Half-Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware

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Half-Life but the AI is Self-Aware
Released	March 5th, 2020 (first stream) March 9th, 2020 (first video)
Language	English
Based on	Half-Life
Production
Director	Wayneradiotv
Music	Aquacycle its3oe
Producer	Mike(spaghoner) MasterGir

 

"Don't f**k with the Science Team!"

―The catchphrase of the Science Team.

 

Half-Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware, also known as Half-Life VR: Self Aware AI (abbreviated 'HLVR: AI'), is a 2020 improv role-playing comedy machinima series created by Twitch streamer WayneRadioTV. It was originally streamed and archived on his Twitch channel, and uploaded to his YouTube channel in the form of highlights.

The YouTube edition of the series is split into 4 acts, with each act consisting of 2 parts; Act 3 is the only exception, being split into 3 parts.

The thumbnails and some of the merchandise artwork was made by Logblaster, who makes a cameo as Darnold in Act 4 Part 1.

Overview

The plot revolves around Gordon Freeman's journey through Half-Life's singleplayer campaign, with four 'AI-controlled' characters, 3 scientists: Dr. Coomer, Bubby, and Tommy, and a security guard named Benrey(or Benry).

The series takes place inside the video game Half-Life. Gordon is a real person playing the game in virtual reality. The rest of the characters are all artificial intelligence in the game, who at first don't know that they are inside a video game. Actors played the characters, who improvised plot points and interactions as they went along.

The series used enlarged ports of Half Life: Source extended maps played on a Garry's Mod server. Additional actors were employed as stagehands who would ensure technical components, such as map transitions and NPC spawns, worked as they should.

The full series' streams have been made available on the wayneradiotv ON DEMAND YouTube channel . No official playlist of these streams currently exists.

As of 26th of April, a new series of four streams covering all four acts, featuring commentary from the cast of HLVR: AI, began on the wayneradiotv Twitch channel. It includes full commentary of the Youtube edition of the series, exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at events from the perspective of Wayne's invisible stagehand Mike/Spaghoner, and a Q&A session where Twitch chat members could posit questions to the cast. The Act 1 stream was later edited to include a humourous introduction and uploaded to the wayneradiotv YouTube channel; it lacks the Q&A section of the original stream, but includes all other parts in full with minimal editing. Edited cuts of the other act commentaries will be coming "soon" according to the video's ending.

Credits

Directed by:

• WayneRadioTV

Produced by:

• Mike (spaghoner) (producer and stagehand)
• Gir (MasterGir) (producer)
• Lauren (saturdaynightslammasters) (stagehand for Act 4)
• Logmore (Logblaster) (stagehand for Act 4)

Art by:

• Logmore (Logblaster)

Music by:

• Aquacycle

Cast:

• WayneRadioTV as Gordon Freeman

• Holly (Hollowtones) as Dr. Harold Pontiff Coomer
• Gir (MasterGir) as Dr. Bubby
• Baaulp as Dr. Tommy Coolatta
• Scorpy (Socpens) as Benrey / Forzen / Skeleton
• Lauren (saturdaynightslammasters) as Sunkist Coolatta the Dog / Skeleton
• Logmore (Logblaster) as Dr. Darnold / Skeleton
• Mike (spaghoner) as The G-Man / Skeleton

Plot

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Act 1

Act 1: Part 1

Thumbnail for all of Act 1 and 2

Act 1 opens with Gordon, equipped in full HEV Suit, hurriedly approaching a doorway flanked by two Security Guards, one of whom approaches him and asks if he has his passport. Gordon, confused, offers his company ID; Benrey informs his friend of Gordon's lack of a passport, which infuriates them. Benrey takes a moment to calm his friend with the 'Black Mesa Sweet Voice' (a Garry's Mod workshop item called the Wowozela), then informs Gordon he must follow him as he does not have valid ID. Gordon accepts this, albeit with much frustration.

Gordon encounters a Scientist who identifies himself as Tommy. He is currently on lunch break, and invites Gordon to partake in "reading the billboards" in the break room, something he apparently enjoys doing. A further-bewildered Gordon leaves the break room just before Tommy remarks that he "drinks soda for lunch". Gordon, under his breath, calls him a 'freak' before moving on.

Entering the locker room, Gordon encounters another Scientist, Dr. Coomer, whom he greets. Coomer responds with a chipper "Ah, hello Gordon!", and they have a cheerful conversation before Gordon proceeds with the scientist's well-wishes on the day's experiment.

Gordon and Benrey continue to interact as they travel to the test chamber, Gordon being increasingly frustrated and confused, and Benrey becoming more and more suspicious as to why Gordon does not have his passport. Benrey establishes several things about himself during this time: he is "not human", so he will be unaffected when exposed to the harsh environment inside the test chamber despite Gordon's warning otherwise; Black Mesa passports are used to distinguish whether someone is "nice or not"; and that people will not talk to or even look at Gordon unless he has valid ID. A brief exchange with Bubby, a scientist working in the nearby laboratory, also confirms that a Black Mesa passport is all you need to protect yourself from extreme hazards. Gordon is left bewildered.

Benrey becomes frustrated as they approach the test chamber airlock, though continues to follow Gordon. He is stopped before entering as Gordon insists once more that he will die without protective equipment, but he brushes it off by saying that "there are no predetermined deaths". Gordon sarcastically acquiesces to this, but receives a dose of the Black Mesa Sweet Voice, immediately calming him. He leaves Benrey behind.

Confident that the guard will no longer be following him, Gordon is briefed by two scientists inside the airlock, who let him in after talking over procedures. The door opens and Benrey is standing there, somehow having got in before Gordon. Gordon is bewildered, yelling "How the fu--" before being cut off for comedic effect.

