DZ-48: One-Shot - Blade Runner 2049 - Agency vs Choice

Listen to discover how characters can be dramatised through binary choices (and understand the difference between choice and agency). To kick off 2018, Chas and Stu take a deep dive into one of their favourite movies of 2017: Blade Runner 2049. However, they abstained from “Fox News-ing this shit” by being joined by the most accomplished screenwriter they know, C.S. McMullen (Blood List 2017, Black List 2017, also a lover of Blade Runner 2049). For a film that is thematically about choice, Stu and Chas thought this would be an excellent opportunity to explore how characters can be dramatised through binary choices. And yet, CS opened their eyes to the idea that characters can still be given choices without having agency. Without having choice in their choices. Not having choices that lead to different outcomes. It is perhaps the lack of agency (rather than the lack of choice) that lead to some of the troubling depiction of women and minorities in Blade Runner 2049, which our intrepid hosts explore in detail. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. LIKE THIS EPISODE? Send us feedback. Thanks to our Patrons, especially Khrob, Theis, Sandra, Jesse, Randy, Paulo, Thomas, Jennifer, Malay, Alexandre and Lily. ——— CHAPTERS 00:02:29 – Blade Runner 2049 00:10:33 – Wallace And Luv 00:26:18 – K And His Mission 00:30:19 – K And Joi 00:36:00 – K's Choices And His Arc 00:47:34 – Deckard And The Las Vegas Sequence 00:58:26 – Luv And Joshi 01:01:52 – K's Hero Choice 01:04:45 – K And Luv 01:10:57 – Tears In The Snow 01:19:24 – Depiction Of Women And Minorities 01:35:36 – Wrap Up And Key Learnings FILMS BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017) — (w) Hampton Fancher, Hampton Fancher, Michael Green (d) Denis Villeneuve SCRIPTS Study the script: BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017) — Hampton Fancher, Hampton Fancher, Michael Green LINKS Read: Find: C.S. McMullen Read: JustWatch: Blade Runner 2049 YouTube: Watch: Blade Runner 2049 - Alternate Trailer Blu-Ray (Fan-made) Read: Blade Runner 2049 Script YouTube: Watch: Black Out 2022 YouTube: Watch: 2048 - Nowhere to Run YouTube: Watch: 2036: Nexus Dawn Short YouTube: Watch: Baseline Tests YouTube: Watch: Joi Virtual Girlfriend Scene YouTube: Watch: DNA Searching Scene YouTube: Watch: K vs Luv Scene Read: The Conversation - Blade Runner's problem with women remains unsolved in its sequel Read: The Guardian - Is Blade Runner 2049 sexist - or a fair depiction of a dystopian future? Read: Digital Spy - Can we talk about Blade Runner 2049's problem with women? Read: NY Post - You'll love the new 'Blade Runner' -- unless you're a woman Read: Mashable - The hidden feminist message buried inside 'Blade Runner 2049' Read: New Statesman - Blade Runner 2049 is an uneasy feminist parable about controlling the means of reproduction Read: Mary Sue - Director Denis Villeneuve Tries to Defend His Portrayal of Women in Blade Runner 2049 Read: The Mary Sue - Blade Runner 2049: Bad Representation Is Not Representation Read: EXTREMES OF LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE: NOTES FROM THE SET OF 'BLADE RUNNER 2049' YouTube: Watch: I want more life RELATED EPISODES DZ-20: Writing Strong Secondary Characters - Trinity, Bechdel and a Bamboo Killer DZ-41: Theme and Worldview DZ-42: One-Shot - Character Worldview & Macro POV in SPLT ——— More Draft Zero is brought to you by our awesome Patreons. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, or a review on Podchaser. We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter. Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2018/dz-48/