Edgerunners: The Problem with being Gifted

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners came out and it's already one of the best things on Netflix. Because I can't stop talking, here's a video about my personal interpretation on Edgerunner's narrative and what I think it's core message is. I believe Edgerunners to be a story about David's struggle with being 'special' or 'gifted' and how it leads to his downfall by the end of the series. If you enjoyed this video, consider subscribing and watching my others which are basically in the same vein as this one. Also my socials.
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Tags/Keywords:
#edgerunners #cyberpunk2077 #videoessay #cyberpunk #cyberpunkedgerunners #anime #netflix #gifted #studiotrigger #cdprojektred #analysis #adamsmasher #david #lucy #rebecca #maine #introspective #special #message #meaning #gaming #videogames #essay
What was Cyberpunk: Edgerunners actually about? Ending Explained

[@mxkaylas]

Ok holy wowsers on a stick this is wild. My philosophy going into making this channel was to just create content, upload it and vibe with that, no need to care or worry about numbers and all that but the support and attention this video is getting is actually mindboggling. If you're here and reading this whether you enjoyed the video or not, thanks a bunch for even clicking on it. This is like my first month of making videos and to think that so many people have already clicked that funny red button is insane. I am obligated to say that this kind of content isn't the only thing I plan to make eith this channel so if you came here for stuff like the Firewatch and this video and ONLY that then feel free to leave, I don't mind lmao. I am working on another video right now that is a far cry (it isn't farcry) from this one so just a warning for people since this video has a lot of eyes on it now. (Of course more videos like this are also in the works) I am blabbering way too much but as genuine as I can be on a KZbin comment, I am flabbergasted 💀💀💀 by this silly little video's reception. So only if you're willing to stick around and bearing with me through this wild journey on this heckhole platform would I recommend hitting that subscribe button since I don't really know what I'm doing. (I hope this little message made sense, I'm really tired right now but this is crazy and I'd feel bad not acknowledging it :) )

[@mxkalive]

Oml do you ever shut up 😭😭😭

[@piotrkrystochowicz8307]

Dude, no worries. The video is great, very insightful, and you managed to share your point of view in a extremely easy to consume way. SO you really deserve a like and a sub, because now no matter what you make I'm looking forward to it. Much love, and keep up the good work bud ;)

[@zeon4426]

Yeah I’ve seen your other videos the attention of this video must have surprised you seeing as you typed so much just to clear things up

[@coolcolegaming555]

Hey if youre looking for a series on Netflix that gives you the same feeling as this show watch Devilman Crybaby. I can’t recommend that show enough. Great video by the way. Keep up the great work.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Great video analysis!

[@runbaa9285]

I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with David's way of life of helping others. It's just that Night City destroys heroic types like that. A bit of a spoilers, but in the Cyberpunk 2077 game, there is one ending you could achieve that is considered the game's definitive "happy ending". You can choose to leave Night City behind with your loved ones, to choose to do what David could not: get out before it's too late.

[@JinKsed17]

It's a bittersweet ending, not exactly happy. V gets out, but it's already too late since he's still dying.

[@marksimon2085]

Ironically the Star ending makes you sacrifice the most amount of allies you have as Johnny already points out that the Nomads aren't really built for raids like these. And only half your love interests agree to leave the City with you.

[@nkznkz3800]

Davids way of life is definitely wrong. No one should glorify him as a Hero, nor is he a Hero. He gets depicted as one by virtue of being the Protagonist/Main Character, but his personality is the opposite of heroic already around Episode 8 of the Series. The Problem is that the show hides, or atleast doesn't focus extensively on the ugly reality of everything that transpires in order to focus on the bittersweet love story between David and Lucy, and the fact that in Order for this Romance to happen, they both had to agree to get involved in a Relationship that was doomed from the beginning. It's brutal because you see both of their 'vulnerable teenage' natures in the series, and it gives you a sense that neither of them ever deserved any of it. However, objectively speaking, if you take a somber outside perspective on it all, David is a psychotic, innocent-murdering Drug addict come Episode 8. Whatever 'Heroism' motivated him originally, was entirely undone by the fact that he's also a classical Junkie. He keeps taking more and more to improve his performance, ignoring every warning his mind, body, mentors, loved ones and even his Ripperdoc give him. Not because he's a 'Hero', but because he's a scared teenager at heart that's so afraid of loosing anybody else that he loves that he'd rather self-destruct in his pursuit of protecting people in a Profession where death is guaranteed, instead to realize he's hit his 'limit' in his Edgerunner career and it's time for him to retire or atleast slow down. That, if anything, would've been the 'heroic' choice. Live to fight another day, take Lucy and go underground/into hiding until he's well again. David is also fully aware that he's not a Hero anymore. He's become the same type of pest through his arrogance and cyberpsychosis that ended up killing his own mother. He even turned some young Boy, very much alike him, into an Orphan by being that random Cyberpsycho that had an episode and killed an 'innocent' Mother. That's why Lucy panics so harshly when he offers her to leave in the hopes of a better/more deserving future. Whatever Future those two had was doomed because even if they retired, Lucy probably would have had to live with a semi-psychotic, self-destructive and haunted Man that would have to live with the realities of what he's done. He's completely desensitized to Murder, he's lost count of how many people he's killed, and slowly the realization kicks in for him that he's hard-locked on a path to self destruction. It's also why she begs him to wait for her at home, because she probably hoped that once she wrapped up the Netrunners in Arasaka, she could finally explain herself and invest all her time and might into saving whatever was left of the optimistic boy she fell in love with. But since Life generally doesn't give a shit about such childish and cute motivations, what ends up happening is that they run out of time. She gets abducted, and David is literally forced to push himself past the breaking point into a literal suicide run he knows for a fact will be the end of him. He 'is' already in Cyberpsychosis. He's already killed innocent people. Doubling down means hard-locking the condition into place. And he doesn't just double down, he ends up upgrading his cybernetics 'even' further (again, the addict taking yet an even harder shot/path) to enter the Mech Suit as it is literally the only option left for him to have a fighting chance of atleast saving Lucy, and having his inevitable Death stand for atleast 'something'. The Psychosis is going no where, and within days he would have lost himself anyway, being nothing but a former shell of himself prone to ridiculously violent outbursts. Moreso, it's an inevitable fate because the drugs he requires are military grade and therefore not really cheap, so he has to keep doing jobs to afford the medication that keeps him sane. However, doing more jobs is guaranteed to turn him insane anyway now, so there's no slowing down until he burns out. For David to recover the entire crew would have to start grinding out Eddies just to finance his recovery. Ultimately, even David realizes and admits to not being a Hero. In their last moments together as he escapes with her from the Tower, on their drop from the sky, he literally tells her that he's 'not worth it', and that she still has a dream to live for. The implication here is that he has nothing left to live for that's worth protecting or extending his life over except making sure she stays alive and that she has a fighting chance for her own future, not even a future where they both are 'together'. Ofcourse Lucy ends up devastated over it, saying how she never wanted any of it to transpire because in the end, she wanted nothing more then to see a future together with David, which sadly was nothing but wishful thinking and illusions they never had in the first place. If anything, David is a harsh cautionary tale that you shouldn't push yourself to do monstrous things or try to become superhuman out of fear or wishing to protect others. This type of Martyrdom just leads to self-destruction and misery for all involved. And on an overarching level, David and Lucy are a cautionary tale that if you don't want young people in the future to have to make such ugly decisions (and we're already there with the amount of teenage boys abusing performance enhancing drugs to compete in a market that otherwise chews them out like useless garbage), that we better do everything that is in our power today to prevent our future from spiraling out of control until we literally hit the equivalent, if not worse, of said dystopian future, so that future young lovers who find an affection like theirs aren't doomed to get chewed up by the System because it's run by greedy cunts that value nothing about life beyond the monetary bottom line and the power it provides them.

