Synopsis:

I’ve always loved the philosophical questions that the Blade Runner world poses. So I was very excited for Black Lotus, but ended up feeling frustrated at the end of almost every episode in season one, despite so many positives. Odd pacing in dialogue, weak writing, and an overall slow pace. The flashback episode was excruciating. After accepting that it is what it is, I tried to make the best of what we got.

Intentions:

Bad Movies Made Less Bad Presents: Tightened dialogue, less flashbacks, and less “Junior.”

Change List:

Main Changes: • High quality fine film grain added by @iNightmares • Show, don’t tell philosophy in effect. • Flashbacks minimized. • Dialogue and pacing trimmed when possible. (Some continuous shots were unavoidable) Any fat that could be trimmed to reduce overall runtime without sacrificing story was removed. • Fight scenes trimmed to remove as many lame fight sequences as possible. • Wallace Junior isn’t revealed until Wallace Senior is killed. • No actual confirmation who commands Marlow, but its implied that Blade Runners are dispatched by Wallace, not Police Chief Grant. • Memory themes minimized in default to revenge plot theme. • Jay’s contact with Wallace Junior is hidden until their phone call after Elle’s memory wipe. • Jay’s flashback story minimized to it’s principles, that Jay wants revenge on Marlow. • White Lotus is first revealed when she is infiltrating the Memory Maker’s lab. • Davis doesn’t make it through alive in this season one edit. (If they make a season 2, I’ll adjust her demise.) • There is a separate post-credit vignette “2039 : Nexus Dawn” that has been trimmed to focus directly on legalizing obedient replicants and truly bridge Black Lotus and 2049. Cuts and Additions: Episode 1 • New Adult Swim Intro • New Credits Animation from @thetveditor • Removed Series Intro • Removed some of Elle’s flashback, leaving only the eye shot. • Removed date and location card, added official title card for the edit • Removed Elle getting knocked down by a passerby in the city, moved “This is all wrong” to when she is first looking around. • Removed the shot of Elle with the neon storefront right behind her, across from the diner. After so many years, things would have changed it a little… so let’s draw less attention to it. • Removed Elle talking to diner owner about her tech • Removed Gang Leader line “Aww, what's a nice girl like you doing with a tat like that?” • Removed Elle discussing the daytime darkness • Removed Doc and Elle’s dialogue ”Ah, now that is something”, and “I don’t have any money. I should have known. Well I think I’ve had enough trouble for one day. I’m afraid I can’t help you.” • Re-edited Elle and Doc’s dialogue about the tech not being Elle’s. • Removed continuity issue where there is a closeup shot of Elle getting ready but her nose is unharmed. • Removed Gang Leader line “She can’t hide forever” • Bumped up some of the punch and kick SFX during the fight • Tightened Elle’s reaction before her flashback • Removed some of the “Blimp Advert” after Elle fights the gang. After so many years, they would have changed it a little… so let’s draw less attention to it. • Shortened Doc looking at the tech before Elle returns • Removed Doc looking for Jay. Now he just walks right into his home. Episode 2 • Tightened Jay first looking at the tech • Removed Davis interaction at the diner • Tightened Elle following Senator Banister • Trimmed some shots of the boxers that highlight the bad CGI • Trimmed Elle walking into the club, and some of her walking through • Added more crowd sound during Elle fight with Bannister’s guards • Removed Bannister yelling “Kill him!” • Added crowd chanting “Kill him” • Removed Junior and Senior Wallace talking • Tightened Davis’ interaction with Elle outside the club • Vfx to remove Junior.. Senior puts a game piece on the Go board in the room alone now, and receives the news about Bannister from… someone. Episode 3 • Tightened Elle coming to • Tightened some of Jay and Elle’s discussion • Tightened Davis and Drove’s scene, removing Davis fighting anyone but Drove • Slightly tightened Elle and Jay’s “replicant discussion” scene. • Removed VK questions about Elle’s mom and boyfriend • Removed Wallace Senior and Junior scene • Tightened Davis’s interaction with Doc • Added sfx so Elle wakes to the sound of the computer tech • Tightened video footage Episode 4 • Tightened flashback to continue where the footage ends, instead of the full flashback story • Tightened Jay calming Elle down • Tightened Davis taking info to the Chief Episode 5 • Vfx and sfx