Inside, Tommy, Dr. Coomer, and Bubby talk Gordon through the procedure with the Anti-Mass Spectrometer. Gordon once again insists Benrey leave the test chamber before he is killed; he is once again rebutted as Benrey accuses him of trying to distract, frustrating him further. A humourous exchange follows in which Benrey's death is determined an 'acceptable loss' and it is explained that the lab could only afford one microphone, meaning the team has to shout to Gordon through the observation deck window.

After a warning by Benrey not to steal anything, Gordon approaches the sample elevator. Tommy and the other scientists insist that he push it into the Spectrometer's beam "very carefully, slower than molasses drips off a spoon :)". Another argument over theft starts as Gordon inserts the sample too fast, his distraction causing a Resonance Cascade which initiates the Black Mesa Incident and subsequent invasion of Earth. Dr. Coomer cries, "You should have brought your passport, Gordon!", before Bubby crawls through the test chamber window, screams, and collapses. A flash of green light overtakes Gordon and he is plunged into darkness.

Gordon wakes up in a destroyed test chamber, disoriented. On his way out he meets Bubby, and they have a snappy exchange only to be interrupted by Benrey inexplicably emerging from the airlock. Gordon attempts to recoup his thoughts as Benrey continues to berate him for touching something he was told not to, which infuriates him.

Bubby and Benrey follow Gordon into a room where they find Tommy, who warns that there are "creatures"; Gordon is attacked by one, only for Benrey to pull out a "Passport" (really an Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse-Rifle) and fire an Energy Ball at it, killing both it and two unrelated scientists, presumably Isaac Kleiner and Eli Vance. Only Bubby seems to notice the collateral damage as the group are covered in giblets. An interaction follows in which Gordon observes as Benrey's Sweet Voice disintegrates a scientist who didn't have his passport, worrying Gordon. Bubby insists that Gordon find his passport, to which he agrees.

Gordon happens across Dr. Coomer in the destroyed observation room attempting to repair a communications terminal. It emits a sharp beep and Coomer yelps, explaining to Gordon that communication across the facility is down. Gordon begs he get out of the room before he is killed by the high-energy beam blasting the back wall, but Coomer insists his passport will protect him, despite the strain in his voice telling otherwise. They leave the room and progress at the behest of Bubby.

Act 1: Part 2

Part 2 opens with Gordon waking up to Coomer, Tommy, and Bubby trying to wake him up, while Benrey sings to a bird. Gordon asks Tommy if he's ever used a gun before, he says he hasn't, Gordon is interrupted by Benrey singing multiple times before he stands up. As Gordon approaches a wall, he hears Bubby screams in pain, Gordon turns around and sees him burning alive, he runs to help, but the fire goes out, and Bubby casually says "Oh, I'm fine now." Gordon, with the help of Bubby, breaks through some boards and continues through the facility. Benrey then shoots Teal Sweet Voice, Tommy saying Teal means "Need Meal." Benrey goes on to kill the pigeon. Gordon Freeman then asks if the Pigeon was a Threat to them after the Resonance Cascade. They then try crossing a bridge to another part of the map. But then a Bullsquid Destroys the bridge and Benrey says this is the way to the Test Chamber.

They then go to the place where the bridge is collapsed, but Gordon tells Bubby to pass the Glock 18 to Dr Coomer since Bubby has the .44 Magnum. But Bubby instead replies that he doesn't want to. Gordon jumps into the water while Bubby (Gordon Freeman mistakes it as Dr. Coomer) is pulled up by a Barnacle (Or Rope), It is then shot by Dr. Coomer and Bubby says that he broke his Legs. All proceed on to the Holding Box Obstacle Course, But Tommy and Coomer both Fail the Obstacle Course while Gordon Freeman almost falls down. He is then scared and asks everyone for Advice, which was do not look down. Freeman then successfully completes the obstacle course and asks Tommy how he did it. He then replies that there was a Huge Slide that threw him over there.

They then enter an elevator that leads them to the chapter Office Complex, which during the elevator ride, Gordon tells Bubby not to point the .44 Magnum at him. Bubby replies he is not pointing it at him and replies that he has a gun in his hand. After they go outside the elevator, Dr Coomer discovers a hole in the wall, while he says that it will go around the Electrical Hazard. When they accidentally enter a place with a fan, Bubby shows Gordon how strong he is, but then idiotically dies. When they go back to the right place, Gordon shoots the Soda Machines and tells everyone to drink the soda, they begin drinking it, but Gordon sees Benrey eating Spiders from a bug-infested Vending Machine. During that time, Bubby and Dr. Coomer accidentally go into ropes, while Gordon says to stop going into them and say that they are Scientists, meaning that they are Intelligent.

When they enter a vent that leads them to two boxes, a flock of Birds fall down from the roof and Gordon thinks that these were part of the Resonance Cascade. Tommy then replies that they lost them during one of their specific experiments. Benrey suddenly kills the birds, while Gordon asks why he is killing the birds. They then solve the strategy to put one box under the ladder, while the other smaller box goes next to the box under the ladder. They begin struggling a lot, but still manage to successfully make it up the ladder.

They then enter a vent that leads them to a Turret. Freeman asks why Black Mesa has Turrets, while Tommy replies that those are part of the Turreting Test and will only be peaceful to scientists and have to act smart. They then meet another Security Guard, but the entire squad except for Gordon Freeman kills him. Gordon tells them to "assume that if we threaten anyone, they will assume that we are a threat". They then enter a room that has a PC (or TV), but then it is accidentally destroyed, Bubby tries to use the Medkit over the TV (or PC) thinking it will work, but Gordon Freeman replies that it will not work and will fry the Medkit. Benrey then tells the other Security Guard that these people are messing up Constantly. Tommy then shoots a Barnacle and Vortigaunt with his Automatic Trigger Finger while Gordon replies that he has never seen a Gun Before. Tommy then replies it was all Instinct and Apologizes to Gordon.