[@InvictusByz]

@@nkznkz3800 This is ignoring what the alternative is. Life under 'Saka. A life the very beginning does a LOT to set up doesn't want him and will not accept him. He has nowhere else to go, and even though there is temptation and hardship he ultimately lives and dies as that same optimistic kid. Your idea that Lucy and David could never be happy because he's a killer utterly ignores Lucy's own baggage, and particularly experience with that type of desensitization, as well as the global state of violence in the 2077 world. He lived in a shit world that wanted to break him into shape or crush him down, and he refused to accept either, at great personal cost. What you seem to ignore, is even with the Cyberpsychosis, even with his metal and his meat fighting to own his body, that's still the path that left the most of him intact. Its still the path that let him be him for as long as possible. None of what you've said detracts from David's heroism, frankly it just speaks to the reality that heroes aren't perfect. Heroism isn't a pure trait. Its a deeply self destructive one that happens to work out well in the end *sometimes.*

[@nkznkz3800]

​@@InvictusByz The reason David and Lucy could never be happy is 'because' of Lucys baggage. She's Arasaka property and fated to be eventually discovered and either die, or be returned under the control/hold of Arasaka. That's why she references Night City to be her Prison and why she's afraid and reluctant to begin a Relationship with David knowing that it's almost like condemning him to eventually have to face Arasaka aswell. Because she definitely will have to, and it will definitely be a suicide-run type of scenario. However, since David makes it clear he's dead-set on becoming an Edgerunner of his own Volition, and is willing to accept the 'risk' of this life, she finally relents and they begin their romance. He has chosen the live fast, die young path of his own free will. Either way, Shit world or not, you're not a Hero or heroic if you're psychotic and create orphans by killing their mothers. Once you've done that, that ship sails completely. It's, again, naive teenage fantasies to believe you get to 'Sin' on that degree 'sometimes' and still be considered a 'Hero' for your lapse in literal Humanity. If anything that's the reasoning of cuntbag mercenaries that like to 'pretend' to be heroes because they can't compute that them killing innocents for money makes them despicable, worthless human beings. That's also why your characterization of David at the end of the series is strictly wrong. David 'used' to be a heroic kid, until he wasn't. And Again, he knows it, he admits it, it's one of the prime motivations as to why he goes on the suicide run and has no problems throwing his life away for Lucy. He is, by his own admittance 'not worth it', because he knows what he's done and there's no coming back from it. The moment you use the terrible circumstances you're born into as an excuse for murdering mothers and creating orphans you're not a hero, you're part of the Night-City problem and all the Motivations that make people be monstrous assholes to eachother rather then civilized Human beings. This also throws a wrench in the Idea that the path David chose is the only one that kept the most of 'him' alive. Because by that margin you would imply that at the core of Davids being, he was fated to kill innocent Mothers for his own financial gain. I would argue that Davids 'core' is rather an emotionally pure one and used to be heroic, it's just that his arrogance and self-delusion eventually broke that. Night City, in essence, broke it, and turned him into someone that doesn't qualify as such anymore. Again, Responsibility for such acts isn't something you can just brush off as an 'one time oopsie' and still consider yourself to be a morally just hero. Especially not if you actively ignored the warning signs that you where becoming a danger to your environment and whatever 'innocent' humans remain in night city. It would have been one thing if the Cyberpsychosis just suddenly sprung on him out of nowhere. But it didn't. He actively ignored it, supressed it, and therefore actively chose the risk of turning 'psycho' against his better judgement because he bought into the lie that he's 'built different'. Turns out, he wasn't. He just had a higher tolerance, which is something Lucy references precisely. Being reckless was never a trait of a real Hero. He might be Lucys personal Hero for all the things he was willing to do and sacrifice for her, but he definitely is not a Hero in regards to Night City or his community at large.

[@onesmileybaldy8303]

Saddest thing for me is how he fulfilled Lucy’s dream but not really. As soon as she feel for him it wasn’t about going to the moon anymore,it was about going to the moon with HIM. Because of that she can’t even enjoy it,the last scene with her forcing herself to smile is heartbreaking because it’s basically her forcing herself to at least try enjoy what David sacrificed his life for,because if she doesn’t then what was the point of it all…?

[@GaminexPro]

Some of her choices lead to what happened; She was too selfish in secretly protecting him that she overlooked his own needs and let some problems worsen while also opening herself up for capture, and OF COURSE he would be just as careless/suicidal with regard to his own life in trying to avenge/protect her just as she had been. With the way she handled things, there was no way things could end without one or the other dying. In the end though, not only did he save her, he helped her escape it all. That's why I don't see it as sad as you. (Big ass blob o' text below, sorry if ya' tl;dr) Lucy will ultimately be fine. The Moon isn't just a dream, it's ultimately escape and freedom for her. Sure she wanted David to live, but he was sure as hell not going to go on living without her either. She'll miss David and have hella survivor's guilt, difficulty forming new bonds, and have loads of regrets about how coming forward and being honest with David might have changed things for the better. However in spite of all that, her memories of David will not die, and Night City will remember him as a Legend even beyond her lifetime. Though she couldn't live with him anymore he still afforded her true freedom from Arasaka and Night City at last. On the last three scenes of the series, as she remembers him at his happiest and embraces the warmth of the sun with a smile like he did, I sincerely believed she was thankful and began the first steps to a new life and healing upon that Moon Colony (Which does exist btw, since 2077 explicitly states that people are gradually moving there).

[@onesmileybaldy8303]

@@GaminexPro I agree,her salvation was achieved but the thing is that her dream is tainted with a sad and lonely version of what she thought it would be. She will eventually bounce back but even then is a coin toss if she’ll make new connections because we already know she is not a people’s person and the only reason she opened up to David is because their chemistry is that great. Some people have a theory that she removes her helmet after accepting the warmth of the sun but I don’t like that. It would render David’s sacrifice meaningless and would also be pretty cheap. I like the interpretation that she will try to restart life way more.

[@verozety4040]

@@onesmileybaldy8303 that’s what’s great about ambiguous endings like this everyone can interpret them differently. My thought when I saw the ending was also that she would take of the helmet.

[@muhsetio]

Huhu you make it even more sad for me now *cry*

[@matrixlone]

@@onesmileybaldy8303 I don't think it was tainted at all her dream became David's dream too. She's there for the both of them.

[@mee7er]

I thought David’s tragedy came from the fact that he never really understood why people had such high expectations him. Both his mother and Maine had unfulfilled dreams for him that they thought were best for him. In the end they were all unrealistic and unattainable. He lost sight of the trees for the forest. Then ironically became an unattainable dream for somebody else.

[@maqywhaq]

Nature of Night City mate... Everyone's lives is an obsession to go out a legend(the idea that living means you're waiting for the next big name to overtake you, if not take you out in the process of making their own name, or that if you live too long, you lose your edge). The city, the philosophy doesn't allow for peace and happiness.

[@thelamb9961]

You read Forgetting by Scott Small didn’t you

[@moahammad1mohammad]

They all wanted him to live. To survive. But Lucy, Maine and his mom all dragged him into the doomed fate he was set up for.

