I never saw so much copium in one place. This is some LOST shit. :D And i saw a lot of comments on Edgerunner. Wishing for David to become an engram or something else.
@@Altmer353 yeah I really want him to make a comeback. Plus I’m sure it wouldn’t have been too hard to preserve David in some way given the time and tech Arasaka has
@@bumperjumper Hey man So me and friend are drawing a chapter about bring David and rebecca because of course the pain is too much for us XD i wanted to send you the chapter after we are done but you don't seem to have a discord
That could be the case, but that still doesn't explain why Falco is in cyberpunk 2077 now, and why david has his own drink named after him in the Afterlife. Because both of these points prove that David had to have become a legend in Night City (by attacking Arasaka tower), and he would have had to meet Falco because Falco does talk about his experience with David in 2077.
Or they put all the details in the game to specifically mess with us. As good as the ending was and shouldn’t be changed, this theory makes too much sense. Don’t you think people would still be talking about a massive battle like that in night city.
Those are really good counterpoints! This theory states that David wasn’t saved immediately in episode 5 and something entirely different (or the same) could’ve happened. I’m fairly sure the drink in the afterlife doesn’t guarantee death in every sense since Johnny Silverhands has a drink named after him This is a fun approach they could take if they decide on a season 2!
Spoiler warning I think. Would be nice if they had a happy ending but the canon lore is David and his crew got taken out a year before V returned to Night CIty. You can find a questline to get David's jacket and one of his crew tells your V to not look for them. They just want to fade away into obscurity. That was very impactful because that implies the remaining crew was so broken because they lost so many important people that they can't bounce back.
not to mention can you name one happy story from cyberpunk2077? jonny's, v's, jackie's, I mean I guess the fixers get jobs completed but everyone outside of them and your few love interest has horrible things happen to them. it is just what night city is, a horrible place with terrible people. it is like your only choice are to be a no-one, become a literal monster chasing power, or die holding on to a part of your humanity.
@@jovanleonardi1574 i mean literally, just look at what happened to Evelyn during Judy’s quest line and that shit had to be traumatizing for Judy too, someone you’re that close actually committing suicide. I had someone close to me attempt, never succeeded and seems to be doing better now a couple years later, but that still left me with trauma that i’m dealing with (granted the whole situation was traumatic, on both parts, but that’s not my point here, my point is that we couldn’t save Evelyn and Judy had to have come out with trauma as well).
Technically they can write in whatever they want. For example, the rumor/knowledge of them being "taken out" could be a cover story to keep the safe by it looking like everyone died or retired. There are a ton of ways that any or all of the ending characters could be written back in seamlessly if that wanted to go that route. The Braindance simulation is just one of them. Realistically though, I can't see it happening because the setting of Cyberpunk 2077 isn't a happy place, in fact I would say that if the series didn't happen the way it did the ratings for Edgerunners wouldn't be nearly as good. Still I would love a second series where Lucy finds out that David isn't actually dead, rather he was revived and is now being used as an experimental subject by Arasaka and it revolved around her getting a crew together to rescue him.....with a happy reunion at the end. I think it would be a very successful counter point to the death, unhappiness and misery that encompassed then ending of Edgerunners.
I highly doubt it would be a simulation, but I think David may be alive. If they really want to continue the story, they would keep him alive aka smasher keeping him alive last second because we don't actually see his death, just a transmission. Personally as much as I want for David to be alive and have a happy ending. I feel like it would take away too much from that ending.
The only way this theory could hold weight is if we exclusively experience every scene in the show since ep.5 from David’s pov. The fact that we experience scenes from kiwi and Lucy’s perspectives kinds kicks this.
If Falco acquired the jacket and gave it to V, Rebecca's shotgun at Corpo Plaza, and El Capitan knowing David and what he did, that means what happened in the Netflix series did happen.
while i do agree Hear me out What David does die but not in the way we think also Davids death could of truamatized Rebecca to where she leaves night city like what if adam never killed david he has just been here and we still get the same ending just differnet lucy and rebecca survive and go live on the moon yes i know copium but that would be a cool twist for season 2
@@jimpickens1629 I don't think so...if they were we could have seen or even saved him in game since we just took that place apart in the don't fear the reaper ending for example
@@akiraamamiya9166 honestly I think he’s an engram like Johnny but his body (what’s left) is going to be used for cyber psycho studies. Either that or they will have him as the new Adam smasher with a memory wipe
the entire thing from start to finish seems like lucy's dream where all the characters are aspects of Lucy's fractured personality, hence her being such a neutral and amoral shell animated and realized only by the characters of her crew; David most noticeably being her humanity
This is really creative and would be pretty compelling if there weren't multiple things in Cyberpunk 2077 confirming the events of the anime. Rebecca's gun being found near where she died, her apartment being abandoned, the fact that you can find David's jacket where it was lost over the edge, and the fact that David Martinez became a big enough legend that he has a drink named after him in Afterlife. ONLY because of these reasons, it feels like a stretch to assume this theory is correct, but otherwise you put together some really amazing and coherent pieces of evidence!
Considering this info was out in the first edition.. IE the first books that came out.. Yea.. its been known about some time.. Just not all the of the smaller details but David's fate was already known about at that point. Same with a few others. ( Adam Smasher's fate that turned him into a full cyborg was already written then. Same with Jonny's fate and Alts, ect. V though is basically the new blood but I can actually be wrong.. Could very much be a character I just forgot from back then. There is a lot. )
Yah but don't you think the fans/players would like to experience the things from the show? It would be a tragedy to keep it out of the game just for the sake to keep it canon. Plus, your game's a simulation too
@@blake6242 Then that's bad storytelling, honestly, because the first season was already a perfect tragedy and any reversal will be disappointing and unfulfilling.
This is some of the strongest copium I've ever heard. I really want to believe though. He got captured by Arasaka and they are running cyber skeleton simulations on him to see if he can run the suit. Then one day he wakes up, dons the skeleton and escapes. He rebuilds his body over the next few months. He meets up with Lucy on the moon and the instant they make eye contact, "I really want to stay at your house" kicks in. They run to each other and embrace, bumping their helmets together comedically. They look at each other and smile, both of their eyes are watering. David says, "I promised." and the two hug tightly. The camera pans over to their side where they are now embracing over the backdrop of Earth. The camera hangs on them and begins to pull away as the two begin to run with the lower gravity and tumble around. The shot lingers encapsulating the beauty of space as David and Lucy are just dots on the surface now. The shot holds as the music begins to fade.
Remember guys Arasaka wanted to see David’s resistance to Psychosis with their new full body armor I don’t think they would waste him by killing him , maybe just maybe they have him somewhere in their lab ready to be Adam Smasher 2.0 also Falco never confirms David’s Death in 2077 so he could still be alive just as a construct Season 2 will most likely take after 2077 where Adam Dies and they bring out David forcing Lucy to come out of hiding in the moon since she is one of Arasakas top Net runners which they also know she’s still alive so 🤷🏽♂️
And based on how she was able to bring him out of cyberpsychosis, she would definitely be able to bring him back to his right state of mind. I think tragic endings are overdone nowadays- David and Lucy deserve a happy ending.
I'm pretty sure he's dead. Adam Smasher isn't known for bringing anything in remotely alive. Arasaka knows this.. they wouldn't send him in to bring in something remotely alive. Adam even blew his head apart.. I'm sure they can get information on what's left of the cyberskeleton
@@MrStrongstring And so is Silverhand, you can buy his drink as well. And guess what? He isn't completely dead. Drinks in the afterlife are named after what people believe happened. That means, you cannot use it as definitive argument.
@@NewSunGambit He is a construct. And yet, he is. People can interact with him. Depending on the ending you choose, he can even sorta "resurect" by taking over V's body. That's why I said "completely", as his consciousness is still alive and well (cutting all the philosophical crap of whether a construct is still a human presence or not) In the same way you could argue that futuristic teleportation device that scans your entire molecular structure to replicate it on the other teleportation device would actually just make your clone while killing an original. The point is - even if David's body is dead (which in itself can be put into doubt as per previous video) his consciousness can still be kept as construct. What's more, the story that gave Silverhand the right to having his own drink in the afterlife actually doesn't depict his real death. He died to the soulkiller instead to Smasher cutting him in half.
This video appeared in my recommendations exactly when i need it. My job already got me quite stressed (i'm a psychiatrist and currently working with soldiers with PTSD) so i decided to watch "some fancy anime" to chill....AND THEN I GOT A DAMN HOLE IN MY HEART. Oh, dear author of this video, i hope so much that your theory would be true (at least partially). I dream, I crave to see the any plot twist with crew to be alive and with love of David and Lucy to be happy.
Another fact is that, usually, shows that plan to only have one season (like Edgerunner's was made out to be, considering the ending) are labelled on Netflix as a limited series. Edgerunners wasn't, which might mean we get a second season confirming your theory. Either that, or we might get a second season following Lucy dealing with aftermath (or the in-between: Lucy trying to find and rescue David)
If by chance what you say about that "Netflix limited series" trivia is true, it still won't change the fact that it was already confirmed by the producers that edgerunners is a standalone story with no plans for a season 2 no matter what happens. It was also confirmed by studio trigger that it was a open-and-shut project, they finished it and have moved on to other projects.
