NoTR 30 Countdown: Day 2
We continue our countdown to Nerds on the Rocks 30, our very first Versus episode, by detailing two more match-ups that will be featured on Friday’s podcast. Check it out below, and leave your comments and thoughts.
Now to the big board!
Hans Solo vs Captain Malcolm Reynolds
- Hans Solo, one of the central characters in the original Star Wars trilogy, is the pilot of the Millennium Falcon… the fastest ship in the fleet or so I hear. Accompanied on most missions by his partner Chewbecca, and later on Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and C3PO.
- Captain Malcom Reynolds, is one of the main characters in the short-lived television series, Firefly, he is the captain of the ship, Serenity.
Ripley vs Ridley
- Ripley, the main protagonist of the Aliens franchise, she is a woman who fights for her survival against the titular characters in the movies. By the time part 4 rolls around, she is part alien and part clone.
- Ridley, is a boss character from the Metroid franchise, he is one of the highest ranking members of the Space Pirates, and tends to be one of Samus’ tougher encounters. And fear inducing if you’re playing Other M. He has sharp claws as well as the ability to breath fire.
It is difficult to objectively evaluate a theoretical fight that has Han Solo as one of the combatants, purely because the original Star Wars trilogy is so revered. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, simply stating that “person X could defeat Han Solo,” is at least vaguely akin to badmouthing the Virgin Mary. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest that the character of Malcom Reynolds wouldn’t even exist without Han Solo. Heck, Joss Whedon might not have ever been inspired to write a story set in space if not for Star Wars, but that’s neither here nor there.
The matter at hand is simply who would win in a fight. And the clear answer is Malcom Reynolds.
Han Solo is, without a doubt, a crafty scoundrel who isn’t afraid to shoot first. So is Mal… as well as being a combat veteran and an experienced brawler who can undergo tremendous physical torture and still kick ass at the end of the day. Not only does he hit what he shoots at, he’s the guy who can bring a screwdriver to a sword fight and come out on top. Han’s legend may be greater, but Captain Reynolds could so take him.
The outcome of Ridley vs. Ripley depends greatly on the location of the battle. Are they on a massive spaceship chock full of narrow tunnels and corridors into which only Ripley can fit? What kinds of tools does she have at her disposal? Weapons? Machinery? We know Ripley has a knack for survival, and given the proper material to work with it is conceivable that she could send Ridley packing. After all, how many times has that guy gotten his butt handed to him by a strong woman now? Let’s just say there is precedent.
On the other hand, if the fight begins with both of them empty-handed, standing on the 50-yard line of Giants Stadium, Ridley will be leisurely picking human-bits out of his teeth two minutes after the opening bell.
I think you must also calculate which Ripley is fighting Ridley as her natural abilities evolves over the course of the series.