[@PropheticShadeZ]

@@moahammad1mohammad i would argue the corperations and the powerful are ultimately at fault, david was systematically disadvantaged and pushed towards violence by every force possible, the people funding his drug/cybernetic addiction were corps, the people who set up a system that defied every attempt at upward mobility then dehumanises those who fail. the city pushes everyone into these choices and the culture of night city pushes those that rise up into early graves. The symbol of corp power and greed were his ultimate downfall, their games and enforcers killed every friend he had other than lucy and gave him every tool he needed to self destruct then pushed him as hard as they could to use them.

[@gelinrefira]

@@PropheticShadeZ Sounds like America.

[@cosmicdubs8155]

I like how David kept his word til the end, he never went full Psycho.

[@maqywhaq]

You could make the argument that Maine was on the edge of full cyberpsycho, but he was definitely dipping into cyberpsychosis(and clearly was not in control). David was experiencing the same thing, making the same mistakes, it's just that it took more to take him there.

[@WillyJL]

Exactly, he was always on the edge of psychosis but he stopped in time and died while fully conscious of his situation

[@evanclark311]

Not to be a jerk, but he also promised not to die... so... he didn't fully keep his word

[@WillyJL]

@@evanclark311 tried his best to tho

[@TheRealPhaeism]

@@evanclark311 LOL

[@zotaninoron3548]

After the event with Tanaka and Maine's death, Lucy and David had somewhat competing aims. They were both trying to save each other. David trying to get Lucy out of Night City and to the Moon, and Lucy trying to purge all information that could lead Arasaka to David. They were trapped by Night City and the circumstances they were in. And Lucy getting caught put them all on an unalterable trajectory where it was only by David's 'specialness' that anyone got out alive. David accomplished his dream, saving Lucy. And that meant Lucy couldn't accomplish hers, to save David.

[@TheWhiteCompany-oj1yy]

Nice observation

[@danielbraman5562]

What a good summary!

[@maqywhaq]

Both did what they though would be best for the other and that neither would understand that sentiment. Both failed the other by trying to fulfill what they thought they wanted(Lucy wanting to go to the moon, David wanting to be free to follow his own dream/destiny instead of another's preordained idea. They needed to open up to each other instead of assuming they could shoulder each other's problems without actually communicating. Without his bond to Lucy, David felt isolated and lapsed hard back into trying to fulfil everyone else's dreams, while Lucy's attempt to free David from Arasaka's machinations brought him to a demise of his own making.

[@meljXD2]

It was a black hole.

[@faizfrez2729]

Both fucking problems can be solved if they communicate better and tell what's actually is wrong😭

[@yenfong2564]

His arrogance vanished after seeing maine turned in front of him. So as he starts to be humble and tried to accomplish the dreams of those he cared for, his mother's dream of him being at the top of arasaka, maine's dream to be the best cyberpunk and Lucy's dream to go to the moon. He never had a dream for himself except to fulfil the dreams of those he love and cared for. Even at the last point, he wanted to keep his promise to lucy by bringing her to the moon which he couldn't but at least he knew he tried his fullest and ended with a blast. Lucy also tried to fulfill his promise of bring her to the moon by tieing up loose ends of arasaka to save david before getting caught. And that is what makes this series so special. Every character put their loved ones before themselves and that is what families are for.

[@DarthPingu07]

I never saw him as arrogant. He was constantly improving. Lucy called him a chopstick so he hit the gym. Rebecca taught him how to shoot. Maine taught him what it meant to lead. They taught him everything and he dedicated his life to them. I think after the skip he was confident in his abilities but even then he wasn't outrageously flashy, he did what he had to.

[@sandevastated1]

I don't see David as arrogant, more naive. An example is pre-time skip when he expected guns wouldn't be required as a merc, let alone fire arms training until his first cyberpsycho encounter.

[@vixiestarfire]

I think that’s why he was able to smile at the end of it all because he knew he could keep his promise to her through his sacrifice, knew she was going to be able to go to the moon so he embraced death because all his wishes did come true in the end

[@yenfong2564]

@@sandevastated1 I think he knew what he signed up for, its just that he had ptsd of seeing her mother died in a crossfire right in front of him, which made him hesitate using firearms before the cyberpsycho encounter.

[@crypto66]

I didn't know Edgerunners was a Fast and Furious anime.

[@redknight4805]

Well, in my opinion David stopped caring about what happens to him after his mother's death, but he couldn't stop caring about the people he loves. That combination of being broken and capable of love is what made him so special and why he was able to endure the side-effects of cyberware better than anyone else. The tragic thing is, Lucy wanted to leave Night City because she saw the city corrupt and kill people she cared about before. David too realizes this in the scene where he kills the mother of a boy who was similar to him in the lab. The city corrupted him and now he was responsible for doing to some innocent boy exactly what someone else did to him. So, David realized at that moment how Lucy could never be truly happy or safe around him (cyberpsychosis already taking over his mind) and so he decided to go all in - regardless of the consequences for his own well-being. He would save her with what little time he had left and he was ready to pay for it with his life! This isn't a story about mad pursuit for power and success. It is a story about saving your own humanity through an act of sacrifice for those you love - even when tainted by the hardships of life and when put up against all odds.

[@eve_______]

Nice redemption interpretation, but idk David seems too not-sane as it happens with some people (ex gangsters is one example)

[@zaneengel2285]

This was a great interpretation

[@otakuwithoutideas1473]

Glad to see people who didn't play the game loving Edgerunners as well! As someone who's played 2077, I'm glad to see the Greek Tragedy-esque moments are shown even more in the anime

[@ZuperLavazzz]

What is Greek tragedy-usque?

[@Dekross]

I never got interest in Cyberpunk 2077 but yeah I saw Edgerunners and loved it

[@Nobody-Cool]

Yes

[@sadfbiman5515]

Made me buy the game already spent 2 days and 24hours in it

[@copyshark2093]

I mean the main character is just built different

[@uh4875]

I agree with everything in this video. Too many people saying that David died with no regrets just because he had a smile when he died. Bro. David could’ve lived a better life if he just sat down and talked with his friends about it and genuinely listened.

[@TheSkaOreo]

But what life would that have been? What friends? The tragedy of Edgerunners was that his life was determined from the get-go. He didn't have the sort of meaningful support system that might have allowed him to consider his options because he didn't know he had them in the first place.

[@benfromthesewers1688]

@@TheSkaOreo man was doomed to become cyberpsycho. As he distanced himself from others. That hes not like other. Stress, upgrades, loss of friends.. The only thing that kept him on water was Lucy and few left friends. Stress, Lose empathy, humanity, and you end up cyberpsycho.

[@salvadortoscano2534]

The same can be said for many people in our own real world, but you still see so many people not do what you suggest. It seems easy, from an outsider's perspective. We don't know what's going on inside anyone's head but our own. We can't fully understand *why* someone won't do the "best" thing or the "correct" thing or the "most optimal" thing. I feel like a show and genre like Cyberpunk exemplifies that: we know David's turning into a cyberpsycho, but we also know that he's not going to stop, because he feels like he can't, out of a duty and desire to protect everyone he loves and make their dreams come true. Even if he did lay off the chrome, even if he tried to establish better communication with Lucy or Becca or Kiwi, would the result have been the same? We can't know, but we do know such a path wouldn't really "fit" in the world of Cyberpunk. Everyone in that world already knows they're fucked in countless ways from several places. They have to live in that environment and make the best of it. David tried being a hero, and Night City and Arasaka quickly stopped that. One way or another, Night City will *always* win, even if you leave it. I wish we could've gotten a happier ending as I am a romantic at heart, but I also know that such an ending wouldn't fit with the world of Cyberpunk. That's not the way that genre writes stories. The ending was perfect for the genre, even if personally I wanted the characters to get their happily ever after. The fact of the matter is simply that Night City isn't the place for anything like that.

