Credits to Munyn_
I can't even describe this in words, it's just so well choreographed (arguably better than the canon fight we have) Thank you for blessing my eyes Munyn, you are goated ❤️
Following my previous post about H4CK3R and TDL being poorly written, I made this one to address how downplayed H4CK3R is, primarily in his fight against TDL. I made this post to show how the fight could've been closer than what was shown in canon. This also ties back to my original point:
If H4CK3R wasn't written to be more reckless or emotionally unstable during the fight, there is no strong in-universe reason as to why many of his abilities go unused or applied inconsistently.
I will also be mentioning abilities that he used, and used in that specific way, so that the argument of him being "inexperienced" doesn't work. i.e, i won't be mentioning arguments like: "forming his own stickfigure armor with the barriers to be invulnerable to TDL's attacks completely"
Even if the blue energy blasts aren't that overwhelmingly powerful, the energy-enhanced punches clearly are.
H4CK3R was able to crack the computer screen in a single punch. The final punch that broke through the cursor left a huge crack on the screen. Something that previously withstood a hit ( with no damage ) from the giant hammer H4CK3R summoned.
Meanwhile, TDL was shown to take damage (even if it's just slightly ) by regular swords.
It is used the same way H4CK3R selects things in Episode 13, it has to be aimed. It was shown clearly in the fight-- with him throwing debris and even buildings towards TDL, but he could have used this version against TDL himself. Even if the targets can move within the selection box and potentially dodge it, the ability provides very strong control and setup potential, and it brings me to the next ability.
As you can see, H4CK3R didn't need to aim, it was like he selected TCO with his mind.
Same power, but for the doors in Episode 13.
The two types of telekinesis used simultaneously, for comparison.
This telekinesis works the same as the first variant, except it can be used without even needing to aim. The only thing that possibly makes it weaker than the first Telekinesis, was that TCO could still move while being selected. ( depending on how we interpret the first variant telekinesis ) However, it won't matter if you consider the third ability he could pair this telekinesis with.
H4CK3R possesses a better version of Agent's time-stop. It isn't a projectile, rather it pauses / un-pauses whoever H4CK3R selects. When paired with either form of telekinesis, this becomes a win-condition for H4CK3R.
H4CK3R with 4 clones of himself, all using telekinesis and flight.
These are clones of H4CK3R that are vastly better than the ones he used in the fight against TDL. There are no clearly established drawbacks that justify choosing weaker clones in a high-stakes fight, aside from speculations such as "it severely drains his powers" when he only got exhausted by building the machine, not the clones.
These clones would've been far more effective and logical if it was paired with abilities that allow H4CK3R to actually deal meaningful damage. They serve as a distraction while H4CK3R tries to take TDL down with heavy-hitting surprise attacks.
This is undoubtedly the thing that confused me the most. Yes, you can argue that H4CK3R had no idea about this power before his death, and he only did it under TDL's influence and control.
But the argument of "he could only do it because of the deletion powers TDL gave him after his revival" isn't logical. The red deletion particles aren't only correlated to TDL, the same way that the green life particles aren't only correlated to TSC.
Yes, this ability was only used by H4CK3R after he was mind controlled, but it doesn't change the fact he still could use it, and how there isn't any clear evidence it came from "TDL's buff"
but anyway, with all these abilities in mind, you would think the fight should've been closer. It wasn't inexperience that made H4CK3R lose. If he never displayed the abilities I listed here, then he absolutely used ALL his abilities to his full potential. However, that's exactly the issue. He was using his weaker abilities properly, and he was using his strongest abilities illogically.
H4CK3R could've time-paused TDL here and won the fight
H4CK3R could've selected TDL here instead of the pipes
H4CK3R could've used his energy-enhanced punches here during the barrage of punches.
H4CK3R could've used his energy-enhanced punches here too.
The fight looked cool, flashy, and definitely well choreographed. The issue is that H4CK3R doesn't reflect a consistent level of competence in how his abilities are used.
He demonstrates enough control ( even if angry or panicked ) to use certain abilities effectively, yet other abilities, many of which could have been impactful, are either ignored or sub-optimally applied.
This creates a huge disconnect between what he is shown to be capable of, and how the fight plays out. As a result of this, the outcome feels less like a natural conclusion of the fight, and more like a fight that required H4CK3R's options to make it happen.
Before I say start, it is probably the coolest fight in the entire series. It felt something out of an anime, and purely on a choreography standpoint, it works almost flawlessly.
But narratively? I think it's one of the worst fights in the series. I say that with love and respect, because I had such high expectations for a fight that looked AWESOME.
I will be discussing two things I had issues with starting with
The fight felt EXTREMELY disconnected from how it was building up, which sucks since I was hyped on how they revealed the plot twist.
Having H4CK3R figure out it was TDL, and that one look of pure rage (check 1st image) had me on the edge of my seat.
I was so pumped when he followed it up with JUST a punch. NO powers, NO abilities, it was just an impulsive, rage-driven punch.
But for me, the hype died down after he summoned a sword, and did a samurai pose with it.
You see, lets not forget how the situation looks through H4CK3R's perspective. He just discovered that the person "helping" him, was the same person who MURDERED HIS WIFE, AND DECIEVED HIM.
H4CK3R in the entire fight, did not feel angry at all. He felt too tactical and reactive, so I can't even excuse his loss as being "rage-driven" because it did NOT feel that way. From how the fight was building up, I expected H4CK3R to go full offense. No tactics, no restraint. Just pure reckless aggression.
It genuinely felt like the storyboard directors on the fight had no idea about the plot, and were just told to make a really cool fight scene. ( no offense to them, they did absolutely great on the choreography. )
H4CK3R's abilities are so incredibly inconsistent, that I can't excuse the outcome with anything BUT plot armor for TDL.
And the funny thing is? I actually knew TDL would win, even if I was rooting for H4CK3R. But not in this half-assed way where it disregards almost every powerful ability H4CK3R could've used.
Where did H4CK3R's blue energy beams and punches go? ( check image 2-4 )
Why couldn't H4CK3R just select TDL and slam him into the buildings, instead of the other way around? We see him do this to the cursor, we know he can select stickfigures, move them, and EVEN CRUSH THEM.
And even if we go with feats from that episode alone, why didn't H4CK3R make more powerful clones? Like.. the two clones he summoned that helped him build the Machine. Why couldn't he summon clones like that, instead of fodder sword clones?
But that isn't even my main point. It doesn't matter if these attacks couldn't work on TDL, what matters is that he should've TRIED. Which he didn't.
The argument "He was too angry to think properly" doesn't even help, because as a viewer, he didn't FEEL that way in the fight. I could point out exact moments, but the "anger" basically disappears after the first few attacks with the sword. After that, it was just reactive and defensive actions. You can even pinpoint moments where H4CK3R actually stopped, and thought of something rational, like when he turned off TDL's pyrokinesis.
It genuinely sucks, because this fight could've been the second "King Orange vs Herobrine" fight, for the AvA universe. I could explain how that fight works so well, but there's a YT video that does it for me, check it out if you haven't already, it's actually peak. ( i forgot the title of it tho, lol )
But you know what could've fixed the fight and ALL of its problems?
If it leaned more onto H4CK3R's rage. That's it.
If H4CK3R was simply shown to:
Fight irrationally and violently
Almost always on offense, never defense
Use his powers inefficiently or even just more of the blue energy H4CK3R has,
Then:
It fixes the emotional mismatch between the story and the fight. It sends the message that he was undoubtedly blinded by rage
it expresses the reason behind his defeat much more clearer, instead of H4CK3R just being exhausted. He CLEARLY uses his powers wrong due to anger, instead of "forgetting" some of his powers that he used MAYBE an hour ago in canon.
it also makes TDL's win much more justified, without removing H4CK3R's competence. TDL is calm and collected, manipulative and still powerful.
TLDR ; the fight was lackluster in terms of narrative payoff. H4CK3R should've been more offensive instead of reactive, which supports the main reason of his loss ( blinded by rage to think properly ).
I'd love to know what you guys think, because this is something that was on my mind for a while.
