VR5 digest 700
v...@server.microserve.net
Contents:
Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows. (Ruby Red <ru...@welkin.apana.org.au>)
Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows. ("Soendjaja / Alexander (COM)" <u94...@student.canberra.edu.au>)
Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows. (jwatk...@macnet.com (James Watkinson))
Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows. (jwatk...@macnet.com (James Watkinson))
Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows. ("Soendjaja / Alexander (COM)" <u94...@student.canberra.edu.au>)
The VR.5 Episode Guide ("Augie De Blieck Jr." <au...@nic.com>)
The VR.5 Episode Guide ("Augie De Blieck Jr." <au...@nic.com>)
VR.5 soundtrack on CD (geor...@vir.com (Georgia Panaritis))
Re: The VR.5 Episode Guide (Martin Gruen <gr...@freenet.scri.fsu.edu>)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 08:14:31 +1000 (EST)
From: Ruby Red <ru...@welkin.apana.org.au>
Subject: Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows.
Spencer K Rasko wrote:
>
> Ok I want everyone's opion on why dr Bloom was lurking outside of the
> house in Reunion?
>
> Was he
>
> A. Trying to tell if he could trust his daughter.
>
> B. Just off the deep end.
A and B, I think.
--
Ruby Red <ru...@welkin.apana.org.au>
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 15:23:38 +1000 (EST)
From: "Soendjaja / Alexander (COM)" <u94...@student.canberra.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows.
On Sun, 25 Aug 1996, Alexander wrote:
On Sat, 24 Aug 1996, Spencer K Rasko wrote:
> Ok I want everyone's opion on why dr Bloom was lurking outside of the
> house in Reunion?
>
> Was he
>
> A. Trying to tell if he could trust his daughter.
>
> B. Just off the deep end.
>
> C. Spying for the splinter faction.
>
> D.______________________ Enter your own answer :)
Probaly he knows that there isn't any splinter faction at all. Probably
he knows that the 'keeper' was lying to his family and realises that they
are in a great danger.
And here's a few other questions:
1. Do you think Janine (the TelCal cashier in "Sisters") got her promotion
because of the 'Committee'?
2. Do you think Albert.jr and Megan (the two kids in "Love and Death")are
actually Jackson Boothe's children from his affair with Monique? Because
they seem to be closer to Boothe than to their father (Albert.Sr)
3. How did Oliver got Dr.Bloom's journal? I don't think the 'Committee'
will give it away. Otherwise why would Morgan cautiously hide that little
page out of Dr.Bloom's journal in the little hole of that jawbone.
4. Why Morgan the cop recognises Sydney in the final VR sequences (the
convenient store) in "Sisters" but can't recognises her in the previous
two VR sequences (the movie theater and the bank). Is it because Sydney's
subconscious force Morgan in her mind to recognise her?
Best,
Alexander
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 1996 22:55:04 -0700
From: jwatk...@macnet.com (James Watkinson)
Subject: Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows.
>Ok I want everyone's opion on why dr Bloom was lurking outside of the
>house in Reunion?
d. I think he was just observing his family and MAYBE spying on the
splinter faction.
James
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 1996 23:05:04 -0700
From: jwatk...@macnet.com (James Watkinson)
Subject: Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows.
>And here's a few other questions:
>
>1. Do you think Janine (the TelCal cashier in "Sisters") got her promotion
>because of the 'Committee'?
No. I think she was just a good worker for TelCal.
>2. Do you think Albert.jr and Megan (the two kids in "Love and Death")are
>actually Jackson Boothe's children from his affair with Monique? Because
>they seem to be closer to Boothe than to their father (Albert.Sr)
No. I think that he didn't even know the family that long. It was just his
technique to eventually kill Albert Sr. Get close to the victim, be
seductive and be their friend, and then kill them. He got Dr. Morgan to
trust him before he killed Morgan, didn't he? He just fell over the deep
end on his job and got too involved with the family so he fell in love with
Monique and began to care for her children.
>3. How did Oliver got Dr.Bloom's journal? I don't think the 'Committee'
>will give it away. Otherwise why would Morgan cautiously hide that little
>page out of Dr.Bloom's journal in the little hole of that jawbone.
I think the Keeper may have taken the journal on the dreaded night of 1978
and given it to his leaders in the Committee. The Committee probably
assigned Morgan to study the journal and Morgan found that page so
intriguing and thought it of value so he kept it. And I think the Committee
gave the journal to Sydney just because she's the most likely person to
unlock its secrets.
