Why Dot Rules

Name: Dot Matrix [named after the printer]

Age: Mid 20s [see note at end of essay]

Appearance: Green skin, short black hair, purple eyes, average to shortish in height (in 1 1/2" boots she reaches Bob's shoulders and is shorter than Mouse) with a black and white icon; she is partial to an orange and red jumpsuit for everyday wear, white with a black dress for formal business occasions, and black when in battle mode. She also has a nice red dress for special occasions. Dot also has been seen wearing reading glass, so is presumably nearsighted. She also has a tatoo on her right shoulder, the ReBoot icon with wings.

Format: Self-employed female data sprite (highly developed computerized image)

Function: Organizational, multi-tasking

Personal information: Brother of Enzo Matrix, resides in Mainframe, successful businesswoman, her parents left Mainframe under mysterious circumstances

Personal Quote: "We Mainframers stick together."

The purpose of this page is to discuss Dot Matrix of the show Reboot in order to shine some light on her personality and character, as well as (hopefully) reaching those misguided individuals that do not like her. It might seem silly to some that I am spending so much time talking about a cartoon, when usually only more "serious" types of fiction are felt to be worthy of such analysis. I think this is a misguided view in that more popular types of fiction, including novels, films, music, and television programs (including cartoons) also have things such as plot, themes, and characterizations that give them meaning. Furthermore, if works of Shakespeare should be studied both for form and the lessons they teach us, more popular literature should be as well. The same can be said about television, which perhaps surprisingly has many shows that do not just entertain, but also teach and influence us as well. Actually, given the wider audience, it can be said popular media actually is in some ways more worth of analysis than more serious forms of literature. Therefore, my extended glorification of Dot Matrix is a serious addition to learning and society itself. Really. Ok, stop laughing and read on.

A brief character sketch does not do Dot Matrix justice, nor is it enough to properly understand the character or the opinions generated. A proper understanding of her character must take various things into consideration: her function, life experiences, and place in the show. A resident of the Reboot universe is limited in some degree by his/her function or format, which sets in place a life purpose and mode of living that cannot easily be resisted, if resisted at all. For instance, a guardian has a duty and instinct to "mend and defend," even if it means helping enemies or risking one's life. Also, these duties influence how they live their life. For instance, the carefree nature of Bob grows in part out from his role as guardian, which requires taking chances and not worrying too deeply about the possible consequences because often there is not the time to do so. Furthermore, dwelling too much on all the possible ways you might be deleted would both cause you to go crazy and take away from your primary duties as a guardian. Finally, just like the play of animals often prepare them to obtain food and other necessities of adult life, what some might see as play for guardians, is actually good preparation for work (a big part of which is to play games). Nonetheless, this by itself does not explain a particular guardian's personality, since his/her life's experiences also are a key influence, compare Enzo Matrix as guardian with Bob (before and after being sent into the Web). Finally, we should remember that the characters on the show also have roles to further the overall plot, which I bet is the case for us too (seems like the only way to explain things sometimes, doesn't it?).

Dot Matrix was clearly created as a counterpart for Bob, both to provide a strong-willed multi-talented female partner of sorts, and as well as a source of conflict because of their different personalities. Furthermore, this conflict would be a continuing theme of the show, especially as a source of debate over the raising of Enzo, a role that each takes not only with a different point of view, but also to carry out somewhat different ends — Bob clearly sees him as a future guardian, a role Dot clearly does not relish for him. The different personalities of the two main adult characters both further the show and help appeal to different demographics. All viewers not being alike in the type of characters they root for the most, and the different personalities and characteristics make the show richer and more appealing. Nonetheless, both characters also are not simple stereotypical types, which would also cause problems, as seen by the skill of Dot not just as a businessperson but also as a singer and game player, as well as the serious side of Bob that shows at various moments. Finally, Dot is clearly seen as a potential love interest for Bob, more so than other characters, though they too are attracted to his heroic qualities and other attractive qualities.

