[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.55,0:00:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Your face is too dark
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.23,0:00:03.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for my sensors to --"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.60,0:00:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Bitch, I'm black and I'm proud."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.67,0:00:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Tell your sensors to calibrate that."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.46,0:00:10.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I have no reference for "black."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.52,0:00:13.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"No. Of course you don't."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.03,0:00:23.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In our hyper-connected world,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.26,0:00:25.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where most of us carry around handheld devices
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.93,0:00:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that keep us linked to the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.30,0:00:28.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,internet at all times
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.85,0:00:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tech companies monitor our behavior
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.22,0:00:32.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and purchasing habits constantly,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.76,0:00:34.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a game in which you harness that
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.37,0:00:36.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,technological web to disrupt
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.69,0:00:38.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the schemes of powerful corporations~
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.46,0:00:40.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,makes perfect sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.06,0:00:42.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But with 2014's Watch Dogs,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.27,0:00:44.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ubisoft failed to turn this premise
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.25,0:00:46.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into a compelling game.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.37,0:00:47.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Watch Dogs 2 makes some meaningful
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.67,0:00:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,improvements on its predecessor.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.35,0:00:51.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It gives us a more memorable hero
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.58,0:00:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and supporting cast,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.72,0:00:54.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a San Francisco that exudes a
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.43,0:00:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bit more more personality
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.70,0:00:57.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the first games' setting did.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.82,0:01:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, Watch Dogs 2 still fails
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.26,0:01:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it matters most:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.67,0:01:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trotting out a series of crushingly-repetitive
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.40,0:01:06.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,missions that never come close to making you feel
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.97,0:01:08.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a hacker extraordinaire.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.92,0:01:11.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nearly every main story mission
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.03,0:01:13.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has you infiltrating some heavily-guarded facility
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.98,0:01:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or another, in order to steal something,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.32,0:01:17.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or hack something,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.51,0:01:19.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and once you find a strategy that works for you,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.81,0:01:22.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's very easy to fall into a pattern of approaching
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.53,0:01:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of these missions in more or less the same way.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.69,0:01:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your character, Marcus Holloway,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.23,0:01:29.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can't take much punishment,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.15,0:01:31.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the environments are filled with enemies
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.35,0:01:33.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who will immediately call for more reinforcements
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.66,0:01:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at any sign of trouble --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.31,0:01:37.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you're discouraged from relying on the
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.06,0:01:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all-out, guns-blazing approach.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.69,0:01:41.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This makes sense in a game that wants you
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.46,0:01:43.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to use your hacker abilities to tackle
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.11,0:01:44.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the situations you're faced with,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.84,0:01:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because failure in this game can be
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.75,0:01:47.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so punishing,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.92,0:01:49.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and send you back so far,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.45,0:01:51.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tended to complete most missions
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.04,0:01:52.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using the same tactic;
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.89,0:01:55.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the core of my strategy was hanging back,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.72,0:01:57.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hacking into the building's security systems,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.98,0:01:59.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and picking off the enemies who could call
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.88,0:02:02.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for reinforcements one-by-one,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.25,0:02:04.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by forging criminal records and having the police
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.77,0:02:07.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,come in and arrest or kill them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.15,0:02:09.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was passive and often tedious,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.54,0:02:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it got the job done.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.44,0:02:12.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, sometimes it's a strength
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.93,0:02:15.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when a game punishes you for failure.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.00,0:02:16.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In games with precise combat,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.75,0:02:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the prospect of a significant setback
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.75,0:02:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can raise the stakes,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.14,0:02:22.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,encouraging you to master the mechanics,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.07,0:02:25.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and making your victories all the more rewarding.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.17,0:02:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Watch Dogs 2 is no such game.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.58,0:02:29.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is no Dark Souls.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.23,0:02:31.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a by-the-numbers, open world game
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.62,0:02:34.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with mediocre gun play and systems that interact
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.35,0:02:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so erratically, that all you can do is try to
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.42,0:02:38.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,manage them well enough to complete
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.90,0:02:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your objective and get out alive.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.09,0:02:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As shabby as the mission design is,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.52,0:02:45.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the game deserves some credit for its
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.21,0:02:47.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,obviously well-intentioned efforts to acknowledge
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.57,0:02:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the existence of structural racism.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.22,0:02:52.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At one point, the young black protagonist, Marcus,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.57,0:02:55.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,discusses the racial profiling tactics that
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.32,0:02:57.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tagged him as a criminal risk.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.27,0:02:58.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And his brother-in-arms, Horatio,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.79,0:03:01.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose day job is at the Google stand-in, "Nudle,"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.90,0:03:04.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,comments frankly on the racism and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.06,0:03:07.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,condencension he experiences as one of the only
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.01,0:03:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people of color in an
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.20,0:03:09.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,overwhelmingly-white company.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.97,0:03:10.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You haven't experienced