>4. Why Morgan the cop recognises Sydney in the final VR sequences (the
>convenient store) in "Sisters" but can't recognises her in the previous
>two VR sequences (the movie theater and the bank). Is it because Sydney's
>subconscious force Morgan in her mind to recognise her?
I think the most likely answer is Sydney was so desperate to help Janine
that she WILLED Officer Morgan to recognize her so he could stop Janine.
Unfortunately her will wasn't strong enough or maybe Janine's will conquered
there.
As for the think you said about there being no splinter faction, I think
there was. Oliver said the Committee didn't kill Morgan and the Committee
didn't know who actually did. I think the splinter faction hired Jackson
Boothe to kill Morgan, otherwise they wouldn't have been looking for him so
hard.
James
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 17:00:29 +1000 (EST)
From: "Soendjaja / Alexander (COM)" <u94...@student.canberra.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Dr Bloom in the shadows.
On Sun, 25 Aug 1996, James Watkinson wrote:
> >And here's a few other questions:
> >
> >1. Do you think Janine (the TelCal cashier in "Sisters") got her promotion
> >because of the 'Committee'?
>
> No. I think she was just a good worker.
But I thought they (TelCaland the police) was going to bust her. Didn't
Sydney mention that she suspects that they are after Janine?
> >4. Why Morgan the cop recognises Sydney in the final VR sequences (the
> >convenient store) in "Sisters" but can't recognises her in the previous
> >two VR sequences (the movie theater and the bank). Is it because Sydney's
> >subconscious force Morgan in her mind to recognise her?
>
> I think the most likely answer is Sydney was so desperate to help Janine
> that she WILLED Officer Morgan to recognize her so he could stop Janine.
> Unfortunately her will wasn't strong enough or maybe Janine's will conquered
> there.
I still laugh from time to time whenever I heard the script that Sydney
made. They just so unconvincing. No wonder Janine's will beat her
will inside VR.
BTW, do you have any idea where the seductress (the one who always flirts
with Officer Morgan) come from? I mean, the pervert guy was the guy who
unpatiently push Sydney in TelCal. But her? Is it possibly from Janine's
mind?
> As for the think you said about there being no splinter faction, I think
> there was. Oliver said the Committee didn't kill Morgan and the Committee
> didn't know who actually did. I think the splinter faction hired Jackson
> Boothe to kill Morgan, otherwise they wouldn't have been looking for him so
> hard.
>
Sometimes I do believe that. But when I think that the reason why Morgan was
stabbed is because he tried to set Sydney free from the 'Committee' and
telling her everything about her father and the 'Committee', I start to
doubt it. I mean who will be at disadvantage if Sydney is out of
the'Committee' if not the 'Committee' themselves?
Remember the pilot when Sydney ask Morgan how if she wants out and he
said "You can't. It's too late" and the keeper at the front seat had this
satisfaction smile? and in "Love and Death" where Sydney said "They're not
gonna let me go, are they?" and Morgan shakes his head. From the very start
the 'Committee' has tried to make Sydney work for them. You don't easily
get in or out of that organisation. Even Oliver in the end of "Reunion"
starts to doubt whether there is such thing as the Splinter faction.
And, oh yeah, the important bit: Sydney starts to be able to access VR.5
after her father and Samantha escape from their kidnapper and set up an
underground telephone lines. When Morgan finds out that Sydney can
access VR.5, he reported her to the 'Committee' who soon realises that
Sydney is one of the Bloom's twins. Now, they couldn't find Dr.Bloom and
Samantha's whereabouts. But, they find this other Bloom girl who can access
VR.5. Why don't use her as Dr.Bloom and Samantha's replacement?
Well, that's just my long tedious theory.....
Best,
Alexander
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 14:04:11 +0000
From: "Augie De Blieck Jr." <au...@nic.com>
Subject: The VR.5 Episode Guide
(1.6) - What episodes have been broadcast? (Episode Guide)
The following information is extracted from the 21 May 1995 edition of
SFTV (SF TV Upcoming Episode Titles and News) from Lee Whiteside
<le...@indirect.com>.
You can get the latest edition of the listing from ftp.hyperion.com
in the /pub/TV directory, or on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.indirect.com/www/leew/index.html
VR.5 (Fox)
3/10/95 Pilot
3/11/95 Pilot (late night repeat)
3/17/95 Dr. Strangechild
3/24/95 Love and Death
3/31/95 5D
4/07/95 Escape
4/14/95 Facing the Fire
4/21/95 Simon's Choice
4/28/95 Control Freak
5/05/95 The Many Faces of Alex
5/12/95 Reunion
These three episodes were produced but were not purchased by Fox.
