Why Captain Qwark Has The Perfect Character Arc

Qwark, Captain Qwark is a very egotistical man who believes he's the greatest person of all time. was that not the most redundant sentence in the world? Somebody actually said that in a video, legitimately one of the worst written lines I've ever seen. Oh right! Well, in an effort to cover Ratchet & Clank in a more positive fashion I wanted to take a look at one of my favorite aspects of the series, that being the character arc of Captain Qwark between the first Ratchet & Clank game and the third Ratchet & Clank game. AKA up your Arsenal. it is what I believe to be the absolute perfect character arc, it's perfectly presented in pretty much every way despite the generic premise. how do they achieve such a lofty feat, well stay tuned and find out.
Follow me on twitter
/ realtbp
#captainqwark #ratchetandclank #riftapart

[@TBP]

If you think this video ends somewhat suddenly, there was originally an ending which was much like most of my other outro's. I decided to cut it and rearrange some things. I thought that a "like And subscribe" spiel would be in slightly poor taste given the context of the video. I hope you all enjoy nonetheless. Follow me on Twitter for all my stream of consciousness ramblings. twitter.com/RealTBP

[@nicoloenricorimoldi7425]

Captain Qwark in his PS2 incarnation has to be one of the most endearing characters in media.

[@RogersPS5]

So True

[@dfrnxt3793]

Agreed

[@Galomortalbr]

> fools ratchet and clank multiple times > literally bullied the biggest villain in the franchise like some school nerd > all the hardest levels of the first three games are Qwarks HQ > he took over a entire galaxy with a massive multi planetary mega corporations in a single year > keeps a mid tier boss in his basement for no reason > can literally hold his breath in space with no gay ass helmet > escapes to another planet and take control over the entire planet despite loosing all his memories and thinking he is a monkey > is so overpowered he has to be castrated so he won't take over the galaxy again > is still a boss fight even when armed with a only a boomerang and Ratchet had military grade equipment > tame another mid tier boss and call it 'snowball' while Ratchet is almost being killed by it > still comes at top and becomes president of the galaxy isn't Captain Qwark a chad?

[@Galomortalbr]

@Goddesszilla it was more a joke post, i tend to think it's hilarious how he flips flops between being ridiculous competent and totally retarded.

[@Galomortalbr]

@Goddesszilla jokes aside, he is also the one who came up with the plan that defeated Nefarious in a Crack in Time

[@Galomortalbr]

@chandllerburse737 Captain Qwark goes by cartoon logic, if he thinks he can do something, he can do it, otherwise he starts crying like a baby and running around.

[@Skellotronix]

Qwark is a coward until the guys he tried to kill multiple times and belittle and failing finally call him out for being a POS that he redeems himself. Qwark is hilarious but he's shallow, the typical narcissistic egotistical villain.

[@michaeldunlap1032]

And he also gave ratchet and clank their ship back in into the nexus, on his own will might I add, meaning he truly does care about ratchet and clank themselves post-up your arsenal.

[@Nico-the-Nacho]

If I were writing a game, I'd retire Qwark by having him sacrifice himself heroically. But that's just me.

[@CarvedDaWarped]

Ditto.

[@anthonyluetmer8499]

I would just have Qwark announce his retirement and settle down with Helga.

[@spaz-the-space-wizard]

"It was Mating Season how was I supposed to know it was your sister" Captain qwark

[@StephenAMCook]

It is sad to hear about Jim Ward. He has had an outstanding voice acting career. I have been a fan of his work since 2003 when he voiced Gandalf in Sierra Entertainment’s ‘The Hobbit’ video game.

[@skibot9974]

I personally know him more as the original voice of Diamondhead, XLR8, and Wildvine in Ben 10

[@iain2k7]

oh wow I loved this game as a kid and didn't know it was him!!

[@plexyglass429]

Jim ward has an iconic voice, he shows up in a tony hawk game and i immediately knew who he was. He was casted excellently and will forever be appriciated

[@amrsalama911]

Right off the bat, I think not including Quarks arc up to ACiT is an incomplete arc, because ACiT was really the first time he became an actual hero. Yes in UYA he came back in the end but it still wasn't end of his arc because he was still somewhat the same self-centered delusional tool in Tools of Destruction that he was in the PS2 era games, I think ACiT is truly when his arc was complete because he was actually genuinely being helpful without any ulterior motives.