The function of Dot Matrix also is a major influence of her personality. Dot has a role to fulfill, one that at times is hard for her to handle, but it is her fate to do so. She not only does her job, but does so with passion and conviction. Her warning to Bob to "Stay out of my way, I'm on a mission" in "Identity Crisis" can apply to nearly everything she does, which can easily been seen by just looking at her face when she wants something to be done (she has very expressive face as well as a nice shade of red lipstick). Some might be turned off by her seriousness, need for things to be orderly and exactly right, and what might be seen as an overly cautious way of handling things, especially in the case of Enzo. Some viewers might see Dot as a type of overbearing parental figure, and we all know parents are clueless authoritarians whose job on earth is to bug us all day. Nonetheless, Dot plays an essential role in Mainframe, both in business and in raising a future guardian, as well as an important voice in the community. As Phong says, "I entrust many things to Dot Matrix. She is one of the most capable Sprites in Mainframe and many look to her for leadership." She has a heavy load on her hands, one that might cause her to overdo it sometimes, but this is only natural — we all sometimes take our jobs and positions in life too seriously, not taking other things into consideration. Furthermore, Dot knows this, as seen by her taking time to learn how to sing well, as well as accepting that sometimes it is time to take time off for a picnic or some other fun activity. Finally, her game ability shows that she is not single minded in her business pursuits, but both willing to play and also taking the time to be good at an activity that takes time away from her daily duties.

Some are annoyed about her "bossing" around Enzo and Bob, but both understand the important role she plays in their lives, providing order and stability, as well as a caring touch. She works so hard both because it is part of her format, but also because she cares so much, especially for her family and friends, as shown by her despair when she loses Bob and then Enzo. Also, her opposition to Enzo following in Bob's footsteps most likely in part reflects the fact that Enzo would naturally become a data sprite like her. Their parents clearly were involved in dangerous activities, but also appeared to be involved in scientific (her father disappeared during a "failed experiment") and business pursuits (logical to believe she got her business acumen at least partly from her parents) as well, so Dot unsurprisingly rather have her younger brother (remember he is after all only about 10) be involved in the safer part of the family tradition. We see in "The Tiff" how Dot and Bob meld their individual skills to win the game, which also applies to everyday life in Mainframe. All cannot be Bobs or Dots, nor should they — both types of sprites are needed. It is only in unusual emergency conditions that Dot has to stand alone, as seen when Mainframe is under attack and business clearly is not going on as usual. Similarly, Bob and Enzo (Matrix) must live a hazardous existence when they do not have the stable counterpoint that Dot offers, either alone in the Web or game hopping and doing "questionable things." Dot is a symbol of stability, of day to day life in Mainframe, and willing to step in when it is threatened, though this atypical role signals a state of disorder. Bob grows to love his new home and all who reside in it, but Mainframe was apparently always Dot's home, and her important role makes it fitting that she is the first card in the trading card collection, even before Bob. As Bob says, "She's unbeatable in a game, a successful business owner, a great sister to Enzo and she looks after just about everybody in Mainframe. I admire her configuration."

Dot is also influenced by her life experiences. Dot is a long time (probably life time) resident of Mainframe, developing close societal ties, ties made only stronger by her business successes. Mainframe is comparable to a small Midwestern town, a generally happy and safe place with a diverse population. Her father died during a failed experiment (involving trying to change nulls back into sprites) that destroyed the Twin Cities sector (now Lost Angles), which explains the lack of many other sprites in Mainframe. His efforts and sacifices also probably added to Dot's prestige in the city. It might be assumed that her mother also died during this incident, but this is unclear. The destruction of her old neighborhood, family, and friends only makes her more concerned about protecting the remaining members of the community, as well as understanding how fragile life really is. She feels in numbers there is security, thus her saying that "We Mainframers stick together," a philosophy somewhat strange to Bob, who was used to a more lone wolf type existence before coming to Mainframe. Bob's risky job also is problematic, both in that she grows very close to him, and also because of his influence on Enzo — naturally, Dot wants to protect her little brother from harm she knows all too well. Her concern for her home, friends, and the stability of her businesses also makes her very disturbed when they are threatened, which with Megabyte, games, and other dangers, is often, putting her constant alert. She also makes it her life's work to do her part to defend her home, including helping to liberate a sector from Megabyte's clutches, and taking over the role of command.com during the Web Wars. Nonetheless, her passion to defend Mainframe does not remove her overall humane nature, as shown by her anguish at destroying Megabyte's forces, even though they threatened her home and friends.