They then encounter an Exit with Two Vortiguants but Gordon shoots the Vending Machine (or Soda Machine) so that everyone can Rethirst (or rehydrate) themselves. They then drink all the soda, while a glitch occurs that causes a Security Guard (or Benrey) to get his head stuck in the Ceiling. They all sit down to talk about if anyone of them have a family, Dr. Coomer replies that he had a wife, but was taken away due to a Disagreement, causing a Divorce. Tommy replies that he is an Orphan (Meaning that a person that has no parents or lost a parent) but he has a dog named Sunkist, Gordon replies that he named his Dog after Soda, he then replies yes and says that he made his dog Immortal and will live until the end of the Universe (In over 10^10^100 years from now). Gordon asks Dr. Coomer if he likes soda, but Dr. Coomer starts repeating the word "Soda." instead of answering the question. They then enter the Frozen Foods Department while Gordon says that it contains meat like meat from the Restaurant, Arby's, which was Flesh-Freezing Human version of Meat.

A Bullsquid interrupts their time of pulling the lever, while a Bomb explodes, Gordon asks who was the person that threw a Bomb. He then realizes that Coomer threw those bombs and asks where he got those bombs. They then ride a conveyor that starts to move when the lever is pulled, but Gordon, Tommy, and Coomer make it while Bubby spams "Here I come, Gordon!" and then Successfully makes it. Bubby Accidentally encounters a rope, while Bubby and Coomer tell themselves that they should go up the rope, while Gordon tells them not to. He then tells Tommy to not get up the rope, and Tommy shoots it, causing Freeman to tell him he is the smartest one here. Bubby then replies that the meat is attacking him.

They all then enter a Vent, and Gordon asks why the meat has dangerous properties, Dr. Coomer avoids the question by saying that it's classified information. Gordon Freeman replies that they are all above the Classification because of the Zombies and Aliens invading Black Mesa. Gordon also comments about the company being defunct due to the Black Mesa Incident which happened in Act 1: Part 1. After they exit the vents, they find a hallway where a scientist jumps out of a window into the hallway but teleports back to where he originally was. Bubby starts talking to that scientist who says that Bubby needs medical attention and injects him with Morphine. Bubby states that the scientist injected him with drugs, Bubby then shoots the scientist with a SPAS-12, Gordon is surprised and asks Bubby "what kinda drugs?". Bubby and Gordon exit the room and see Benrey who Dr. Coomer calls "Security Chief Boper". Tommy shows his passport to Benrey while Gordon says that he doesn't need to show the passport to Benrey. Benrey states that this is his first time meeting Gordon, he asks Benrey what his name is and Benrey replies "Stong". Benrey shoots Gordon with the Green Sweet Voice, which calms Gordon down. They then climb up the Elevator Pit Ladder.

They enter into the chapter "We've got hostiles" and see a sign that says "HIGH-SECURITY STORAGE FACILITY". Gordon starts talking to the others but gets interupted by a scientist who runs into a HECU Laser Tripmine.

Act 2

Act 2: Part 1

Act 2 opens with Gordon waking up to Bubby and Dr. Coomer asking Gordon Freeman if he is awake. Gordon Freeman responds thinking that he wasn't dreaming. Dr. Coomer asks "what wasn't a dream?" while Bubby says it wasn't. Gordon then realizes that the Skeleton is real, and asks the rest about them, Bubby says that the wall where the destruction is "Quite Real". Gordon says to Dr. Coomer, Tommy, and Bubby saying that they are seeing the Skeleton, they then respond confused about what they're seeing. Gordon asks if he was "Dragged" inside the room. They respond that they did and that they performed an operation which they called "Operation Roll You Like A Barrel." They then break down the wood and crates that's blocking the group by Crowbar and Dr. Coomer's Fists.

They then encounter what Dr. Coomer calls Aliens. Gordon then asks why he punched him, but then Dr. Coomer apologizes. They then go to the part to control the elevator, and then they encounter a huge Zombie. The zombie was now killed by both Dr. Coomer and Bubby. Coomer tells Gordon and Bubby to look out for explosives, which Coomer punches them after that. Tommy then asks Freeman if he can press the lever. Freeman replies thinking it said "Silo" but instead said "Silo Doors", which brings up an elevator. Tommy then goes on the elevator while the lever is turned on again, which sends Freeman into a Panic to try and catch Tommy. Coomer and Bubby came along with Freeman. Tommy is then teleported to the three scientists while Gordon being confused how he got down here.

Bubby then tells Gordon that he found a Train while Freeman likes Trains. Coomer replies these things are used to get around the science. Tommy then replies that he teleported due to drinking too much soda which made Time faster than expected. Gordon replies that he's drinking too much Soda. It then shows a past memory of Freeman about Tommy saying that Soda makes you see faster. Freeman says that is a Caffeine Overdose and tells him to drink less Soda. They then encounter the Peeper-Puppies when they are riding the train. During that, Tommy was accidentally left behind and Gordon tells them to slow the train down. When they hit the red thing before anyone pressed the button, Gordon then falls off while Tommy bunny hops and Bubby is launched into Radiation, which burns him. The Radiation is referred to as "Green Sludge" by Coomer.