[@TBP]

Truth be told, I did originally have a part in the video where I discussed the later parts of the series more in-depth, and expressed that A Crack In Time felt like one of the few instances where Qwark felt like a worthwhile addition after his arc was complete. I cut that part in the scripting phase because I felt like I was getting needlessly negative. Regardless, in my own interpretation, I don't consider acit to be a continuation of his arc. Character arc implies change, and he doesn't actually change from the end of uya to the end of acit. Acit is a fun showcase of who he was after his character progression completed, but his progression was finished, and that's why I say uya was the end of his arc.

[@iain2k7]

and his brief cameo in Deadlocked was gold too

[@TBP]

Yeah, that was one of the things I was going to mention but that was part of the video that was cut in the scripting phase.

[@ryzekiv7147]

My thoughts on the 2016 game: This is all told from Qwark’s perspective during an interview. The movie and game serve as in-universe Docu-Dramas of events. Just like the Qwark Comics are embellished versions of in-universe lore, the 2016s see filmmakers such as Steven Spielbot & Cecil Gear Demily turning these two snarky teens turned action-heroes into dramatic figures. Ratchet was not enthused by his portrayal, Clank gave it 3.14 stars, and audiences gave it a resounding “Okay, I guess.”

[@deadlocked5337]

In the final cutscene of R&C for PS4, Ratchet mentions The Galactic Rangers, so that game does not belong to the original universe.

[@JWeb66]

I do like how in the "Ratchet and Clank: The Movie" The Game, Qwark is the narrator as it not only forms a comedic framing device but an interesting look into his psyche. He tells his perspective to a new inmate from a very biased point of view which isn't denied, the other inmates frequently call him out on his bullshit and even himself begrudgingly admits that Ratchet and Clank are better heroes than him. He shows genuine remorse for his betrayal and deludes himself that it was necessary because he was Captain Qwark. He was the celebrity, the hero, the icon that the galaxy knew for years, so why should he just sit back and let the new guys take his spotlight, even when he realizes it was too late to go so wrong. Qwark was never a hero, he was a celebrity and he couldn't play the role of the hero forever.

[@arcaedonluminos666]

This was a great video about my favorite video game character! His arc throughout the original trilogy is so damn good, and he's otherwise super entertaining and hilarious. I especially love him in Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal, with how he messes with Ratchet and Clank and has these lowkey brilliant plans. As for appearances after the original trilogy, it's been pretty hit or miss, but I actually really like him in A Crack in Time, as he continues to be funny and has evidently changed for the better at that point. Of course, Jim Ward has always delivered as Qwark, and it's a shame he won't be voicing him anymore. I agree that Qwark shouldn't be around anymore, or at least continue to have a minor role like he had in Rift Apart.

[@KingDDDuke]

Qwark was always my favorite Ratchet & Clank Character.

[@doublet6118]

Videos like these are my absolute favorite for Ratchet and Clank. Honestly, I'd love to see something similar in regards for Dr. Nefarious. Perhaps how he's overstayed his welcome at this point. Or how bringing him back has retroactively diminished his threat level with each new installment. Or heck!! How IG seems unwilling to let Nefarious' character grow to its fullest potential despite setting up a potential arc for him come All 4 One which Rift Apart ignores.

[@TBP]

I have a kernel of an idea for a series called "was x a good villain?" Where I take a look at a villain's backstory, personality, menace, what they accomplish, etc etc etc. Determining in the end whether or not they were a good villain. I'd like to think of a way to make it more unique than just running down a checklist of character traits, so I'll need to workshop it a bit. But trust me your idea is something I've thought about.

[@erindelgado9639]

@@TBP The "was X a good villain?" idea could work and be something new. You should try it. :)

[@TBP]

Like I said, I'm open to the idea, but I'm wanting to workshop the idea so I can find a decent approach. I don't want it to be a series of me just running down a checklist.

[@erindelgado9639]

@@TBP Fair enough. Curious will you do a Crash, Spyro or Spider-Man video in the future? I love to hear a video involving the PS4 Spidey game as you love the game and so do I, with it being my fav 2010s Game and all.

[@TBP]

I don't have any specific ideas for spider-man, but I do have some ideas for possible crash/spyro videos in the future.