TBD Send Me An Angel
TBD Sisters
TBD Parallel Lives
An Associated Press wire story says that the three missing episodes
were produced for the international market, and 13 episodes were
produced for VR.5's first season. Robt_Martin <fli...@news.dorsai.org>
writes:
There was an AP wire story on VR5 a few weeks ago which said that
FOX was only committed to nine eps of VR5, but the production
company did 13 so it would be an easier sale to foreign
television. According to the article, if VR5 was cancelled (as it
was), the three eps would remain unseen here.
here's a quote from the AP piece:
"The episodes were shot after [John Sacret] Young refused a
six-episode deal, Fox counteroffered nine and Young's partners
decided to make 13 episodes for international packaging. Fox's
10th episode, the season-ending cliff-hanger, airs May 12."
William Wood <tig...@interlog.com> has prepared and maintained a very
comprehensive VR.5 episode guide for the first season, including
synopses of the episodes and analysis. The following is the last update
from 30 June 1995. After that are entries for the three unaired
episodes done in a similar format, and written by Augie De Blieck Jr.
<au...@nic.com>.
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VR.5 EPISODE GUIDE -- FIRST SEASON (1995)
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HEY!! The following is a veritable cornucopia of *SPOILERS*, so proceed at
your own risk. It's also full of Canadian spelling. Such is life.
This guide was last updated 06/30/95, and will continue to be modified at
irregular intervals during the summer; I'll try to post it every month or
so. I've finally added Guest Stars--you guys whined about it long enough!
>:) Some role information is based on educated guesses on my part;
corrections are welcome. The "Missing Data" segment of this guide has been
separated out and will be posted by itself for the time being.
Prepared by William A. Wood ("Bitter Guy").
Suggestions/encouragement/abuse: tig...@interlog.com
Duplicate this guide all you want, but don't charge anybody for it, and give
me some credit, okay?
All rights vis-a-vis the show itself reserved.
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CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE
VR.5 was created by:
Adam Cherry &
Geoffrey Hemwall &
Michael Katleman &
Jeannine Renshaw and
Thania St. John
Executive Producer: John Sacret Young
Co-executive Producer: Thania St. John
Co-executive Producer: Eric Blakeney (2,3,5,6,8)
Supervising Producer: Michael Katleman
Producer: Naomi Janzen (2-10)
Producer: Jack Clements (2-10)
Producer: Mel Efros (1)
Co-producer: Geoffrey Hemwall
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GENERAL OVERVIEW
VR.5 is a Fox Television Network show about a reclusive computer
enthusiast's quest for the truth about her traumatic past, precipitated by
her accidental discovery that she has the ability to communicate via modem
with others' subconscious minds in an ill-defined, quasi-virtual realm--an
ability that has brought her (back?) to the attention of the mysterious
"Committee."
The show has currently completed its first season, and its future is
uncertain. >:(
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RECURRING CHARACTERS
Lori Singer (Sydney Bloom)
Michael Easton (Duncan)
Will Patton (Dr. Frank Morgan)-- episodes 1-4.
Anthony Head (Oliver Sampson)--episodes 4-10.
David McCallum (Dr. Joseph Bloom)
Louise Fletcher (Nora Bloom)
Tracey Needham (Samantha Bloom)
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THE EPISODES
1. "VR.5" (PILOT)
Broadcast 03/10/95
Written by Thania St. John
Directed by Michael Katleman
Guest Stars: Adam Baldwin (Scott Cooper), Penn Jillette (Kravitz), Kimberly
Cullum (Young Samantha), Stephen Mills (The Man), Gammy Singer (Nurse
Jackie), Kaci Williams (Young Sydney), Matthew Koruba (Young Duncan), Chris
Owen, Noah Verduzco.
Synopsis: Sydney Bloom accidentally manifests her VR ability, and in the
process of exploring it discovers that the co-worker to whom she is
attracted is actually a serial killer. Having inadvertently tipped off an
enigmatic secret organization called "the Committee" to what she can do, she
is given an offer of employment she can't refuse.
Observed Data:
VR: VR.5 "connection" lasts only a few seconds in real time;
"connection" is made with the subconscious mind of the "connectee" (hereafter
called "the Other")--their memory of the events in VR is more impressionistic
than detailed, BUT it can alter behaviour; Sydney has full recall of VR.5
events; Sydney's software apparently determines the mental "space" for VR.5.