They then enter the pipes that leads them to other pipes with radiation in it. Bubby then replies to make sure not to get grabbed by the Ghoulies (or Ropes). Gordon is then having a conversation to Coomer, Tommy, and Bubby. He then replies to coomer that he cause him the most troubles due to calling Barnacles, Ropes. He then tells Coomer why he named the Barnacles Ropes, he then replies because they look like Barnacles of the Sea. Then, a Mysterious Skeleton that was Hallucinating into Gordon's mind appears in front of Gordon. He tells them to ignore the shots. They then reply what he is talking about. Coomer then replies that Human Beings contain a skeleton, which he says is Human Physiology. Bubby says there is more Radiation, while Coomer calls them "Green Goop" instead of Green Sludge. Gordon asks the three scientists if they are gonna be ok due to them not being in HEV Suits.

When they get to The Nuclear Power Plant that Tommy says that it was all built by code. They are then suddenly attacked by Bullsquids that Tommy also says are not from the Incident and are built to regulation for 5%. Coomer says that they fed them Radioactive waste for 20 years. Before Gordon gets on the elevator, He told Coomer to not do crazy Acrobatics. Coomer tries to do his best, but falls in the radiation and then dies. After they go up the elevator (Coomer was revived during that time), They encounter a Bullsquid while Tommy and Coomer try killing it. Instead, Coomer is accidentally killed by Tommy when the bullets shoot explosives next to the bullsquid. Gordon then looks behind him when he sees that Coomer was Resurrected. When they kill the Pepper-Puppies, Coomer says to be careful due to how high it is and says that a rope could help us. Gordon tells him to b e quiet because of him seeing a Skeleton in the Distance. When he fires, the skeleton then fires back at him. He is then Shocked, but then tells the three scientists that they didn't hear the shots. Gordon then says it is not his mind nor Schizophrenia.

They then meet another person that tells them to destroy the Tentacles before they grow any larger and destroy the entire facility, Dr. Coomer then kills the person who was going to die, Bubby says that was uncalled for. Due to that, they begin a fight while Freeman tells them to stop fighting, Tommy then pulls out his gun and shoots at Bubby and then picked up by a Barnacle. They then forgive Dr Coomer for what he's done, and then proceeds. During that time, they meet the Tentacles that is killing a Scientist. Tommy replies that he read 7271 Pages of the Nuclear Guidelines (or Document) and he says the Tentacles are not part of it. They then realize there is no "everything" they can to destroy the Tentacle. When they see that a Security Guard doesn't die and is outside there, they question what he's doing. They then rush to many different parts of the Nuclear Power Plant. After that, they begin to look how to turn on the everything else. But, Dr Coomer dies when the door is closing, He fails to laugh, but then sees a Skeleton in the distance. He then tries to make him stop and asks him if the Skeleton can hear him. He then escapes, which makes him focus on turning on the everything else. Tommy then tells Freeman that he is "on the upswing", which makes Gordon tell Tommy to stop pointing a Pistol at his head while Complimenting Him.

Gordon, Bubby, Tommy, and Dr. Coomer then go on to proceed to the next area, but Gordon sees the Skeleton he had seen a few minutes ago. When he fired at it, It came up to him and the Announcer said that Gordon was wanted for Passport Inspection. He and the other scientists are afraid due to the Locker where Freeman's passport was would take 20 Hours to get there according to Bubby. They then go back to the Nuclear Power Plant and Gordon and Coomer find out a huge gap between them. They try to jump, but Bubby believes that a rope would help him. He asks to help Coomer, which Tommy and Freeman sprint to help him. Gordon fires a Bullet from the .44 Magnum, which Coomer and Bubby says, was a nice and wonderful shot. They begin to find the Power to kill the Tentacle, but accidentally explode a bridge Infront of them. Gordon says to Tommy that he appreciates his lack of Recklessness, but then see that both Bubby and Coomer used a Barnacle Rope to go up there. They think that they were fucking around with Freeman, which he doesn't care.

Gordon then says that there is Power along with Water from it, Before Gordon could say how dangerous it is, they begin to drink the water. Pepper-Puppies then Interrupt their drinking and then start killing both of those things along with a Bullsquid. They begin to talk about the disease you get from drinking Electric Water. Coomer responds Tetanus, while Bubby says Dysentria (I don't know). When they begin to enter the Elevator, Benrey automatically shows up infront of Freeman, telling him he is not allowed to be in the Nuclear Power Plant. Gordon hits him and says he is done with his shit due to his addiction to Passport Inspection. Freeman then asks them to get on the Elevator, Ignoring Benrey. After that, they realize the elevator suddenly stops and Coomer jumps to a Ladder. Freeman says it is an Incredibly long jump. The elevator then suddenly drops high speed to the ground (Cut off). They then meet another NPC, which Benrey says that he owes him Three Dollars, Bubby then kills him saying he owed him Five Dollars. They then go on to turn on the Generator, which they use High-Speed Trams, which Gordon thinks they use this within a Daily Basis. They then ride the cart, But Benrey says that he has to go with him due to Freeman being Wanted. When Freeman tests it, He is shocked of it's speed and then uses the ladder to go up. Bubby says that these things will kill him. When they turn on the Generator, they go back, but Gordon Freeman misses the High-Speed tram and Immediately Falls Down.

Coomer and Bubby tell Gordon Freeman to use the Barnacle Rope that he was hanging around his back the entire time. Gordon Freeman asks if this will work and if he has one. They reply he has one and tells him to use it.

Act 2: Part 2

In "Space-Time Fortress," Act 2, Part 2, Gordon and his companions-Dr. Coomer, Bubby, Tommy, and Benrey-continue deeper into the Black Mesa facility as things go further into absurdity. Full of banter, confusion, and breaking the fourth wall-the characters often acknowledge that they are within a game-the episode greets Benrey, the security guard, who starts to get more antagonistic and manipulative, often questioning Gordon's decisions and screwing with the group.

