After Raiden and Pliskin disarm the C4 planted within Shells 1 and 2, Raiden receives shocking news from a now-mobile Peter Stillman. All the C4s (planted in places where severe damage could not be done to the Big Shell) were nothing more than diversions for the real explosives, large enough to disturb the structure's integrity. Additionally, the real bombs were programmed to activate after all of the smaller C4s had been disarmed. Although Raiden is able to disarm the Strut A bomb, after returning to the deep sea dock, the Strut H bomb detonates, killing Stillman. Pliskin, on the other hand, is able to survive unscathed. As Raiden prepares to leave Strut A, he is confronted by Fortune, who had been expecting to find somebody else. Nevertheless, she asks Raiden to "bring her death." Raiden, unable to harm her, can only evade her attacks. Shortly thereafter, Vamp arrives to inform Fortune that Fatman has gone rogue. Taking advantage of the distraction, Raiden takes another shot at Fortune, but the bullets are deflected and hit Vamp in the forehead and lower chest. While Fortune cradled Vamp in her arms, lamenting that she cannot follow him in death, Raiden escapes. However, moments later, Vamp awakens, having shrugged off this seemingly fatal attack.

With the bomb's countdown having already begun, Raiden heads to the heliport and neutralizes the explosive. He’s then confronted by Fatman, who professes his disinterest in the terrorists’ goals. Fatman is also suspiciously unaware of the ransom demands for $30 billion. His only wish is to surpass his former mentor, Peter Stillman, and become the most famous bomber in history by destroying the entire Big Shell. Challenging Raiden to stop him, he places multiple explosives in the area, utilizing his quick speed. Raiden is forced to neutralize each bomb with coolant spray while simultaneously fighting Fatman. The perseverance pays off, with Fatman collapsing from his injuries. After informing Raiden that he has yet to disarm the "biggest bomb in the place," Fatman dies. Raiden, however, discovers the last bomb, which had been hidden beneath Fatman’s body.

Laugh and grow fat! | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.5) | State of the Arc Podcast

On his way to rescue President Johnson, Raiden is confronted by the terrorist commander, who claims to be Solid Snake. Enraged by this, Pliskin reveals himself as the true Solid Snake and fires on the imposter from a helicopter. Utilizing an advanced exoskeleton, the terrorist leader evades Snake's attack and boards a Harrier being piloted by Vamp. Snake then tells Raiden to shoot it down, throwing a Stinger missile launcher down to him. After Raiden takes it down, the Harrier plummets, only to be caught by Metal Gear RAY. RAY proceeds to launch missiles into the air, destroying sections of the Big Shell and damaging the Kasatka, forcing it to land. RAY then departs into the ocean, taking the Harrier with it. After recovering from RAY's attack, Solid Snake contacts Raiden, introducing him to Otacon. They reveal they are there to stop the terrorists from using the new Metal Gear prototype. They also tell Raiden that Otacon has another reason for being in the Big Shell: to rescue his sister, Emma Emmerich. Raiden then proceeds to rendezvous and rescue President Johnson.

Once Raiden finally gets to the President, he is told about the Patriots, a mysterious organization that secretly rules over America. He also explains that the terrorist leader was his predecessor, the 43rd U.S. President George Sears, known by the codename Solidus Snake, a clone of the legendary soldier Big Boss, created in the "Les Enfants Terribles" project. Johnson adds that Solidus orchestrated the Shadow Moses Incident in 2005 but was removed from office by the Patriots. Solidus wanted to challenge the Patriots, unlike Johnson, who had simply wished to become one of them. Johnson also confirms that the Big Shell is merely a cover-up for the construction of Arsenal Gear, a gigantic mobile fortress that employs mass-produced unmanned Metal Gear RAYs to defend itself and can fire nuclear warheads from anywhere on the planet. It also has access to the Military's Tactical Network, granting it absolute control over the nation's armed forces and nuclear arsenal. However, Arsenal's true purpose is to filter information from the internet and other forms of digital communication using an AI called GW. By doing this, the Patriots hope to shape history as they see fit while maintaining the secret of their existence. Johnson’s last request is that Raiden locate GW's main programmer, Emma Emmerich, and provide her with a computer worm to eradicate the AI. Afterward, feeling he has said everything he needed to, Johnson suddenly grabs Raiden's gun, asking Raiden to kill him. Raiden resists, but Revolver Ocelot soon intervenes, shooting Johnson before Raiden can stop him.

