"I don't want to die"

In the episode Be Right Back, from the Netflix Series Black Mirror, Martha's husband, Ash, has died and she is not taking his death well. Her friend suggests this computer program that will collect all of Ash's online information and use it to generate an "Ash" that will conversate with Martha just like the real Ash did. She first starts texting "Ash" but that is not enough for her she wants to talk with him and hear his voice. "Ash", tells her that this is possible, but to be able to talk to him she has to upload videos of Ash so that the program can sample them and create an "Ash" that she can talk to. Martha seems to be very comfortable with the "Ash" that she can speak with. 

The longer Martha has "Ash", the more the audience is able to see that he does not have all of Ash's memories and she must fill in the gaps for him. At one point, Martha uses the phrase "throwing a jeb", a phrase her and real Ash would use interchangeably with the phrase "throwing a fit". She explains this to him and he later uses the same phrase to describe her and how she must have reacted when she dropped her phone and thought that she had lost him. At this point, it shows that "Ash" has the ability to learn and apply his new knowledge in proper situations. I believe that this is the start of "Ash" becoming a person. 

As Martha's relationship with "Ash" progresses, he tells her that this can be taken even further, where he can have a body. She doesn't even hesitate to buy this new "Ash" but seems unsure of him once he is there in front of her. This is an example of The Uncanny Vally because "Ash" is extremely realistic and looks just like the real Ash almost exactly. Martha is quick to get over her uncomfortable feeling of "Ash" when she begins to touch him but is reminded that this is not the real Ash.

Towards the end of the episode, Martha commands "Ash" to jump off of a cliff and he goes to do so but stops when she tells him that the real Ash would have been afraid and crying. "Ash" then pauses, looks up, and starts to cry and beg and say "Please don't make me, I don't want to die." This moment really pulled at my heart because I felt like "Ash" had become a real person. He is able to learn and comprehend things just as we do it just takes him a few seconds longer.

In the end, it is shown that Martha stores "Ash" in her attic and I believe that is wrong. "Ash" is a person, even if she may technically own him, I believe that he should have rights just like anyone else does and that it is very disrespectful just to lock him away like an old piece of furniture.