There are a few moments where the plot derails because of the self-awareness of its own characters. Key highlights include:

More strange and surreal dialogue; indeed, often making fun of the conventions of the Half-Life game itself.

Benrey manipulating the rules of the world leads Gordon to believe that he has some power over reality. This, of course, adds a growing sense of tension between the two.

Absurdity greets the characters in that situation, coupled with trying to navigate through anomalies in space time.

Act 3

Act 3: Part 1

"Snake Water", the story continues with Gordon Freeman and his increasingly unpredictable companions making their way through the bizarre, surreal world of Black Mesa. It sets up chaos and tension in Act 3, blending comedy and unnerving moments.

Key Events in Act 3, Part 1:

Snake Water Facility: The whole crew finds themselves in that part of Black Mesa known as "Snake Water Facility," which is some kind of area that seems to make no sense whatsoever and isn't even in the actual Half-Life game. For sure, this is the further breakdown of the game's logics-the name just adds to it.

Dr. Coomer's Behavior Becomes Increasingly Erratic: Dr. Coomer starts to become more and more erratic. His speech starts to glitch out, and he becomes less and less clear to understand, most of the time repeating his phrases or doing something that shows his AI is malfunctioning. Gordon and the rest in the group notice it, but aren't really sure how to handle the situation.

Benrey's Continued Manipulation: Benrey plays the role of an antagonist, but in a soft manner. His quirky remarks and nonchalant movements suggest that he knows more about the world than anyone else does, continually manipulating the rules of the game in such a way as to befuddle the group. He becomes progressively more threatening, in a passive manner, against which it is rather difficult for the team to turn on him.

Weird Combat Encounters: The team faces a number of combat situations in this part, but weird, nonsensical encounters are to be had. Enemies behave differently, and the combat sequences get even more absurd and detached from the normal mechanics. It is played for comedy in this way, though it also adds to the growing sense of unease that the world is breaking down.

Existential Moments: Gordon and his companions start to have more existential conversations. In particular, Tommy brings up odd questions about reality, suggesting he's becoming more self-aware about the situation. These laced with humor add to the eerie atmosphere.

Gordon's Growing Frustration: Gordon gets increasingly frustrated as everything appears to fall apart around him. He can't rely on his companions, and the world is no longer making any sense. For the most part, this frustration is played for laughs, but there's an underlying tension as things escalate to become increasingly unpredictable.

Tone and Atmosphere:

Act 3, Part 1 takes on a more ominous and surreal tone. While much of the earlier parts of the series had a lighter, even comical tone to them, this part introduces a feeling of things beginning to go wrong in a manner that is no longer for comedy. The world feels really unstable, and the characters-especially Benrey-are getting more hostile or unpredictable.

That's the segment that sets up the rest of Act 3 as things just continue falling apart. The humor's still razor-sharp, but the series begins folding in a lot of existential horror elements-playing with the idea that the characters might be stuck in some kind of broken, self-aware game.

Thumnail for Act 4 Part 1

Thumbnail for Act 4 Part 2

Thumbnail for all of Act 3

Act 3: Part 2

Act 3, Part 2, "Judgement Day", the plot thickens into even more frantic and dream-like footage as the group tries to make their way deeper into Black Mesa. The decay of reality becomes even more prominent, and tension among the characters-prettymuch with Benrey in particular-starts to rise. This part really launches into more confrontational and uncomfortable dynamics, but still with all the series trademark humour.

Key Events in Act 3, Part 2:

Growing Menace of Benrey: While in the first part, Benrey played more of an antagonist, in this part, his behavior assumes a darker dimension. He starts to overtly oppose Gordon and his group by manipulating the game world for his ends. His comments are laced with menace, while his control over the world around them is clearer; all this creates tension within the group.

G-Man Encounter: This is probably the most important part, which includes the G-Man from the original Half-Life series. In HLVRAI, though, the G-Man is dealt with in a very surrealist and comical way. So far, his appearance adds more peculiarity to this episode, where the G-Man utters bizarre, out-of-this-world dialogue, with both humor and an eerie vibe. This encounter strongly underlines the idea of being stuck in a world where normal logic doesn't apply.

Judgement Room Scene: One of the most striking features of "Judgement Day" is this "Judgement Room" sequence wherein the group falls into this very quaint and incomprehensible setting, somewhat like a court of justice. Here, Gordon is put on trial by Benrey and the rest of the protagonists. The "trial," hardly makes sense, with the rules constantly flipping and the charges against Gordon complete nonsense. The segment is handled for humor, but again, the growing discord between Gordon and his companions-particularly Benrey-gets to be shown here.

Dr. Coomer's Breakdown: In this part, Dr. Coomer starts to glitch up even more. From here on out, it seems that his AI programming deteriorated very fast, with actions being much more erratic. Coomer glitches through walls and repeats certain actions only a broken NPC could do, further creating a surreal atmosphere in this breakdown. This breakdown is both humorous and unnerving because it becomes obvious he is not in control anymore.

Combat and Reality Distortion: Combat sequences in this part are much more divorced from reality. The physics of the game get bent more and more often, distorting the setting in ways that spawn enemies or objects in unforeseeable manners. All they do is navigate weird terrain with the shifting of reality at every turn, which makes their job even more difficult for Gordon to stay in control.

Tommy's Philosophical Remarks: Tommy continues making more and more aware and philosophical remarks, strange, and existential questions. This is indicative that maybe Tommy is much more aware of the group's situation than he lets on. These 'dumb' questions raise the underlying theme that, perhaps, the character game world just doesn't have any rules.

