Filthy Casual for Life

Episode 1: The Night It All Began

It’s the sound of someone humming the song “Moon River”. On a train, a group of people in cloaks are resting. The landscape of the moon passes by. The serene scene is suddenly disturbed by an attack. We meet our protagonist, Jack, as he counter-attacks what appear to be robots.

We’re whisked away to the past. Jack is laying in a field. In a flashback, Jack is recalling a moment in his past as a child. There appears to have been a battle and one of his friends tells him goodbye. It appears the friend had a fatal wound.

Coming back from his daydream, Jack arrives at home with friends waiting for him. We learn it is Labor Day and a big event is happening. An elevator between Earth and the moon is debuting. While Rhys, unknown relationship to Jack at the moment, is panicking about them making a cruise, Jack dons a sly smile. They arrive at the cruise on a helicopter.

In a presentation by Shadow Corporation, led by Monica Shadow, we learn that AI Sapientia became in control of world politics resulting in world unification. In addition, AI Sapientia brought upon the development of the moon. As Monica tries to introduce her son, Jack, as the future of Shadow Corporation, he is no longer at the presentation, but instead, at the craps tables. Rhys finds him and is not very happy. It seems Jack is hellbent on giving Shadow Corporation a bad name.

The presentation is over and Jack and his father arrive at a room on the cruise ship for his mother’s famed meatloaf. However, when they arrive, she is drunk. She asks Jack how things are going with his friend, Rhys. When things get too personal, Jack’s father escorts Monica to bed, but before completely leaving the room, Jack’s father asks if he is ashamed that he’s adopted. Jack denies that he’s ashamed.

With his mother and father gone, Jack returns topside where he meets Rhys. He is holding a gift that Rhys gave him to give to his mother since it is her birthday. However, due to her condition, he didn’t have a chance to give it to her. All the ships’ lights dim as they get ready for the activation of the new elevator.

Everything seems to be going well, but the power suddenly cuts out. Jack is suddenly whisked away to a moment in time where Phil, his childhood friend, is alive. As Phil drifts toward him, tentacles of red light pull him back. He yells at Jack and tells him he needs his strength for the sake of the moon.

When Jack snaps back to his reality, Rhys and the others are worried about how he spaced out. As they look up at the moon elevator, something is not right. Jack looks up and the sky is alight with what looks like crackling electricity. He tells his friends they need to leave.

As they run away, the electricity surges from the sky and makes it way down to the platform causing an explosion. Panic ensues. The elevator is collapsing. Jack and his friends made their way to a submersible, but they realize they need to get his parents and their friend Michaela. However, as he tries to run to get them, his friend forces him, Rhys, and the others into the submersible. There was no time. The submersible rips from the cruise ship. While the elevator collapses, Jack watches his parents succumb with the ship.

A broadcast starts. His name is Bob Skylum, the Moon Devil, and he proclaims the Moon’s independence from Earth.

THOUGHTS

I like it. I like it a lot.

Who doesn’t like a good rebellion? There are so many questions. Who is Phil? It looks like Phil and Jack lived on a space station together when they were kids and that there was some kind of battle or rebellion. It suffices to say whatever happened on that space station resulted in Jack being adopted out.

I find it interesting that AI is the reason for world unification. I don’t really have anything to expound on in that regard. Other than the mention of it, I’m not sure how much more they’re going to delve into the involvement of AI in the rebellion. Obviously, AI did not bring peace between the Earth and the Moon.

Maybe it is wishful thinking, but do I sense more than just friendship between Phil and Jack? It’s probably wishful thinking.

Will definitely continue to monitor.