The Forbidden Zone of Planet of the Apes: What If Three Humans Had Survived?

In the iconic 1968 film Planet of the Apes, the story takes a transformative turn when Taylor, the human astronaut, begins communicating with the intelligent apes. This raises an intriguing hypothetical - what if Taylor were joined by two other humans, Dodge and Landon, and they were all captured alive by the apes? Would they have managed to communicate with Cornelius and Zira in the lab without drawing Dr. Zaius's attention?

The reality of such a scenario would have been dire. Assuming Dodge and Landon could speak with the apes, they would have faced an impossible task of keeping their existence secret from Zaius. Zaius, the head of the Pan human research facility, would undoubtedly have identified the presence of additional talking humans as a massive threat. Remember, Zaius led Taylor to a lobotomy due to his speech, and any further revelation of more humans could not only expose the Pan human research but also jeopardize the entire control structure of the ape civilization.

The novel Planet of the Apes offers a different narrative, where Taylor immediately begins communicating with the apes. Initially, they are perplexed but gradually accept his intelligence. This process would also likely take place for Dodge and Landon, but the stakes would be even higher due to the increased threat of their existence.

Insurmountable Odds

Given the sensitive nature of the Forbidden Zone and the historical evidence of the planet's earlier inhabitants, there would have been a concerted effort to maintain the status quo. The Forbidden Zone itself was an area where no ape was allowed, symbolizing a way to hide human history. If Landon and Dodge were introduced into the mix, they would essentially make a strong case for their survival, but the deck was already stacked against them.

Both Cornelius and Zira would have been faced with a monumental task—protecting the lives of Dodge and Landon while maintaining the facade of human subjugation. However, any acknowledgment of their existence could quickly lead to their imprisonment, torture, or worse. For Zaius and the apes, each human presented a triple threat, further complicating the situation.

Furthermore, the novel’s depiction of Taylor’s fate hints at the ultimate use of denial and cover-up. It is likely that Zaius and the Pan human research team would employ similar methods to maintain control. The Forbidden Zone would not only contain physical evidence but also serve as a psychological barrier to the truth.

Outsiders Among Outsiders

Dodge, Landon, and Taylor were all outsiders - both to their own human kind and to the apes. Their survival and ability to communicate would highlight the stark differences between the survivors and the majority of humans depicted in the story. These similarities and differences are what make the narrative timeless, as it confronts the fundamental questions of intelligence, power, and morality in a radically different setting.

Ultimately, the story of Planet of the Apes is one of survival, resilience, and the complex nature of power dynamics. Whether viewed through the lens of the movie or the novel, the introduction of additional human characters would have added layers of tension, ultimately leading to their demise or subjugation.