Red vs. Blue (season 5)

Red vs. Blue: Season 5

Red vs. Blue season 5 promotional image.
Engine(s) Halo 2
Halo: Combat Evolved
Genre(s) Comic science fiction
Running time 128 min. (episodes)
123 min. (DVD)
Created by Burnie Burns
Matt Hullum
Geoff Ramsey
Jason Saldaña
Gus Sorola
Voices Burnie Burns
Joel Heyman
Matt Hullum
Geoff Ramsey
Jason Saldaña
Gus Sorola
Dan Godwin
Jordan Burns
Yomary Cruz
Rebecca Frasier
Ed Robertson
Nathan Zellner
Kathleen Zuelch
Release(s) September 30, 2006 – June 28, 2007
Format(s) QuickTime, WMV, Flash
Number of episodes 23

Red vs. Blue: Season 5 is the fifth season of the comic science fiction machinima series Red vs. Blue premiered September 30, 2006 and concluded on June 28, 2007. The series is created and produced by Rooster Teeth Productions and loosely based in the Halo universe. This is the final season of the Blood Gulch Chronicles era of the series, and has the most amount of episodes for one season of the series, with a total of 23 episodes.

Episodes

You Can't Park Here

  • Length: 6:38
  • Release date: September 30, 2006 (sponsors); October 2, 2006 (public)

Church returns to the Blue Base where Junior, the baby to which a now-comatose Tucker has given birth, is wreaking havoc off-screen. Church and Doc argue about the child until a spaceship crashes into the gulch on top of Donut; Church leaves to investigate. The Reds bicker about rescue plans until Sarge leaves to fetch a rescue device. Church arrives and claims the ship with Sheila's support.

Got Your Back

  • Length: 4:47
  • Release date: October 6, 2006 (sponsors); October 9, 2006 (public)

As Church argues with Simmons and Grif, a tapping noise begins to sound from the ship. Sheila abruptly leaves, forcing Church to retreat to the base.[1] Believing the tapping noise to be from Donut attempting to communicate from under the ship, the Reds attempt to figure out how to lift the ship.

Baby Steps

  • Length: 4:08
  • Release date: October 13, 2006 (sponsors); October 16, 2006 (public)

Church sees Doc to retrieve Vic's number and is introduced to Tucker's kid, Junior, whom Church immediately develops a disgust for. Church attempts to call Vic for reinforcements, but is stalled by an elaborate answering machine system - one that causes Church to threaten to destroy it. Sarge begins ranting about how the ship defeated him. Meanwhile, the back door of the ship opens, and an unseen entity emerges.

Sibling Arrivalries

  • Length: 4:50
  • Release date: October 27, 2006 (sponsors); October 30, 2006 (public)

Church finally discovers that Vic's voice mailbox is full. The Red reinforcement who emerged from the ship is revealed to be the Sister of Grif, who by Simmons' theory arrived using the ship's light drive, which caused her and the ship to move forward in time as it was traveling to Blood Gulch. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Donut fell into an underground cave (Waterworks in Halo 2) after the ship crashed on top of him.

The Grif Reaper

  • Length: 4:13
  • Release date: November 3, 2006 (sponsors); November 6, 2006 (public)

As Caboose attempts to see the new Red soldier using the sniper rifle, Church speculates as to what combat skills the reinforcement may have. Tucker wakes from his coma and joins them, immediately identifying the new soldier as a girl from hundreds of feet away. Sister explains to the Reds that, following the death of a Team Commander, Command has promoted a soldier to the position and sent her to fill the new low-level opening. Since Command seems to presume him dead, the Reds decide to hold an impromptu funeral for Sarge.

In Memoriam

  • Length: 4:16
  • Release date: November 17, 2006 (sponsors); November 20, 2006 (public)

The Red Team holds Sarge's funeral, each giving a separate eulogy. Grif makes jokes; Simmons announces his campaign for Red leader; and Sister goes on a tangent about death and age. Finally Sarge, disgruntled, is buried alive.