Random couple of side notes that hint to this theory having less merit: Afterlife Bar: Names drinks after dead famous regulars, and in game there's a drink named after David. Implicates that the events we saw in anime actually happened Becca's shotgun: Is found in the game near where she died in the anime, again implicating the events of the anime being real
Awesome theory! But I do think your theory from another video is the more likely option to continue the story. The theory that he wasn't killed in the end and was made to be a Guinea pig for the big corporation. Not that I wouldn't be happy with a season 2 with all the characters. But I think from an emotional standpoint, making 1/2 the series a simulation would take away from a lot of the emotional journey we went through. And I don't think the writers would want to do something like that. Plus, from a story telling perspective, I'd want to keep my emotional impact in 2 ways personally: 1.) Keep him alive by having orders given at the last second not to shoot and sparing his life to use him for company/military reasons. 2.) Let David die. Letting him die leaves the most profound impact But from a marketing standpoint, Cyberpunk 2077 is receiving massive success and numbers after the anime release. Like, we're talking crazy new highs of players coming to the game. This is becoming very lucrative for both the Anime and the game to continue the money train. So, I think that increases the odds of a season 2 and not allowing David to stay dead. So for emotional impact, but to continue the gravy train, I think he's going to survive in the end and it was a deceitful transition to make you think he died. btw, I'm not saying I want him to stay dead. I get that letting him stay dead is likely the best way to end the series. But I really want to see David end a bit happier. It would be nice for a 2nd season. But I'm just ranting while observing what I think will happen from their perspective :) Thanks for the video!
I appreciate it!! Yeah I completely agree. Sometimes the happy ending that we want isn’t the one that fits the narrative the best! Sometimes a sad/tragic ending is more suiting
@@bumperjumper probelm is: The David Matinez drink in the Afterlife bar in the game, also, theres no simulations, Brain Dances ARE RECORDED MEMORIES, not simulations.
@@efxnews4776 Except the most talented BD editor just put David into a simulation. It was to experience his own death. I think its very unlikely that half of the anime was a simulation but that proves that he can create more than just recorded memories.
@@efxnews4776 So is Johnny Silverhands and he came back as an engram.. His mind and conscience still existing. so i expect something similar for David but there will be a bigger time skip
As much as I would like for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to have a happy ending, the ending we got was profound and deeply moved a lot of people. Anything that allows David to survive would diminish the show. I'm as hurt about the ending as everyone else, and wish David could have had a happy ending. But doing so would lessen the impact of the story.
I do agree mostly, but at the same time i do feel like in season 2 he should be mentioned, and that can go as far as just being known as a legend in the city to what i would like to see that is a scene with him basically on the same level as smasher, he said he wanted to be up the top, at arasaka, That way, if he exists in any form up there he has actually achieved his dream,
Not entirely true he can survive and the show still have meaning. It depends entirely on how it is done. If you say Adam Smasher missed and Falco and Lucy rode in to save him and ran. Then bullshit. But if like what happened with Johnny, Smasher just took that last shot to incapatiate him and then Arasaka took him and turned him into a construct or just studied him and his resistance to cyberware then. First it is a fate worse than death. Second it stays in line with the idea that there are no happy endings in the city. Personally I'm fine with David being dead but I would like for at least the game to have a sequel where we can put together a crew with these characters to take on Arasaka and the other corps. Cyberpunk has a wide world to explore and many things that can be done. For a season two, I'd like to see NC from the corp worker perspective. New characters, different story (doesn't even need to be directly connected), different take on Night City.
Even if the plan was this tin foil hat theory, they would change the direction given the audiences reaction to the show. Even though in my heart I want a good ending, everyone knows in night city the Corps ALWAYS win. If he is "alive" let it just be like a continuousness like your offered at the end of the game cyberpunk. (Upload you to the Internet or whatever) until technology is advanced enough to bring you back. This would be okay to bring David back then IMO because we are gonna see the return of SO many people if this ever happened so he would just be a small part of something bigger. I don't see that happening just my thought
This is EXACTLY what I was thinking after I finished the series. I'm glad someone else picked up on it. This would also be a rather neat nod to another cyberpunk classic, Total Recall.
The game, which was updated to include several references to the anime and takes place about a year after the anime, confirms David is dead. There is a side quests where Falco ends up texting with you, says he's all that's left of David's crew, and tells you where David's jacket was left. There's also a bar that has a tradition of naming drinks after people who died legendary deaths which actually had David's drink since the games launch. Another confirmation that isn't directly about David but also confirms the anime as cannon and as real events is you can find Rebecca's shotgun under a bush a couple yards (meters) from where she died.
I had the same thought but I think at the end where David got into that mecha suit it was there he was trapped in a simulation. That's how they could start season 2 with David being watched inside the simulation.
Nice theory but in-game already confirm he is dead (if the information was twisted by arasaka). These are a lot of way David still can be alive, because he can handle a lot of chrome that mean these only thing that important to arasaka is the brain. In V corpo path, he never heard of what happen even when he was working for arasaka as a counterintelligent agent which is a very high position and he didn't know anything about David is weird. Which mean arasaka had to hide this information because if he dead there won't be any problems if V know it, cause dead men tell no tale. But what if David is alive? A perfect subject for testing soul killer, a perfect mind to test deadly weapon, an Adam Smasher 2.0. And only one man can save David, it's V. That my theory.
for me the main thing is the smile from jk. Has no other explanation. No one else saw it. The only other possible situation is that jks simulation was meant to start the cyberpsychosis process like jk said. David seeing jk smile might have been the first hint that he was catching the psychosis.
Everyone asking for a season 2: LMAO. We already got a season 2 with a new protagonist and continues right after Edgerunners: It's called playing the fucking game.
Man that's one I haven't heard yet but definitely up there woth some of my favorite theories. Now if you don't mind I'll be in my corner chugging copium.
@@bumperjumper oh just the classics you've covered such as him not being dead and being like experimented on by Arasaka. This one just sticks out to me more especially since you brought up some real interesting points.
You forgot about the Plothole Rouge tells you in Cyberpunk 2077. Apparently NOBODY has seen Adam Smasher since JS attack on the tower. But he had to make the big entrance to kill David.
Imagine a season 2, but David actually gets saved, wakes up, and a lot of things that happen, Rebecca not dying, Falco doesn't exist. 3:26 That 💯 I noticed, when he trips and thought "something is extremely off" and could confirm he is trapped in a sim. This also could explain why Lucy has such a personality change from the beginning to the end. It absolutely makes no sense for her to turn on a dime. It'd also be nice if Rebecca didn't die off as well, and David goes with her instead._ But as we've seen in ReZero, the poor best girl sometimes gets the boot. Also, the betrayal by Kiwi just didn't make sense why she would do this. It makes perfect sense5
We get messaged by falco in the game, confirming his existence. Keep in mind that while David still is extremely talented with cyberware, the sandevistan makes him move at unimaginable speeds, where the slightest mistake will send him flying. It's like when you walk on completely flat ground with nothing to trip you, yet your legs just kinda fail you and you stumble
the only sensible way of some kind BD sims happening to this anime's conclusion imo is David's construct is reliving his personal nightmare inside Mikoshi. This is actually somewhat happened to Johnny Silverhand (relic construct) as player actually go through some kind power fantasy scenario mission (in CP2077), reliving Johnny's own retelling of his personal important events, including the raid into Arasaka Tower. Case in point, based on the TTRPG lore, Johnny did not raid alone upon landing & encounter Adam Smasher. Also, Adam Smasher real final fight at that event was with Morgan Blackhand, not Johnny Silverhand.
also something I would like to note is on episode 5 when david puts the BD on the shelf its number 32 and sense tarot cards are a pretty big part in cyberpunk number 32 is strength and tarot strength goes like this Strength predicts the triumphant conclusion to a major life problem, situation or temptation through strength of character. It is a very happy card if you are fighting illness or recovering from injury. maybe just a bit of foreshadowing but its a neat little thing
That depends if Netflix accepts to renew the show or not, that's why they gave us the impression that he died and not confirming that he died at the same time
All depends on CD Projekt Red. If they decide on continuing the story. Netflix is only platform you can watch it on. They founded whole the show and they have rights to the story
this theory only doesnt hold up thanks to the fact that the game confirms that david really did do all of that stuff, he became a top tier merc and died a legend of santo domingo. your theory was pretty good though.
This theory means that David wasn’t saved at first, so something similar or much different to the show could’ve happened. It leaves room for them to make a second season if they decide to
@@efxnews4776 brain dances can be scrolled and made into virtus. Which are essentially simulated experiences that can be fabricated. So @bumperjumper's theory is very possible. It's just the fact that the game ties up all loose ends. There was even a theory that David was still alive, even though he was basically going to die from installing the cyberskeleton. People are claiming that David survives but the cyberskeleton is literally killing him, not cyberpsycosis, Adam smasher just sped up the process with a bullet to David's brain.
