ReBoot as a Western

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How Seasons 1 & 2 of ReBoot are like a classic western:
Just step through the swinging doors and we'll begin...
**Please understand that where I use terms like "Indians" instead of something like the more p.c. "Native Americans," that's just because those are the terms most commonly used in the old westerns.**

Type of element Western What it is in a western ReBoot Why it's like a western

Theme Manifest destiny The god-given right to do whatever it takes to get and keep the land. Same sorta deal. What you call it's up to you. The city itself is really important to our heroes. They'd give their own lives or destroy baddies to save Mainframe.

Theme Western civilization vs. opposing forces. The citizens of a western's town are always going up against those who just seem to want to destroy the citizens' way of life. Mainframer civilization vs. opposing forces The poor Mainframers can't get a break-- if the viruses aren't trying to take over, there's always a game cube waiting to nullify a sector.

Character type Sheriff Lone and honest, he prevents others from violating the citizens' Christian values. Has that special shiny gold sheriff's badge and trusty six-shooter. Bob Lone (he's the only guardian we see until almost the very end of Season 2) and honest (true blue!), he protects the Mainframe way of life. He even has a special shiny gold icon. (You'll notice normal MF citizens don't get shiny icons.) Glitch replaces the gun.

Character type Schoolteacher She's pure and unmarried, but often manages to also have a son of some sort (whether he's adopted or related some other way but is treated as a son or whatever). Book-smart, but doesn't quite know about everything the sheriff does. She's the sheriff's love interest, though nothing may happen between them until the end of the movie. The teacher & her kid win the "most likely to be in need of rescue" award. Dot Matrix So that's why she's always bugging Enzo to study! Dot's the ultimate upstanding Mainframe citizen. She's unmarried, but conveniently still has a "son" equivalent-- Enzo. She knows more about business than anyone, and is apparently quite well-educated. But she doesn't seem to know (or care much) about the world outside of Mainframe. She is certainly the love interest of Bob, ReBoot's "sheriff." Of course, nothing much romantic happens between them 'til the kiss in "End Prog." And if anyone's gonna get kidnapped or need saving, it's generally Dot or Enzo.

Character type The "Miss Kitty" character A businesswoman, usually involved with the saloon. Wise to the ways of the world (the corruption & such) like the sheriff. Actually has a lot in common with the sheriff. But the "Miss Kitty" type doesn't have the same respectability as the schoolteacher, so she can't win him. Mouse This is where we have a little variation-- Dot's the one who owns ReBoot's "saloon" (see "Conventions: Saloon" below). But Mouse is still her own kind of businesswoman (and ready to do some things whose legality is... questionable for pay). She's been to the Supercomputer and Bob's encountered her before. Mouse & Bob really have similar ways of thinking, too. But come on... with the way she goes around kissing guys like that, we knew she was a bit much for Bob.

Character type Outlaws Christianity being the simple way to sum up what the townspeople stand for, the outlaws are a western's anti-Christian characters. They know the "correct" way to behave, and have rejected it. Greed is a major character trait, of course. The outlaws try to take whatever they want by force. Megabyte
(& sidekicks) Megabyte knows what the Mainframers' way of life is and what they stand for, but he doesn't care. He's definitely got the greed thing happening ("You have what you need, now use his greed.") and isn't particularly concerned about who he squashes to get what he wants.

Character type Indians The Indians are a-Christian. They exist completely outside of the townspeople's rules. Often considered just above animals, and known for things like scalping. Usually have a stereotypical chief-with-headdress thing going on. Hexadecimal & her null friends Hex is essentially the chief of the nulls (Lookit! She's even got the headdress!). She doesn't really set out to break Mainframe's rules, because she just doesn't care about them in the first place. She is a chaotic force, as are the movie Indians. The nulls, while recognized as once-upon-a-time sprites, really aren't respected as such. And I can see where the nulls' energy-draining tendencies are just another form of scalping...

Convention Saloon Located between the safe and unsafe halves of town. The saloon is actually the most unsafe place in town, because everyone can come in (whether they're an outlaw or just an average citizen). Showdowns happen in the street outside the saloon. Has tables, a bar, and double swinging doors. Usually run by "Miss Kitty" type. Dot's Diner Conveniently located in Baudway, which puts it between the residential Kits Sector and viral G-Prime. The Diner might not have a lot of drunken brawls, but it isn't very safe either (how many times did that place get wrecked?) Anyone really can come in-- Dot really doesn't make that much of an effort to kick Meggy & his thugs out when they do decide to trash the place. Since I'm focusing on just the first 2 seasons in this chart, I will also remind you that the most obvious showdown in those seasons (the one at the end of "High Code") happened in the street outside the Diner. It's even got booths, a bar, and those double swinging doors. It isn't run by ReBoot's "Miss Kitty," but there are a couple of reasons that can help explain why. I don't wanna waste space opening up that can of worms right now, though.

Convention Cemetery This is typically located on a hill just outside town. Lost Angles Of course it's not really a cemetery-- we've never seen enough evidence that sprites die to warrant having a cemetery in Mainframe. But Lost Angles is located just outside town, is generally believed to be the remains of the destroyed Twin City, and is where all the nulls (who are about as close to dead sprites as anything we see in the show) hang out. So, is L.A. the graveyard? Just a thought.