[@SumThingFawful]

Funny as Size matter was my first R&C gaming making me think he was an idiot. When I went back and played the first trio, I got the impression he was a once great hero scared into taking the easy route -after his run in with death - and become deluded by his own ego. Being part of almost every ad in the first game. Even Ratchet comments it looks like Quark sold out. It should be stated, Quark went out of his way to find the battle plans in R&C3, something nobody else thought of, nor would you think he of all people would do it. Telling me he was a genuine hero for the most part as the instincts are still there. But after seeming years of work has resided himself to taking the route of least resistance.

[@TheWordPlay]

This was a great video! As a kid I really did not like Qwark after betraying Ratchet and Clank. But lately he's become one of my favorite characters of the PS2 era. I do hope IG moves on without him in future titles, because it's clear they don't know where to go with him after UYA

[@shiftyjim4138]

Reminds me of Zuko’s arc somewhat. He stumbled and failed at many points of his arc and when he does decide to change he continues to fail and struggle to be fully changed. In my opinion prince Zuko still has the greatest character arc in fiction but I can see what you’re saying here with Qwark.

[@RedFloyd469]

The main difference is that while Qwark comes across as more or less always having been an egotistical douchebag, Zuko comes across as always having been a good kid. Zuko was manipulated, traumatized and misled to the point he genuinely thought that what he was doing was for the better. He then got a reality check and realized it was just for his own honor. Only to then come to the final realization that he was simply following whatever his father had wanted for him, and he never truly did what he wanted to do, filling in what "honor" meant for him, which was doing the RIGHT thing. Once he had that realization, his arc was basically complete, even if there were still some emotional moments and plot-stuff that had to happen in order for it to feel satisfying and earned. Zuko's arc is about self-discovery and being tempted by evil, whereas Qwark's arc is about letting go of petty vices in order to do what is right, which he only does at the very last moment of the last game in this arc, so pretty freaking late.

[@TaigaXsenpai]

what shocks me is that Qwark is actually pretty strong. He was strong boss in ratchet and clank 3 and tough in Vid comics I wonder why he is so cowardly

[@The_Renegade07]

I love R&C... Huge part of my childhood.

[@crusadr_4966]

I have never played Ratchet and Clank, and have no idea about who this character is. But I have a newfound appreciation for him!

[@skibot9974]

Considering how post the PS2 era Qwark has been at best superfluous and at worst a huge annoyance I hope he’s retired post Rift Apart. His brief appearance showed nobody can voice him as good as Jim Ward did. I’d prefer his character to be retired with some dignity left rather than risking it getting ruined further.

[@Skitskl33]

Qwark became more of a static comic relief character like Skid or Al post UYA, which isn't a bad thing necessarily from a narrative standpoint. It makes sense since the story focus in the future games just wasn't really about him anymore.

[@wolfzenskiigh7775]

Thanks, Mr. Bacon. I really appreciate this whole video. Ratchet and Clank was a major part of keeping any sanity during a critical time in my very early teens, and lately it's been really depressing not even being able to play Rift Apart, let alone feeling the direction of the series kind of get stale. I don't have a PS5; it's extremely exhausting to even think about how the Retelling was the only thing released on PS4 for the series before they jumped immediately to PS5. The fact that they expect fans to fork over that kind of insane cash just to play a continuation of the series ( for a game that was ~$80 after shipping and handling, mind ), is kind of insane. The only thing I've seen of Rift Apart is the original trailer, some of the gameplay, and that was kind of enough for me to know things were going to be pretty different. Honestly it seemed like the charm was mostly gone and it was appealing to modern tropes. Really guessable stuff. I made a whole tweet before the game came out about Rivet's fur colors, how they were just Ratchet's with the values inverted and then inverted again as a whole; I don't know. Rivet's first impression to me was badly designed OC Lombax, and that kind of stuck with me, which is a shame because I actually really want to look forward to playing Rift Apart. Knowing that Jim Ward isn't even in it is just kind of starkly heart-wrenching. I had no idea about this news until now. Ratchet, Clank, and Qwark are kind of the psychological trio of the series, where a lot of that prior-mentioned charm comes from, to say nothing on the writing itself as a whole. Man. Everything about Rift Apart is just sounding more like moldy bread by the minute, and I don't even know anything because I've kept so much content away so I can enjoy it when I get to it, which is seeming... less likely. Qwark's character is one of the biggest fulcrums of the plots regarding the start of the series, the first 3 games. Jim Ward is integral to his character, the kind of voice acting that only comes from legends. Your detailing in this video was extremely spot on; thank you very much for making it.