@@bumperjumper I wholeheartedly agree, it would make sense as to why Falco refers to himself as WE. Like there's more than just him who survived the incident at arasaka tower. So maybe this is just a BD of David's experience being scrolled by someone else maybe Lucy? Or J.K. really is pulling the strings here.
I think David was rescued by Lucy before Maine’s death and arasaka turned the edgerunner’s corpses into something similar to Adam smasher like for instance Rebecca or David himself
what I find very interesting was, that the BD shown to David, Nr. 32. is way larger than the others, which means, that is life is way longer and way much happens there that is taking up much memory space.
this was a really thought out and well made video! i really hope this is the case, there’s more stories to tell from these characters and others too! this can’t be how it ends
Just go play some cyberpunk, you eventually get to drill Adam Smasher in the face....I did a complete play through just to do that very thing after the series. I hated him even more after Edgerunners ended
Studio Trigger doesn't do second seasons. Until now. You want another for Edgerunners? Watch season 2 of Panty & Stocking. That'll prove to them they can, and avoid the diminishing returns that plague most additional seasons of anime (that aren't adapting a completed work).
@@thediabolo4421 "But hey. That's just a theory! AN ANIME THEORY! Thanks for watching!" In all seriousness, we all know theories are just copium.If the story writer scripted it like that. Then it means they intended to write their deaths. Just like that video with Stan Lee explaining a fictional battle between he's superheroes. He decides which one takes the most blows and who wins.
@@thediabolo4421 counterargument: You didnt play the game, right? Sorry to break it, but they are dead. Dont wanna spoil anything, so ill just say that the game shows certain things that 100% confirm that
Why is nobody talking about Adam smashers final words to David ? He said “you could prove an interesting construct”. Then David has an off screen death. Knowing the interest Arasaka had in David why not keep him & use his construct as they did silverhand. Would be a waste to flatline him. Could make for an interesting storyline to season 2.
This is true, but it would just rip my heart out even more. With rebecca and everyone else gone besides lucy, i think it’s a better life that lucy can lead alone on the moon, even though i’d be happy if they got together
@@DrakeMeatRider would make for such a good storyline trying to save David & bring Lucy back into the picture. Possible in game dlc or season 2 possibilities.
but the thing is in the end david fulfiled lucy's dream and here is the question why and how JK knows what is lucy's dream and how to fulfil it? THIS IS THE QUESTION?
To me: the whole JK sequence is where i realized that David is not "built different" as he think he is. JK being a snuff BD editor/creator.... he has seen more than his share of cyberpsycho BDs to know that David is traveling the same road. In fact, if anything.... the JK torture experience might most probably Psychologically debilitated David tolerance for cyberware because his signs of cyberpsychosis manifests as guns popping out of people and we first see this when he is being tortured by JK and then see them again from his perspective of shooting the lady which was what prompted him to do so in the first place.
i literally thought the same thing due to the fact that when JK takes a needle to the neck and supposedly dies he looks over and smiles at David and on top of that the bloodshot effect when smasher "kills" him and the fact he completely recovers from psyhercycosis in the end and doesn't start suffering from the symptoms until hes hacked
1. Braindances are recorded memories that contain all the senses of the recorder. You can also tweak them a bit to the viewers liking. As of now I haven’t found any lore about Artificial BDs. Also we'd certainly heard of them, because then the possibilities would be endless and someone certainly made unhinged BDs. 2. Let’s play a bit with the idea that there are artificial BDs. I want to approach this topic from different standpoints: 1. Technology: We know that even for the recorded BDs require high expertise and time to modify. So to create everything from scratch and feel like a real experience is like making a high budget movie. It takes money, skill and time. For JK money and skill shouldn’t be a problem. So time is the narrowest point of this approach, but it still doesn’t make it impossible. 2. Motivation: Why would JK go so above and beyond? Sure, they tried to kidnap him and he probably wants to know why. Also he needs extra footage for his work. That’s one reason he showed the other DB to David. However I can’t find any reason why he would invest into this project that much when he can just find another psycho. 3. Knowledge: Sure, he might be a cyber magician, but there is no way in hell he could see inside Davids mind and emotions so deeply to create an authentic simulation tailored around him. Dude’s not an oracle. He just wants what everyone else in NC, money, fame and maybe not to die. Also if he wanted to torment him why would he make that ending. Do you thing it is a sad ending for David? He was smiling until the end. He succeeded in his goal in protecting Lucy. Honestly if this theory was canon I would consider it an enormous plothole. With that said. I just can’t entertain this theory in any way. I can see bigger chance for the open ending theory to be real. Great video though, just wanted to add my thoughts.
If hes a good editor, couldn't he make all by the recordings his sandy made. As he says all cyberware aperantly records stuff and there is only minor things that come to him as new. But are maybe taken from other BDs
I know David is dead, but if he is in a BD, would it mean that he could be living an edited version of Johnny’s story, since with all the similarities. denial is real with this one
Either way if he was stuck within the simulation. Lucy would still search from top to bottom for him, even if it ment dying and might lead into 2077 and could of interfered with the timeline. His jacket would not be there in cyberpunk 2077 if he was stuck. And some characters would have to be seen in 2077 and with Rebecca shotgun being able to find where she died tells us that it was not a simulation.
Also if he was in a simulation, there would be possible an after credit at the end with a little dialogue. Then would have to make season 2 or everyone would be killing themselves
Yooo, this theory makes so much sense. I thought your david survived theory was a little far stretch. But holy crap this theory has so many connecting links. This would make for a fantastic second season reveal. The only problems with the theory is that falcon and the jacket are in CP 2077
No it doesn't for TWO reasons. Firs one is the David Martinez drink in the Afterlife bar in the game. Second is that Brain Dances aren't simulations, they are RECORDED MEMORIES.
It's an interesting theory, though I think it more likely that David survived his fight with Smasher. Yes, we did see him in a bad way right before the camera shifted to an angle where you couldn't see the final blow. I think he's alive and in 'Saka custody, what they plan to do with him is anyone's guess. As far as drinks in the Afterlife are concerned, the requirement is that you have to be a legend among Night City's mercs, and you have to die, preferably mid-op, BUT there is no caveat stating that your death must be confirmed. Johnny got his after Rogue reported him dead, Martinez would have gotten his after Falco or Lucy reported the same (likely Falco).
Heard a theory about the end of episode 10. They talked about the final transition where we don’t see the bullet getting shot on David but just a red screen. Maybe the end of the BD ? About David’s drink in Afterlife, maybe they didn’t find David so they thought he was dead after getting kidnapped Same thing for Falco. Maybe he’s the last one with who we can also talk, but maybe everyone hides himself after thinking that David died We’re talking about CD Projekt guys. They planning Cyberpunk 2 (after 2077 if I’m not wrong, so not about Edgerunners history). CD Projekt gave us an incredible game and an anime. Every theories can be real with them, and a season 2 can be made. Who knows ? Another theory who came in my head right now: David escapes from the BD by himself and takes off the sandevistan. Because of all the BDs that he saw, maybe if somebody finds the sandevistan he’ll be able to see David’s BDs. (They talked about the last memories of whoever puts the sandevistan and dies as a psycho, it becomes a BD. You follow me in that mess, choom ?) Last point I promise: We see Lucy on the Moon because David knows that it’s her dream. So even if he’s stuck in the nightmare of BDs… He can probably put whatever he wants inside of them ? (So if he got the power to control the BDS, he’ll find the possibility to escape from them, but that’s what I was talking about in third paragraph) Guys let’s be serious. If it’s really a BD, how this kidnapper can know that Lucy’s dream is to go on the moon ? It’s a little detail… She says that she never told her dream to somebody before David. Details are important ! Especially with CD Projekt.
Considering the success of the show and the reignited interest in the game, I wouldn't be surprised if they left the first season of the show open-ended like this for the exact intent of continuing it in another season. Does that mean David survives? hard to tell, especially since he has a drink in the Afterlife. We'll just have to wait and see.
I mean it would be cool to see this theory play out but I feel like it would take away the emotional experience we got at the end of the season, so much loss just for them to be alive again , though I would like em to have a second chance but It would also be a stretch considering that in the game pointing towards David's death , like the drink being name after him , finding Becca's shotgun , David's jacket , Becca's apartment being abandoned and so forth , interesting theory , which I say again would be interesting to see play out but there would have to be a proper way on pulling it off
Let's not forget there there is software out there that reads a person's entire personal history. V uses this in the game when he goes too the Doll Brothel when looking for Evelyn and the Doll they gets knows their full name and other expects of them almost nobody should know. It wouldn't be out of the question for a "artist" like JK too acquire similar software and use it too create his customized simulations. If David ever met Falco before then that's how JK would know too add him.
The cycle of denial is still at large with misleading transitions, simulations, & dreams/nightmares. Feels like a conspiracy is boiling in the depths of the city.
I was also caught kinda off guard by Falco's abrupt arrival. Glad you pointed that out. I thought I had simply missed something after smoking a little too much while watching the show haha.
What people don't understand about this theory is that the entire 1st season of edgerunners was a simulation, but David was rescued after that and became a legend in the night city with this new knowledge and mindset.