[@TypeVertigo]

@@TheSkaOreo Rebecca was the one true friend he had within the crew, Lucy excepted. She represents the human element within the team (gunhappy tendencies aside) that still yearns to trust and connect with others, and she kept pleading with David against following Maine's implant obsession until the end. Most folks see Lucy's loss, but Rebecca's is arguably just as huge.

[@benfromthesewers1688]

@@salvadortoscano2534 ofc cyberpsychosis is complicated but what I've stated ar main reasons. Even with all of these checked you don't have to become cyberpsycho. This also makes Adam Smasher . He also denounced flesh and absolutely loves destruction and carange. Adam see's himself as alpha predator too and evreything below him is weak flesh. This is more of theory but if he downgraded he would feel reverse-cyberpsychosis (if thats.. even possible to downgrade..)

[@rainmanslim4611]

The thing is, David was gifted, but smasher was a prodigy. Just goes to show, there's always someone out there who's better than you, and the stress of trying to be the best breaks so many people.

[@TheTyrek99]

I don’t think that was the main difference. David was a boy while Smasher was a man. Each implant Smasher added was carefully added while David did too much too fast and it cost him the fight with Smasher because his body couldn’t handle it at all. While with Smasher his implants were put in over the course of decades in addition to the fact that he’s more machine than man.

[@MultiCommissar]

But it's not like Smasher was living a happy, fulfilled life. He tore off everything that made him Human except for sadism and thrill seeking.

[@RallasterAsuremen]

That's bullshit, calling you out right now! Adam, Morgan, Johnny. None of these guys are "Gifted" they all worked their asses off to get to were they are today (well Johnny's Dead today, but point still stands) they weren't "Special" or "Better" these Legendary folks had to work HARD and SMART to survive the Corporate Wars and Mean Streets of Night City. No "Free Rides". No "Plot Armor" No "Chosen One Status" Just a bunch of dudes that "made it" by surviving the day-to-day and learning hard lessons all the while. Adam Smasher isn't a prodigy and David was NEVER special. ...and THAT was point they show was making: Your NOT special. No one is. Your just Alive Or Dead

[@mommaduck79]

@@RallasterAsuremen THANK YOU! Honestly, the show was just tragic for no real reason. It all felt kind of pointless, meaningless, and senseless by the end. David and Lucy’s story was nothing unique and there was no new lesson to be learnt that could not be observed from any other typical cyberpunk. It was just a bland and blunt story of some dude pushing it too far for no real reason. David felt some weird compulsion to become Maine 2.0 with almost no motive behind it. And Lucy and David’s relationship felt extremely shallow due to their lack of communication. The first 5 episodes were a very strong setup that I would consider a 9.5/10 - and then it just all goes downhill from there imo. David started to get early symptoms of cyberpsychosis and then starts aimlessly running full speed towards his own grave, accidentally putting Lucy at greater risk (as she became more and more desperate to save him). There’s literally nothing unique or mildly interesting about that in a world like Cyberpunk. Just 2 people making the same mistakes as everyone else around them. I felt super disappointed and empty by the end ngl.

[@King-yv6fw]

@@RallasterAsuremen i mean Adam is special. He is the only known person who seems to be completely immune to cyberpsychosis. As much as you want to push the narrative that none of them are special, the evidence counters it. They can do things that 99% of people can't do. For godsake Adam smasher has more firepower then a small army stuck into his body. He survived being blown to bits and put back together in a robot body. All without losing his mind. Morgan blackhand is just a legend and Johnny nuked a building. They are special. Now being special doesn't make them invincible or undefeatable, but it does give them a huge advantage.

[@vj7248]

Totally agree with your analysis. David's pursuit of becoming a Night City legend cus he thinks he's 'built different'..... And how that is ultimately his downfall... It's all too real. It's a bit ironic too cus in any other anime David would be correct. He woulda been the chosen one that saves the world. But in reality no one can be that. David shoulda went with 'friends we made a long the way' path, but instead chose 'night city legend'.... And he's happy with his choice but, IRL I'm choosing friends over 'legend status'.

[@2d-kun158]

And one day those will stab u for money or for who they love

[@icendire]

It's not just him though - Maine also had this mindset of creating a legend above absolutely everything. Night City being a city of dreams tends to attract the biggest dreamers...

[@NinjapowerMS]

Wouldn't have work anyway. His crew was on its way to its destruction regardless of David not pursuing his end goal. His crew was bound to rot someday, that's NC. If you don't die today perhaps tomorrow.

[@fva1835]

V : Guess I meant, I dunno... a happier ending... for everyone involved. Johnny Silverhand : Here, for folks like us? Wrong city, wrong people.

[@glass7923]

Have you noticed how intro shows David getting killed by the city itself? Pretty sure that's a reference to how people in cyberpunk universe treated Night City as if it was a living entity... and it would kill you one way or another. Something like that. It's also amazing to see Edgerunners dive deep into the lore and portray things properly, telling you how everyone in NC will backstab you on their way to the top, showing cyberpsychosis on more personal level (I still didn't get over Maine) and giving Adam Smasher the portrayal he deserves (I especially liked the way he had his hand on pulse and used Sandevistan to shield that Arasaka sec guy from Cyber Skeleton). This shit has so many layers and does so many things right, it's ridiculous.

[@whyamihereagain.a]

I thought it was Faraday who shot him in the intro, but i like your explanation better.

[@MultiCommissar]

True. While everyone is acting on their own best self interests, Night City itself is an everpresent malignant presence.

[@glass7923]

@@whyamihereagain.a I can see how it could look like Faraday, but the head is so square the figure could as well be mistaken for a clothed skyscraper. What really made me think it represents Night City is that when you look at the flashing images inside it, it's filled with buildings as opposed to David who was filled with his memories all the time. Not to mention it wouldn't make sense for a side-ish character to be shown shooting main protag even though he was killed by Adam Smasher.

[@whyamihereagain.a]

@@glass7923 I didn't realize until you mention it. Another thing that makes me think it was Faraday was because in a way he is a major character that drives the plot, one of David's mistake was accepting Faraday's mission, which also one of the reason of Maine's gang downfall, so in a way Faraday 'killed' David. But after i rewatch the intro again, you're right. The man does look boxier than Faradays' silhouette, and the flashing images of buildings too. Thanks for your answers, i love it. It makes me wanna rewatch Edgerunners again.

[@Edujs23]

Another is the lyrics of the intro cut the "This fire is out of Control and it is gonna burn this city" David's fire will burn, but not the city, the city will still stand even with all his fire

[@Loskyplays]

As someone who has heard constantly that they are above the average, that they have potential and that they're wise beyond their years, it really does take a toll on one's mind, to feel like you MUST realize your full potential, that you MUST achieve every single goal, and that you MUST do your very best at every given moment. However, just doing enough to be happy with yourself is what truly matters. I can understand how David felt the way he did and why, and maybe that's why I wish that he hadn't ended like that, that he had seen that everything he had to do was to get off the implants, there's still that whole Arasaka bit with Lucy so they'd probably still be chased, but they could live nonetheless. However, that's the thing with Cyberpunk and with Night City. The only way to win the game is to not play it. And once you start running, you can never stop. To him, it was more important to live his life to its fullest and go out with a bang than to live it well throughout many years. The candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long.