Strong Male Figure

  • Length: 4:15
  • Release date: November 25, 2006 (sponsors); November 27, 2006 (public)

Tucker is introduced to Junior. Meanwhile, Sister reveals that she was told the dead Commander died of an aspirin-overdose. It is explained she is colorblind, and the "Blue guys" were the ones that really sent her. Underground, Donut wakes up and finds two suits of Blue armor.

Yellow Fever

  • Length: 6:17
  • Release date: December 8, 2006 (sponsors); December 11, 2006 (public)

The Reds argue whether to keep Sister, before Grif secretly decides to rid the team of her before the still-buried Sarge discovers her Blue allegiance. Doc examines Sheila for her random behavior since abandoning Church in episode 79. Grif confronts the Blues and convinces them to take Sister. Simmons appears after trying to dig up Sarge, and proclaims him missing.

Brass Tacks

  • Length: 4:10
  • Release date: December 22, 2006 (sponsors); December 25, 2006 (public)

Church gives Sister an orientation, telling her that the only rule is not to kill the leader. While they are talking, Tex sneaks up on the blues. Meanwhile, Simmons explains that he discovered a large cavern under Sarge's grave.[2]

The Nesting Theory

  • Length: 4:21
  • Release date: January 5, 2007 (sponsors); January 8, 2007 (public)

Grif and Simmons decide to enter the cave. Meanwhile, Tex is firing at the Blues to try and deduce who is being possessed by O'Malley. Church is killed yet again, but quickly reclaims his body. Church starts to suspect that Sheila is possessed by O'Malley, causing her malfunction. Tex notices Sister and reacts jealously.

Spelunked

  • Length: 3:33
  • Release date: January 12, 2007 (sponsors); January 15, 2007 (public)

Soon after Sarge awakens underground, Donut discovers him. As Tex and Sister talk, Church and Tucker discuss having two girls at the base. Back in the cavern, Donut points out what he believes to be a subterranean Blue base, the two bodies he found earlier, and a vehicle resembling the "motorcycle" he stole from O'Malley. Simmons and Grif reestablish radio contact with Sarge, and decide to meet.

The Haystack

  • Length: 4:58
  • Release date: February 3, 2007 (sponsors); February 5, 2007 (public)

Simmons and Grif are shot with projectiles which resemble tranquilizers in effect while waiting for Sarge and Donut. The Blues decide to reboot Sheila.

Terms and Provisions

  • Length: 4:46
  • Release date: February 17, 2007 (sponsors); February 19, 2007 (public)

Doc decides to give Sister a physical. Donut and Sarge find a briefly unconscious Simmons who explains that his attackers have apparently taken Grif with them. At first reluctant, Sarge decides to go help find Grif after realizing his prized shotgun was taken too. Using a tracking device in Grif's armor, they discover he is about a tenth of a mile away and head to find him. The Blues decide Caboose will distract Sheila while Tex shuts her down.

Missed Direction

  • Length: 4:56
  • Release date: March 02, 2007 (sponsors); March 05, 2007 (public)

Tucker and Junior overhear Doc's inspection of Sister. Meanwhile, the Reds find Grif, who claims that he was questioned by his captors. As the Blues reboot Sheila, the tank shuts down just before revealing O'Malley's new host to Caboose.

Where Credit Is Due

  • Length: 5:15
  • Release date: March 16, 2007 (sponsors); March 19, 2007 (public)

The Blues decide to transfer Sheila's intelligence to the crashed ship's on-board computer. Grif recounts his interrogation, and how Andy was present and translating for his captors, who are looking for "the kid and the sword".

Biting the Hand

  • Length: 5:37
  • Release date: March 31, 2007 (sponsors); April 2, 2007 (public)

Tex recounts the events of Red vs. Blue: Out of Mind. When York's presence in the future is questioned, Tex comments that, as part of her division's AI implantation process, his armor's special healing ability might have kept him alive.[3] When it is revealed Wyoming teleported away from her before she could question him, Church remembers Gary's ability to create teleporters, and decides he must be Wyoming's AI, Gamma. Church is then called by Vic and told to attack the Reds via the caves. Meanwhile, the Red team discover a surveillance system watching over Blood Gulch in the cavern.