Dot's format requires a degree of hard work, belief in herself to do many jobs right, and watching out when others threaten what was accomplished. Dot's life experiences only added more importance to such qualities, including a need to be self reliant and strong-willed (Megabyte talks about trying to break her "spirit" while Phong admirably notes her being "stubborn" as Bob speaks of "that determination thing" in "Identity Crisis"). She also realizes the importance of these qualities in both succeeding in business, and dealing with the reality that no one close to her is totally safe . We do not know when Dot's father left, but we do know she was left with huge responsibilities, responsibilities not often left to one person of her age. Her responsibilities sometimes are too much for her to take, and Dot does have moments of doubt and despair, as seen in "Identity Crisis" (plans to liberate sector seems to be crushed) and when Bob and then Enzo leave her and Mainframe. Nonetheless, she has the fortitude to get over her doubts, helped by the support and guidance of her friends. This also shows that Dot is not as self-reliant as she might think she is; her support system of family and friends play a big role. They also help when she gets a bit full of herself, like when she argued with Bob ("The Tiff") or worked too hard. Bob in particular grows to have a special role in her life in this regard, though her self reliance and belief in her ways of doing things complicate matters, leading her only to truly understand how close they are when Bob is gone. His importance, as well as her fear that only adult male sprite present with such a special relationship to her (after the failed experiment, there are not many sprites at all) might leave her too, suggests we should not be too upset when she is jealous of Mouse, especially given Mouse's devilish attitude around Bob and Dot. Such a foreign and strange individual, especially one who so strangely affects Bob, also is naturally a person Dot would worry about.

Dot's role as a force of stability makes her character somewhat more consistent than others, who grow up or change by time spent in the Web. Nonetheless, threats and changes to the world she built for herself, forced her to change as well. She had to let Enzo take his guardian duties, accept her feelings for Bob as well as how important he is both to Mainframe and her personally, accept the help of others even those she sees as rivals (Mouse) or view life differently than she does (Bob), as well as act against her very being and become a leader in war that requires her to cause disorder instead of providing order. Crisis caused her to be less sure of herself, but also helped her to grow as well both as a leader and as a sprite. This is best seen in Season 3 in which we see a Dot both more determined and courageous (and better animated), but also more emotional and insecure of herself. Her brother's growth might be more obvious, but Dot too grew emotionally, maturing into someone able to lead the resistance, and who promises to be a new and improved sprite ready and able to deal with all the changes to her life, home, and friends.

Other characters in Reboot have their own stories and attractions worthy of similar contemplation, but I like Dot Matrix the best. She is an interesting character with appealing traits as well as a complex personality and history. Dot is sure of herself, even if sometimes a bit too much so, but also has her moments of insecurity and doubt. She is an important part of the community as well as the lives of Bob and Enzo in particular, providing an analytical and thoughtful view of things to compliment their more carefree and "fly by the seat of the pants" style. Dot not only is a successful hardworking businessperson, but has other talents, not the least of is her singing ability. She is also an attractive sprite (though unlike AndrAIa is not so much so to be a tad bit scary, also attractive in a more reserved way than Mouse) with a sensual side (she looks great in red and black and silver) as well as playful if she is able to let (or is forced to let) herself go for a while. Dot also might have a no nonsense image, but deep down is a very caring person, who works so hard for the good of her home and friends, as much as for personal success. Finally, she is a good people person, able to work with a diverse range of individuals from Phong and Bob to Al (not bad to have a successful business arrangement with a person who whole vocabulary seems to be "What?"), as well as those who at first she might not relate well to (Mouse). Dot has her flaws, though they should be put into context, but we all do. I might have not convinced you, but for me, she remains the best character on the show.

If you take a look at the list of links at the top of the screen, you notice a new one from the official page of the show. A highlight of this set of Season Four pics is surely one of teenage Dot, hair bleached with colored tips, rainbow blush, purple knit dress with fishnet stockings, bangles and hoops, and gold go-go boots. On the other hand, Dot in a wedding dress is not bad either. We also see her father (Welman Matrix) in both sprite and null (aka "Jelly Welly" according to the Mainframe site) form. How exactly his null form came back to "life" with Hex's help isn't quite explained, and her mother is not addressed, but good to see him.