Who Are The Patriots? | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.5) | State of the Arc Podcast

After the assassination of President Johnson, the Colonel asks Raiden to honor his last directive—to rescue computer programmer Emma Emmerich, step-sister of Otacon, and help her upload a virus into Arsenal Gear’s AI system, GW. On the way to the flooded Shell 2 core where she is trapped, Raiden encounters Vamp again, who survived bullet wounds to the forehead and abdomen. Vamp reveals that even without the possibility of a nuclear strike, they could still use Arsenal's purified hydrogen bomb to emit an EMP over Manhattan, knocking it offline. He also hints that, contrary to what the press stated, Dead Cell was actually framed for the terrorist acts six months prior by the Patriots. Raiden is then forced to fight and defeat Vamp before pressing on to rescue Emma.

After finding Emma, Raiden struggles to convince her to accompany him. Not only is she suspicious that he is with the terrorists, but due to a near-death experience when she was a child, in which she nearly drowned, she is afraid to swim out of the flooded core. With patience, Raiden convinces her to hold on to him as he helps her escape. Along the way, Emma explains that she created the GW AI that controls Arsenal Gear. Together, the two then head to the Shell 1 core to upload the virus, but Vamp appears again and stabs Emma before being shot by Raiden. Emma uploads the virus but dies from her injury as the virus is cut off prematurely. Otacon leads the rescue of the remaining hostages while Raiden is captured by the Cyborg Ninja, who is revealed to be Olga Gurluchovich, and Snake seemingly betrays him as well. Big Shell then collapses as Arsenal departs.

A Family "Affair" | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.6) | State of the Arc Podcast

Today, we are joined by our friend Max Derrat to analyze the ending of Metal Gear Solid 2! If you haven't heard of him, check out his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@maxderrat/featured

After escaping from Arsenal Gear, the fortress falls out of the sky and crashes into Manhattan Island. Raiden is contacted by a different AI impersonating the Colonel and Rose. It states that GW was the only AI destroyed and that the S3 Plan's real purpose is to stop society's regression in the digital era from trivial information drowning knowledge and truth. The AI believes that humanity is too immature to handle the flow of information responsibly, citing Raiden’s lack of individuality and reliance on others for direction as an example when he protests the plan. The AI orders Raiden to eliminate Solidus—telling him that refusal will result in the deaths of Rose and Olga’s child. After Raiden defeats Solidus, Snake appears after tracking Liquid. Snake and Otacon plan to rescue Olga's child and locate the Patriots, whose details were hidden in the GW virus disc. Raiden is then reunited with the real Rose. In the epilogue, Otacon and Snake decode Ocelot’s disk, which contains data on all twelve members of the Patriots' highest council, the Wiseman's Committee. However, the members have allegedly been dead for 100 years.

Unqualified For Free Will | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Finale) | State of the Arc Podcast

Episode 1 was edited by Sam DePaulo, and Episode 2 was edited by Camden Fournier.

Podcast Sam - Crime Explainers Episode 1

Podcast Camden - Crime Explainers Episode 2

Apologies to those expecting a Terranigma episode, but we really wanted to talk more about Expedition 33 this week! This is an extended version of the conversation we had on Monday in our final review about the ending and the central themes of the game. It is possible that we'll do a full series on this game at some point. Let us know if you'd like to see that!

Expedition 33 Story Discussion | State of the Arc Podcast

Today we reach the end of our playthrough of Terranigma. We hope you've enjoyed this series as much as we've enjoyed talking about it. Thank you for watching and supporting the channel!