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.95,0:03:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,corporate life until you're the only brother
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.08,0:03:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a meeting and have to represent
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.74,0:03:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of blackdom."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.58,0:03:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Jesus!"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.60,0:03:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The presence of Miranda
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.75,0:03:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a black trans councilwoman
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.27,0:03:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who does what she can
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.60,0:03:23.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help Marcus and his colleagues
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.23,0:03:25.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the hacker collective known as "DedSec"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.31,0:03:26.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is also welcome.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.96,0:03:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the other hand,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.98,0:03:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Latinx people in Watch Dogs 2 are
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.95,0:03:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,primarily represented as the most clichéd
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.31,0:03:34.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kinds of gang members imaginable.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.37,0:03:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As important as it is that games give us heroes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.76,0:03:39.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and supporting characters who break from
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.07,0:03:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the long-established molds,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.60,0:03:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's more to great characterization than
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.80,0:03:44.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply ticking off a few boxes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.57,0:03:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on a diversity checklist.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.31,0:03:48.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Watch Dogs 2 falls short here.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.63,0:03:50.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Its characters relate to each other more in
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.85,0:03:53.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,geek, sci-fi references and cheesy one-liners,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.96,0:03:56.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than in anything that actually reveals to us
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.20,0:03:57.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who they are,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.37,0:03:59.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what makes them tick.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.13,0:04:01.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's hard to get invested in their struggle
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.00,0:04:03.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and their relationships with each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.23,0:04:05.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Come on, Wesley Crusher! Launch waits!"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.47,0:04:07.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Bitch, please. I'm clearly Sisko."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.56,0:04:09.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Jake Sisko?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.29,0:04:10.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"CAPTAIN Sisko."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.90,0:04:13.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The San Francisco setting of Watch Dogs 2
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.31,0:04:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is recognizable but doesn't feel authentic --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.06,0:04:17.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,despite being packed with landmarks
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.99,0:04:19.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and familiar locations,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.41,0:04:22.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including San Francisco's greatest treasure
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.09,0:04:24.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the sea lions down at Pier 39.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.80,0:04:26.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's great to see Pride flags flying in
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.77,0:04:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,certain spots around the city,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.23,0:04:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Watch Dogs 2 makes no effort
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.07,0:04:31.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to minimize or deny the existence of
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.49,0:04:33.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,SF's queer community.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.33,0:04:35.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for all that, the game's concerns
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.73,0:04:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel oddly detached from the real issues
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.14,0:04:40.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that face San Francisco today.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.36,0:04:41.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Graffiti that reads
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.04,0:04:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"ARTISTS USED TO LIVE HERE"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.69,0:04:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,poignantly speaks to the fact that
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.94,0:04:47.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,entire communities are being driven out of the city
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.22,0:04:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as tech companies make life here unsustainable
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.34,0:04:51.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for so many.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.59,0:04:53.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the occasional passerby may make mention
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.60,0:04:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the gentrification that's taking place:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.70,0:04:58.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Super gentrification! It's wretched!"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.66,0:05:00.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So why isn't DedSec using its power
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.27,0:05:02.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stand up for marginalized communities?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.70,0:05:05.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why isn't DedSec fighting for affordable housing,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.54,0:05:07.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and fighting against the police injustice
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.98,0:05:10.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that specifically targets people of color?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.100,0:05:11.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why not confront the things
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.100,0:05:13.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are really happening here?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.93,0:05:15.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The things that really matter to
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.58,0:05:18.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the people who call San Francisco home?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.63,0:05:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps the strangest thing of all
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.24,0:05:21.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about Watch Dogs 2, though,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.68,0:05:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is its uneasy relationship with power.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.52,0:05:26.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ostensibly, DedSec is all about
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.55,0:05:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,waking up the populace,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.12,0:05:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,getting them to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.50,0:05:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how power is abused by politicians,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.01,0:05:34.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tech companies, and government agencies
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.40,0:05:35.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to limit people's freedom
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.61,0:05:38.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think and act for themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.04,0:05:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what DedSec never does,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.04,0:05:42.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is turn that questioning lens on its own use
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.66,0:05:44.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and abuse, of power.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.33,0:05:46.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was never lost on me that,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.57,0:05:48.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,playing as a young black man
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.03,0:05:50.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had been profiled as a likely criminal
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.09,0:05:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of his race,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.06,0:05:53.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I then harnessed the power of techonology
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.58,0:05:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to forge criminal records for dozens and dozens
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.30,0:05:58.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of innocent people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.43,0:06:00.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and watched them get marched off
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.37,0:06:01.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the cops themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.95,0:06:03.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But hey, what was I gonna do?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.78,0:06:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a mission to complete.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.66,0:06:08.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We will not stand idle while that happens."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.30,0:06:10.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"DedSec has given you the truth."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.41,0:06:12.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Do what you will."