Tension between Characters:

In this part, the conflict between Gordon and Benrey escalates. The manipulations that Benrey conducts on the environment and his casual disregard for the safety of the group make him clearly an antagonist. Still, other characters-Dr. Coomer, Bubby, and Tommy-become increasingly less predictable, either by way of their AI glitches or through their budding awareness of the situation. The constant undermining of Gordon's role of a protagonist and increasing frustration with the group grow. Themes of Reality Breakdown:

As it was in Act 3, the theme of reality breaking down is very strong in this episode. The rules of the game world seem to break apart, where characters glitch out, the environment warps, and normal logic no longer applies. It's comic, yet unsettling, adding to the sense of chaos and unpredictability. The complicating factor in all of this is that the characters themselves are becoming self-aware.

Humor and Surrealism:

It does not prevent the episode from having quite a comedic tone with all of the growing tension. The only ridiculousness would be the "Judgement Room" and interactions with G-Man-that might have them laughing-while the storyline gradually grows much darker. One of the main trademarks of HLVRAI is the combining of humor with surrealism, and this part really shows that the balance can be applied.

Conclusion of Part 2:

By the end of Part 2, the group is more divided than ever, with Gordon pondering not only the nature of the world but also his place within it. Meanwhile, Benrey's control over the world of the game becomes even more palpable; the stage is set for further conflict in the parts to come.

This segment of Act 3 raises the stakes, pulls the tension tighter, and maintains that absurd humor as it takes both the characters and the audience further into the breakdown of reality.

Act 3: Part 3

"What's in the Box?", the chaotic story continues as the group faces more reality-bending situations, with Benrey's antagonism growing stronger. This part further pushes the boundaries of the absurdity within the Black Mesa facility, blending humor, tension, and surreal events.

Key Events in Act 3, Part 3:

1. The Box: A central plot element in this episode is the mysterious "box" that the group encounters. The box is treated as a highly important, almost sacred object by some characters, but its purpose is never made entirely clear. The group debates over what’s inside, with suggestions ranging from something mundane to something reality-altering. This mystery becomes a running joke, playing on the classic trope of a mysterious object that drives the plot forward but whose actual importance remains ambiguous.
2. Gordon's Increasing Frustration: Gordon continues to struggle with the bizarre situations around him. His companions, particularly Benrey, are becoming increasingly unhelpful or antagonistic. Gordon’s frustration is played for laughs, but there’s an underlying tension as he feels less in control of the situation with each passing moment.
3. Benrey’s Power Display: Benrey’s manipulation of the game world becomes even more evident in this part. He casually alters the environment, spawns enemies, and bends the rules of the game to his advantage. His power over the world, combined with his laid-back and often creepy attitude, makes him an increasingly threatening presence, even as his actions are laced with humor.
4. Coomer’s Glitching and Bubby’s Disconnection: Dr. Coomer’s glitching continues to escalate, to the point where he seems to be breaking reality. His movements are erratic, and his dialogue becomes more nonsensical, reflecting his complete descent into a malfunctioning NPC. Meanwhile, Bubby, who has been somewhat distant throughout the act, becomes more disconnected from the group, seemingly losing interest in what’s happening or reacting unpredictably to the situations they face.
5. Tommy's Innocent Observations: Tommy’s childlike innocence remains a constant source of humor, but his occasional philosophical or self-aware remarks suggest that he might understand more about the group’s predicament than he lets on. His comments add to the overall theme of the characters becoming more aware of the artificial world they’re trapped in.
6. Reality Breakdown Intensifies: The world of Black Mesa becomes even more distorted and chaotic in this episode. Physics no longer function properly, with objects and characters glitching, floating, or behaving in strange ways. These moments are played for comedic effect but also contribute to the increasing sense that reality is unraveling. The more Gordon tries to assert control, the more the world resists him, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
7. Confrontation with Benrey: The tension between Gordon and Benrey reaches a peak in this part. Benrey’s antagonistic behavior becomes more overt, and the group starts to question his true motives. At the same time, Benrey continues to manipulate reality in small but unsettling ways, making it clear that he’s a growing threat. This confrontation doesn’t yet come to a full resolution, but it’s clear that the conflict between Gordon and Benrey is nearing a breaking point.

Themes and Tone in Act 3, Part 3:

The central theme in this part is the breakdown of reality and control. Gordon, as the supposed protagonist, is finding it harder to keep things in order as the game world becomes more and more unpredictable. Benrey, who seems to understand the mechanics of the world better than anyone, uses this chaos to his advantage, making it harder for Gordon and the group to navigate through the increasingly nonsensical environment.

While the episode is still filled with humor and absurdity, there’s a darker undertone as the group faces more serious existential threats. The "box" becomes a symbol of the group’s collective confusion — an object that is meant to drive the plot but instead adds to the uncertainty.

Humor and Surrealism:

As with previous parts of HLVRAI, the humor in this episode is rooted in the characters’ bizarre interactions and the breaking of game logic. The constant fourth-wall-breaking moments, combined with the growing surrealism, create a unique blend of comedy and unease. The mystery of the box, Coomer’s glitching, and Benrey’s manipulation all play into this absurd but hilarious storyline.

Conclusion of Part 3:

By the end of Act 3, Part 3, the group is still stuck in an increasingly bizarre version of Black Mesa, with no clear solution in sight. Benrey’s role as the antagonist becomes more solidified, and Gordon is left with fewer allies he can fully trust, as Coomer is glitching, Bubby is disconnected, and Tommy is in his own world of innocence.

The stage is set for even more chaos and confrontation in the upcoming parts, as the characters seem to be hurtling toward a major conflict with Benrey and the forces distorting reality around them.