Tucker Knows Best

  • Length: 4' 13"
  • Release date: April 7, 2007 (sponsors); April 9, 2007 (public)

Church somewhat follows Vic's instructions by sending Doc, Sister and Junior through the caves while Church, Tex and Tucker attack the Red base head on. Tucker gives some unhelpful life advice to Junior before heading off.[4] Caboose stays at the base to ensure Sheila's transfer is not disrupted. Tucker finally gets the sniper rifle from Church, but accidentally shoots Tex. When Tucker returns the sniper rifle, Tex mistakes Church for shooting her.

Loading...

  • Length: 5:19
  • Release date: April 21, 2007 (sponsors); April 24, 2007 (public)

The Reds see the Blues advancing on their base on the surveillance system, prompting them to find their way out of the cavern to invade the deserted Blue base. Caboose asks Sheila, now uploaded into the ship, where O'Malley is, relaying Tex the answer. Tex then confronts Church, calling him "O'Malley." Doc and Sister head through the caves, where they find Lopez's still disembodied head.[5]

The Wrong Crowd

  • Length: 4:20
  • Release date: April 27, 2007 (sponsors); April 30, 2007 (public)

Sarge calls Command for reinforcements, and Simmons hears an echo and leaves to investigate. He traces Vic Jr.'s voice back to the surveillance monitors, and as Simmons' voice is heard, he quickly hangs up on Sarge; the Reds assume the equipment is interfering with their radio signals. Meanwhile, Caboose explains that Sheila said O'Malley was inside the "Blue Leader." Church protests that he was never officially promoted to that position, and is not O'Malley's host. In the caves, Doc, Sister and Junior are approached by a new Alien and his partner, a revived Captain Butch Flowers, now host to O'Malley.

Uncommunicado

  • Length: 6:56
  • Release date: May 12, 2007 (sponsors); May 14, 2007 (public)

The Blues at Red base are ambushed by Wyoming, and Church attempts to secretly call Caboose for help, but he fails to understand. The tank nevertheless leaves for the Red base, unmanned. The Reds find Andy in the caves, who explains that the New Alien revived Captain Flowers, and begins to explain why O'Malley and Wyoming want Junior before the Reds cut him off by leaving. Tex engages her camouflage to escape Wyoming, and the tank arrives, but is revealed to be controlled by Gary.[6]

Same Old, Same Old

  • Length: 5:50
  • Release date: May 26, 2007 (sponsors); May 28, 2007 (public)

Caboose deduces that he must leave Sheila to help his teammates at Red base. Meanwhile, Tucker finds out that Wyoming has the ability to loop time, having gained it from the AI implantation process, just like Tex's camouflage and York's regeneration. By rewinding events until he is victorious in battle, Wyoming is able to detect the invisible Tex before she attacks and kill Caboose. Tucker uses his knowledge of the loop to impale Wyoming with the sword, and save his teammates. When told of the loop, Church wonders if copies of Wyoming were made, as they were when he time-traveled, when the two come across multiple Wyomings.

Repent, The End is Near

  • Length: 6:45
  • Release date: June 9, 2007 (sponsors); June 11, 2007 (public)

Flowers/O'Malley and the New Alien are revealed to be holding Doc, Sister and Junior hostage at the underground surveillance system; Flowers mentions to Vic Jr. the plan to give Junior the sword in order to grant him unstoppable power, and that the New Alien is oblivious to their plan. Meanwhile, Church and Tucker manage to escape most of the Wyomings as the time loops continue, which Tucker states that he is aware of because of his possession of the sword, according to Wyoming. Gary is disabled after Tucker connects him to Sheila, and she traps the enemy AI behind a firewall, halting the time loops and the production of new Wyomings. After Grif says the Reds would win without glory, the Reds decide to enter the battle in the Warthog (complete with the classic Ranchera music), and take out all of the Wyomings but one. The plan is then revealed: Junior is to become the ruler of the alien race, and O'Malley plans to infect him to exploit their entire civilization in order to "win the war at any cost." Wyoming says that Tex will aid them now that she knows of the plan, and to Church's disbelief, she announces herself on an open radio channel, taunting O'Malley to "come and get her."