The Committee: TC had some kind of hold over Joseph Bloom--Dr. Bloom
seemed afraid of them; the same man who apparently frightened Joseph Bloom
into fleeing (to his death) is still in the picture, observing Sydney
(hereafter known as "The Man"); TC is powerful enough to fix police
investigations.
Miscellaneous: Sydney is socially maladroit, with voyeuristic
tendencies--Duncan appears to be her only friend; Nora Bloom is either in a
waking coma or has suffered brain damage; Sydney survived a suspicious car
wreck in which both her fraternal twin sister Samantha and her father died;
Joseph Bloom was very interested in computers (back in 1978) before they
were commonly available; neither Sydney's phone lines nor her computer are
secure; Sydney's e-mail address is "Cybe...@ibnet.com".
2. "Dr. Strangechild"
Broadcast 03/17/95
Written by Eric Blakeney
Directed by Michael Katleman
Guest Stars: Elya Baskin, Tom Towles, Nicholas Casconna, Erik Avari, Aaron
Michael Metchik, Kate Zentall, Kimberly Cullum (Young Samantha), Danny
Goldring, Jason Azikiwe, Cully Fredrickson.
Synopsis: "The Committee" gives Sydney her first assignment: discover the
whereabouts of a teenage genius who has run away from a top secret
installation after having made a momentous discovery. In doing so, Sydney
has to come to terms with her own sense of solitude.
Observed Data:
VR: VR.5 can be "conference-called"; although Sydney picks the
locale, the Other seems to control the events that take place in that
landscape--this may, however, be a question of the Other's will and/or
intelligence (if one contrasts the VR.5 experiences of Stuart Fisher and
Kravitz, for example).
The Committee: "Jimmy Lewis" was the mutual contact between Dr.
Morgan and Parkens-Hart security; TC would like to appear at least partially
benevolent (tough but tender), as seen in the character of "Mr. Bland" at
the end of the episode.
Miscellaneous: Sydney moves into a bigger, more "TV-ish"
apartment--Duncan is now "next-door"; Duncan knows a lot about new-age
spiritualism; Sydney seems to have consciously or unconsciously forgotten
some parts of her past, particularly the events surrounding the crash.
3. "Love & Death"
Broadcast 03/24/95
Written by Thania St. John
Directed by Rob Bowman
Guest Stars: George DeLoy (Boothe), Kimberly Cullum (Young Samantha), Carl
Strano, Louis Turenne, Jessica Hendra, Peter Spellos, Shane Sweet, Sandra
Reinhardt, Bethany Clifton, Wendy Westbrook.
Synopsis: Sydney's next assignment is to subconsciously prod Jackson
Boothe, a troubled Committee employee, into returning to work. She
succeeds, but discovers that he is an assassin, and that the Committee may
not be as benevolent as she had first thought. The assassin kills Frank
Morgan, Sydney's Committee contact, and a file Dr. Morgan had sent to her
slips through Sydney's fingers.
Observed Data:
VR: Sydney seems to be unique in her ability to survive "high-end"
VR, let alone in getting it to work; six or seven people (in Dr. Morgan's
experience) have died in VR; the Other's subconscious can "remember" VR.5
events from one contact to the next; Joseph Bloom was apparently part of a
team that broke through on VR.3 (Flight Simulation?)--he was important in
early VR research, and wrote a paper called "Cyberhelix Recombination".
The Committee: TC can "disappear" bodies; TC hires assassins (I
guess this ain't the "Knight Foundation for Law & Government"!); Boothe
mentions two Committee names: Peters and Hayes; TC may have kept the fact
that Sydney survived the crash from Nora, allowing her to attempt suicide.
Miscellaneous: Nora Bloom seems to have tried to commit suicide by
taking pills--Sydney may have been the one to discover her; Dr. Morgan
published his Ph.D. ("Human Brain Reaction to 3-Dimensional Stimulus") in
1979, making him an academic contemporary of Joseph Bloom; Duncan knows a
lot about secret societies.
4. "5D"
Broadcast 03/31/95
Written by John Sacret Young & Thania St. John
Directed by D.J. Caruso
Guest Stars: Dan O'Herlihy, George DeLoy (Boothe), Kimberly Cullum (Young
Samantha), Jim Holmes, Keith Mills, Kaci Williams (Young Sydney), Matthew
Koruba (Young Duncan).