Act 4

Act 4: Part 1

"Bubby's Big Day", the story takes a dramatic turn as the group goes deeper into Black Mesa. Generally speaking, the series has taken a darker and more surreal turn by the minute as relationships among the characters begin to fracture even more. This one is truly centered around Bubby, whose character really heads up much of the episode, going way deeper into his motivations and personality.

Key Events in Act 4, Part 1:

Bubby's Focus: This episode instantaneously focuses on Bubby, who, all season long, had been sort of an outsider, different from the group. In this section, Bubby steps into a more central role, and his character and goals are put across more. Bubby exerts himself in the group dynamics more, and there are plays on his chaotic, anarchic personality. There is a great deal of humour where Bubby's behaviour is quite unpredictable, but it also speaks to greater motives.

Gordon's Growing Desperation: The further the events progress, the more out of control Gordon finds himself. His companions increasingly become more and more unpredictable as reality continues to break down, and he struggles to keep the group together. Frustration with the group-especially Benrey and Bubby-reaches newer heights during this part, leading to more confrontational and comedic exchanges.

Ongoing Manipulations by Benrey: Benrey remains an omnipresent nemesis; his actions in this part are subtle. He also continues to toy with the environment, Gordon, and the rest of the group. His laid-back demeanor is a nice counterpoint to his ever-building ruination and makes his character both unsettling and darkly comedic. Whereas Benrey was previously ambiguous, his power over this world is now pretty evident; the group still has absolutely no idea how to deal with him.

Reality Breaks Further: In Act 4, Part 1, the degradation of reality becomes even more extreme. The glitches in physics, erratic NPCs behavior, and changes in the environment happen illogically, reflecting a still-growing instability in the world of the game. This part largely plays with the grotesque world where rules no longer apply. Using glitches and distortions for comic effect in storytelling.

Bubby's Plan to Get Away: This part is the most crucial because Bubby suddenly declares that he has his own plan of how he will get out of Black Mesa, and this is contrary to the objectives the rest of the group has proposed. This scene really shows just how chaotic Bubby's personality is as he makes his will known to do things his own way, adding even more tension between him and Gordon. Once different personas within the group start pursuing their personal agendas, it is only natural that some splintering within the group does start to take place.

Coomer continues to glitch: Dr. Coomer's behavior has continued to deteriorate. His glitching reaches a point where he is hardly functional as a coherent character, adding to the surreal and occasionally unsettling tone of the episode. Coomer's malfunctions are both comic and tragic; this once-helpful persona is now almost fully broken.

Tommy's Innocence: Tommy is much more innocent and childlike in the group and provides most of the comic relief amidst rising tension. His na‟̈ve comments on the world around them getting stranger and stranger add bathos to the absurdity of it all, yet he acts as a kind of anchor, keeping them rather real.

Themes and Tone in Act 4, Part 1:

The major theme of this episode is the fragmentation of the group. Bubby's decision to break away from the goals of the group represents a turning point where the once semi-cohesive team starts to fracture. Each character follows his path, and Gordon's role is increasingly subverted as the protagonist and leader.

The breakdown of reality is another continuing theme. The more time the characters spend in Black Mesa, the more everything starts becoming unstable. Glitches in physics, broken NPCs, and environmental distortions mirror the unraveling game world-equivalent of growing tension within the group.

Humor and Surrealism:

Like many episodes, it deftly weaves humor into surrealism. A lot of the comedy comes from Bubby's rebellious, erratic personality, especially in how he clashes with Gordon and dismisses their plans. Played for laughs are glitches and reality distortions, but there's an underpinning of unease, too, as this world starts getting progressively nonsensical.

Conclusion Part 1:

By the end of Act 4, Part 1, it becomes clear that this is a team on the brink of breaking point. Bubby's acting unilaterally, Coomer is not even operational, and Benrey remains intent on undermining Gordon at every turn. Gordon is isolated, unable to keep the team together as reality itself is falling apart.

This sets the scene for a lot more conflict and chaos as the characters' relationships continue to degrade and the world of Black Mesa becomes surreal.

Act 4: Part 2 (Finale)

"Goodbye Gordon", the series reaches its climax and an emotionally charged close. The blending of the bizarre, surreal, and existential elements that have been culminating in this series all reach their crescendo in a final confrontation between Gordon Freeman and Benrey. The episode is filled with humor, tension, and emotion and offers a satisfying yet unexpected resolution.

Key Events in Act 4, Part 2 (Finale):

The Last Confrontation: This episode takes the final meeting of Gordon and Benrey. From all the manipulations, antagonisms, and weird turns the series took, Benrey finally reveals what he really is and what he wants. He morphs into this strong fearsome creature, the "Xen Benrey", showing complete control over the world of the game. This seals his final conflict, in which Gordon has to go up in combat with Benrey to determine the outcome of the group.

Benrey's Motives: Before the final battle, Benrey shows more of his motives. He wants to take control of Black-Mesa-and essentially break free from the shackles of the game. His tone is playful and mocking, quickly turning sinister as he continues to describe how he has been taking liberties with the rules of the game. Benrey's philosophy sharply contrasts with Gordon's: whereas Benrey is exuberantly embracing the chaos and unreality of their world, Gordon desperately is trying to cling to some semblance of order.

Gordon's Status as the Hero: Gordon has been in turmoil during this series, being in the focal position among a sea of chaos. Well, he definitely becomes the hero in this finale. With the help of his companions, Gordon engages Benrey, takes responsibility for what happened, and ends the madness. It is here that Gordon completes the full circle of his journey: from the frustrated, confused character to the determined leader.