[@isaacalanis2777]

Fun fact: Qwark's voice actor is the same one that voiced as Jack Krauser from the original Resident evil 4

[@jaketucker2559]

Dud dimidome

[@erindelgado9639]

That is quite an interesting video. I like it. :) Funny this is way before Zuko's character arc from Avatar and after Shadow's arc from Sonic Adventure 2.

[@RandomLombax37]

Quark's redemption arc proves the only constant of Ratchet and Clank.... Clank is always right.

[@tizyman7120]

"People in real life don't change like that". I disagree there are people that change like that. And this is not real life it's a movie

[@namesomega3694]

He's also the only character that got roasted the most by being called imbecile

[@hamad2620]

I'm waiting for the rift apart review.

[@skibot9974]

He said he doesn’t own a PS5 yet and it would be a while

[@nathanthompson6720]

Qwarks character arc is kinda similar to gru from despicable mes character arc he was evil at first but than later on he redeemed himself from Dr nefarious to save the world just like gru he was evil at first but wanted to save the moon from vector and redeemed himself

[@PrimevalDemon]

19:46 Captain put himself before the C (planet his machine eclipses) which also serves as the basis for his logo. He's grown beyond his trappings.

[@bystander5278]

I remember crying my eyes out as a kid when Qwark "sacrificed" himself in Ratchet and Clank 3

[@kwk111]

Quark's design was hilarious and worked perfectly with his personality, before he got sanded down into the generic Pixar style he is now. The gross muscle definition combined with the tacky superhero costume, huge butt-chin (seriously a straight up butt) and lemon wedge eyes all together make it work so well. It's a really ugly design, in a clever tongue and cheek manner. The reboot/Rift Apart look has no definition or imperfection at all, just a smooth shiny shape with barely any cleft. I agree, it's time for them to call it with Quark.

[@mochiman6307]

In rift apart while qwark is on the sideline, when encountering his mirror counterpart ratchet admits that despite all the trouble qwark has done, he brings up that he is trying his best

[@KevinBaconWasKevinTaken]

I miss these games... :(

[@Aquageo555]

I think the best implications with qwark is he and dr. nefarious have some kind of history and qwark has beaten him before. Considering how powerful the good doctor is, is pretty impressive. Edit: I'm not talking about the vid comics. I'm actually talking about dialogs in the game's cutscenes.

[@DoubleG747]

Voice Acting in the original game is super under rated!!

[@maxonbardo]

But I thought Size Matters is where Qwark really shines!!!!

[@mrbeanie7676]

this arc is qwarktastic!

[@jaketucker2559]

I also like to point out the genius of his design, it’s obvious he’s a parody of old 50s sci fi heroes like buck Rodgers. To some it seems kind of pointless until you realize that just lik qwark in his prime buck was basically the best thing in the 50s. But much like the cowboys of the 40s he fell when something better came along.

[@MatthewCenance]

So if Going Commando cuts off during the middle of resolving the conflict, what part of the conflict being resolved do you think would have happened if it finished after the conflict was 100% resolved?

[@johnvscarlosshorts3131]

i felt like they ignored the arc in the future trilogy, and made him a baby again, it was okay in acit but annoying in nexus, i felt like they built up his arc for nutin.

[@2xRainb0w]

Love your videos, you gonna critique rift apart? I loved the game but have my grievances towards the characters and avoidance of its own past.

[@daxx3y]

"Mask off" moment, I like that term. It's that deep depressed self-reflection alotta comic heros go through.

[@josuepon0318]

Yay! Qwarktastic!!!!!

[@damsen978]

This is the very first thing i'm seeing about Ratchet & Clank, i never payed that series any attention at all. Qwark reminds me of Handsome Jack for believing himself to be the hero, except that Qwark really does the right thing in the end and Jack doesn't. Flawless arc? Sure, but not really the best either. I've seen better character arcs like Kratos and Ezio Auditore, those have minor flaws but are ten times more sympathetic and personal.

[@BrennySpain]

As far as I’m concerned the original ratchet and clank trilogy was never about the main duo. It was always about captain qwark. He was the main character throughout all of it. He was the catalyst for everything ratchet and clank did throughout the first 3 games. If it wasn’t for him I could’ve imagined all those games and future ones playing out very differently too. The 2016 game/movie did not do the character justice I’m sorry.

[@noahbrooks361]

Stoney little heart had me dead Lmfao 🤣

[@RiVer-Parish]

Never heard of this character before until I watched thus video.

