History Headscratchers / Bionicle

** Fifth Question How does Matorans' hard-work supposedly keeps the Giant Robot alive ([[AssPull unless counting all those professions never mentioned until recently]])? If the series was still a half-fantasy, this would have just been explained by a simple [[AWizardDidIt "It's magic"]] and nobody would have a problem. Instead, [[DoingInTheWizard they pulled a Highlander 2]] on us and now the series is completely scifi, this makes no sense (Speaking of which, am I the only one who feels that the GenreShift from fantasy-science fiction to science fiction just feels... wrong?).

*** Check ''Time Trap''. The Toa Metru were created because Mata Nui had been attacked and needed some help with getting the Matoran of Metru Nui to safety. Also, in response to the main question and the brain activity thing, first of all, although the genre shift did seem a bit drastic to me, I quite enjoyed learning all about the history and workings of the MU. As explained by [[WordOfGod Greg]], being kept in the dark about everything may in theory preserve a sense of "mysticism", but after a while it really starts to get annoying. Keeping secrets isn't cool, y'know. I, at least, am quite satisfied with the story, even if the Mata Nui island setting always appealed to me the most. And just saying [[OneMoreDay "it's magic, I don't have to explain it"]] is an even more surefire way to piss people off, something that the [[SpiderMan Spider-Man]] fandom should be able to explain quite well. And ''then'' there's the fact that from what I under stand, Highlander 2 wasn't trashed for explaining stuff, but for giving ''really stupid-ass'' explanations. Back on track, though- this is one thing I'm fine not having explained. I see it as kinda like how elemental powers and Kanohi and everything exist, and file it under [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief willing suspension of disbelief]]- something that we should have in spades for a series like this. (BTW, sorry for sounding so bitchy, I've followed the series for a long time and tend to get kinda defensive about it.)

*** With m=Matoran dying, Greg Farshtey has revealed that if Matoran Universe beings die, [[spoiler: they get transported to the Red Star, which was designed to fix the "dead" beings, only that it malfunctioned a long time ago. This only works if there are any physical parts of the body left though, so characters like Matoro and the Makuta that were vaporised in Karda Nui wouldn't have been transported]].

* many people identify Bionicle as a Animated tv show. Bionicle is not an animated series.

* The revelation in Bionicle Legends ten that [[spoiler:The Bohrok were once Av Matoran]] brings up a lot of FridgeLogic leading to NightmareFuel city. for example nuparu built the boxor out of bohrok so that means its made out of [[spoiler: Av Matoran]]. The toa killed the [[spoiler:Bohrok Kal]] so they were killing [[spoiler: Innocent Av Matoran!]] Poor little [[spoiler: Av Matoran]]. [[spoiler:Nuparu and the Toa Nuva are murderers!!!]]

*** A related reason The Yesterday Quest has taken so long to update may have to do with another backlash. The characters for this serial were determined by the fans through a poll. They were given 8 options for what powers the characters would have (and as many fans know the powers carry certain character defining characteristics, such as gender, [[ColorCodedElements coloration]], and cookie cutter personalities (YMMV on the last one)) and were told to pick their favorite 6. Not only were fans enamored with the chance to finally subvert [[TheSmurfettePrinciple The Smurfette Principle]] by choosing both of the female options given, but also the fact that the female options were Lightning AND Psionics made them favorites among Iron, Magnetism, Plasma, etc. so clearly fans were voting for them more than most of the others. However, for whatever reason (The common theory being that [[UnfortunateImplications Greg prefers writing for males than females]]) Greg decided to change one of the females into a male to fit the standard 5 males and 1 female team that many fans had been decrying as formulaic. This in turn completely tossed out the rule made years before that "People of Element X are ONLY Gender Y" where he had constantly been telling people that there were NO EXCEPTIONS (except for the Av-Matoran which got enough backlash for subverting the rule to begin with). Needless to say, the fans weren't amused, especially since he didn't announce it before the serial was released resulting in it feeling underhanded. However, [[ItGotWorse it got worse]]. He quickly responded to the issue with the second chapter which had a conversation between two characters on why Orde was male (In a series where gender is strictly cosmetic and a device to allow us to connect to the characters (don't ask why there are genders to begin with, you won't get anywhere)) which resulted in an explanation that he was the first Toa of Psionics and [[UnfortunateImplications his destructive male tendencies]] caused the Great Beings to make the Matoran and Toa of Psionics female [[UnfortunateImplications as they would be gentle]]. After offending both side of the gender fence with stereotypical gender roles in a series that usually avoids genderization and [[NoHuggingNoKissing romance]] [[WordOfGod like the plague]], it's understandable that he's taking a bit of a break. Fans would probably be happier if he did a few Ret Cons while he's at it (or at least agreed to never touch upon the issue ever again).