[@StarboyXL9]

Never tell someone who is gifted that they are. They will try to tempt you to do so by talking down about themselves. Don't fall for it. Never tell them.

[@bananasean5145]

Anyone else trying to fill the hole this show left by constantly consuming videos talking about it? Also I recognize the Night in the Woods ost. You earned a sub.

[@mxkaylas]

Ay thanks! Glad you recognised it, thinking about covering Night in the Woods on this channel at some point.

[@bananasean5145]

@@mxkaylas you should! Night in the Woods is as Fall as pumpkin spice and Halloween! I just need the weather to get cooler and I'll be replaying it for the 5th time.

[@christophbeck1305]

Here. no matter if its memes or a video like this. I even went back to cyberpunk 2077 and I though I woud Not do that until Phantom Liberty comes out. But I want to blast smasher to pices and my Gohstrunner buld save is fucked like all others thst are pre 1.6 So I did Not imagin that. it is the Night In the Woods ost.

[@devlinrucker4135]

@@christophbeck1305 If you go back and replay get beccas gun and avenger her. And wear david's jacket to avenge him

[@heftymagic4814]

Alas, post anime depression

[@PKDeviluke25]

One of the best scenes in the show is when Adam Smasher just dismantles David by just physically beating him up, it shows what a living Night City legend can do. In the end even Adam Smasher shows David some respect and suggests that he could become a construct as he did not want someone like David to completely disappear from the world which David ultimately refuses, if Smasher truly did not care and did not respect him he would do what he did to Johnny Silver Hand and hand him over to Arasaka for experimentation. David's downfall was his obsession of achieving the dream of others and the means he took to achieve said dreams. Lucy mistake was not being more open to David and explain to him what she saw when she was connected to Tanaka instead of trying to solve the problem herself which is what got Arasaka counter intelligence to fixate on them and David to feel distant from her and fall deeper into his psychosis. Episode 6 is the turning point of the series and it is a masterpiece of an episode in media in general.

[@ArrsJoraq]

Agree

[@kevintan3705]

I really connected with this anime. Living other’s dreams and living with others’ sacrifices… It’s a subject I’d imagine many of us experience in our daily lives. When you take this road, it really feels like there’s no going back. Not after someone dear to you has sacrificed so much. Like Lucy taking in the sunlight, or David choosing to take the Sandevistan, you can’t give up because you’d be wasting everything they gave you.

[@Rideze]

i completely agree that if david just wasn't trying to accomplish what others wanted and instead lived his own way he could have at least lived a somewhat happier life but It's also great to see edgerunners giving cyberpunk 2077 a second chance because aside from it's horrible launch it is actually in a much more playable state and is great for people that want more of the cyberpunk world and it's stories

[@jburgos961]

I'm getting back into the game again. Deleted my old save and started over. 100% much better than at launch. Hopefully the game pushes more people back into the game. It's not perfect but it's good.

[@Nyyte]

Shut up about the launch. Games aren't defined by their launch. Also, the game was pretty good at launch granted, it wasnt perfect. You're just regurgitating the bullshit you watch on social media.

[@Nyyte]

Have your own opinion for once

[@curie1420]

@@Nyyte i dont know about you but cyberpunk was legit trash when it launched and if you actually bought the pre order you would be pissed that it would delete your os....... i had people i know had their os reinstalled because of a game so you would be rightfully pissed, i dont care about what others say but the game is legit trash optimization wise and nobody would want their hardware to die again so yes first impressions matter but if they improve it then good..... but im not buying that thing again its 7years of garbage

[@1avihcrA]

@@curie1420 you do you my guy. Everyone else tho? Give cp2077 a second chance its way better than what its used to be. Played the game on launch, had some bugs but that doesnt take away the great game that cp2077 is. Never has a video game city been more alive than night city.

[@eyesoffate187]

Love to see so much positive feedback on the show. One of the greatest moments imo was the symbolism is Maine's hallucinations, the end of the desert road, and David running right on past the end, representing the normal limit.

[@mxkaylas]

Loved the desert road scenes, the confusion to gradual understanding that this was quite literally the end for Maine was heartbreaking.

[@ElBandito]

David was trying too hard to live a life that others wanted for him--and died cause of it. Tanaka while kidnapped asked David a profound question: "What do YOU want?", which might have saved David's life, if he had been given time to seriously ponder about it.

[@chris-jreid5717]

What really matters most is not reaching the life you're ment to have but living the life you were given.. that hit me hard

[@eyesoffate187]

There are just too many ways you can read into this story. There's a story to reach everyone's heart.

[@mxkaylas]

The best kinds of stories are the ones that everyone can interpret differently :)

[@neauthraxyeet3307]

"Would you rather live in peace as Mr. Nobody... or go down for all times in a blaze of glory?" Thats all edgerunner can think of when they want to be in the major league

[@jackmack4181]

To quote a funny song “When your untouchable, you’re unable to touch”

[@mxkaylas]

DUDE I used to love the living tombstone and that song specifically

[@KiazaKadaj]

You can totally see the tonal shift when David gets ripped as an adult for the first time, the ripper doc basically telling him he’s going to go crazy and david turns and says “yes I am special”. Sets up the ending perfectly.

[@awesomedudeplayz3950]

This reminds me of the guy who graduated with a phd at a young age and got hired by nasa but no one ever asked him what he wanted to do so eventually he quit one of the smartest people ever and became a teacher . People say it’s wasted potential but he’s just living his best life. I feel so bad for Lucy

[@jeff3221]

to be completely fair, even if David had been reserved with his cyber implants, the situation he was put in when Kiwi betrayed the crew required him to dawn the Cyber Skeleton. He was always destined to go Cyber Psycho

[@MultiCommissar]

I don't think that Kiwi would have chosen to betray them if David's head hadn't gotten too big for his own good.

[@jeff3221]

@@MultiCommissar Maybe I missed something but David was staying in his lane vs Faraday who was aggressively trying to climb the corporate ladder. If anyone was getting too big for their britches it was Faraday. Kiwi's betrayal didn't really seem to make much sense, even to her. It's like she felt compelled to betray before she herself could be betrayed idk

[@gideonark5542]

@@jeff3221 David wouldn't have been making deals with Fairday that early if he had calmed things down imo, leaving him and lucy out of immediate harms way. It would have given enough time for Lucy to wipe his back clean before characters like Kiwi would have had the chance to make their own deals.

[@treacherousjslither6920]

Nah I disagree. Militech wanted the exosuit. The crew should have simply done their best to escape and leave the suit there. Donning the suit is suicide and only a fool would do it.

[@TheSkaOreo]

David was doomed the moment he put on the Cyber Skeleton. He only had two choices:either become a lab rat and be forced into Cyberpsychosis or keep modifying his body and eventually dip into cyberpsychosis. The end result would have remained the same> Even if he chose not to put on the skeleton, more likely than not David would have dropped out of school, and probably join a gang and get killed anyways. There's no happy ending. Which is the point.