The drink in the afterlife named after him confirms he died, and the call with El Capitan confirms he died a year earlier, the same time of the events in the anime
No, it was not a simulation. A) there's no way Rebecca, Lucy, Faraday etc would all be scrolled through a braindance to make perfect replications of them. B) Falco literally talks to you in the game about what happened and that he doesn't wish to speak on the events as they're too tragic, and that V is very similar to David, and that there's a drink named after David in the Afterlife. I appreciate good theories but, this just isn't one of them. It's okay for people to die in a show, we don't always have to go "oh but it was all just a dream or simulation" to make it all go away.
I was thinking more along the lines of Arasaka potentially giving David false 'hope' by putting him in a simulation with a quote unqoute 'good ending' (potentially when he puts on the cyberskeleton) and using him in experiments, but this sounds more accurate. Great video!
The slight counter point, Falco actually appears in the strip club with David and Pilar. This was shortly before Pilar's death, I don't remember what episode this was though.
@@williamclark4143 dude, the amount of praise CDPR got from season 1, i highly DOUBT that there woudn't be a second season, quite possibly they already are preparing the script for it right now. Give CDPR and Trigger some time, they didn't have planned for a second season. Just don't expect David Martinez comming back, HE IS DEFINETELY DEAD, and this is cannon, no matter how much you cry about.
@@efxnews4776 I agree that a second season is very likely, but there's no confirmation he's actually dead, their studio has about 1000 different ways to swindle us with the ending right now if there ever was a second season, maybe with the release of the sequel we'll get season two
okay so after watching around 20 other videos of ending analysis, at least for myself I am going to say that the ending is a happy ending for David. He did what he wanted to: save Lucy. I do not think it was done in simulation just because of this.
Couldn't David have been made into a similar chip as Johnny. I mean they had very similar deaths that would easily enough lead them to being brain wiped.
We probably gonna get a season 2 but I don’t think we’ll get a twist like “psych! everyone is alive!”. Would be incongruent with all the foreshadowing and the general theme of the universe and show
You also forgot how mysteriously everyone started talking strange over the phone calls. Sentences started getting jumbled and characters started saying words twice. Makes you actually think 🤔
Falco was in the 2nd episode. You can see him sitting briefly at the first party after David's first Job. Maine doesn't introduce Rebecca either she just appears.
The plot for the second season(If it will be): David was experimented on and he sided with Arasaka, and Lucy will try to bring him back. I think everyone will be satisfied with this turn of events, right?
The Sandevistan was previously owned by Chuck Norris?! I didn't know Walker, Texas Ranger was chromed up. No wonder he was kicking so much ass back in the day 😂🤣😭
I need it to be a simulation, it would be such better and since this success, they can make more seasons to come and it would make us fans HAPPY...I want more David and Lucy, imagine the character development we'd get with another season or two ;)
It wouldn't be better and pretty much goes against the entire point of night city, there are no happy endings. Having a set of characters that keep coming back and eventually have a happy ending is against the entire point of this world and the city that they live in.
The reason the guy smiled was because he knew that his platinum insurance was bringing the hit squad towards them and that he would probably be saved. I thought he got hit on purpose too.
As great as it maybe. I think it would be better the events of what happened to Davids team remain true. I believe season 2 should be either the stories of the characters and how they became to be who they were and met. Or have a new cast of characters while Lucy being in the background with her own team trying to get revenge on Araska. It would be pretty interesting as more dlc comes out she is mentioned in the game. If I had to say if one theory could possibly be true it would be where they didn't really show David being killed my Adam smasher.
The problem with this whole theory is two things folks don't take in account. The first one is the David Martinez drink in Afterlife in the game. Second is that Brain Dances aren't SIMULATIONS, they are RECORDED MEMORIES, you can relieve memories of other people many times you want, but you can't alter them. Also, i belive simulations are something that could only happen behind the Black Wall, Arasaka or any corporation has domain pass the Black Wall, what exist there isn't even know by humans, i mean, you do have simulations in the real world, but they are much like videogames, usually done in AR (augmented reality) wich isn't dangerous at all.
You could do a lot of "what ifs" like this in any Cyberpunk story, but I think the underlying question that has to be asked is what narrative advantage exists in making the conclusion of the show "just a simulation". I think most would agree that the answer is not much, and there are plenty of negatives. First off, it wouldn't really be that big of a help for David. All the key players are still after him and he still has the same dangerous personality that David himself suggests he can't change. Moreover, all the deaths and costs of his decisions will have been removed. You also have to contend with the fact he is in cyber prison with a guy you need to hype up to justify David still being alive - but if he is as competent as your theory dictates, how will David ever escape? And if his destiny is to die in that chair, why bother with any of this? You also have the ticking time bombs of the crew to consider. Becca is suicidal and saved by 5+ members of the crew on separate occasions, Maine clearly doesn't respect limitations and is bound for cyberpsychosis, etc. These people are already on their road to destruction, the only think retconning the ending does is remove the great execution of that final stretch of road. Essentially, such a story path would take away the stakes of the series and I wouldn't find that compelling whatsoever. David is dead and his legacy celebrated in the Afterlife, let the dead rest.
Your video makes a really valid point. I found it weird as well how after David is rescued by Lucy and Dorio the show suddenly picks up the pace with constant time skips and abstract scenes and has a dark turn. Although your theory is interesting, I'm quite sure the producers of the show didn't mean it that way and the final ending is supposed to be based on real night city where sadly, everyone died.
Proving David’s Fate is WORSE Than Death: th-cam.com/video/BVOo2DwHnjk/w-d-xo.html
I hope at least one of you theories are true.
I never saw so much copium in one place. This is some LOST shit. :D And i saw a lot of comments on Edgerunner. Wishing for David to become an engram or something else.
@@Multi1 same here, it’d be a shame to not see more of this amazing anime!
@@Altmer353 yeah I really want him to make a comeback. Plus I’m sure it wouldn’t have been too hard to preserve David in some way given the time and tech Arasaka has
@@bumperjumper Hey man So me and friend are drawing a chapter about bring David and rebecca because of course the pain is too much for us XD i wanted to send you the chapter after we are done but you don't seem to have a discord
That could be the case, but that still doesn't explain why Falco is in cyberpunk 2077 now, and why david has his own drink named after him in the Afterlife. Because both of these points prove that David had to have become a legend in Night City (by attacking Arasaka tower), and he would have had to meet Falco because Falco does talk about his experience with David in 2077.
Real
I think man is still in denial
Or they put all the details in the game to specifically mess with us. As good as the ending was and shouldn’t be changed, this theory makes too much sense. Don’t you think people would still be talking about a massive battle like that in night city.
what i was thinking still a good bud though
Those are really good counterpoints! This theory states that David wasn’t saved immediately in episode 5 and something entirely different (or the same) could’ve happened.
I’m fairly sure the drink in the afterlife doesn’t guarantee death in every sense since Johnny Silverhands has a drink named after him
This is a fun approach they could take if they decide on a season 2!
This would make such a great season 2. Imagine David both fearing cyber psychosis and never really knowing if he’s in a simulation
I know this is like a year late but wouldn't it just make everything after episode 5 redundant? all that emotion we felt would just be worthless no?
Spoiler warning I think.
Would be nice if they had a happy ending but the canon lore is David and his crew got taken out a year before V returned to Night CIty. You can find a questline to get David's jacket and one of his crew tells your V to not look for them. They just want to fade away into obscurity. That was very impactful because that implies the remaining crew was so broken because they lost so many important people that they can't bounce back.
not to mention can you name one happy story from cyberpunk2077? jonny's, v's, jackie's, I mean I guess the fixers get jobs completed but everyone outside of them and your few love interest has horrible things happen to them. it is just what night city is, a horrible place with terrible people. it is like your only choice are to be a no-one, become a literal monster chasing power, or die holding on to a part of your humanity.
@@jovanleonardi1574 i mean literally, just look at what happened to Evelyn during Judy’s quest line and that shit had to be traumatizing for Judy too, someone you’re that close actually committing suicide. I had someone close to me attempt, never succeeded and seems to be doing better now a couple years later, but that still left me with trauma that i’m dealing with (granted the whole situation was traumatic, on both parts, but that’s not my point here, my point is that we couldn’t save Evelyn and Judy had to have come out with trauma as well).
Also you can found Becca"s shotgun at the Corpo Plaza.
Technically they can write in whatever they want. For example, the rumor/knowledge of them being "taken out" could be a cover story to keep the safe by it looking like everyone died or retired. There are a ton of ways that any or all of the ending characters could be written back in seamlessly if that wanted to go that route. The Braindance simulation is just one of them. Realistically though, I can't see it happening because the setting of Cyberpunk 2077 isn't a happy place, in fact I would say that if the series didn't happen the way it did the ratings for Edgerunners wouldn't be nearly as good. Still I would love a second series where Lucy finds out that David isn't actually dead, rather he was revived and is now being used as an experimental subject by Arasaka and it revolved around her getting a crew together to rescue him.....with a happy reunion at the end. I think it would be a very successful counter point to the death, unhappiness and misery that encompassed then ending of Edgerunners.