** It was a case of TheyJustDidntCare/ DidNotDoTheResearch on the movie writers' part. Greg refers to it as a political alliance, so I presume it's only people in power who do it. It's pretty unlikely that we'll see any other "marriages", though. Greg would probably prefer to pretend it didn't happen.

** You Are. The Mohtrek erases all memories of the future that they were brought into.

*** The later, because while an evil god is impressive, a god has a certain amount of power and that's it. [[Manga/DeathNote An evil godslaying mortal on the other hand…]] Well that's the whole premise of a [[LordofLight Roger Zelazny book.]]

* [[spoiler: It bugs me how the BigBad Makuta Teridax was finally killed. You'd think that a [[XanatosGambit Xanatos gambling]] MagnificentBastard like him would meet his end in a more honorable manner, rather than being simply banged on the head by a moon. Perhaps it's just the comic that makes it look so un-epic, since the gigantic moon (the water planet of Aqua Magna) was drawn to look like an everyday asteroid the size of his head. Seeing a whole planet bear down on him would have looked much better. Of course, that raises the question: How did he not see or sense it coming, given that he had been staring upward just seconds prior to that?]]

*** Check ''Time Trap''. The Toa Metru were created because Mata Nui had been attacked and needed some help with getting the Matoran of Metru Nui to safety. Also, in response to the main question and the brain activity thing, first of all, although the genre shift did seem a bit drastic to me, I quite enjoyed learning all about the history and workings of the MU. As explained by [[WordOfGod Greg]], being kept in the dark about everything may in theory preserve a sense of "mysticism", but after a while it really starts to get annoying. Keeping secrets isn't cool, y'know. I, at least, am quite satisfied with the story, even if the Mata Nui island setting always appealed to me the most. And just saying [[OneMoreDay "it's magic, I don't have to explain it"]] is an even more surefire way to piss people off, something that the [[SpiderMan Spider-Man]] fandom should be able to explain quite well. Personally, though, this is one thing I'm fine not having explained- I see it as kinda like how elemental powers and Kanohi and everything exist, and file it under [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief willing suspension of disbelief]]- something that we should have in spades for a series like this. (BTW, sorry for sounding so bitchy, I've followed the series for a long time and tend to get kinda defensive about it.)

*** IMO, I thought Teridax's [[MagnificentBastard magnificent bastard]] persona was handled quite well. Original Makuta was just a generic [[EldrichAbomination eldrich abomination]] with a badass introduction in the MNOLG. The whole eldrich angle even kinda suffered a bit in 2003-2004; he went from writhing mass of shadow and hate to generic armored titan dude who got beaten by ''losing a game of Kolhii'', hired mercenaries, had trouble controlling his own powers, and couldn't even win against a single Toa of Fire (which kinda kills the whole "weak god, not powerful godslayer" angle presented above- besides, far weaker mortals have been shown killing far stronger gods in plenty of other stories). After Web of Shadows, though, Teridax went from always-failing ancient Satanic god to a ridiculously powerful and smart former admin of the universe, one that took any and all failures in his stride, played all sides to his advantage alone, and actually managed to replace the god he took down, while his failures in turn became somewhat more believable- despite his wicked planning skillz, he's still mortal, and can make mistakes. The series as a whole proved he was not infallible; getting crushed by the door, getting mauled by the League and Hydraxon, the Metru imprisoning him in protodermis- all that was him actually being defeated. He just ended up getting better eventually. As for the bit about doing in the wizard, well, check my answer to the question before this one (it's the one mentioning Spider-Man and One More Day). Ooh, and before I forget- sorry for being so bitchy. I get kinda touchy when it comes to BIONICLE. :(