[@timmyboi6087]

This anime is amazing and David's story really connects with me and makes me emphatize with him a lot. Coming from a lower middle class family in third world country while also being the eldest child, I feel like I'm being weighted with the burden of not only building a better life for myself but also for my younger sister. My parents worked so much for me and my other relatives gave me so much to me just to succeed in life and for that I think to myself that I can't fail and there is no going back. I just hope I don't end up burning myself to much just like what happened to David in pursuit of others happiness.

[@shieldsa899]

That's the beautiful thing about the game - the RPG and everything about this particular brand of cyberpunk has heroes who are only remembered posthumously. As V we hear about the tales of glory from 50 years prior, and relive them through Johnny's memories, but we also see what happened to all of their sacrifices. They leave behind grieving friends, unfinished schemes, and maybe a drink with their name on it. It hits Silverhand particularly hard because he was a dick to everyone he knew, threw lives at a scheme to destroy Arasaka, and at the end of it all he didn't even get a grave to rest in while the Corp just rebuilt a bigger tower on the same site. All he accomplished was a messily done demolition project and created a couple thousand new job openings for more people to waste away in. As V, your only choice is to run away and maybe live (it's a very small maybe), or to pick how high you burn your own funeral pyre. [SPOILERS] You can either blow your brains out on that rooftop, die while assaulting Arasaka (alone or with friends), or give up your body to a new host a la Altered Carbon be it Johnny or Yoronobu. If you do really well, you get to die in space. And when the credits roll, all your surviving friends call. They lament your departure or the nature of your passing, and the intensity of grief varies depending on how you die. You only get to pick how the tragedy ends.

[@charlestonobryant807]

You don’t die while assaulting Arasaka, in the Star ending V leaves Night City with Panam and in the Sun or Temperance ending, V either reclaims his body but with a ticking time clock or allows Johnny to have it, giving him a new chance at redemption. With Sun and Star it’s left ambiguous if V can find a solution to his body rejecting his psyche.

[@MrXelaim]

@@charlestonobryant807 V has the engineering schematics for the relic. V just needs to make one (easier said than done), imprint his/her own engram on it, and activate it. Overriding V with V.

[@jozephjoestar1]

Anytime I hear “I really wanna stay at your house” now the feels hit me like a train

[@Animeologists]

"fulfillment doesn't get you or those you care for anywhere because what matters most is not reaching the life you're meant to have but living the life that you're given" Damn that's good. This is a really well put together video man, hope to see your channel to continue to blow up in the future.

[@JKDavitz]

At least the game gives you the option to escape the city in the end with your girlfriend. You won’t be the big-shot, but you’ll live longer and happier

[@HansHammertime]

Pretty sure the guy who offed Smasher and stormed Arasaka Tower is a big-shot

[@cacappjfgjhrbjhfhfh]

@@HansHammertime ha! good point!

[@rihanm.sgoogleaccount4462]

I've watched too much Deltarune to ignore that [[BIG SHOT]].

[@RoninOnTheStickz]

The weight of expectation and trying to live for everyone else's dream, and he never even got to have his own. Also, the build up of David feeling like he was special the entire time only to encounter Adam Smasher, a FULL BORG with no trace of Cyberpsychosis using the Sandy ("a rudimentary upgrade") & the quote "You think you're special just because you're scrappy?". Man. MAN.

[@RafaelBenedicto]

Up until episode 10, David was built up and portrayed to the audience that he is an unbeatable killing machine. But the fight with Adam Smasher broke that illusion and shows that he is miles below a real legend.

[@floofiestmuffin6945]

I think David ended up realizing in his final moments that he wasn't truly special but that wasn't what he actually wanted or needed. He had friends that he could call family and his life ended with what he always wanted which was a place to belong. Kinda makes it worse for Lucy since David got his home but she didn't get a future with him.

[@Brilchan]

The biggest tragedy like greek lvl in this story was that D and Lucy did not communicate if she would just tell him what she was doing and what she learned about him also maybe convinced him to get some personal cloned meat and scaled down the implants they might be happy but they both were too broken by the world and the upbringing they had for healthy communication like that great video I agree with you

[@cassiapeian]

"they were too broken by the world and their upbringing for healthy communication" ah bless you for that. A lot of people drag Lucy for not communicating well, basically forgetting that she was raised as a tool not as a human. She didn't know how to communicate her fears and turned to what she did know, netrunning.

[@whyamihereagain.a]

After Maine's death, i start to believe that David realized being special doesn't matter. Him calling himself special or different is just a lie he told himself to keep him going after losing so many loved ones. David's death really breaks my heart, he's my first favorite character even though i've watch so many anime and movies. I keep rewatching this anime just to keep the feels, it's depressing in a colorful way.

[@clashofclans3758]

I am literally having a mid life moment because of this anime and I don't know why. For some reason when I watch videos like this it calms me down and makes me feel good. I think I connect with this character in a weird way or my feelings on this anime are all just messy. either way, I agree and good video, I am going to cry and think about life in the corner.

[@splintedvibesvibes1591]

I found myself rewatching scenes from edgerunner.

[@uomodecaduto]

David is probably the character I've related the most in any media, ever. His character is based on how his being "special" and the undomitable will to protect the ones he loves and to fulfill other people's dream, eventually takes a toll on him to the point of no return. You can start seeing this since the end of episode 6, where maine dies. Being stripped away of the only thing close to a father he's ever had breaks him mentally, and by consequence he becomes more cold as a character, while trying to fulfill Maine's dream. The only thing that made him human again, was Lucy herself. Since the day Lucy left the group, you can see how he slowly detaches from humanity bit by bit and slowly turns into a fleshed-out machine, but in his mind, the second he knew Lucy was in danger, he (literally) sacrfices his life for her and eventually makes her dream a reality, even though the most important thing she wanted to fulfill her dream with is missing, which is David himself. David dies without any regrets, thus he has a smile on his face before his inevitable death. He went on top of the arasaka tower (her mother's dream), became a legendary edgerunner (Maine's dream), managed to die not as a cyberpsycho and sent the person he loved to the place she always wanted to be, the moon (Lucy's dream).

[@LordNexusTheFir]

Finished it earlier today & after Rebecca I cried she was my wife, but seeing Lucy imaging David then he just blinked away i felt my heart feel something I never felt before. It left me uncomfortable wanting to do something to bring them back fix things but I cant, its not real. Shit made me feel like Rick at the end of the sad episodes of Rick & Morty.

[@HGeorge1993]

Interesting thoughts; Davids gift did end up being his curse too, but in the context of the plot we see that more than anything he is driven by necessity, and by forces far larger than he knows. I think the core message of this series is that people are like boats in an ocean, who may steer and push where they want to go, but that ultimately the current and waves of the larger body of water will be what decides our fate during this journey through life.

[@shragolicious]

I am so glad you touched on this topic. I am currently on a path of improving my creative writing, and this helps with my overall understanding of how stories are Made and how I want to make my stories. Also thank you for adding in scenes from the actual anime, not all channels do so. This is such a treat.

[@mxkaylas]

Thanks! I've also always been interested in creative writing (though the most I do of it nowadays are for dnd), I'm glad this helped video helped you with it.

[@markoselendic9633]

I've been watching Edgerunners KZbin videos (praising and criticising the anime) for like 5 days now and I gotta say this is by far my favourite one so far. I resonate so much!! Thank you.

[@Architectofawesome]

I think your conclusion(the one about the show, not the channel) made this video. Very true, even I can feel it when I try to reconnect with my older friends. It is like everyone is running somewhere and don't know where they are actually going/what that somewhere means for them, for us, and for everything else. Rarely anyone takes into account that the path itself will change you. Lucy I think in the show did. It seemed like she knew where thing were going.