I highly doubt it would be a simulation, but I think David may be alive. If they really want to continue the story, they would keep him alive aka smasher keeping him alive last second because we don't actually see his death, just a transmission. Personally as much as I want for David to be alive and have a happy ending. I feel like it would take away too much from that ending.
The only way this theory could hold weight is if we exclusively experience every scene in the show since ep.5 from David’s pov. The fact that we experience scenes from kiwi and Lucy’s perspectives kinds kicks this.
If Falco acquired the jacket and gave it to V, Rebecca's shotgun at Corpo Plaza, and El Capitan knowing David and what he did, that means what happened in the Netflix series did happen.
Not to mention the drink at the afterlife called david martinez. As we all know only people that die a legend get their own drink.
while i do agree Hear me out What David does die but not in the way we think also Davids death could of truamatized Rebecca to where she leaves night city
like what if adam never killed david he has just been here and we still get the same ending just differnet lucy and rebecca survive and go live on the moon yes i know copium but that would be a cool twist for season 2
@@akiraamamiya9166 could be that he isn't dead but his death was lied about while arasaka does tests on him and has him imprisoned
@@jimpickens1629 I don't think so...if they were we could have seen or even saved him in game since we just took that place apart in the don't fear the reaper ending for example
@@akiraamamiya9166 honestly I think he’s an engram like Johnny but his body (what’s left) is going to be used for cyber psycho studies. Either that or they will have him as the new Adam smasher with a memory wipe
the entire thing from start to finish seems like lucy's dream where all the characters are aspects of Lucy's fractured personality, hence her being such a neutral and amoral shell animated and realized only by the characters of her crew; David most noticeably being her humanity
This is really creative and would be pretty compelling if there weren't multiple things in Cyberpunk 2077 confirming the events of the anime. Rebecca's gun being found near where she died, her apartment being abandoned, the fact that you can find David's jacket where it was lost over the edge, and the fact that David Martinez became a big enough legend that he has a drink named after him in Afterlife. ONLY because of these reasons, it feels like a stretch to assume this theory is correct, but otherwise you put together some really amazing and coherent pieces of evidence!
Considering this info was out in the first edition.. IE the first books that came out.. Yea.. its been known about some time.. Just not all the of the smaller details but David's fate was already known about at that point. Same with a few others. ( Adam Smasher's fate that turned him into a full cyborg was already written then. Same with Jonny's fate and Alts, ect. V though is basically the new blood but I can actually be wrong.. Could very much be a character I just forgot from back then. There is a lot. )
Yah but don't you think the fans/players would like to experience the things from the show? It would be a tragedy to keep it out of the game just for the sake to keep it canon. Plus, your game's a simulation too
but what if the reason those things are there are for different reasons entirely?
@@blake6242 Then that's bad storytelling, honestly, because the first season was already a perfect tragedy and any reversal will be disappointing and unfulfilling.
I dunno. There are PLENTY of reasons that this theory cant be true- even without the game's confirmation.
Stage 1: Denial.
This is some of the strongest copium I've ever heard. I really want to believe though.
He got captured by Arasaka and they are running cyber skeleton simulations on him to see if he can run the suit. Then one day he wakes up, dons the skeleton and escapes. He rebuilds his body over the next few months. He meets up with Lucy on the moon and the instant they make eye contact, "I really want to stay at your house" kicks in. They run to each other and embrace, bumping their helmets together comedically. They look at each other and smile, both of their eyes are watering. David says, "I promised." and the two hug tightly. The camera pans over to their side where they are now embracing over the backdrop of Earth. The camera hangs on them and begins to pull away as the two begin to run with the lower gravity and tumble around. The shot lingers encapsulating the beauty of space as David and Lucy are just dots on the surface now. The shot holds as the music begins to fade.
It might be copium but it is Copium with a great amount of reason behind it if it turns out not to be true!
weapons grade copium
this batch of copium will last you for about a month.
This is Russian grade copium but I like it
Stop using cringe Internet lingo. You are so chronicly online uts emberassing. "Copium"
Remember guys Arasaka wanted to see David’s resistance to Psychosis with their new full body armor I don’t think they would waste him by killing him , maybe just maybe they have him somewhere in their lab ready to be Adam Smasher 2.0 also Falco never confirms David’s Death in 2077 so he could still be alive just as a construct Season 2 will most likely take after 2077 where Adam Dies and they bring out David forcing Lucy to come out of hiding in the moon since she is one of Arasakas top Net runners which they also know she’s still alive so 🤷🏽♂️
And a Drink in 2077 doesn’t really confirm Death it’s just a symbol for Night City Legends
And based on how she was able to bring him out of cyberpsychosis, she would definitely be able to bring him back to his right state of mind. I think tragic endings are overdone nowadays- David and Lucy deserve a happy ending.
Looks legit ngl
I'm pretty sure he's dead. Adam Smasher isn't known for bringing anything in remotely alive. Arasaka knows this.. they wouldn't send him in to bring in something remotely alive. Adam even blew his head apart.. I'm sure they can get information on what's left of the cyberskeleton
I hope it gets a season 2 and i hope something similar to these theories happens
If CD Project Red and Trigger find a way to hint at David and Lucy’s return for season 2, the hype/ excitement would be through the roof.
davids dead in 2077 you can buy his drink at afterlife
I would fall backwards if they announce a second season
@@MrStrongstring And so is Silverhand, you can buy his drink as well. And guess what? He isn't completely dead.
Drinks in the afterlife are named after what people believe happened. That means, you cannot use it as definitive argument.
@@michalkeblowski629 Johnny did die tho in 2023 bro hes a construct
@@NewSunGambit He is a construct. And yet, he is. People can interact with him. Depending on the ending you choose, he can even sorta "resurect" by taking over V's body.
That's why I said "completely", as his consciousness is still alive and well (cutting all the philosophical crap of whether a construct is still a human presence or not)
In the same way you could argue that futuristic teleportation device that scans your entire molecular structure to replicate it on the other teleportation device would actually just make your clone while killing an original.
The point is - even if David's body is dead (which in itself can be put into doubt as per previous video) his consciousness can still be kept as construct.
What's more, the story that gave Silverhand the right to having his own drink in the afterlife actually doesn't depict his real death. He died to the soulkiller instead to Smasher cutting him in half.
This video appeared in my recommendations exactly when i need it.
My job already got me quite stressed (i'm a psychiatrist and currently working with soldiers with PTSD) so i decided to watch "some fancy anime" to chill....AND THEN I GOT A DAMN HOLE IN MY HEART.
Oh, dear author of this video, i hope so much that your theory would be true (at least partially). I dream, I crave to see the any plot twist with crew to be alive and with love of David and Lucy to be happy.
I hope so too 😢
same! at this point i would take only david and lucy surving T_T but cmon dont kill off david OR BECCA but i digress
I hope they make season 2, this anime has a lot of potential
Yeah it really raised the bar
They are
different crew
new story
@@bon2yan88 yes
Lucy rescuing Davids construct 🥲
Another fact is that, usually, shows that plan to only have one season (like Edgerunner's was made out to be, considering the ending) are labelled on Netflix as a limited series. Edgerunners wasn't, which might mean we get a second season confirming your theory. Either that, or we might get a second season following Lucy dealing with aftermath (or the in-between: Lucy trying to find and rescue David)
If by chance what you say about that "Netflix limited series" trivia is true, it still won't change the fact that it was already confirmed by the producers that edgerunners is a standalone story with no plans for a season 2 no matter what happens. It was also confirmed by studio trigger that it was a open-and-shut project, they finished it and have moved on to other projects.
Random couple of side notes that hint to this theory having less merit:
Afterlife Bar: Names drinks after dead famous regulars, and in game there's a drink named after David. Implicates that the events we saw in anime actually happened
Becca's shotgun: Is found in the game near where she died in the anime, again implicating the events of the anime being real
clearly they didn't play the game
“Wake up to reality, nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world”
Awesome theory! But I do think your theory from another video is the more likely option to continue the story. The theory that he wasn't killed in the end and was made to be a Guinea pig for the big corporation. Not that I wouldn't be happy with a season 2 with all the characters. But I think from an emotional standpoint, making 1/2 the series a simulation would take away from a lot of the emotional journey we went through. And I don't think the writers would want to do something like that. Plus, from a story telling perspective, I'd want to keep my emotional impact in 2 ways personally:
1.) Keep him alive by having orders given at the last second not to shoot and sparing his life to use him for company/military reasons.
2.) Let David die. Letting him die leaves the most profound impact
But from a marketing standpoint, Cyberpunk 2077 is receiving massive success and numbers after the anime release. Like, we're talking crazy new highs of players coming to the game. This is becoming very lucrative for both the Anime and the game to continue the money train. So, I think that increases the odds of a season 2 and not allowing David to stay dead. So for emotional impact, but to continue the gravy train, I think he's going to survive in the end and it was a deceitful transition to make you think he died.
btw, I'm not saying I want him to stay dead. I get that letting him stay dead is likely the best way to end the series. But I really want to see David end a bit happier. It would be nice for a 2nd season. But I'm just ranting while observing what I think will happen from their perspective :) Thanks for the video!