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Dark Gaia | Terranigma Analysis (Finale) | State of the Arc Podcast

Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey isn’t just a sci-fi classic—it’s a cinematic milestone that changed the language of film. In this video, we break down the film’s mysterious symbolism, groundbreaking visuals, and philosophical questions about evolution, technology, and humanity’s place in the universe.

Whether you’re a film buff, a philosophy nerd, or a JRPG fan who spotted the Xenogears influence a mile away, this deep dive is for you!

Kubrick’s Mind-Bending Masterpiece, Explained  2001 A Space Odyssey  State of the Arc Podcast

In its opening moments, Suikoden II plunges you into a war-torn world where childhood friendships are shattered and impossible choices must be made. Underscored by Miki Higashino’s masterful soundtrack, it promises a journey filled with heartbreak, betrayal, and a desperate struggle for peace.
This isn’t just another retro RPG — it’s a deeply personal tale about the cost of conflict, the bonds that define us, and the tragic paths we walk in the name of power. Suikoden II’s emotional weight and unforgettable characters have cemented its place in the rich history of the PlayStation library. Today, we dive into what makes this classic resonate so deeply, even 26 years later.

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26 Years Later Suikoden II Hits Harder Than Ever

"Mi Can Undastan!" is a playful and uplifting reggae-inspired track that dives into the colorful world of Jamaican Patois (Patwa). With witty lyrics and a catchy island rhythm, Dr. Elliot Lach shows how English speakers can start to pick up the meaning — one funny phrase at a time. It’s a celebration of language, culture, and connection. Whether you’re a true Jamaican or just vibin’ from far away, this song will have you smiling and saying, “Mi deh yah!”

Mi Can Understan  Me Can Understand

Why has the Portuguese politics become volatile and fragmented? What should we know about the Portuguese politicians and their conflicts of interest? How to address the problem of the Chega party and the rise of populism in Portugal? And what is the current status of the relations between Portugal and the EU?

Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Ricardo Silvestre, an author and a political scientist who is an Associate Fellow at the European Liberal Forum (ELF). Tune in for their talk!

This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

Portuguese Politics Explained with Ricardo Silvestre

Bid #time  #return  (#1975 ) by Richard Matheson is a #romantic time-#travel #novel about a modern man who wills himself back to #1896 to meet an #actress he’s fallen in #love with through an #old #photograph . Blending love #story and #science #fiction , it explores #obsession , #fate , and the idea that love can #transcend time. The #book was later adapted into the #film #somewhereintime . 

If you got a specific novel or #story you’d like a #deepdive into — comment below.

#1 — DEEP DIVE into Richard Matheson’s “BID TIME RETURN” novel

#earth Abides (#1949 ) by #george R. #stewart is a #postapocalyptic #novel about a man who survives a #deadly #global #plague and witnesses #civilization  #collapse . As he rebuilds life with a small group of survivors, the #story explores #humanity ‘s #resilience , the #loss of #knowledge , and #nature ‘s quiet reclaiming of the #world . It’s a reflective, philosophical #tale about #change , #survival , and the #enduring #rhythm of the Earth itself. 


If you got a specific novel or #story you’d like a #deepdive into — comment below.

#2 — DEEP DIVE into George R. Stewart’s “EARTH ABIDES” novel

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"Get Verified on MoonPay — Safe Registration Process Explained"

A quick but “DEEP DIVE” into various cool books and stories in a podcast format. If you don’t like to read - you’ll at least know what you’re missing out on.

Our podcast breaks down the techniques of great storytelling across our favorite games, movies, literature, and music. I also occasionally upload music I've arranged or composed!

The European Liberal Forum (ELF) is the official think tank and political foundation of the European Liberal Party, the ALDE Party.
Together with 56 member organisations we work all over Europe to bring new ideas into the political debate, to provide a platform for discussion and to enable citizens to make their voices heard.

New tracks tagged #explained