[@PumpkinInTheSnow]

im still crying from the ending of the show :'

[@thechristopherous789]

He succeeded in achieving everyone's dreams in a twisted way. His mums dream for him to rise to the top of Arasaka Maine's dream to build the team and become a legend Lucy's dream to go to the moon. None of them were how they were originally envisioned he became to focused on the goal rather than the reason behind it

[@FirstLast-cg2nk]

There's another aspect that ties in with The Problem Of Being Gifted. It can best be described as "The Wall". Everyone has a wall they hit, where they reach the limits of how far natural talent can carry them, and everything beyond that wall becomes more difficult. The problem is that for the especially gifted like David, they assume that The Wall doesn't exist for them, when instead it is just a lot further away than it is for most people. Natural talent isn't infinite, and sooner or later, you reach the limit. When most people hit The Wall, they just start working harder, putting in more effort. It isn't easy anymore, but then, it wasn't easy for very long, and they get used to having to put in the work to get things done. For the gifted like David, they don't hit The Wall until much later than others, and don't know how to cope. Everyone planned on an infinite upward trajectory, and when suddenly you reach the point where that trajectory levels off and it ceases to be easy, you have that weight of expectation from both yourself and others. The healthy thing to do is recognize that you've hit that wall, and learn to put in the effort the right way. Learn to work harder, in a way similar to other people. If the normal amount of effort doesn't work anymore, then double it, or triple it. Learn to rely on effort instead of solely on talent. Recognize that while you can't maintain that same trajectory, you can keep going upward if you keep working harder. But what we see with the gifted like David is trying to take "shortcuts" so that they can keep that upward trajectory no matter what, even at the risk of ruining their body and their future. A gifted athlete resorting to doping, dosing, and anything else to improve their performance. An intellectual prodigy starts resorting to cheating, stealing the work of others, or using... "chemical" methods of improving academic performance. Or in David's case, overrelying on immunosuppresants to keep himself going when the mental strain of using his increased augments was becoming too much. He could easily have cut back, removing some of the more intensive hardware so that he would reduce the strain on his mind and body. He was already a force of nature with just the Sandy in him, he really didn't need that much more to make him a legend. No one would have thought less of him for it. Instead, he refused to acknowledge that he'd reached the limits of his gift and kept pushing himself in all the wrong ways, and that is ultimately what destroyed him.

[@HumanBeing2137]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! hurts, wish I could just erase this show from my memory, and I watched it on premiere, still holds me

[@dejioyewole3165]

You have no idea how much this video resonates with me outside cyberpunk , outside a well structured video but my own life

[@mist0098]

I feel what you said. I've got a talent for programing but in college I learned that I wouldn't be happy doing it. I love to program but it's the kind of love that can't be told what to do. Programing is art for me, my profs said that I'd change the world with it. But I can't, I won't. My dad wants me to be in the merchant mariners, I have and interest but I think it's me only reflecting his. The one dream I have that is truly mine is to go home. I don't mean the place I live, but that's part of it. I want to be in a place where I feel comfortable being my nuerodivergent self. Without masking. I just want to make it there and I'll be happy. There's a forest that my family goes to often just like this, we'll be moving there in a few years. Until then, I'm stuck in a place where everyone is telling me to strive for more but I'm just waiting for my more.

[@shingaru323]

I can't even write a unique comment since my thoughts on the show are shared with everyone else here hahah. I just miss these characters. They all deserved so much better.

[@bearsbean481]

Thank you for these words. I clicked cuz I love the show but for age your words about happyness really resonated with me right now.

[@niftyrobo]

Kinda funny how this show comes out right before the final season of Mob Physco, a show that’s main message is that You aren’t special

[@MightyGameReviewer]

I loved how your video was just you putting out your own observervations, rants/nerding out about a piece of content media you enjoyed. I hope you make it big on YT but stay as authentic as you are now.

[@haizalchew9889]

I love this show when i was a child!!

[@mxkaylas]

Mf was actually born yesterday

[@heftymagic4814]

This came out this year lmao

[@anhkietduongdo]

You're 1 week old?

[@facundoaloi3809]

This kind of videos are great, you make such a good job

[@hirskyiTikych]

I don’t know why, but Ive already watched the anime and like a dozen of videos like this, and only now I was actually on the verge of crying You described exactly the things I was thinking of, blank staring in the wall, since I watched Endgerunners Thank you, and good job on the vid!

[@LifesWildAdventures]

Great video. I definitely relate to the narrative you explained. I more saw the story as a simple sad sequence of continuously going over the edge due to circumstances or desire, but I really like this narrative. I’ve been told I’m special and different my entire life, and I can honestly say it’s driven to me to some pretty crazy lengths trying to be the be all-end all everyone says you can be, and I typically run till I crash headfirst into some kind of wall. It’s actually pretty stressful to be constantly told you’re gonna go places and “you’re gonna change the world someday”. And I should probably take control of that aspect of my life seeing how it went for David lol

[@DontYield]

subbed , hope you do more of these vids because this was awesome

[@ilikeyoutube7224]

one of the hard things to realize about life is that none of ur trophy based goals will make u happy. there is always tomorrow. its both nice but also kind of haunting because, if getting that promotions, earning all the money and power, owning that house, getting married, being a grandparent doesnt make u happy, wat does? my only goals are to be happy and finally feel safe. how are those achieved? even if the house is bought, am i secure? can i finally settle? how do i be happy? its difficult. i guess just...try try try

[@SaileemTang]

That’s the point of life. You always have to try to achieve happiness until your last breath.Hell, happiness is a big reason on why we keep on living. So we strive to keep that feeling by doing all these tasks until we eventually die.

[@Banzai51]

This video and Edgerunners reminds me of the AfterGifted subreddit. Those of us that were tagged gifted in grade school, then put in special classes. It installed dreams and goals that weren't our own, and we mostly succumbed to burnout. David of Edgerunners really does capture that life.

[@vampire_5785]

Your interpretation of David is fantastic, I loved his character but couldn't quite place why, excellent video man can't wait to see what else you do

[@dhemereon2915]

Really good perspective on Edgerunners. Was surprised that most don't talk about this aspect.

[@void-creature]

While I wholeheartedly agree with this video, a large part of David's story is sadly also the fact that ultimately, there really was no happy ending for him in a world ruled by Arasaka and the other corps, as the system crushes everyone trying to rebell aka. cyberpunks. What his bully at the academy said sadly rung true in the end...

[@slyrooster1241]

Dang your last 2 minutes hit me deep. Got some contemplating to do.

[@lordpennypincher]

Thanks for the warning for the moon scene shit still hurts

[@bucket7960]

This was a really great video, keep up the good work!!

[@swagmeisterr]

jesus ive never seen a channel blow up in less than a month bro thats honestly incredible

[@SeBushi]

You did a pretty good job on explaining how I felt about this series, thank you.

[@icemajor10]

Fantastic video, ngl kinda hit close to home with the points you said. I’ve been focusing on “making it big” rather than trying to live my life. Thanks for the wake up call 🙏

[@Josemeanhello]

Thank you for the advice man. I really needed it thank you.

[@chasecorbin602]

Don’t know how this went to my recommendations, but you’ve earned a sub that was remarkably thorough and insightful. Cheers🎉

[@scienceteam9254]

I like to think that the reason David is so desperately trying to fulfill the dreams of others like a pawn is because the show itself is a meta-narrative of his lack of ability to "choose his own path" due to his story being a pre set path when compared to someone who does have the "freedom" to choose (aka V).

