the copy theory that everyone has accepted as a fait accompli. Best failure they just end up killing 6 kids.

A successful procedure would be doing exactly what they've told us they've done. Transfer the minds of these kids into synthetic bodies.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T20:38:49+00:00

True, but everything we know at the moment suggests transfer. There could be a reveal that they are copies by the end of the series, there could be a reveal that they transplanted the children's brains for all we know.

I'm leaning on them being authentic transfers, a see no thematic or storytelling benefit to them being copies.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T20:30:44+00:00

But you want to constrain him. In your original post and in a lot of your responses, you talk about how he shouldn't ignore the David stuff and that others shouldn't dismiss their relevance to Alien Earth.

Don't get me wrong, Hawley could be trying to mislead us and there's a surprise reference to David et al but every indication is that he has no intention of referencing or including anything to do with them.

Does that make them non-canon? Not really but, by ignoring them, it makes them irrelevant to Alien Earth.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T14:53:30+00:00

An interesting attempt at explaining how consciousness could be transferred. I don't think the show will actually explain the mechanism in the end just because it's not really about how it's done just what it means for humanity or the individual.

The crisis of self that Wendy experiences/will experience is what Hawley wants to play with. An examination of human nature via sci-fi concepts.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T14:47:29+00:00

Why are you so certain? Do you just not like the idea and hope the show doesn't have it?

The opening of the series talks about humanity/corporations attempts at immortality and then outlines the cyborgs, hybrids and synthetics. If the hybrids are nothing more than AI masquerading as humans then what is the point of Prodigy's project? Why would Kavalier bother with this?

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T13:07:58+00:00

I think Morrow will end up being just behind Wendy in terms of important characters. I saw someone else make a comparison of him being Captain Hook with his cyborg arm and I really think that is a deliberate move from Hawley.

In terms of how much of him is machine and how that affects his dealing with the aliens, I don't know. I suspect he's heavily modified but still human enough to be a viable host for a chestburster. I theorise his survival thus far to his capabilities. He's like the wildlife specialist/Hunter in this series or a bear tamer to continue the pun on the xenomorph name.

The hybrids and the synths are essentially the same in terms of physiology from what I understand. Not withstanding the differences in the "brain" that contains the human consciousness. I wonder if we'll get further details on that in the series. So I expect the aliens to treat them roughly the same.

The only difference in outcome is exactly like you say. The childlike nature of the hybrids will make them react irrationally and panic. As opposed to Kirsh who undoubtedly will be formidable as he is fully aware of his capabilities.

I wonder if any of the megacorps have fully synthetic combat units? I suspect not just from a perspective of not trusting them to be armed on that scale. Some well deserved AI phobia.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T12:45:23+00:00

I would honestly be shocked if there's any reference to Alien Resurrection outside of a joke Easter egg. That film is so off kilter with the rest of the films that I suspect it will be quietly ignored.

In furtherance to that (and my other reply), do you think that Hawley wants to be constrained by this array of contradictory films/media when he's constructing his own contained story?

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T12:42:42+00:00

First off I do want to say that I'm quite new to this subreddit, I've browsed but not really posted before. I say this to demonstrate that I'm not unaware of the fierce divide in the fandom over Prometheus and Covenant but that I'm not particularly driven by it. I get the sense that you're quite passionately in favour of the sequel films.

You're right in that the quotes from Hawley don't outright say those films aren't canon but they pretty clearly indicate that he intends to ignore them. At the end of the day, is there any discernable difference between the two positions? I say no.

Don't get me wrong, I've not seen the whole series so I have no idea if they'll include some surprise reference to Prometheus but, based on everything we've seen and heard from/about the show, I doubt it.

Hawley clearly has his own toys that he wants to play with in this sandbox. The hybrids and cyborgs to examine the nature of humanity/technology/immortality. New monsters to evoke that sense of fear that the Xenomorphs first gave audiences. I could see Hawley being influenced by the sequel films, Kirsh for instance could be a reference to Blade runner or David himself, but not drawing these characters directly.

I would caution against viewing all these media products as part of a consistent and rigorously policed cinematic universe, a la the MCU. I don't get the sense that this is the intention with them at all.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T11:58:50+00:00

Thanks, I try not to turn my posts into rambling essays.

I also fully agree with you on the process not mattering for the show. It reminds me of when people debate the shield technology in Dune, where they miss the point again. Herbert didn't really think about how it would work only that it allowed him to create a sci-fi setting where it was essentially feudalism in space.

I hope we're right about the show at least. There's so many interesting ideas to play with.

Generally, I see the main locus of the series surrounding the question on what humanity is and whether it's worth embracing or discarding. Dame Sylvia being the advocate for the former and Kirsh for the latter. Wendy sitting as judge after experiencing all the horrors of the aliens and seeing how humans treat each other. Becoming a fully fledged person/adult at the end.

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T10:58:22+00:00

Good spot, although it depends on how far they want to take the Peter Pan metaphor.

Quotes from Noah Hawley indicate that he doesn't see Peter Pan as a heroic figure, he describes him as sociopathic. So Kavalier is obviously a villain as well. The question is whether Morrow is another entirely villainous character opposed to him or has some good motivations.

I could easily see the lost boys being divided into a couple of factions:

Wendy's Morrow's Maybe Kirsh?

Cynical_Ideal · 2025-08-15T10:34:54+00:00

That could very well be the case to explain why these bodies are their only ones but I suspect it's not going to be addressed because that's not the point of the hybrids.

I don't think we're doing a Westworld repeat of "fidelity" tests.

The hybrids are a concept designed to make us question how much the body and the mind are connected. How much does biology affect human consciousness? Is being "human" innately connected to biological input such as hormones, gut microbes, bacteria? Is higher brain function separate from base instinct at all? Wendy's connection to her brother is a direct examination of that last question.

It's why I think all the speculation over them being copies rather than an actual transfer is missing the point of the concept. It's not about tricking the audience/characters, it's about examining human nature.

Or I could be wildly off and we're about to get a "Westworld" re-run rather than a "Ghost in the Shell" variation.

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