Why Were We Here?

  • Length: 17:22
  • Release date: June 28, 2007

Tex reasons that ruling the Aliens would win the war. Church, arguing O'Malley can't be trusted in a deal, begins broadcasting on an open channel to prevent O'Malley from jumping into Tex. As Tex kills the last remaining Wyoming, O'Malley accidentally infects Simmons. Tex knocks Simmons out, and follows O'Malley into Caboose's mind. Church approaches the Reds and warns them to disable the ship so that O'Malley can't escape, before entering Caboose as well.

Inside Caboose's mind, Church finds Tex and O'Malley negotiating their deal to rule the Aliens. He kills them both, causing them to leave Caboose's mind. After killing himself, Church emerges from Caboose's head to find that in the interim Tex has taken the sword, while Junior and the New Alien have boarded the ship.

O'Malley then infects Donut. Tex then knocks him out forcing O'Malley to jump to a different host. After jumping to multiple hosts, O'Malley jumps back into Tex and boards the ship to escape. However, Sarge has placed Andy on board, and gives the order to detonate. The ship disappears, followed soon by an explosion.[7]

The Blues retreat to their base. Some time later, the teams loosely echo each other's episode 1 dialog, before Sarge calls the Reds to name a new ATV he built.[8][9]

Alternate Endings

A key showing the varying links.
Alternative Ending 1 - Finch = Red
Alternative Ending 2 - Boxy = Green
Official Ending - Alarm = Blue

Originally three different endings were provided, linked separately from news and forum posts by Burnie Burns. The names were derived from the only three differences in the URLs between versions that are visible while the page loads. While three endings were released on the web, the names and four more endings were also included on the Season 5 DVD.

Alternate Ending 1 - Fight! Fight!

Sarge taunts a sad Church, provoking the Blues to shoot and kill him. Grif says that they're "equal" since they killed one of their guys but Simmons reminds them of Junior, who was also killed, which causes the Blues to kill Simmons. Grif declares 'Every man for himself', which results in the characters fighting against the opposing team i.e. the Reds against Blues and vice versa. Caboose kills Church while trying to give cover fire using the tank, which Grif destroys soon after, although Caboose gets out and runs away as the tank explodes in the background. Tucker and Sister start to have a relationship, but are interrupted by Sarge, who was revived by Doc, whom he kills moments later, but is killed again by Sister. Doc reveals himself not to be dead and asks someone to bring him his med kit, and is then shot by Tucker. Grif shoots Tucker in trying to protect Sister, who then kills Grif since she had feelings for Tucker. Donut gets in the Ghost and rams Sister over. The last two are Donut and Caboose. Donut charges toward Caboose with his Ghost. Caboose destroys it with a rocket launcher, killing Donut. Caboose then proclaims he is the winner, only to be crushed by the falling Ghost debris. Note that the phrase "Son of a bitch!" is uttered after every death.

Alternate Ending 2 - Insert Quarter

The Blues head back to their base. Sarge calls Vic, who refuses to help due to their ruining O'Malley's plan. Sarge becomes infuriated, and decides to go destroy the surveillance system; the Reds follow. As the system is damaged, Blood Gulch rumbles, and a stalactite falls on and severely injures Grif. An Engrish message appears on the system's screen, stating that they have "won" Red vs. Blue and should play the next game. Fake Red vs. Blue credits roll, with Japanese music, cast names[10] and video of Japanese actors reading Red vs. Blue lines. A postgame lobby for a Halo 2 match is seen with the main characters of the series, who decide to start a new game with the same teams on a "new map."

