Digital Overload

This video was very interesting, with the elements of surprise and confusion having had me making faces like... lol

The development of the plot was very creative. The more the episode continued, the creepier it became. While I understood why Martha kind of jumped at the chance of having her husband back in any way possible, it was evident that once the juxtaposition of the situation increased so did her repulsion to her 'new husband.' I, myself, thought that moments in the episode would've been clear signals that things about robot Ash were very eerie. It made me wonder just how close scientists to bringing robots like Ash into existence are. I also felt that because it was her husband and not just some type of droid stranger, it made the experience ten times creepier. 

However, I also had to admire the capabilities of the robot Ash. While it mimicked Ash to the best of its abilities, the robotic characteristics were undeniably evident. Small things, such as the robot's posture and its ability to interpret any data thrown at it, but its incapability of displaying sincere emotion, kept me at the realization that it wasn't the real Ash. To me, it appeared that Martha also had this revelation. At that moment, she realized that this robot couldn't ever amount up to her husband. I know for me it would be very unsettling to feel like someone I love is with me but isn't at the same time. 

Now based off of what was discussed in class in terms of moral judgments, some aspects of the plot did pose a moral problem. As one student mentioned, the normality of human robots over time would eventually dehumanize the human race. If it becomes acceptable to replace loved ones who should be grieved over with a semi-act alike robot, then people wouldn't truly value a relationship that they have with a human being. Therefore, the concept of being able to connect with lost loved ones is morally wrong, especially if it would allow someone who couldn't properly cope to become obsessive with the idea of it. Another morally wrong idea presented in the film is when the daughter is allowed to know of robot Ash and she accepts him as both a figment of her father and a robot. In my opinion, the girl shouldn't be exposed to robot Ash, because then she wasn't allowed to really treat him like a dad and vice versa. Martha keeping the robot in the attic was to me, her finally letting her husband be a distant memory, and putting him in the attic was metaphorically like someone putting old clothes or photo albums of a loved one in the attic. 

Although it is still unsettling to have the robot even after she tried to get rid of it, I feel the ending of the episode was probably the way it should have been handled.