I appreciate it!! Yeah I completely agree. Sometimes the happy ending that we want isn’t the one that fits the narrative the best! Sometimes a sad/tragic ending is more suiting
@@bumperjumper probelm is: The David Matinez drink in the Afterlife bar in the game, also, theres no simulations, Brain Dances ARE RECORDED MEMORIES, not simulations.
@@efxnews4776 Except the most talented BD editor just put David into a simulation. It was to experience his own death. I think its very unlikely that half of the anime was a simulation but that proves that he can create more than just recorded memories.
@@efxnews4776 So is Johnny Silverhands and he came back as an engram.. His mind and conscience still existing. so i expect something similar for David but there will be a bigger time skip
@@cookie_doki yeah but that BD editor didn’t know Lucy’s past. That simulation is way too in depth to be created
Falco is in Episode three. He doesn't really get mentioned much, but he is there if you look for him.
This. Falco watches Pilar juggle and later does a braindance with Pilar and David.
As much as I would like for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to have a happy ending, the ending we got was profound and deeply moved a lot of people. Anything that allows David to survive would diminish the show. I'm as hurt about the ending as everyone else, and wish David could have had a happy ending. But doing so would lessen the impact of the story.
I do agree mostly, but at the same time i do feel like in season 2 he should be mentioned, and that can go as far as just being known as a legend in the city to what i would like to see that is a scene with him basically on the same level as smasher, he said he wanted to be up the top, at arasaka, That way, if he exists in any form up there he has actually achieved his dream,
Do you actually have to die to be a legend though? They could be in the moon after the high society got rid of going to it.
Not entirely true he can survive and the show still have meaning. It depends entirely on how it is done. If you say Adam Smasher missed and Falco and Lucy rode in to save him and ran. Then bullshit. But if like what happened with Johnny, Smasher just took that last shot to incapatiate him and then Arasaka took him and turned him into a construct or just studied him and his resistance to cyberware then. First it is a fate worse than death. Second it stays in line with the idea that there are no happy endings in the city.
Personally I'm fine with David being dead but I would like for at least the game to have a sequel where we can put together a crew with these characters to take on Arasaka and the other corps. Cyberpunk has a wide world to explore and many things that can be done.
For a season two, I'd like to see NC from the corp worker perspective. New characters, different story (doesn't even need to be directly connected), different take on Night City.
Even if the plan was this tin foil hat theory, they would change the direction given the audiences reaction to the show. Even though in my heart I want a good ending, everyone knows in night city the Corps ALWAYS win. If he is "alive" let it just be like a continuousness like your offered at the end of the game cyberpunk. (Upload you to the Internet or whatever) until technology is advanced enough to bring you back.
This would be okay to bring David back then IMO because we are gonna see the return of SO many people if this ever happened so he would just be a small part of something bigger.
I don't see that happening just my thought
But it did have a happy ending, Lucy got to the moon
That's why when David thinks jk was killed he laughed. He actually in a way is being shown how to avoid his fate
This is EXACTLY what I was thinking after I finished the series. I'm glad someone else picked up on it. This would also be a rather neat nod to another cyberpunk classic, Total Recall.
Yeah exactly!!
The game, which was updated to include several references to the anime and takes place about a year after the anime, confirms David is dead. There is a side quests where Falco ends up texting with you, says he's all that's left of David's crew, and tells you where David's jacket was left. There's also a bar that has a tradition of naming drinks after people who died legendary deaths which actually had David's drink since the games launch.
Another confirmation that isn't directly about David but also confirms the anime as cannon and as real events is you can find Rebecca's shotgun under a bush a couple yards (meters) from where she died.
@@Confron7a7ion7 Sounds like something an Arasaka shill would say!
What's a video game but just a simulation....
Well....in total recall, the simulation turned out to be real and not a simulation at all....xD
I had the same thought but I think at the end where David got into that mecha suit it was there he was trapped in a simulation. That's how they could start season 2 with David being watched inside the simulation.
Nice theory but in-game already confirm he is dead (if the information was twisted by arasaka). These are a lot of way David still can be alive, because he can handle a lot of chrome that mean these only thing that important to arasaka is the brain. In V corpo path, he never heard of what happen even when he was working for arasaka as a counterintelligent agent which is a very high position and he didn't know anything about David is weird. Which mean arasaka had to hide this information because if he dead there won't be any problems if V know it, cause dead men tell no tale. But what if David is alive? A perfect subject for testing soul killer, a perfect mind to test deadly weapon, an Adam Smasher 2.0. And only one man can save David, it's V. That my theory.
Yeah, I hope CDPR uses the success of the show to continue this story. It’s what the fans want. They’d be stupid not to.
for me the main thing is the smile from jk. Has no other explanation. No one else saw it. The only other possible situation is that jks simulation was meant to start the cyberpsychosis process like jk said. David seeing jk smile might have been the first hint that he was catching the psychosis.
Holy shit you're right 👍🏿 he was smiling like he achieved something
I thought he smiled because he had full life insurance backup and would be alive again shortly.
...remember what nightcorp did to jefferson peralez
Omfg they are dead, stop already
Third stage of grief...still denial
I like when I watch this kind of videos and they leave me thinking, what if this actually happens in season 2? It would be sick!
It would make sense actually
And they might actually be showing that
Ffs they are dead, you don't get the point and vibe of this series...
Everyone asking for a season 2: LMAO.
We already got a season 2 with a new protagonist and continues right after Edgerunners: It's called playing the fucking game.
@DomeHead Copium from people who've never watched a sad anime before lmao
1st stage of grief: Denial
Man that's one I haven't heard yet but definitely up there woth some of my favorite theories. Now if you don't mind I'll be in my corner chugging copium.
I'll be right there with you. What are the other theories you've heard of? I'm curious
@@bumperjumper oh just the classics you've covered such as him not being dead and being like experimented on by Arasaka. This one just sticks out to me more especially since you brought up some real interesting points.
He saw the moon bd and showed them the extended version of the bd. And Lucy realizes it once she is on the moon
You forgot about the Plothole Rouge tells you in Cyberpunk 2077. Apparently NOBODY has seen Adam Smasher since JS attack on the tower. But he had to make the big entrance to kill David.
Imagine a season 2, but David actually gets saved, wakes up, and a lot of things that happen, Rebecca not dying, Falco doesn't exist. 3:26 That 💯 I noticed, when he trips and thought "something is extremely off" and could confirm he is trapped in a sim. This also could explain why Lucy has such a personality change from the beginning to the end. It absolutely makes no sense for her to turn on a dime. It'd also be nice if Rebecca didn't die off as well, and David goes with her instead._ But as we've seen in ReZero, the poor best girl sometimes gets the boot.
Also, the betrayal by Kiwi just didn't make sense why she would do this. It makes perfect sense5
We get messaged by falco in the game, confirming his existence. Keep in mind that while David still is extremely talented with cyberware, the sandevistan makes him move at unimaginable speeds, where the slightest mistake will send him flying. It's like when you walk on completely flat ground with nothing to trip you, yet your legs just kinda fail you and you stumble
the only sensible way of some kind BD sims happening to this anime's conclusion imo is David's construct is reliving his personal nightmare inside Mikoshi. This is actually somewhat happened to Johnny Silverhand (relic construct) as player actually go through some kind power fantasy scenario mission (in CP2077), reliving Johnny's own retelling of his personal important events, including the raid into Arasaka Tower. Case in point, based on the TTRPG lore, Johnny did not raid alone upon landing & encounter Adam Smasher. Also, Adam Smasher real final fight at that event was with Morgan Blackhand, not Johnny Silverhand.
also something I would like to note is on episode 5 when david puts the BD on the shelf its number 32 and sense tarot cards are a pretty big part in cyberpunk number 32 is strength and tarot strength goes like this
Strength predicts the triumphant conclusion to a major life problem, situation or temptation through strength of character. It is a very happy card if you are fighting illness or recovering from injury.
maybe just a bit of foreshadowing but its a neat little thing
But the BD would have to include the cyber suit, Tanaka's information, Lucy deleting things and all kinds of information he would have no access to.
David is great, but no one could forgive him for killing that mother
That depends if Netflix accepts to renew the show or not, that's why they gave us the impression that he died and not confirming that he died at the same time
All depends on CD Projekt Red. If they decide on continuing the story. Netflix is only platform you can watch it on. They founded whole the show and they have rights to the story
The first stage of grief: Denial
this theory only doesnt hold up thanks to the fact that the game confirms that david really did do all of that stuff, he became a top tier merc and died a legend of santo domingo. your theory was pretty good though.
This theory means that David wasn’t saved at first, so something similar or much different to the show could’ve happened. It leaves room for them to make a second season if they decide to
Another point, is that this dude think Brain Dances are simulations, wich they aren't, they are recorded memories.
@@efxnews4776 brain dances can be scrolled and made into virtus. Which are essentially simulated experiences that can be fabricated. So @bumperjumper's theory is very possible. It's just the fact that the game ties up all loose ends. There was even a theory that David was still alive, even though he was basically going to die from installing the cyberskeleton. People are claiming that David survives but the cyberskeleton is literally killing him, not cyberpsycosis, Adam smasher just sped up the process with a bullet to David's brain.