Synopsis: Sydney gets a new contact, Oliver Sampson, who pushes her into
pursuing Boothe. She conducts her own investigation into what has happened
to the body of Dr. Morgan, and discovers that he has been cryogenically
preserved. She also discovers her father's blueprint for an
organic/molecular computer.
Observed Data:
VR: Sydney's hardware isn't unique--it can be smashed and replaced;
Joseph Bloom taught Sydney, Samantha, and Duncan "brain games"--a possible
mental preparation for VR; while in VR.5 with her mother, Sydney sees herself,
Samantha, Duncan, and Nora all wearing VR headsets; the Other can become
consciously aware of information obtained subconsciously in VR.5--this may
be a result of multiple contacts; Sydney hears her father's voice while in
VR.5 with her mother ("Nora, tell her, tell her now!").
The Committee: TC's charter is something like "the unrestricted
pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of Man--alternative solutions to
social problems".
Miscellaneous: Samantha and Sydney may have had fundamentally
different weltanschauungen (world views)--Sam saw Buddha as a god, Syd saw
him as a man; in general, Samantha seems to have been more aggressive than
Sydney.
5. "Escape"
Broadcast 04/07/95
Teleplay by John Sacret Young & Thania St. John
Story by Thania St. John
Directed by Jim Charleston
Guest Stars: [the closing credits got cut off for this episode--can anybody
help me out here?]
Synopsis: A faction of the Committee kidnaps Sydney in order to examine
her. In trying to rescue her, Duncan discovers that he, too, can access
VR.5. Oliver gives Sydney her father's journal, which was supposed to have
been lost in the accident.
Observed Data:
VR: Duncan has "Sydney-level" access to VR.5; a person can call their
own subconscious--i.e., function as their own Other; the Other can be
"haunted" by a past connection, in both VR.5 and the real world; Duncan
manipulated/tortured Oliver (or did he? Perhaps it was merely Oliver's
sense of guilt?), showing evidence that control can be exerted over the
Other in VR.
The Committee: may be seriously divided into two or more factions
with differing methods of operation; whoever kidnapped Sydney not only
physically studied her, but was interested in the following intriguing
questions: "Were you having sexual relations with Dr. Frank Morgan?" / "Did
your father ever take you into VR.5?" / "Did your father ever experiment
on you? On your sister?" / "Did your father kill your sister? Did he try
to kill you, too?".
Miscellaneous: Sydney has two goldfish (Steed & Mrs. Peel).
6. "Facing the Fire"
Broadcast 04/14/95
Written by Jeannine Renshaw
Directed by Lorraine Senna Ferrara
Guest Stars: Shirley Knight, Frank Converse, Meal McDonough, Blair Renshaw,
Kevin Carr, Richie Fenner.
Synopsis: Sydney, obsessively trying to decipher her father's journal, is
assigned to help a test-pilot in a psychiatric hospital. In the process of
using VR.5 to help him, however, Sydney plants false memories of child abuse
into his sub-conscious--memories that may, in fact, be her own. Sydney also
discovers that her father had been a member of the Committee.
Observed Data:
VR: VR.5 can be relayed to a portable computer; Sydney's own
subconscious can forcibly overlay itself on the Other's subconscious,
creating false memories in the Other and effectively taking over the scenario;
VR.5 can crack "brainwashing" (presumably some kinds of hypnosis).
The Committee: TC's seal is a cruciform series of concentric circles
surrounded by a motto that reads (in code) "Enter the Labyrinth"; Joseph
Bloom may have been in conflict with TC over the contents of his journal.
Miscellaneous: Sydney can play basketball; Duncan knows a lot about
conspiracy theories; Joseph Bloom's journal was meant to be a legacy to his
daughters (or perhaps only one of them); Duncan is now being actively
included by Oliver in the missions; Sydney remembers a hand pulling her from
the crash.
7. "Simon's Choice"
Broadcast 04/21/95
Written by Toni Graphia
Directed by Steve Dubin
Guest Stars: Robert Davi, Dustin Nguyen, David Brisbin, Jack Rader, William
Newman, Robert Phelan, Kaci Williams (Young Sydney), Endre Hules, Edmund L.
Shaff, Westin Blakeney, Benjamin Jurand, Yuan Gee Wong.
Synopsis: Sydney probes a traitor scheduled for execution in an attempt to
discern the motivations for his betrayal. In the process, Sydney must
confront her own anger towards her father.
Observed Data:
VR: Sydney seems to believe that she is the only one that can enter
VR.5 (?); Sydney apparently can program a sequence of events as well as a
location in VR.5; two Others can share a VR.5 scenario (this was done
involuntarily in "Dr. Strangechild")--both are aware of it only
subconsciously.