[@gabrielmaya531]

Me and my girl saw the ending last night and both cried our hearts out. Great show I loved it, it inspired me to give cyberpunk another shot since it’s launch. Keep up your content bro, commenting for the algorithm;)

[@suruxstrawde8322]

Perfectly shows what night city is a lesson in- not falling into traps of false greatness.

[@itsdantaylor]

I think the idea of feeling 'special' is something that comes up subtley in the Cyberpunk world. Especially in the US we idolize the idividual identity. We like to think we are special and that's reflected in night city. So many people think they are going to be rich, strong, powerful as long as they want/work/try hard enough and it works to a certain extent but then they end up getting used/burned out/abused or killed by others trying to achieve the same goals for themselves that they were.

[@sergiosarmiento4233]

Damn… “What matters most is not reaching the life you’re meant to have, but living the life that you’re given.” You just gave me a new world view at 4 in the morning. Thank you

[@wristrisk502]

I really, really connected with your point about the pressure to live up to your so-called fullest potential. It's such a common yet toxic worldview, thanks for addressing it in relation to this wonderful anime

[@azolaun]

Amazing analysis. I love your style

[@mysteriousman3000]

I wouldn't say David was more focused on becoming an Edgerunner than living his own life, I'd say he was focused on living the life others wanted for him, not living the life HE wanted. I think we all want to use our uniqueness to achieve the dreams others couldn't, especially the dreams of people who recognise our potential, as if it will fill a kind of void. We are all looking to live a life worth remembering, but whether we decide to live a life given to us or a life we choose, it's still a life. And like Lucy says, it's not about how you're remembered through the life you live, it's how you die that counts

[@jyomi7506]

that song... that damn song hits me every damn time it comes on... stupid song, love it so much... That last smile at the end, it's like she's forcing herself to smile for him, but at the same time remembering him as the goofy kid he was. I wasn't expecting it to be even 10% as good as it was, absolutely blew me away. Dream your own dream chooms.

[@pawldone1660]

Wow, awesome to see a guy at the cutting room floor. Keep reviewing from the heart, really relevant

[@wafflespawn]

Damn that was a good ass video essay, hyped to be here before 1000 subs.

[@redvoco02]

damn bro I loved this u hit the nail on the head for me. instant sub to see and support whatever else you want to talk about next. whether it's other Characters in Cyberpunk or whatever else you like. I'm here for it man.

[@W3LSHDR4G0]

Bruh how do you only have that many subs? Honestly, amazing content bro. Great video!

[@DjCrippleDick]

I saw the moral as: the plight of a junkie. Believing that they’re better than the symptoms, or that they’re beyond humanity. Achieving more than a pure human could, but at the cost of their mind and body. Dying in sheer, unadulterated bliss. Even if it’s ugly.

[@Vodka6329]

It's really sad how the trip to the moon actually costed just about 250K. It's clear David saved enough cyberbucks for a trip with Lucy. Probably even with extra, enough to get at least a modest life in the moon. He was in far too deep, that not even the risk of losing himself to insanity is enough to deter him. He deserves a slap in the face for giving us that sad-ass ending. 🤬🤬

[@arthurofalsen2110]

I expected a long video essay out of this but I'm content with what I got

[@nokturnali]

Beautiful words at the end there man, those actually tugged at the strings lol

[@lazarjolic5751]

Well said, I completely agree with everything you said. Sometimes after watching a series I come to KZbin and listen to people explain their thoughts about the show and I really liked the way you described Edgerunners. Personally I cried for a few hours heavily after finishing it and still 2 days later feel empty and sad about the ending. It's not that I didn't like it, it simply didn't and doesn't feel right as I subconsciously wanted and thought that David could somehow survive the "guaranteed" cyber psychosis, all the body and physical damage, and just be with Lucy and fulfill her/their dream until the very last moment when a bullet passed through his head, and it's just so depressing that they didn't get happy ending they deserved. I am very emotional and the ending literally broke me as I binged the entire show, watching the whole group die - it was devastating. I haven't been watching anime these recent years as much as I did before, but this is definitely one of the best pieces of fiction I have consumed in my life. I just want them to be happy together. Is it too much to ask for? I only wish for happy endings and this truly isn't what I expected... I never wrote a comment this long, also English isn't my main language so forgive me. Again great video and I agree with you completely.

[@mxkaylas]

Thanks a bunch! I know exactly how you feel, the big reason I love heartwrenching stuff is that I get way too invested in fictional characters so I always wish the best for them (even if it's probably unrealistic). That crushing feeling that stays with you when you finish the show, thinking about everything the characters could have had but didn't, is how you know a show did it's job of making you feel for it's cast. I loved the scene where Lucy doesn't David with her on the moon but sees David disappear because it takes what could have been a cop-out happy ending and hammers in the tragedy of the narrative. I'm really glad you enjoyed! (and you're good on English :))

[@GaminexPro]

Dunno if this might help you but it helped some other user I shared the thoughts with so I figured I'd say: Lucy will ultimately be fine. The Moon isn't just a dream, it's ultimately escape and freedom for her. Sure she wanted David to live, but he was sure as hell not going to go on living without her either. She'll miss David and have hella survivor's guilt, difficulty forming new bonds, and have loads of regrets about how coming forward and being honest with David might have changed things for the better. However in spite of all that, her memories of David will not die, and Night City will remember him as a Legend even beyond her lifetime. Though she couldn't live with him anymore he still afforded her true freedom from Arasaka and Night City at last. On the last three scenes of the series, as she remembers him at his happiest and embraces the warmth of the sun with a smile like he did, I sincerely believed she was thankful and began the first steps to a new life and healing upon that Moon Colony (Which does exist btw, since 2077 explicitly states that people are gradually moving there).

[@HexAddams]

Tell me David and Maine don’t remind you of Wei Shen & Winston Chu from Sleeping Dogs.. honestly one of the things that I loved about this show. It hits you with an extremely surreal, sad and anxiety inducing feeling that I felt for the first time when Wei said “open your eyes, I AM Winston” 😮‍💨 Boy that line HIT

[@watix11]

2k th like, 440 subscriber. Keep going, great job. Your gift is your voice. There is no problem with listening to it. Articulated, to the point and not rushed great review.

[@kiddyoshi]

the part u said at the end about happiness and living life really resonated with me, i hope u dont mind but ima use that for my discussion group. great video, liked and subbed

[@davidvasali]

Exactly, could not say it better, great thoughts man!

[@lasse4416]

Great video! This was a one of a kind different show and its gonna stay with me for a long time. Dont think i can ever watch the moon without thinking what coudve been in this show for David, it was his choice atleast and im both proud and mad at him for that. What a bittersweet masterpiece.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Great video analysis!

[@enigma3383]

Been listening to “I Really Want to Stay at Your House” on repeat for literally 3 days straight practically

[@thowaway9889]

Same

[@OGbornsinnerz]

I understand David that’s the path I’m on and ima smile at the end just like David. Rip

[@ojasdamankar9851]

Dang, this video kind of helped me cope with it a lot. Finding a takeaway from this show, which I can use in real life was game changing for me. I am surprised you could realise it. But damn that message. P.S. Just a while ago i was gonna call my mom and have talk my way out of the copium feelings i got from the show, thinking perhaps she could show some new perspective to try process it. But dang I found this video instead.