*** ... Why would it be the best method, when they showed us a far more effective and efficient way instead?

*** A related reason The Yesterday Quest has taken so long to update may have to do with another backlash. The characters for this serial were determined by the fans through a poll. They were given 8 options for what powers the characters would have (and as many fans know the powers carry certain character defining characteristics, such as gender, [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience coloration]], and cookie cutter personalities (YMMV on the last one)) and were told to pick their favorite 6. Not only were fans enamored with the chance to finally subvert [[TheSmurfettePrinciple The Smurfette Principle]] by choosing both of the female options given, but also the fact that the female options were Lightning AND Psionics made them favorites among Iron, Magnetism, Plasma, etc. so clearly fans were voting for them more than most of the others. However, for whatever reason (The common theory being that [[UnfortunateImplications Greg prefers writing for males than females]]) Greg decided to change one of the females into a male to fit the standard 5 males and 1 female team that many fans had been decrying as formulaic. This in turn completely tossed out the rule made years before that "People of Element X are ONLY Gender Y" where he had constantly been telling people that there were NO EXCEPTIONS (except for the Av-Matoran which got enough backlash for subverting the rule to begin with). Needless to say, the fans weren't amused, especially since he didn't announce it before the serial was released resulting in it feeling underhanded. However, [[ItGotWorse it got worse]]. He quickly responded to the issue with the second chapter which had a conversation between two characters on why Orde was male (In a series where gender is strictly cosmetic and a device to allow us to connect to the characters (don't ask why there are genders to begin with, you won't get anywhere)) which resulted in an explanation that he was the first Toa of Psionics and [[UnfortunateImplications his destructive male tendencies]] caused the Great Beings to make the Matoran and Toa of Psionics female [[UnfortunateImplications as they would be gentle]]. After offending both side of the gender fence with stereotypical gender roles in a series that usually avoids genderization and [[NoHuggingNoKissing romance]] [[WordOfGod like the plague]], it's understandable that he's taking a bit of a break. Fans would probably be happier if he did a few Ret Cons while he's at it (or at least agreed to never touch upon the issue ever again).

* A couple of things about the web serials bug me too. For example, the fact that Greg Farshtey writes them spontaneously, mostly without any planning. While I get it that this way, he doesn't have to "force" the characters into certain situations, and that it poses a bigger challenge for his writing skills (of which YourMileageMayVary), but some of the random stuff he comes up with don't seem to fit all that well into the ongoing story. These include, for example: the [[AlternateUniverse alternate]] Teridax, the shadow Takanuva army, Vezon's crazy adventures through time and space... all plotlines that, up to now, haven't been tied up, or even ''looked upon''. Then there's the alliance between the Shadowed One and the Barraki, the Shadowed One's plans with the viruses he "found", the fate of the rogue Barraki Takadox, Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Toa Hagah, Lewa's body-switch... And with this year's web serials suffering from serious "handicaps" (new chapters come whenever Greg finds time to write them, which doesn't happen as often as in past years... lack of planning?), I fear these plotlines will find their way into future stories, and make them seem even more disorganized. I would have preferred cleaner, less convulsed serials. I'm not against the notion that these side-stories could in fact overshadow the main plot, but if you've got so many things going on at once, you ought to have at least a ''bit'' foresight.

*** None of the other Makuta are as skilled as him. And what's scarier, god's evil brother or [[DeathNote a non-god who nevertheless took god down and has a vast organization of similar beings to back him up?]]
*** The later, because while an evil god is impressive, a god has a certain amount of power and that's it. [[DeathNote An evil godslaying mortal on the other hand…]] Well that's the whole premise of a [[LordofLight Roger Zelazny book.]]

*** None of the other Makuta are as skilled as him. And what's scarier, god's evil brother or a non-god who nevertheless took god down and has a vast organization of similar beings to back him up?

** I see Greg as being quite aware of Bionicle's glaring gender issues, but he sees himself as being unable to do much about it. It wasn't his decision to have genders assigned to the elements, and he has stated that it probably would have been better if they hadn't. The backstory about the Great Beings making the genders the way they did seems to be Greg's way of [[RealitySubtext acknowledging]] that the story team didn't think things through, and that their decisions were informed by outdated gender stereotypes. As for Orde... I don't think I will ever understand why Greg did it. He has been known to forget certain story details, so I suppose we can give him the benefit of the doubt. But if that is the case, I honestly wish he'd just admitted it and gone back and edited the chapter. Another problem Greg seems to have with female characters is that he avoids stereotypes, but he uses the averted stereotypes as a substitute for complex characterisation, meaning that a female character's gender is [[MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial still one of the most important things about her]].