[@korhol2065]

Quark from the movie is pretty funny, you can tell he has the skills, but just not the active morals

[@marcusblackwell2372]

Honestly, I think that intentionally or not, as poorly written as it may or may not've been, I don't mind Qwark's development because it shows that some people can't change, even if they wanted to, which he does not

[@acemcwolf5445]

Honestly, If and when the next R&C game comes out, I think the best they could do without having Quark on screen is saying he decided to retire. It might seem a bit anti-climatic in the moment, But when you think about how much he was obsessed with his own legend. It'd probably be the most impactful way to say goodbye to him. He's decided to leave the legend behind and move on, Something that, During the first 3 games, Would of been inconceivable to him. It'd show just how far he's come... Granted, "Retired" means he'd take up acting in Holo-films and writing his 24 book series auto-biography, Because *Come on.* Nothing's going to make him COMPLETELY leave the spotlight.

[@David-br4cr]

who is charles mansin

[@gamerrr50]

He was ahead of his time.

[@andrewmartina2715]

Quark as a character I see him more like an idiot character therw out the series and the guy that is always a joke even always pretend too be someone elsa that he's not like 1st game pretend too be steve 2nd too be Mr fizzwidget and 3rd game pretend too fake his own death when dr nefarious star curse blown up and yeah always a traitor like 1st and 2nd game he was a villian 3rd team up with you because his own arc enemy nafrouis return and even tools of dutrouiction he turns on your when he was working for tachyon but he did became I whould say better teammate in the future game without him turning your back on you like a crack in time all 4 one full furnal assault and into the nexus idk about rift apart haven't play it yet but looking forward for it buts I give the best lore for captain quark I give him too even real life pepole make bad choices in there life but chose too do better

[@_t_f_]

This was a good video

[@f4irb4nks57]

Qwark the goat

[@irishboy_pa]

My love come out in weird ways My new tinder byline

[@Theystolemyhandle]

Ah. I see. I'm a terrible speller.

[@Cushla-np4pt]

oh you mean that guy h20 delirious played as in vanossgaming videos?

[@ClunkisMunk]

1:23

[@TheBlackSpartan103]

I think you mean "H20 Delirious"

[@heroofmobius6616]

Never like this character and never will.

[@xeox4280]

No

[@synysterdawn8913]

Insomniac proved a long time ago that they don’t give a flying fuck about preserving character integrity given *broadly gestures at everything in the series post-Deadlocked* so rest assured that whatever shallow, generic game comes next in the series will proudly feature Qwark just bumbling around for no good reason. Maybe they’ll even think that a new voice actor warrants retconning his previous arc, and critics and so-called fans alike will just eat it up, narrative cohesion be damned.

[@maydaymemer4660]

Never played Rift Apart i take it? Given you seem to be making up a game in your head to be mad about

[@synysterdawn8913]

@@maydaymemer4660 Beat the game on PC when it came out and thought it was as bad as the 2016 game, if not worse. That's the game that tries to pretend Ratchet hasn't met another Lombax before for the third time or something while reusing all of its planets from the Future series, right? I remember when he found out a supposedly villainous thief who had kidnapped Clank and been sending mercenaries after him was a Lombax and his immediate reaction was "Oh, she's a girl" and nothing more. Almost like the whole "last of his race" plot was always some contrived nonsense, and yet they keep reusing it and random dipshits will just assume that anyone not smelling Insomniac's farts just hasn't played the latest trash.

[@maydaymemer4660]

@@synysterdawn8913 it's almost like going commando's writing was rushed because the game took nine months to make, and isnt the be all end all of the lore

[@synysterdawn8913]

@@maydaymemer4660Game development was a much different beast back in 2002-2003 compared to now. Majora's Mask was also a game that had less than a year to develop, and yet it's often considered one of the best in its series in terms of storytelling and characterization. Turns out you can get a ton done really quickly when you're reusing and repurposing lots of assets and don't have to worry about whether or not people can count the skin pores and strands of hair on a character model. Tools of Destruction is what started the nonsense narrative, and that game came out only 4 years after Going Commando, and only 2 years after Deadlocked, while also being a launch title for a new console, so the same faulty logic could be applied to it in terms of what should and shouldn't be considered worthwhile to the "lore" even though that's not what constitutes basic ass continuity. And since all they would've had to do was properly address Angela in that game, it really just goes to show how poorly written and thought out things were.