Rocky Is Weirder Than You Think (ft. Andy Weir!)
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Project Hail Mary opened in theaters last week, introducing the world to Rocky, the alien creature whose friendship with the main character, Ryland Grace, forms the heart of the story. Rocky quickly became a fan favorite of readers of the book, partly because of the extensive research and imagination put into the creature by the author, Andy Weir. In today’s video, I have Andy Weir join me to break down everything you could possibly want to know about Rocky, from his (not so) fictional planet to his crazy anatomy. It’s a masterclass in speculative biology that will amaze amaze amaze you.
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Intro
3:15 – About The Eridani System
7:10 – Morphology
18:04 – Crystal Brain
20:44 – Digestion
24:19 – Circulation/Musculature/Dormancy
28:37 – Communication
35:00 – How They Brought Rocky to Life
38:16 – Sponsor – Incogni

@MobiusEye
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Because of you, Joe, I bought "Project: Hail Mary" on Amazon Prime. I can't express how happy I am that I purchased it, not rented. This movie is high on my rewatchlst list. Princess Bride and Paul, high.
@SarahJSweetheart
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Im SO GLAD you mentioned starfish, as thats what i first thought (more than spider or crab) not due to the 5 legs, but the eating scene (if you dont know, a starfish's mouth and butthole is one of the same 😂)
@SarahJSweetheart
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Them mentioning that the turquoise marks arent birthmarks but rather tattoos makes me CRAVE a scene where Rocky and Grace compare tattoos, Rocky being like "Yes, this is indelible mark on Rocky body to show eternal undying love to Rocky mate", when Grace is more like "This is Mickey Mouse. I got him when i was drunk in Flordia" 😂
@Plan.Cülinary.Expréss
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
It's based on a planet that we thought was an exoplanet until it was discovered that it was not a real exoplanet.
@KrisSchall
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Interesting, I immediately understood Rocky not wanting to be seen eating because it's also watching him take a dump and I would hate someone watch my take a dump. Didn't occur to me the whole eating together could be weird. But us eating together is a sign of sharing resources. So it mskes sense for community. Crappy away makes sense as vulnerability and disease spread.
@buddywhatshisname522
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I admit that I’ve been reticent to watch the movie since reading the book. It’s so rare to find a film that faithfully captures the essence of the story as built in your imagination. That being said, I can’t wait to see Artemis turned into a movie. lol
@Fuzzy6262
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Disclaimer: This movie was great, I've never made a movie, and do not think I could have done any better.
After discussing this movie with a coworker, she sent me this video, mostly because I was a little disappointed with the personification of Rocky. Physiology aside, because let's be honest that's just about any aliens save from Avatar maybe, Rocky felt like a human stuck in a rocky body. It was the near immediate "isms" for me. Understanding and riffing off the human sense of humor out of the gate, lifelong monogamy, and generally the instant click of comradery. Culturally, the only thing that stood out to me was the Dormant Sleep State and having someone watch guard. The scene that really took me out of it is when Rocky comes rolling in like an excited toddler (or dog) with no sense of the damage he could be doing to Grace's ship, life support, lab capabilities, as though he's not a genius engineer/scientist. After finishing the movie it occurred to me the personification and funny/cutesie things they did with him are solely to create a bond with the character, so that certain events have more impact and gravitas. Overall, easily a 8/10 for a movie, I just felt like if you're trying to introduce a strange new alien, to the point you have 16 pages of how interesting and different they are, exemplify this in the story so that sense is conveyed appropriately. So much explained here has me feeling like had the movie introduced even half of this, just through curious casual conversation between the two of them, it would have really broken Rocky out as an alien being with alien thoughts and an alien way of being.
Great video, thanks for putting this together for us!
@malachiXX
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Joe,
In the book, do they explain HOW Rocky and his people noticed that their star is sick and dying?
If they didn't discover radiation until they got to space, they don't have eyes and they 'see' by echo-location, how did they detect a change in their star? In a vacuum, Eridians would be completely blind and it would be terrifying to discover that all 'vision' stopped at the edge of their atmosphere. At first, wouldn't they think that was the extent of their universe?
