I could look at Garrett's two henchmen, Shane and Maev, and say these two feel like replacement Freddie and Maddy. Same general character description (minus the fact that Freddie couldn't speak). Same powers, just switched. Same basic role to Garrett. And they die in almost the exact same way-- in a shoot out on a street, pinned down behind some cars, after Garrett's "partner" abruptly turns on him, one of the two dies immediately to kick off the shoot out, the other lasts slightly longer. And on the one hand, part of me wants to say that's lazy writing. They just basically reused the same side characters and recreated the same plot point.
But on the other hand, I can look at that and read it as intentional. Freddie and Maddy were Garrett's crew, his guys. And he cared about them (the most tender moment we see from Garrett in either film, is when he's holding Freddie as he dies). So after their deaths, as he's building his empire, he surrounds himself with people who remind him of them (whom, we are shown, he also cares about). And while these people are people that Garrett genuinely wants to help and protect, the dichotomy of Garrett is that he also is selfish and wants power and money and falls back on violence and corrupt dealings to get those things. So the two shootouts (one killing Freddie and Maddy, one killing Shane and Maev) represent the cycle of violence. Garrett thinks he can have it both ways; be both a "man of the people" standing up and providing something for people with powers, and make deals to serve his own power and status. But when he makes those corrupt deals, he might make it out alive but the people he wanted to protect do not (except for Connor). And the pattern repeats again at the movie's climax, and was perhaps preceded by whatever happened to his brothers. So Garrett's crew helps to demonstrate the cycle that Garrett is stuck in-- in part because of the system, but equally because of his own guilt-- but which Connor and Pav are fighting to break.
just watched the code 8 movies and I'm so mad I didn't know about this before?? literally 2 scifi action movie no romance subplot, well fleshed characters, world building and compelling plot???
I didn't even remember Code 8 pt 2 had come out recently, I was scourging for it a few years ago bc i wanted to know if there was any continuation to it. And holy shit?? The ending??? Izjdjvhdjfb
Glad Pav got to live her life and recovered though. :'] also loving how Connor stepped up properly to help her and was quite protective of her after he realized what was to happen.
This Sci-Fi Thriller about enhanced individuals being treated like second rate citizens is a bit of a slow burn... but the story was good enough to keep me interested until the final moments.
Was privileged to attend the official Netflix premiere of Code 8 part 2. I thought it was great! Not going to change the world but when it comes to superpowers vs cool robots, it's got a lot of punch! Great acting, pacing, music, sound effects and of course, VFX. But then I am a bit biased regarding that last point 😉
It starts on the 28th so I recommend checking it out!