@@bumperjumper I wholeheartedly agree, it would make sense as to why Falco refers to himself as WE. Like there's more than just him who survived the incident at arasaka tower. So maybe this is just a BD of David's experience being scrolled by someone else maybe Lucy? Or J.K. really is pulling the strings here.
@@Matagatsu In my opinion Falco is definitely talking about himself and Lucy when he says We
This is probably the only "Dream Theory" in all of media that has the most weight behind it...
I think David was rescued by Lucy before Maine’s death and arasaka turned the edgerunner’s corpses into something similar to Adam smasher like for instance Rebecca or David himself
what I find very interesting was, that the BD shown to David, Nr. 32. is way larger than the others, which means, that is life is way longer and way much happens there that is taking up much memory space.
this was a really thought out and well made video! i really hope this is the case, there’s more stories to tell from these characters and others too! this can’t be how it ends
When a show is so good it sends a man into the 5 stages of grief:
2 weeks and i'm still crying about rebecca ... AUUUUUUUUUGH THE PAIN!!!
Just go play some cyberpunk, you eventually get to drill Adam Smasher in the face....I did a complete play through just to do that very thing after the series. I hated him even more after Edgerunners ended
@@willdrivesu7914 RESPECT my BROTHER XD
@@willdrivesu7914 cheers to you
@@willdrivesu7914 also been there done that .. Did it with a dildo and rebecca shotgun
don't do that, don't give me hope
Season 2 has gotta happen I feel like there’s so much more to be told from these characters.
Not from these, i mean these are dead
@Lucas DV
Did you even understand the video, he explained that most of them could still be alive
Studio Trigger doesn't do second seasons. Until now. You want another for Edgerunners? Watch season 2 of Panty & Stocking. That'll prove to them they can, and avoid the diminishing returns that plague most additional seasons of anime (that aren't adapting a completed work).
@@thediabolo4421 "But hey. That's just a theory! AN ANIME THEORY! Thanks for watching!"
In all seriousness, we all know theories are just copium.If the story writer scripted it like that. Then it means they intended to write their deaths.
Just like that video with Stan Lee explaining a fictional battle between he's superheroes. He decides which one takes the most blows and who wins.
@@thediabolo4421 counterargument: You didnt play the game, right? Sorry to break it, but they are dead. Dont wanna spoil anything, so ill just say that the game shows certain things that 100% confirm that
Why is nobody talking about Adam smashers final words to David ? He said “you could prove an interesting construct”. Then David has an off screen death. Knowing the interest Arasaka had in David why not keep him & use his construct as they did silverhand. Would be a waste to flatline him. Could make for an interesting storyline to season 2.
This is true, but it would just rip my heart out even more. With rebecca and everyone else gone besides lucy, i think it’s a better life that lucy can lead alone on the moon, even though i’d be happy if they got together
@@DrakeMeatRider would make for such a good storyline trying to save David & bring Lucy back into the picture. Possible in game dlc or season 2 possibilities.
but the thing is in the end david fulfiled lucy's dream and here is the question why and how JK knows what is lucy's dream and how to fulfil it?
THIS IS THE QUESTION?
The bd works off of David’s subconscious. That’s why his worst fears come true as well as some of his deepest wants
If Rebecca hadn’t died then I wouldn’t be a supporter of this theory
Welcome :)
To me: the whole JK sequence is where i realized that David is not "built different" as he think he is. JK being a snuff BD editor/creator.... he has seen more than his share of cyberpsycho BDs to know that David is traveling the same road.
In fact, if anything.... the JK torture experience might most probably Psychologically debilitated David tolerance for cyberware because his signs of cyberpsychosis manifests as guns popping out of people and we first see this when he is being tortured by JK and then see them again from his perspective of shooting the lady which was what prompted him to do so in the first place.
i literally thought the same thing due to the fact that when JK takes a needle to the neck and supposedly dies he looks over and smiles at David and on top of that the bloodshot effect when smasher "kills" him and the fact he completely recovers from psyhercycosis in the end and doesn't start suffering from the symptoms until hes hacked
1. Braindances are recorded memories that contain all the senses of the recorder. You can also tweak them a bit to the viewers liking. As of now I haven’t found any lore about Artificial BDs. Also we'd certainly heard of them, because then the possibilities would be endless and someone certainly made unhinged BDs.
2. Let’s play a bit with the idea that there are artificial BDs. I want to approach this topic from different standpoints:
1. Technology: We know that even for the recorded BDs require high expertise and time to modify. So to create everything from scratch and feel like a real experience is like making a high budget movie. It takes money, skill and time. For JK money and skill shouldn’t be a problem. So time is the narrowest point of this approach, but it still doesn’t make it impossible.
2. Motivation: Why would JK go so above and beyond? Sure, they tried to kidnap him and he probably wants to know why. Also he needs extra footage for his work. That’s one reason he showed the other DB to David. However I can’t find any reason why he would invest into this project that much when he can just find another psycho.
3. Knowledge: Sure, he might be a cyber magician, but there is no way in hell he could see inside Davids mind and emotions so deeply to create an authentic simulation tailored around him. Dude’s not an oracle. He just wants what everyone else in NC, money, fame and maybe not to die. Also if he wanted to torment him why would he make that ending. Do you thing it is a sad ending for David? He was smiling until the end. He succeeded in his goal in protecting Lucy. Honestly if this theory was canon I would consider it an enormous plothole.
With that said. I just can’t entertain this theory in any way. I can see bigger chance for the open ending theory to be real. Great video though, just wanted to add my thoughts.
If hes a good editor, couldn't he make all by the recordings his sandy made. As he says all cyberware aperantly records stuff and there is only minor things that come to him as new. But are maybe taken from other BDs
I mean u make perfect sense about the time and effort and all like its insane if the second season would somehow continue with this theorie
I know David is dead, but if he is in a BD, would it mean that he could be living an edited version of Johnny’s story, since with all the similarities. denial is real with this one
Either way if he was stuck within the simulation. Lucy would still search from top to bottom for him, even if it ment dying and might lead into 2077 and could of interfered with the timeline. His jacket would not be there in cyberpunk 2077 if he was stuck. And some characters would have to be seen in 2077 and with Rebecca shotgun being able to find where she died tells us that it was not a simulation.
My theory is that he's just a Johnny silverhand 2.0 in lucy
Also if he was in a simulation, there would be possible an after credit at the end with a little dialogue. Then would have to make season 2 or everyone would be killing themselves
Yooo, this theory makes so much sense. I thought your david survived theory was a little far stretch. But holy crap this theory has so many connecting links. This would make for a fantastic second season reveal. The only problems with the theory is that falcon and the jacket are in CP 2077
Yeah they’d definitely have some canon issues to sort out lol
No it doesn't for TWO reasons.
Firs one is the David Martinez drink in the Afterlife bar in the game.
Second is that Brain Dances aren't simulations, they are RECORDED MEMORIES.
bro what if s2 is the rest of the crew trying to get david back from arasaka and then they try to get revenge :O
It's an interesting theory, though I think it more likely that David survived his fight with Smasher. Yes, we did see him in a bad way right before the camera shifted to an angle where you couldn't see the final blow. I think he's alive and in 'Saka custody, what they plan to do with him is anyone's guess. As far as drinks in the Afterlife are concerned, the requirement is that you have to be a legend among Night City's mercs, and you have to die, preferably mid-op, BUT there is no caveat stating that your death must be confirmed. Johnny got his after Rogue reported him dead, Martinez would have gotten his after Falco or Lucy reported the same (likely Falco).
ah yes, denial phase
This is so wild the more I think about it. I hope we get to see more than just David’s jacket in 2077 since it’s been revitalized by this masterpiece.
Heard a theory about the end of episode 10. They talked about the final transition where we don’t see the bullet getting shot on David but just a red screen. Maybe the end of the BD ? About David’s drink in Afterlife, maybe they didn’t find David so they thought he was dead after getting kidnapped
Same thing for Falco. Maybe he’s the last one with who we can also talk, but maybe everyone hides himself after thinking that David died
We’re talking about CD Projekt guys. They planning Cyberpunk 2 (after 2077 if I’m not wrong, so not about Edgerunners history). CD Projekt gave us an incredible game and an anime. Every theories can be real with them, and a season 2 can be made. Who knows ?
Another theory who came in my head right now: David escapes from the BD by himself and takes off the sandevistan. Because of all the BDs that he saw, maybe if somebody finds the sandevistan he’ll be able to see David’s BDs.
(They talked about the last memories of whoever puts the sandevistan and dies as a psycho, it becomes a BD. You follow me in that mess, choom ?)
Last point I promise: We see Lucy on the Moon because David knows that it’s her dream. So even if he’s stuck in the nightmare of BDs… He can probably put whatever he wants inside of them ? (So if he got the power to control the BDS, he’ll find the possibility to escape from them, but that’s what I was talking about in third paragraph)
Guys let’s be serious. If it’s really a BD, how this kidnapper can know that Lucy’s dream is to go on the moon ? It’s a little detail… She says that she never told her dream to somebody before David. Details are important ! Especially with CD Projekt.