The Committee: Oliver apparently did not know Joseph Bloom
personally.
Miscellaneous: Sydney is a hacker; Oliver's left ear is pierced;
Sydney seems to believe, as does TC, that she can access VR.5 because her
father "did something to her"; Sydney still owns her childhood home.
8. "Control Freak"
Broadcast 04/28/95
Written by Naomi Janzen
Directed by Michael Katleman
Guest Stars: Markus Flanagan, Tom Mardirosian, Stephen Root, Richard Penn,
Carol Kiernan, Frank Whiteman, Johnny Morn, Cynthia Avila.
Synopsis: Given the assignment of determining the motives and background of
a man holding an airport's control tower hostage, Sydney uncovers a past
attempt by the Committee to assassinate Oliver Sampson.
Observed Data:
VR: Sydney's VR software seems to be some kind of database--she can
custom design settings that don't already exist; the Other CAN lie in VR.5,
or can at least avoid telling the truth.
The Committee: Members don't always know each other (not really a
surprise); TC uses their seal on a ring (such as the one Joseph Bloom had)
as an identification.
Miscellaneous: Oliver lied to the Committee to buy time for his own
investigation and, upon confirming that a bomb had been planted to kill him,
leaked some version of the truth about Kyle Jarvis to a newspaper--together
these indicate a shift in Oliver's loyalty; Duncan, despite his
philosophies, appears to be extremely cynical.
9. "The Many Faces of Alex"
Broadcast 05/05/95
Written by Jacquelyn Blain
Directed by John Sacret Young
Guest Stars: Markie Post (Alex), Jeannine Renshaw, Kathleen Misko,
Mark Phelan.
Synopsis: Sydney is assigned to a blind contact by an increasingly careless
and world-weary Oliver--a contact that turns out to be Oliver's former
partner and lover, who may know the whereabouts of Sydney's "late" father
and sister.
Observed Data:
VR: Sydney's father seems to have achieved VR.8 (personality
transfer), but may not have accomplished it successfully yet; Sydney can be
"kicked out" of VR.5 from within.
The Committee: Oliver only started working for TC officially in the
last five years, although he was probably working for them unawares before
that; TC must be truly international if they were hiding the Blooms (Sam &
Joseph) in East Germany; TC seems to have overlooked Alex's feelings for
Oliver.
Miscellaneous: Oliver seems to have become completely disenchanted
with TC; Sydney's father and sister seem to be alive; Samantha may have been
publishing monographs under a pseudonym; both twins may have been told that
the other was dead; Duncan and Samantha smooched in the sixth grade.
10. "Reunion"
Broadcast 05/12/95
Written by Thania St. John
Directed by Deborah Reinisch
Guest Stars: Turhan Bey (Abernathy), Kimberly Cullum (Young Samantha),
Stephen Mills (The Man), Gammy Singer (Nurse Jackie), Kaci Williams (Young
Sydney), Matthew Koruba (Young Duncan).
Synopsis: Sydney is reunited with her sister. She learns that her father
is still alive, and that a faction of The Committee is hunting them. One of
Oliver's oldest allies turns out to be a traitor. Oliver, having been
ordered to kill Sydney, rebels against The Committee. The fugitives finally
make contact with The Man. Sydney's mother is rescued from her coma, but
Sydney gets trapped in VR.7 (?).
Observed Data:
VR: We discover (apparently) the secret of how VR.5 works: Dr.
Joseph Bloom has a VR computer set-up that is connected to the telephone lines
(presumably locally only?), and the key to accessing VR is retinal
patterns...i.e., if the patterns are recognized, the owner gains access to
the system; the system has only been up and running again since Dr. Bloom
and Samantha started hiding in their old house (Dr. Bloom's secret lab), six
months ago; VR can definitely be used to "reprogram" memories, although it
seems to work imperfectly; people in VR.6 can work in teams to erase such
conditioning because they have access to each other's subconscious minds,
which overlap to form "the truth"; "time and space do not function the same
way" in VR.7 (a person can get trapped in there).
The Committee: there is a fracture at the very centre of TC; TC seems
to recruit extensively from within families (they like blood-ties), although
if Oliver and Sydney's cases are indicative, family members may not be brought
in on the secret until their late twenties; a man named Abernathy was a
colleague of Oliver's father (who apparently died for him), and became
Oliver's Committee "Keeper" (mentor/control agent/father confessor)--he was
also the first known member of the splinter faction (hereafter "TSF"); it
was TSF that abducted Dr. Bloom and Samantha 17 years ago (and has
presumably held them captive all this time); The Man is apparently on the
side of TC opposing TSF, and considers himself Sydney's "Keeper" (and now
Oliver's, too--but what about Duncan?).
