In the original movie (which I abbreviate as GB1), it’s plainly shown that Spengler and Stantz build the gear. They are both well versed in the tech and can repair and improve it. Venkmnan never studied (lol) and Winston doesn’t have Ph.D.s in either psychology or parapsychology (or engineering or physics).
Egon also did “the math” as he is shown doing calculations that indicate they could actually catch and hold a ghost.
In the second movie (GB2), nothing has changed.
Now, in the new movie (which I will abbreviate as ATC for Answer The Call), it is explicitly stated that Erin Gilbert’s particle physics calculations underpin all of the Ghostbusters’ gear. Yates co-wrote the book with her, but she is not shown to be the mathematical genius Gilbert is.
When it comes to the tech, Holtzmann is the main engineer, but Yates is also shown fiddling with devices like the “earphones” Benny sees her wearing.
Patty Tolan obviously is not a scientist, and cannot fix/create/improve the tech.
My question is this: if Holtzmann is missing or incapacitated, to what extent can Yates and/or Gilbert modify or build new equipment? Could they repair broken tech?
If Holtzmann is a 10/10 with tech, where do Yates and Gilbert fall on the scale?
Yeah, Holtzmann is definitely the wonder child of the group, BUT Erin and Abby are pretty smart and I think they could at the very least repair the gear if it came down to it and possibly build new gear after reviewing whatever notes Jillian may have about the proton technology. Holtzmann is also pretty damn eccentric with the whole not really having any kind of safeties on the little things… like radiation. I feel Erin, Abby, and even Patty would keep her a bit more grounded later on and MAYBE convince her to install some radiation shielding around some of the more dangerous tech so they can be in the general vicinity for more than an hour.
With the originals, I felt Egon was the big idea guy who could build the gear, but Ray had stronger engineering skills and wasn’t quite on Egon’s level on the actual invention level of things.
I agree, let’s put Spengler and Holtzmann at 10/10 (lets not split hairs, Egon is probably better just because he has more experience).
I would put Stantz at a solid 8.5.
Yates - 8
Gilbert - 6.5 (she is on the theoretical side, and if you know any theoreticians they are notoriously bad at implementing their theories. Einstein probably couldn’t build a nuclear reactor).
Venkman - 2. He wasn’t sure how to work the ecto-sniffer or even how to shorten his proton stream! Look at his expression when Spengler tells him he doesn’t want his face burnt off in GB1.
Thank you! Yeah, that’s about where I’d put them… and yeah, Spengler edges Holtzmann out just due to pure experience and longer dedication to the study of the paranormal as Jillian didn’t really focus on that until AFTER meeting Abby (which I’m assuming was only a couple years prior to the beginning of the film… gotta look at the books to see if they explain her meeting Abby at all).
I know I went a bit off topic, but I’ve been awake since 4 AM (10:30 PM Eastern now) and just got back from my second viewing about an hour ago, so my brain is all over the place
By that chart, Rowan was on point by possessing Abbey, destroying the packs, wanting to throw Holtzmann out the window, (that window can’t catch a break) and probably jumping right after her when she is dead. He would have won right there.
He would have won if he just possessed a cop at the crime scene and went back to the hotel instead of revealing himself to the Ghostbusters. Same as GB2, Vigo would have won if Janosz just grabbed any baby instead of fixating on Dana and Oscar.
But what’s the point of being a villain if you’ve got nobody to gloat to and lord it over. Tormenting randoms is never as fun as tormenting those you know (I’d imagine lol …totally not harbouring any villainous tendencies here… )
Also, since the GB had his journal they would know his plans anyway, which is why he tried to destroy the packs and kill them off in an effort to stop them from foiling the 4th cataclysm.
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