Considering the success of the show and the reignited interest in the game, I wouldn't be surprised if they left the first season of the show open-ended like this for the exact intent of continuing it in another season. Does that mean David survives? hard to tell, especially since he has a drink in the Afterlife. We'll just have to wait and see.
I mean it would be cool to see this theory play out but I feel like it would take away the emotional experience we got at the end of the season, so much loss just for them to be alive again , though I would like em to have a second chance but It would also be a stretch considering that in the game pointing towards David's death , like the drink being name after him , finding Becca's shotgun , David's jacket , Becca's apartment being abandoned and so forth , interesting theory , which I say again would be interesting to see play out but there would have to be a proper way on pulling it off
Let's not forget there there is software out there that reads a person's entire personal history. V uses this in the game when he goes too the Doll Brothel when looking for Evelyn and the Doll they gets knows their full name and other expects of them almost nobody should know.
It wouldn't be out of the question for a "artist" like JK too acquire similar software and use it too create his customized simulations. If David ever met Falco before then that's how JK would know too add him.
Whoa you’re the first to bring that up that’s a really good point!!
The cycle of denial is still at large with misleading transitions, simulations, & dreams/nightmares. Feels like a conspiracy is boiling in the depths of the city.
De Nile is not just a river
I think this is the best way to revive some of the fan favorite characters that I hope to see return in season 2
I was also caught kinda off guard by Falco's abrupt arrival. Glad you pointed that out. I thought I had simply missed something after smoking a little too much while watching the show haha.
LOL you’re definitely not the only one who thought it was abrupt
Thank you for once more providing us with hope! To get the team back together for a second season would be a real thrill!!!
Of course!! As much as I loved the ending, I’d be beyond thrilled if the characters made a comeback!!
Daaamn and here I was thinking I was the only one that noticed the strange occurrences.
Great analysis, you now have my full attention!!
Show broke us so bad we will do anything for them to have a happy ending we must realize life doesn't always have a happy ending. Hope I'm wrong tho 🤞
What people don't understand about this theory is that the entire 1st season of edgerunners was a simulation, but David was rescued after that and became a legend in the night city with this new knowledge and mindset.
The drink in the afterlife named after him confirms he died, and the call with El Capitan confirms he died a year earlier, the same time of the events in the anime
i would love this ending because this means Rebecca could be alive
No, it was not a simulation. A) there's no way Rebecca, Lucy, Faraday etc would all be scrolled through a braindance to make perfect replications of them. B) Falco literally talks to you in the game about what happened and that he doesn't wish to speak on the events as they're too tragic, and that V is very similar to David, and that there's a drink named after David in the Afterlife.
I appreciate good theories but, this just isn't one of them. It's okay for people to die in a show, we don't always have to go "oh but it was all just a dream or simulation" to make it all go away.
That means Rebecca can still be alive
Falco appears in an episode actually episode 4 for a brief moment
Ok so now I’m hoping that season two comes out and the first scene is of him being saved by Dorio and Lucy that be sick
I was thinking more along the lines of Arasaka potentially giving David false 'hope' by putting him in a simulation with a quote unqoute 'good ending' (potentially when he puts on the cyberskeleton) and using him in experiments, but this sounds more accurate. Great video!
Thanks! And yeah that’s an interesting way to look at it
I really hope this gets a season 2, the potential here is wild
It also doesn't explain why Rebecca's shotgun guts, is next go where she was crushed by Adam smasher
The slight counter point, Falco actually appears in the strip club with David and Pilar. This was shortly before Pilar's death, I don't remember what episode this was though.
I like how you didn't mention Dorio talking about ppl having another chance at life in the end
These theories from different creators gives me alot of hype for season 2
I doubt there will ever be a season 2
@@williamclark4143 same :(
@@williamclark4143 dude, the amount of praise CDPR got from season 1, i highly DOUBT that there woudn't be a second season, quite possibly they already are preparing the script for it right now.
Give CDPR and Trigger some time, they didn't have planned for a second season.
Just don't expect David Martinez comming back, HE IS DEFINETELY DEAD, and this is cannon, no matter how much you cry about.
@@efxnews4776 I agree that a second season is very likely, but there's no confirmation he's actually dead, their studio has about 1000 different ways to swindle us with the ending right now if there ever was a second season, maybe with the release of the sequel we'll get season two
@@dr3amless345 stop, they are dead and you can see it ingame. Why can't you understand it already ffs
Reminder that David also mention about rewinding time
okay so after watching around 20 other videos of ending analysis, at least for myself I am going to say that the ending is a happy ending for David. He did what he wanted to: save Lucy. I do not think it was done in simulation just because of this.
I wish I could beleive this but in the game when someone dies they have a drink and there's a drink called the David martinez
Couldn't David have been made into a similar chip as Johnny. I mean they had very similar deaths that would easily enough lead them to being brain wiped.
3:02 falco is seen in episode 4 enjoying a BD with David and Pilar and also appears in cyberpunk 2077
We probably gonna get a season 2 but I don’t think we’ll get a twist like “psych! everyone is alive!”. Would be incongruent with all the foreshadowing and the general theme of the universe and show
Depression part 1: Denial
You also forgot how mysteriously everyone started talking strange over the phone calls. Sentences started getting jumbled and characters started saying words twice.
Makes you actually think 🤔
Falco was in the 2nd episode. You can see him sitting briefly at the first party after David's first Job. Maine doesn't introduce Rebecca either she just appears.
The plot for the second season(If it will be): David was experimented on and he sided with Arasaka, and Lucy will try to bring him back. I think everyone will be satisfied with this turn of events, right?
The Sandevistan was previously owned by Chuck Norris?! I didn't know Walker, Texas Ranger was chromed up. No wonder he was kicking so much ass back in the day 😂🤣😭
It all makes so much sense now
I need it to be a simulation, it would be such better and since this success, they can make more seasons to come and it would make us fans HAPPY...I want more David and Lucy, imagine the character development we'd get with another season or two ;)
First stage of grief is denial isn’t it 😭
W pfp
@@STARSHIPSHINIGAMI
Cope and seethe
It wouldn't be better and pretty much goes against the entire point of night city, there are no happy endings. Having a set of characters that keep coming back and eventually have a happy ending is against the entire point of this world and the city that they live in.
Fans trying not to do everything to deny a bad ending challenge (impossible)
this is the first stage of grief, Denial.
The reason the guy smiled was because he knew that his platinum insurance was bringing the hit squad towards them and that he would probably be saved. I thought he got hit on purpose too.
As great as it maybe. I think it would be better the events of what happened to Davids team remain true. I believe season 2 should be either the stories of the characters and how they became to be who they were and met. Or have a new cast of characters while Lucy being in the background with her own team trying to get revenge on Araska. It would be pretty interesting as more dlc comes out she is mentioned in the game. If I had to say if one theory could possibly be true it would be where they didn't really show David being killed my Adam smasher.
Yeah but i really want to learn more about the old net and what Arasaka was so interested in finding there
The problem with this whole theory is two things folks don't take in account.
The first one is the David Martinez drink in Afterlife in the game.
Second is that Brain Dances aren't SIMULATIONS, they are RECORDED MEMORIES, you can relieve memories of other people many times you want, but you can't alter them.
Also, i belive simulations are something that could only happen behind the Black Wall, Arasaka or any corporation has domain pass the Black Wall, what exist there isn't even know by humans, i mean, you do have simulations in the real world, but they are much like videogames, usually done in AR (augmented reality) wich isn't dangerous at all.
There was a wierd BD with the name of edgerunner in the epi 5 which david looks at and the scene pans out.
You could do a lot of "what ifs" like this in any Cyberpunk story, but I think the underlying question that has to be asked is what narrative advantage exists in making the conclusion of the show "just a simulation". I think most would agree that the answer is not much, and there are plenty of negatives.
First off, it wouldn't really be that big of a help for David. All the key players are still after him and he still has the same dangerous personality that David himself suggests he can't change. Moreover, all the deaths and costs of his decisions will have been removed. You also have to contend with the fact he is in cyber prison with a guy you need to hype up to justify David still being alive - but if he is as competent as your theory dictates, how will David ever escape? And if his destiny is to die in that chair, why bother with any of this? You also have the ticking time bombs of the crew to consider. Becca is suicidal and saved by 5+ members of the crew on separate occasions, Maine clearly doesn't respect limitations and is bound for cyberpsychosis, etc. These people are already on their road to destruction, the only think retconning the ending does is remove the great execution of that final stretch of road.
Essentially, such a story path would take away the stakes of the series and I wouldn't find that compelling whatsoever. David is dead and his legacy celebrated in the Afterlife, let the dead rest.
making random theories is how they grief, leave them be
Oh man, I didn’t think about this, you are killing me.
Your video makes a really valid point. I found it weird as well how after David is rescued by Lucy and Dorio the show suddenly picks up the pace with constant time skips and abstract scenes and has a dark turn. Although your theory is interesting, I'm quite sure the producers of the show didn't mean it that way and the final ending is supposed to be based on real night city where sadly, everyone died.
The end where Adam Smasher claims David would be an interested Sim gave me hope for this outcome