Prepare to be interlinked with one of the best sci-fi films of the 21st century. Blade Runner 2049! Despite its initial lack of recognition at the box office, this masterpiece has slowly but surely built a devoted following, making it one of the most underrated sci-fi films of our time. In a world where blockbuster hits rule, Blade Runner 2049 dares to challenge the status quo with its thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human, to be real, and to have a unique identity. Get ready to delve into a world of philosophy and breathtaking cinematography, Blade Runner 2049.
Baseline Test, don’t be an individual.
The Baseline Test, an updated version of the Voight-Kampff test from the original Blade Runner film, plays a pivotal role in Blade Runner 2049. In this dystopian future, replicants – artificial beings engineered to resemble humans and used as slaves – are easily identified thanks to serial codes embedded throughout their bodies. However, the Wallace Corporation has implemented the Baseline Test as a means of detecting replicants who are beginning to deviate from their programmed behavior.
Since replicants were designed to be stronger and more agile than humans, any signs of individuality or emotions are considered a threat to society. The Baseline Test is a series of short sentences designed to provoke an emotional response from the replicant being tested. Even the slightest change in breathing, sweat, or speaking can indicate that the replicant is affected by the test.
If a replicant fails the Baseline Test, they are deemed rogue and a danger to society. Here’s the complete text from the first Baseline Test scene in Blade Runner 2049.
Baseline Test
Recite your baseline And blood-black nothingness began to spin A system of cells interlinked within Cells interlinked within cells interlinked Within one stem. And dreadfully distinct Against the dark, a tall white fountain played Cells. Cells Have you ever been in an institution? Cells. Cells Do they keep you in a cell? Cells. Cells When youre not performing your duties do they keep you in a little box? Cells. Cells Interlinked. Interlinked What's it like to hold the hand of someone you love? Interlinked. Interlinked Do they teach you how to feel finger to finger? Interlinked. Interlinked Do you long for having your heart interlinked? Interlinked. Interlinked Do you dream about being interlinked? Interlinked What's it like to hold you child in your arms? Interlinked. Interlinked Do you feel that there's a part of you that's missing? Interlinked. Interlinked Within cells interlinked. Within cells interlinked. Why don't you say that three times? Within cells interlinked. Within cells interlinked. Within cells interlinked. Within cells interlinked.
What is Interlinked?
In the dystopian world of Blade Runner, the word “interlinked” echoes through the Baseline Test like a haunting refrain. Other words included in the full version of the test are “system”, “cells”, “stem”, “dreadfully”, “distinct”, “dark”, and “fountain”. While the film only shows bits of the full test, “interlinked” is portrayed as one of the most frequently used words. This emphasizes the importance of emotional detachment in replicants.
The ability to say “interlinked” without feeling anything is a measure of their compliance with their programming. Cells within cells within cells illustrate the intricate yet singular nature of replicants, as they are designed to be nothing more than parts of a larger system. Through its expression of emptiness, the word “interlinked” encapsulates the synthetic and sterile existence that is demanded of the replicants.
Interestingly, fans of Blade Runner in TikTok have recently embraced the word “interlinked” in their phrases, such as “Real. (interlinked)” and “He’s literally me (interlinked)”. This usage implies a relatable sense of emptiness and loneliness, presented in a lighter tone than that portrayed by Agent K in Blade Runner 2049. Which is definitely relatable after watching the masterpiece of a movie. It showed the film’s impact and ability to resonate with audiences.
Read more here to learn more about Ryan Gosling’s internet trend “I Am Literally Ryan Gosling” Takes over the Internet – Retro Canister
Pale Fire
In the film, a book reference to Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov is briefly shown. This novel consists of a 999-line poem, and it is from this poem that the Baseline Test in Blade Runner 2049 is derived. Specifically, the test is derived from line 700 of the book.
I cant tell you how I knew – but I did know that I had crossed The border. Everything I loved was lost But no aorta could report regret. A sun of rubber was convulsed and set; And blood-black nothingness began to spin A system of cells interlinked within Cells interlinked within cells interlinked Within one stem. And dreadfully distinct Against the dark, a tall white fountain played.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
Blade Runner 2049 is a profound exploration of the concept of identity, building on the original film’s examination of humanity. The sequel shifts its focus to the identity of beings and the essence of true existence. One of the major twists in the film is the revelation that Agent K, who was believed to be the miraculous offspring of a replicant mother, is actually just a clone of the real child. Agent K’s purpose was to act as a decoy and keep Ana Stelline, the real child, safe and hidden from the government. The film follows Agent K as he uncovers the secrets of his memories, which he believed to be real, only to find out that they were implanted from the real daughter’s memories. This realization devastates Agent K as he comes to terms with the fact that he wasn’t special, he wasn’t born, and the idea that being born is to have a soul is not applicable to him as he was made all along.
Throughout Blade Runner 2049, the audience is confronted with complex questions about Agent K’s identity. Was he born like a human, or was he simply another obedient replicant? Does the source of our memories shape our identity, or is there more to it? These questions are addressed throughout the film, leaving viewers to ponder their significance long after the credits have rolled.
One significant distinction between the genetic twins is that one was real and the other was not. Agent K was the fake one, yet if we take a closer look at how their lives were lived, it was Agent K who truly experienced what it is to truly live. He fell in love, fought for what he believed in, discovered and learned, and lived a life that was genuine. These experiences made him more real than his supposed real twin.
On the final scene, Ana Stelline, unlike Agent K, was confined to a lab, a world devoid of the human experience. The synthetic snow she touches is only a taste of the outside world she never got to have. In contrast, Agent K, the replica, experiences the frigid touch of real snowflakes falling on his skin. It’s this contrast that makes him more real than his genetic twin, for he has experienced the fullness of life with all its ups and downs.
Blade Runner 2049 delves into numerous thought-provoking themes, but the exploration of one’s identity lingers in the mind long after the credits have rolled. The film challenges viewers to ponder what it truly means to be real and to have a unique identity, questioning if the journey to discovering oneself is worth the effort. This theme is weaved throughout the film, leaving a lasting impact on the audience and inspiring deep contemplation about the nature of existence.