to tighten Scene with Wallace Senior and the Chief moved up, manipulated to remove implications that the Chief directs the Blade Runners • Scene from Episode 5 of Junior playing Go from his lab while ignoring Senior trying to call him has been inserted here, with shot of Junior’s face removed. • Tightened Marlow calling into HQ • Removed scene of Elle finding Jay’s gun Episode 5 • Moved up Chief sending out the Police to search for Elle to before Jay offers her food • Removed Chief calling Marlow • Moved Elle and Jay discovering the Chief on the video footage to after Chief sends the force after Doc, so Jay gets the call after that. • Removed Jay’s last name when the Police say they found him at Doc Badger’s place Episode 6 • Removed Elle taking out guards a Chief’s residence • Removed Marlow talking to Chief • Tightened Elle’s fight with the Chief’s wife, vfx to tighten their discussion • Tightened Elle’s confrontation with the Chief • Tightened Elle’s confrontation with Marlow, removing some of their fight • Removed Elle’s experience after she is thrown from the explosion Episode 7 • Removed Junior Wallace confronting Senior Wallace • Tightened Davis confronting Jay • Beginning of Davis’ interrogation moved up to here, heavily trimmed. • Elle entering Dr. M’s lab tightened • Discussion by doctors about “an inconsistency” tightened • Tightened Elle fighting Dr. M Episode 8 • Davis’ interrogation is heavily trimmed to remove the flashbacks, we begin at the end of the session • Discussion in the desert tightened Episode 9 • Vfx to remove Junior cut out of scene with a panicking Senior, Go gameboard inserted • Edited dialogue between Jay and Elle to remove the “Senior” reference • Scene of Marlow looking over photos of Elle removed • Removed Jay talking on the phone • Tightened Elle’s infiltration of the Wallace Tower slightly • Tightened some of Elle’s fight with Marlow • Trimmed handprint sensor showing Junior reference • Tightened some of Wallace Senior and Elle confrontation Episode 10 • Jay’s flashback trimmed to just when Marlow shows up at the club, dialogue tightened • Elle’s flashback removed Episode 11 • Reveal of White Lotus removed • Tightened Doc welcoming Elle • Removed scene of Jay and White Lotus • Tightened Jay at the payphone, moved discussion with Davis to first • Removed Jay scene at the mirror Episode 12 • Tightened first fight between Elle and White Lotus • Removed shot of Davis disappearing after being stabbed • Removed first Jay flashback • Added rain visuals to the shot of Marlow’s car when Jay calls him. • Tightened Jay and Marlow confrontation to its core elements • Removed Jay dream with Elle Episode 13 • Tightened Elle and Junior’s discussion • Tightened Elle’s fight with White Lotus slightly • Tightened Junior finding Jay • Tightened Elle and Junior’s final confrontation • Removed Jay and Elle’s final emotional exchange • Removed Davis’ return to the office • Removed final Junior scene with reporter • Removed extra rider as Elle rides into sunset • Used the wonderful track by M83 “Us and The Rest” to close the story out, suggested by @Inightmares New end credit text animations by @thetveditor 2036 : Nexus Dawn Post Credits Scene • Tightened to remove discussion about the food solutions Junior created and simply focus on Wallace Junior with his new Angel and gaining legalization of replicants.

Additional Notes:

This edit was quite fun to do - the animation element allowed me to mash together two shots that were farther apart, allowing a lot more options for dialogue manipulation. Much of the tightening of scenes mentioned below are not simple cuts, but literal rotoscoped overlapping shots. Separate additional "2036 : Nexus Dawn" Post Credits Scene has been tightened to remove discussion about the food solutions Junior created and simply focus on Wallace Junior with his new Angel and gaining legalization of replicants.

Other Sources:

M83 “Us and The Rest”

Special Thanks:

One constant request on this edit from early viewers was the desire for film grain. Simpler methods like overlays never achieved more than a “muddying” of the look, and I never was happy with the results. However @inightmares took my edit and added high quality film grain with Topaz, as well as upscaling it to 4k. It looks absolutely amazing. (It would have took my computer over a year to process the same file at those settings) Also a big shoutout to @thetveditor for the new custom credit text effects. The few folks who have seen this movie have shared their passion and wanted to help make it even better, which I am completely grateful for.