"Format Wars II" is the sixteenth episode of Regular Show's sixth season (and the one-hundred and sixty-ninth episode overall). It first aired on February 12, 2015.
Synopsis
The Discmasters must put an end to the Format Wars.
Plot
Mordecai, Rigby, Muscle Man, High Five Ghost and Benson want to pick up a movie on laserdisc; however, they are greeted by Archie the Archivist, who is happy that laserdisc is making a comeback. Archie shows the gang a second prophecy of a new format arising and a fifth disc master. The fifth disc master is none other than Benson, who at first is reluctant, but manages to go along with it. They reunite with the Guardians of Obsolete Formats (Betamax, Floppy Disc, and Reel-to-Reel), but soon discover that a fifth Guardian named Microfiche is wounded by the rising format called DVD.
To begin on their quest they must find the "Universal Remote", an object of great power, capable of destroying the new format, they are able to track it by using Benson as a type of tracking beam; however once they find it, Muscle Man tries to take it, as he states "This is just like pulling the sword from the stone!"; however, he fails and gets shocked (literally). Archie reminds the gang only the fifth disc master can take it, so Benson gives it a try and feels proud of himself since he was able to do something Muscle Man couldn't!
After they retrieve the remote, the new format DVD arrives, to which he can turn into a crystal being like Archie, but can speak English as his face is displayed and like the Guardians, he can understand Archie's garbled speech. He calls upon a wi-fi robot called Internet for assistance, and soon a battle erupts. The gang takes cover trying to use the remote, however they needed the exact code for the DVD (being a universal remote, it must be manually programmed). While the gang try to figure this out, reinforcements arrive, including a sixth Guardian called Ampex Quadruplex, and the first computer ever created, ENIAC, joins the battle; however, it is short lived when he trips and explodes.
After a bunch of fighting (to which Betamax, Floppy Disc, and Ampex Quadruplex are all killed), Archie and DVD combat each other; it is then revealed that the DVD master is Archie's son, who wanted revenge on his father for discrediting him. After a heartfelt talk, DVD feels sorry for what he has done and wishes to reconcile with his father; however, Internet comes in and kills Archie (to DVD's dismay), since laserdisc is obsolete, and quickly turns on DVD, believing streaming, P.C.s, laptops, and tablets is the future. DVD is devastated that he can't control Internet anymore and goes to help out the gang with the remote. DVD gives the gang the correct codes for them to fight back; however, nothing can hurt Internet unless they destroy the Wi-Fi tower. Using the codes DVD gave them, they use a flying disc to get to the tower, but Internet shoots them down, also declaring them a threat that he must destroy and points out that the remote can't control him. Mordecai reveals that they can still control everything else and they then take control of everyone on the battlefield and direct fire at the tower, which then disables Internet.
Now we return to the park, where DVD, Archie's ghost, Reel-to-Reel, and the rest of the gang watch the movie that took all their effort to get. But Internet, revealed to have survived, approaches the window unnoticed and, vowing revenge on the Discmasters, states that he will make streaming the future.
Characters
- Benson
- Mordecai
- Rigby
- Muscle Man
- Hi Five Ghost
- Archie the Archivist
- Guardians of Obsolete Formats
- DVD
- Internet
- Microfiche
- ENIAC
- Ampex Quadruplex
- VC-Arbitrator (Cameo, on tapestry)
- Ancient Order of the VHS (Cameo, on tapestry)
Locations
- Park
- Library
- Wing Kingdom
- Sam's Electronics
Videos
Trivia
- Benson is the fifth Disc master.
- This is the only episode outside of the "Terror Tales of the Park" Halloween specials that has roman numerals.
- During the battle against DVD, upon the All-Format Army's arrival, there is an unknown guardian to the right of Archie.
- Despite Joel Mc Hale's guest appearance, he would be later replaced by Trevor Devall upon becoming HD DVD two seasons later.
- Archie, Betamax, and Floppy Disk all die in this episode, leaving Reel-to-Reel the only surviving member of the Guardians of Obsolete Formats, despite Archie appearing as a ghost in the end.
- Reel-to-Reel would later die in "Meet the Seer".
Episode Connections
- This episode is the sequel to the season four episode "The Last LaserDisc Player", which takes place three months after the event.
- This serves as the second part of the "Format Wars" trilogy.
Pop Culture References
- During the battle, the Wilhelm Scream can be heard.
- The way the Disc masters find the location to the universal remote is a loose reference to Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- The remote being stuck in stone is a reference to King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone.
- The two-legged DVD-shooting robots are a possible reference to the ED-209 from the movie Robocop.
- The fact that there is a fifth Disc master in this episode is a reference to the tv trope of introducing an additional hero in a team later in a series. The most notable example of this trope is in Super Sentai/Power Rangers when a sixth ranger is added near the halfway point of most seasons.
- Sam's Electronics is a parody of Best Buy, Circuit City and Fry's Electronics. Also, the name is referenced to Sam's Club.
- The employees at Sam's Electronics wore the same blue uniform that worn by the Best Buy employees and vehicles similar to geek squad cars can be seen parked out front.
Goofs
- On the tapestry, when they show the part of Mordecai, Rigby, Muscle Man, and Hi-Five Ghost defeating VHS, the shape of Muscle Man resembles Skips.
- If the events of "The Last Laserdisc Player" take place three months ago, then that leaves a continuity error in seasons four and season six.
- The format DVD debuts in this episode even though it was previously mentioned in "The Best VHS in the World" by Dave.
Official Releases
- On iTunes and Amazon Prime, the episode was paired with "I See Turtles" under "Volume Nine". It was released digitally on February 12, 2015 for the price of $2.99 in HD, or $1.99 in SD.
- This episode is available as part of the following DVD sets: