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"Clu. Clu happened. It was a coup."
Kevin Flynn[src]

The coup against Kevin Flynn is an event in 1989, in which Clu 2 seizes power over the Tron system from Kevin Flynn in order to initiate the Purge against the ISOs.

History[]

Prior events[]

In 1984,[1] Kevin Flynn discovered that, independently from him, the Grid created programs known as isomorphic algorithms (ISOs) who were capable of changing the Grid in ways unplanned by Flynn. He regarded that as a miracle and "a digital frontier to reshape the human condition".[2] However, Clu was written, according to Flynn's earlier ideas, to strive for "the perfect system" and thus viewed the ISOs as sources of imperfection and chaos, and a threat to the system.[3]

As unrest among the Basic programs grew due to clashes with the ISOs, Tron and his police force went to Tron City's ISO district to calm down the protests. What Tron assumed to be a provoker threw a disc that derezzed a Basic program, inciting violence. In the ensuing chaos, Tron's second-in-command, Dyson, was disfigured, causing him to hate the ISOs he already distrusted. A visit by Kevin Flynn made things even more bitter when the User neglected his Basic programs while showing excitement about the ISOs.[4]

Some time later, a program named Anon was rezzed in the Outlands and was given the task to watch on the Installation ceremony for any rogue programs that wanted to cause any trouble.[1]

The coup[]

Flynn was met by Clu while discussing security issues with Tron. Clu sardonically asked his creator whether his directive was "still to create the perfect system", which excluded leaving any ISOs alive. At Flynn's wary "yeah", Clu activated his mask and ordered some Black Guards that were waiting in ambush to attack.[2]

While dealing with some infected programs, Anon witnessed the coup against Flynn, one of Clu's sentries took notice of him and tried to derezz him, but Anon escaped.[1]

Tron covered Flynn's escape, engaging the Black Guards all by himself. He was quickly overpowered and finally brought down by Clu.[5] Flynn only saw as much before he escaped, assuming Tron was dead,[2] when in reality Tron was left scarred by Clu and was taken by Dyson with the intent of repurpose him.[6]

Aftermath[]

Clu's reign[]

In one fell swoop, Clu disposed of the system's creator and monitor program, allowing him to execute his directive unchallenged. He subjected Tron's former team to repurposing.[6] Then he went on to conquer every corner on the Grid via military occupation.[5]

Anon was initially blamed for the supposed demise of both Tron and Flynn until Clu enacted the Purge and made his intentions clear to all programs. Anon tried to escape from Clu with Quorra, the only ISO alive following the Purge, but the program ended up giving his life in order to ensure Quorra's survival, as she was rescued by Kevin Flynn in the Outlands.[1]

Tron's fate[]

Coup Aftermath in Uprising

Clu talks to a damaged Tron.

It was revealed that not only did Tron survive, but his enslavement didn't follow immediately after the coup. Instead, he was tortured and incapacitated by Clu's right-hand program, Dyson, as a revenge for Tron's inaction when Dyson, Tron's subordinate at the time, was disfigured as anti-ISO protests escalated. As Clu was giving a victorious speech before his newly repurposed soldiers to rally them for the Purge, Tron, half-derezzed, was hauled onto a recognizer that was supposed to take him to Clu's throne ship.

However, a sentry named Cyrus, who had come to admire Tron for his stoicism, caused the ship to crash and escaped into the Outlands. Dyson, who only saw the recognizer explode, left Tron for dead.[6] While Tron attempted to start a rebellion against Clu's forces with Cyrus and later a program named Beck,[5] he was eventually repurposed and turned into Clu's new enforcer, Rinzler.[6]

Trivia[]

  • AnonWitnessesTheCoup

    Anon witnesses the coup in TRON: Evolution.

    The scene of Flynn and Tron walking into Clu's ambush is depicted differently in Tron: Legacy, Tron: Evolution and Tron: Uprising:
    • In TRON: Legacy, four Black Guards approach Flynn and Tron from each corner. Tron says "Go" to Flynn in a low voice and engages the guards. Clu attacks Flynn, telling him that he's been corrupted, before he's tackled by Tron. Tron yells "Flynn, go!" and then Clu overpowers him, jamming a disc into his chest, after which Rinzler's growl is heard, suggesting that Tron's repurposing happened at this point.
    • In TRON: Evolution, Tron yells "Flynn, go!" as he is surrounded by the guards. Anon watches the scene from a higher level.
    • In Tron: Uprising, the ambush is commanded by Dyson who's watching from Clu's right. On his order, at least ten black guards swarm the pair. Tron says the "Flynn, go" line in a low voice before attacking. Afterwards he's shown lying on the ground heavily wounded, with Clu gloating about having eliminated him and lured Dyson to his side. Tron is depicted wearing his white suit in this scene, unlike in the film and the game.

References[]

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