Miscellaneous: the car accident never happened--it was a combination
of VR reprogramming and the actual abduction of Sydney's father and sister;
Nora Bloom did not attempt suicide, either--she got lost in VR while
reprogramming Duncan and Sydney's memories; Samantha and Duncan appear to
have had a burgeoning adolescent romance; Joseph Bloom may be insane, having
fractured his personality with VR.8 (like Alex).
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THANKS FOR HELPING/ADDING/PARTICIPATING
Jonathan Gan / raq...@eskimo.net
Lisa Cunningham / mku...@aol.com
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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Jonathan Gan <raq...@eskimo.net> listed all the new things he
learned after watching "Reunion:"
- People from TC took Sam; not an accident
- It's been 6 months since the pilot (in the show's time)
- Sam has lived 17 years with TC
- Sydney knew that Duncan could use VR
- "Wolfenstein 3D"-like imagery in VR.7
- Fiber optics were used in the workshop in the episode
(instead of phone)
- There's been a "fracture at the top" in TC, says the
stranger
- We hear that there are factions in TC for the first
time in the show; Oliver says a renegade faction is
trying to kill Syd
- Sam and Dr. Bloom were hiding in Germany with the
Committee
- Abernathy worked with Oliver's father
- Committee operates within close-knit family ties
(generation to generation)
- VR.7 mentioned for first time
- Lies; when all three (Duncan/Syd/Sam) together, we get
the truth (and several here had predicted that
earlier)
- Woman who looked after Nora was part of the Committee
- Nora tried to erase memories + replace with good ones
- Mysterious man changed stories
Here are synopses of the three episodes which didn't air in the
United States. [Special thanks to David Shaler, Lisa Cunningham, and
Jeff Bryer.]
11. "Send Me An Angel"
Broadcast N/A
Written by Naomi Jenzen & Jeannine Renshaw
Directed by Jim Charleston
Guest Stars: Armelia McQueen, Barbara K. Whinnery, William Forward, Tracey
Needham (Samantha Bloom)
Continuity: This episodes comes directly after "Simon's Choice."
Synopsis: Syd takes a vacation from the her work for the Committee and returns
to her house in Pasadena. There she discovers a tale of a mysterious haunting
and fire from the previous inhabitants. While exploring the house, she
starts to remember bits and pieces of her past and finally brings Duncan in
to help her sort out the memories. She finally brings her mother to the
house to see if she can break through but the child who lived there
previously shows up. Syd realizes that the house is on fire and Oliver,
who has been watching her, breaks into the laboratory at the last minute
and rescues Nora as Syd carries the child to safety. Oliver tells Syd that
she must explore these mysteries herself as it is the only way she will
ever be able to put her past to rest.
Observed Data:
VR: The machinery is located in the Bloom House's basement which takes
retinal scans of people who can be used for VR in the future. Nora's apparent
illness is not caused by pills and sunglasses, but rather from VR somehow. Dr.
Bloom taught his two daughters a rhyme to help them remember how to get into
his secret room downstair where he experimented with VR:
E is to Enter the closet ourselves
N is to Never tell anyone else
T is to Tap with your knuckles times three
E is for effort when turning the key
R is Run back the latch and find me
The Committee: The front door of the Bloom House incorporates a window
designed after the Committee's symbol.
Miscellaneous: Samantha Bloom is alive. At the end of the episode, we see
Mr. X/Syd's Keeper in amongst the crowd gathered outside the Bloom House.
12. "Sisters"
Broadcast N/A
Written by John Sacret Young
Directed by John Sacret Young
Guest Stars: Colleen Flynn, Willie Carson, David McCallum (Dr. Bloom)
Continuity: This episode takes place after "Dr. Strangechild."
Synopsis: Syd investigates the mind of a bank teller who she discovers is
stealing. She finds in the VR experiences that she enjoys the sense of danger
and excitement related to the excursions she becomes involved with throughout
this woman, Janine. This episode also explores Syd's lack of control of
the events in VR as well as setting her on a quick course in
self-discovery.
Observed Data:
VR: Sydney tells Duncan what the levels of VR are which are what we see in
the opening credits. Morgan shows up in all the permutations of Syd's VR
experience, further enforcing the idea that VR picks up on your subconscience
and that Morgan was definitely in hers.