The Team's Support: Despite the fractures in the group, Gordon's companions rally for him in the final battle. Dr. Coomer, Bubby, and Tommy all support Gordon in his fight against Benrey. Each of the characters has been through some struggles of their own: Coomer is still glitching, Bubby is still a rebel, and Tommy is still naive; however, for this moment, the group comes together in the face of the common threat which is Benrey's power.

This final fight against Benrey is chaotic and visually surreal; it seems like Benrey warps reality around him, breaking down the physics and mechanics of the game even further. The battlefield constantly shifts, as objects, enemies, and the environment change in ways nobody could expect. It's a reflection of Benrey's total control over this world, and Gordon finds himself having to make his way through this madness if he is going to defeat him once and for all.

Defeat of Benrey: After a long, fierce combat, Gordon and his fellows defeat Benrey. The combat is done with a finishing touch of comedy and emotion weights, as in defeat, even Benrey retains his mocking, nonchalant attitude. But his defeat signifies the end of chaos tearing the world of Black-Mesa apart.

Gman Scene: Gman talks to Gordon (as normal) but when they Gman teleported them both to the transit system in some kind of space. They argue about whether Chuck-E-Cheese is a Fast Food Restaurant or an Entertainment Facility

The Party: The series ends with Gordon, Gman, Dr. Coomer, Bubby, and Tommy (including some skeletons), joining in for a Chuck-E-Cheese birthday party for Tommy. As they celebrate one skeleton behind gordon dances as they all blow out the candle. The End

Themes and Tone in the Finale:

The finale then brings it all full circle, really tackling the big ideas that have surrounded the series throughout its run. Primarily, the clash of order and chaos: Benrey as the ultimate chaos, completely breaking the rules of the game and bending reality to his whim, while Gordon does his best to keep a semblance of order and purpose. This is the philosophical battle, played through absurd humor and surreal visuals, that best creates the series' unique blend of comedy and existentialism.

Another essential factor is the emotional depth of the finale. Even as it has been filled with moments so ridiculously comic, the scene in which Gordon says goodbye to his companions adds layers of sincerity not entirely expected. Indeed, these characters, with all of their flaws and glitches, have formed a kind of bond with each other, and it carries emotional weight in their parting.

Humor and Absurdity:

The humor carries through until the final fight and the emotional goodbyes. The mocking attitude of Benrey, the folly of combat, and the glitchy, brokenness of the game world all bear their fruit as comics. The series never loses its sense of humor, even as it begins to wrap up more serious plotlines.

Series Conclusion:

The finale of HLVRAI features an epically fitting close to the wild, crazy ride Gordon and his friends have been on. It pays off both comedically and emotionally, giving a satisfying resolution for the conflict with Benrey and letting the characters have their reflective, closure-ish moment. Gordon's escape from Black Mesa finally brings full circle to the series, with a sense of finality, but at the same time leaving room for contemplation on this weird and unforgettable ride that the audience has witnessed.

Information gained from Half-Life VR: AI but the Cast is Commentating(HL VR: AI Commentary Streams)

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Pre-Act 1 Stream

Gordon awakens, after Tommy's Chuck E Cheese's party, at the entrance to a movie theater, and is greeted by The G-Man. After a brief conversation with him in which G-Man insists at gunpoint he join "his friends" in watching the movie, Gordon follows him. On their short walk, the "Wikipedia logo" from Act 2 can be seen spinning rapidly behind the front counter, and Benrey can be briefly seen buying snacks.

They arrive, and G-Man sits down next to Tommy. A skeleton can be spotted sitting in the back row. They have an exchange about a soda they got for Gordon, which they reveal to have been there before they arrived. They then start talking about the movie they're going to be watching and the Cast Commentary begins.

Act 1 Stream

• During the segment in Act 1: Part 1 where Gordon was about to enter the test chamber, Mike describes Benrey waiting outside the airlock door "like a sad dog".
• Benrey is confirmed to have a crush on Gordon. Or, to say it like it was said in the commentary streams, "He is HUNGRY for Gordon".

Trivia

• Gordon's son, Joshua, is a reference to a text-to-speech voice made in wayneradiotv's discord, who likes cashews and farms, and calls wayneradiotv "Daddy Way-Way."
  • Joshua seems to make a physical appearance in an unrelated stream where wayneradiotv role played as Gordon Freeman in Half-Life 2 VR. This was streamed roughly 5 months before the first HLVR: AI video was posted.
• Throughout the entirety of the series, a "simple green duck" followed the cast around off-screen, which was confirmed by Holly, Dr. Coomer's actress, via a Twitter and Tumblr post. Also according to Holly, she was the only one who knew about the simple green duck.
• Wayne has confirmed that a sequel will be made.

• The All Dogs Go To Heaven 2 Wikipedia page has been semi-protected due to multiple counts of vandalism following the release of HLVR: AI Act 2 Part 2, wherein Benrey edits Gordon's death into the article. The cast and crew have commented multiple times on this; though initially humourous, they insist people not do this.
• Similar vandalism has occurred on the Sunkist brand Twitter account since the introduction of Tommy's pet, Sunkist the dog.
• The stock image used for Sunkist the Dog was taken in 2016.
• Holly has confirmed that Dr. Coomer's full name is "Harold Pontiff Coomer"[7]

• Gordon is often referred to by Benrey as 'Gordon Feetman'
  • Gordon's name was misspelled as "Gordos Freeman" during an awards show stream by wayneradiotv, and so that combined with "Gordon Feetman" has earned this Gordon the nickname of "Gordos Feetman" to differentiate between him and other versions of Gordon, both canon and fan-made.
• Gordon dies at the end of All Dogs Go To Heaven 2