@RipArtist
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I loved this movie! Definitely the best sci-fi movie to come out in a long time. I haven't read the book yet but it's definitely next on my list. I nearly watched this video before watching the movie. I am so glad I waited. Watching this after the movie was the perfect order for me. This video perfectly compliments the movie. Well done! ❤
@simonf8902
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Rocky so smart. Why not master verbs and tense question.
@simonf8902
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
We need the sun to maintain temperature and support photosynthesis. Not sure why Eridians need a sun.
@simonf8902
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Suspension of disbelief essential. 😊
@MikeH-sg2ue
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I’ve been very busy for months, & haven’t seen the movie!
Yet!
@jodypresti94
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
This is the best book I have read in years. I smile when I think of it. Holy heck, this video made me wish I had half the intelligence of Weir. Profound
@hitekkaifighter1825
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
3:45 I think it’s more like an ‘algae bloom’ on the sun, or a living Dyson Sphere.
@DavidWalter-gz8ue
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
So weird brilliant writer as he is, he just reinvented the Tholians.
@RicoLouis4u
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
One problem with the no spatial memory thing. Spatial memory not only covers what's in the room around you but long distance navigation. I know the erdians can hear pretty far but how would they keep track of locations. Animals evolved it to remember where edible plants and water can be found and predators remember where they found prey. Clearly they have to have something similar for long distances over their planet so i think saying no spatial memory is a wrong way to put it.
@SCWillson
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Best film of the last decade.
@nickaroo92
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
36:02 and we're all grateful for this riffing! "Rocky hate Mark."
@wedot1
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
The movie absolutely sucks
@stevengosnell7034
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I'm definitely part Edidian because I would ABSOLUTELY go to a 5-star shittery.
@WilliamOwyong
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
20:44 would just like to remind you that humanity once had communal toilets… In ancient Rome… Don't tell Andy.
@matthewoakley3504
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Andy Weir makes me imagine god having a conversation with an angel how he created earth in the same way Andy explains the creation or Erid.
@ChronicKoff
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
6:58 Love the transition visual(cam cam to cam) gage. Joe seems like a great friend to just drink a beer with, would keep me entertained with knowledge..
@Jhawke
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Seeing Andy's worldbuilding notes makes me feel better about my own 118 pages worth of (disorganized) worldbuilding notes that go into far more detail than strictly necessary – most of which no one except close friends will ever see.
@ItsAfUnNyWorld-1767
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Hold on you made a whole 50min long interview. And it seems you really never read the book properly or seen the movie which has been out for ages. Why am I watching this bollox
@ItsAfUnNyWorld-1767
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
The Author looks like Son of Stephen King. ? Just saying.
@JustinMiales
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
The creature that was in the movie Life was way better, Rockies cool and all that is that's kind of corny not realistic, kalven made much more sense.
@absoluteCatastrophy
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
this movie is up there with treasure planet for me. 10/10 would cry about a rock again
@landrum3893
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Great movie. It does a great job portraying Rocky and his personality and Grace's friendship with him.
@NeonVisual
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I give it 3.8 shits out of 5. Missed the fan.
@andyofori463
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
How do they reproduce?
@Alex-sx8mb
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
the amount of thought and care put into this alien species is so cool, i could listen to andy weir talk about this for hours
@DigoryJames
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
How did Eridians realize their star was dying without knowing about light? Isn't the Petrova line a band of light?
@Antichthoon
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Amaze Amaze Amaze
@mickeljacobs9473
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
Loved the movie
@sonorasgirl
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I LOVED this movie. A friend saw it before me and texted me afterwards saying it was EXACTLY my thing and I needed to see it. She was right lol
@ThirtyEightSouth
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I want to know more about the predators on Erid/Rocky’s planet!
@michellesteimle9969
May 16, 2026 at 9:23 am
I saw the movie after my brother told me it was based on a book written by the same author who wrote The Martian. I went in without watching ANY previews and with zero idea of the plot. I had such a fun time. I saw it twice in the theater because it was SO GOOD. Then I listened to the book and enjoyed all the extra details they couldn't put into the movie. This is one reason I prefer to see the movie and then read the book. I have a hard time with what gets cut out of the book otherwise.