(back)

How Seasons 1 & 2 of ReBoot are like a classic western: Just step through the swinging doors and we'll begin... Please understand that where I use terms like "Indians" instead of something like the more p.c. "Native Americans," that's just because those are the terms most commonly used in the old westerns.
Type of element	Western	What it is in a western	ReBoot	Why it's like a western
Theme	Manifest destiny	The god-given right to do whatever it takes to get and keep the land.	Same sorta deal. What you call it's up to you.	The city itself is really important to our heroes. They'd give their own lives or destroy baddies to save Mainframe.
Theme	Western civilization vs. opposing forces.	The citizens of a western's town are always going up against those who just seem to want to destroy the citizens' way of life.	Mainframer civilization vs. opposing forces	The poor Mainframers can't get a break-- if the viruses aren't trying to take over, there's always a game cube waiting to nullify a sector.
Character type	Sheriff	Lone and honest, he prevents others from violating the citizens' Christian values. Has that special shiny gold sheriff's badge and trusty six-shooter.	Bob	Lone (he's the only guardian we see until almost the very end of Season 2) and honest (true blue!), he protects the Mainframe way of life. He even has a special shiny gold icon. (You'll notice normal MF citizens don't get shiny icons.) Glitch replaces the gun.
Character type	Schoolteacher	She's pure and unmarried, but often manages to also have a son of some sort (whether he's adopted or related some other way but is treated as a son or whatever). Book-smart, but doesn't quite know about everything the sheriff does. She's the sheriff's love interest, though nothing may happen between them until the end of the movie. The teacher & her kid win the "most likely to be in need of rescue" award.	Dot Matrix	So that's why she's always bugging Enzo to study! Dot's the ultimate upstanding Mainframe citizen. She's unmarried, but conveniently still has a "son" equivalent-- Enzo. She knows more about business than anyone, and is apparently quite well-educated. But she doesn't seem to know (or care much) about the world outside of Mainframe. She is certainly the love interest of Bob, ReBoot's "sheriff." Of course, nothing much romantic happens between them 'til the kiss in "End Prog." And if anyone's gonna get kidnapped or need saving, it's generally Dot or Enzo.
Character type	The "Miss Kitty" character	A businesswoman, usually involved with the saloon. Wise to the ways of the world (the corruption & such) like the sheriff. Actually has a lot in common with the sheriff. But the "Miss Kitty" type doesn't have the same respectability as the schoolteacher, so she can't win him.	Mouse	This is where we have a little variation-- Dot's the one who owns ReBoot's "saloon" (see "Conventions: Saloon" below). But Mouse is still her own kind of businesswoman (and ready to do some things whose legality is... questionable for pay). She's been to the Supercomputer and Bob's encountered her before. Mouse & Bob really have similar ways of thinking, too. But come on... with the way she goes around kissing guys like that, we knew she was a bit much for Bob.
Character type	Outlaws	Christianity being the simple way to sum up what the townspeople stand for, the outlaws are a western's anti-Christian characters. They know the "correct" way to behave, and have rejected it. Greed is a major character trait, of course. The outlaws try to take whatever they want by force.	Megabyte (& sidekicks)	Megabyte knows what the Mainframers' way of life is and what they stand for, but he doesn't care. He's definitely got the greed thing happening ("You have what you need, now use his greed.") and isn't particularly concerned about who he squashes to get what he wants.
Character type	Indians	The Indians are a-Christian. They exist completely outside of the townspeople's rules. Often considered just above animals, and known for things like scalping. Usually have a stereotypical chief-with-headdress thing going on.	Hexadecimal & her null friends	Hex is essentially the chief of the nulls (Lookit! She's even got the headdress!). She doesn't really set out to break Mainframe's rules, because she just doesn't care about them in the first place. She is a chaotic force, as are the movie Indians. The nulls, while recognized as once-upon-a-time sprites, really aren't respected as such. And I can see where the nulls' energy-draining tendencies are just another form of scalping...
Convention	Saloon	Located between the safe and unsafe halves of town. The saloon is actually the most unsafe place in town, because everyone can come in (whether they're an outlaw or just an average citizen). Showdowns happen in the street outside the saloon. Has tables, a bar, and double swinging doors. Usually run by "Miss Kitty" type.	Dot's Diner	Conveniently located in Baudway, which puts it between the residential Kits Sector and viral G-Prime. The Diner might not have a lot of drunken brawls, but it isn't very safe either (how many times did that place get wrecked?) Anyone really can come in-- Dot really doesn't make that much of an effort to kick Meggy & his thugs out when they do decide to trash the place. Since I'm focusing on just the first 2 seasons in this chart, I will also remind you that the most obvious showdown in those seasons (the one at the end of "High Code") happened in the street outside the Diner. It's even got booths, a bar, and those double swinging doors. It isn't run by ReBoot's "Miss Kitty," but there are a couple of reasons that can help explain why. I don't wanna waste space opening up that can of worms right now, though.
Convention	Cemetery	This is typically located on a hill just outside town.	Lost Angles	Of course it's not really a cemetery-- we've never seen enough evidence that sprites die to warrant having a cemetery in Mainframe. But Lost Angles is located just outside town, is generally believed to be the remains of the destroyed Twin City, and is where all the nulls (who are about as close to dead sprites as anything we see in the show) hang out. So, is L.A. the graveyard? Just a thought.
(back)