Dot as a character is rather mixed indeed in Season Four. The return of her father, Daemon, two Enzos, and the weakening of Bob makes her rather stressed in "Daemon Rising." We see shades of her good ole "woman of action" mode (as well as concern for Enzo and Bob), but Dot is overwhelmed almost as often. Also, one would agree that her plan to save the city from Daemon is "thin," when it includes sending Young Enzo into the games alone (well with Frisket and Hack and Slash) and using Bob as "live bait." It might be "all [she] got," but she doesn't seem that upset about sacrificing the sprites she loves ... she was a bit more crushed in the past even destroying viral binomes. On the other hand, teenage Dot crying on Cadet Bob's (who she just met) chest when he came to chase Gigabyte, showed she was a good crier even then. She also says "I need you" a lot.

We do meet Welman Matrix, Dot's absent minded professor father, who inadvertently brought the virus who split into Hexadecimal and Megabyte to Mainframe. He hoped his "gateway" command would "prove that cyberspace is not an empty void, but a... A-a wonderous place filled with inhabited systems, and peoples, and friends!" Teenage Dot lovingly helped him with the speech he was to give to discuss it, but the test went horribly wrong. I assumed "the experiment" (see the episode "AndrAIa") that destroyed Twin Cities dealt with Welman's experiments to change nulls to their original form. Personally, I don't totally like the implication that Mainframe was isolated until Bob comes, but it does open up interesting suggestions of Mainframe's past.

Welman Matrix's reconstituted "Jelly Welly" null form disintegrated when Hex left, but it was he who suggested a benign virus could counteract Daemon's chron virus infection. Before leaving, Hex did something to little Enzo's icon that brought Welman's null form to life again when Enzo touched it. Thus, Welman (the null in a robotic suit) could walk Dot down the aisle, since at the end of "Daemon Rising," she said: "Stay with us, okay? You mustn't leave me-- not again. We need you. I need you. ... I love you. Please don't go. Stay. Marry me" Unfortunately, another Bob, looking like his old self, came just at that moment to confuse things. Dot was confused most of "My Two Bobs," even picking the wrong Bob because Glitch Bob reminded her of bad times!

Yes, she eventually chose the right one after discovering the second Bob was actually Megabyte in disguise (they even kissed a few times! yuck!), but it was not her highest moment. Though the others didn't treat Glitch Bob that well either once the faux Bob came back, even though trojan viruses apparently were known of and the faux Bob acted strangely a bit too often, this put Dot in a rather bad light. Love conquering all and friends sticking together are key themes of the show, but she was about to choose the wrong Bob because of appearances while tossing aside "Glitch Bob" (who eventually separated from Glitch and became his old self again) rather cavalierly. Oh, after she rejected Glitch Bob, I doubt if the wedding could go as planned (even Mouse is about to leave with a standing invitation to return "if" she needs a bridesmaid)

Dot as a mess was hard to take as it was, even though with everything happening she had a reason to be one, but this was a bit too much. Dot was not treated well by the writers in Season Four, even if in the end she came out fighting with her friends once more. Actually, even her final creative (if risky) plan didn't work out well, since Megabyte tricked them all. The new season brought some more Dot highlights (one is the cute little face she makes when "White Queen" Hex said a viral scan "tickled"), both overall, I was annoyed how she was treated. Some characters were a bit underwritten, Bob (though Glitch Bob at times wasn't treated very well), and Hex came off the best, but Dot at times came off the worst. This is no way to treat a star character, and I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Note: There is some debate on the exact age of Dot Matrix, though by appearance, she appears to be in her twenties, early thirties the latest. Enzo ages approximately from 1 to 3 in computer years (this is done by translating the show's binary numerical system to decimal, e.g., Enzo on his first birthday goes from 01 to 10 binary or 1 to 2 decimal). If we accept that Dot ages the same way as her brother, this does suggest she aged at least ten years since Enzo aged from childhood to early adulthood from approximately ten to twenty one. So, I would hazard a guess that she started the show in her twenties and ended in her early thirties. If we follow the lead of those who say sprites do not age as such but undergo 'updates' to a new version (v.1.0, v.2.0 etc), let's say the her versions can be so translated.