Miscellaneous: Duncan admits to idolizing Syd's father. He describes the
relationship between the Bloom sisters as being one based on one-upsmanship.
David Shaler described the episode:
There was no VR sequence between Syd and Nora, and there was no
mention of her dad being with the Committee. This episode doesn't
look like it was redone at all to reflect the new direction the show
was taking, maybe because they never intended it to be seen, but it
gives you a really good idea of how the writers intended the show to
be like originally.
13. Parallel Lives
Broadcast N/A
Written by Jeannine Renshaw, Thania St. John, John Shirley, John
Sacret Young
Directed by
Guest Stars: Penn Jillette (Kravitz), Billy Burke, Will Patton (Dr. Frank
Morgan), Tracey Needham (Samantha Bloom), David McCallum (Doctor Bloom)
Continuity: This episode takes place after "The Many Faces of Alex."
Synopsis: This episode plays with the concept and characterization of almost
every character we have met so far. Much of the dialogue is taken from earlier
episodes but it is said by the wrong character under very different
circumstances. It involves Duncan waking up to discover that Sam was the
one who survived the crash as a child, not Syd (who only appears in one
very brief scene), and that the lives of each character are substantially
different. It is extremely convoluted and literally requires the viewer to
keep track of VR inside VR inside VR. Concepts of reality are toyed with
throughout.
Observed Data:
VR: It is possible to have a VR sequence within a VR sequence within a VR
sequence.
Miscellaneous: Doctor Bloom is alive and testing Duncan for some unknown
reason. Duncan now believes that Sam and Doctor Bloom are alive. Syd is using
Compaq computers.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 14:04:11 +0000
From: "Augie De Blieck Jr." <au...@nic.com>
Subject: The VR.5 Episode Guide
Today is a special day.
You see, when I accepted FAQ Maintainer duties from Jonathan Gan, the
very first thing I did was to download the previous version. That
version at his website (http://www.eskimo.com/~raquele) is dated as
having been last updated on 25 August 95.
That is exactly one year ago. I wanted to revamp the entire FAQ
for today, but fell a little short. So instead, I am bringing you
the recently revamped episode guide. I took the liberty of adding in
the data for the 3 Missing Episodes and moved some other bits out (or
deleted them entirely.) You'll see when it is done in its entirety.
I also applied this weekend for web space at NIC here and am busily
working on programming the VR.5 FAQ Web Site. I'll let you all know
the address when it is done, not any sooner.
As always, comments/criticisms/cash donations are warmly welcomed.
-Augie
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Augie De Blieck Jr. * au...@nic.com * adeb...@drew.edu
http://daniel.drew.edu/~adebliec/index.html
"Just how well does the subconscious hold its liquor?" -Duncan, "VR.5"
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 14:02:26 -0400 (edt)
From: geor...@vir.com (Georgia Panaritis)
Subject: VR.5 soundtrack on CD
I've looked around several web sites that feature VR.5 and I haven't heard
anyone mention the VR.5 soundtrack on CD. I'm wondering if I just was lucky
to come across it (and get my eager hands on it and play it to death) OR are
others not as into soundtracks as I am?
Here is some of the information from the CD. The length of time per track
wasn't given.
"VR.5:The Original Television Soundtrack"
1-Sydney's Theme
2-highrise rooftop
3-paradise shower
4-waterstation clue
5-to dance again
6-animal VR / kravitz VR
7-didjeridu thing
8-family drowning / cat fight
9-Sydney's Theme
10-the theater
11-the bank
12-getting the info / trailerpark
13-I'd choose you
14-scriptwriting
15-Morgan freaks / Booth's Theme
16-mom freaks
17-Booth's tango
18-Sydney and Duncan talk
19-main title
20-Simon's Requiem
21-Sydney's Theme
Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Music, New York, N.Y.
Rysher Entertainment
Zoo Entertainment
It's about the best soundtrack that I own and I have quite a few. I urge
anyone that doesn't have it (and who liked the soundtrack on the show as
much as I do) to try and get a copy. I bought it in early June for about
$28.00 Canadian plus applicable taxes.
Georgia
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 17:13:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Martin Gruen <gr...@freenet.scri.fsu.edu>
Subject: Re: The VR.5 Episode Guide
Has anyone taken up the torch of the MiniFAQ?
_______________________________________________________________________________
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Transmission ends...^X^[ Fq|1r%a
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End of Digest
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