Alternate Ending 3 - Invasion

Sarge begins to taunt the Blue Team, but is killed by Aliens, who have brought an army of vehicles to invade and the two teams run away. A period of time passes and the Aliens now occupy Blood Gulch. Two Aliens begin to have a conversation on top of red base, using their language. They are unaware they are being spied upon by other Aliens on a cliff using the sniper rifle. These events mimic episode 1, and even the Aliens armor color mirrors the Spartan counterparts.[11]

Alternate Ending 4 - Ruby Slippers

Church watches the ship explode and cries out "Tex!". A water effect happens and Church wakes up at the end of episode 8 from being shot by Caboose. Church is surrounded by Blue Team (who also includes a green armored soldier named Jacobs who he forgot to include in his dream). When Simmons and Grif appear with guns drawn, Church comments that it's alright, that they are friends and they joined to fight a common enemy, but the two Reds, confused by Church's assurances, kill all four Blues and Simmons promptly radios in to tell Sarge that the sector is clear.[11]

Alternate Ending 5 - Tex Wins

Andy begins to count down, but he doesn't explode. The ship turns around and faces the two teams on the ground. Grif inquires about "it" (the ship) having weapons. A missile is launched, and Sarge states "Oh, Snap". Everyone is presumed to be killed.[11]

Alternate Ending 6 - Where are they now?

The video used is the same as the Fight! Fight! ending underlined with the Grunt music from Season 3. When each character dies there is a subtitled "where are they now" information about each character after Blood Gulch. This version parodies the ending of National Lampoon's Animal House.[11]

Sarge
"After his tour in Blood Gulch, Sarge was awarded the Medal of Redness, but had it revoked when he would not reveal his real name for the certificate. He commanded various red Forces over the following years and was eventually killed on the battlefield at Gemini 8. He died exactly the way he wanted: after Grif. "
Simmons
"Simmons stole Sarge's identity after his death and attempted to assume his life. He was discovered and court-martialed by the Red Army. He is currently awaiting execution in a military prison."
Grif
"Grif was killed by Sarge shortly before his death."
Church
"Church is an anger management social worker in Quincy, IL."
Tucker
"Tucker went AWOL from Blue Army slightly after the events of the Blood Gulch Chronicles. He was last spotted on a stolen ship, heading towards the alien home world. His current whereabouts are unknown."
Sister
"Sister works as an etiquette coach at the prestigious Paris Hilton School for Girls."
Donut
"Donut married an exotic dancer named Tiffany. They have twelve children."
Caboose
"Caboose sold his life story to a software company based in Redmond, WA. They based a popular video game on it."

Cast

Notes

  1. During this scene, Church mentions that it has been "like an hour" since Junior has been born.
  2. When Grif states that the canyon is getting dark as an excuse to go inside, Simmons meta-references the lifespan of Red vs. Blue by arguing that it hasn't gotten dark in 3 years. The first episode debuted 3 years previously, in 2003.
  3. A fourth member of Tex's division called Carolina is mentioned, who Tex confirms as dead.
  4. In this conversation, it is revealed that 3 days have passed since episode 78, as Doc states that Junior is 3 days old
  5. At one point in this episode, Church and Tucker have a dialog echoing the conversation atop Red Base between Grif and Simmons in episode 1.
  6. As the episode fades to black, Church questions why something dramatic takes place "every five minutes", in meta-reference to how the most recent episodes of Red vs. Blue have commonly ended with a cliffhanger.
  7. It is implied that if the ship was destroyed, it would have killed all aboard, as well as Gary, as he is isolated behind Sheila's firewall at the time.
  8. In actuality, the Mongoose vehicle from Halo 3.
  9. This is mentioned by Burnie Burns on the Season 5 DVD Commentary track to be the true canon ending for the series.
  10. Mirroring the cast from the film Battle Royale.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 This Alternate Ending is in the Alternate Endings section on the Season 5 DVD.

External links