So, I watched Prometheus recently. And it just wouldn't be an Alien-ish flick without an android in the group.
Let's have a quick recap, shall we:
Ash
Cold and calculating, and with just a hint of misogyny, Ash followed The Company's orders to retrieve and study the Xenomorph creature in Alien. Crew expendable, naturally.
Bishop
Pleasant and endearing, Bishop is the other side of the same coin. Following the classic sci-fi robotics laws to never harm, or allow to come to harm a human, he's instrumental throughout Aliens and nearly makes it in Alien 3. Bishop also has this cool party trick with a knife, man...
Call
The newest addition to the pirate crew aboard the good ship Betty, Call is soon shown to be more than a cute face: She's a second generation synthetic (an 'Auton') trying to stop the rebirth of the loveable alien species Ripley rendered extinct 200 years prior.
David
Finally, we have David who tends to the crew of the Prometheus as they seek out the origins of their species. David displays emotions but appears detached from humanity. David may have an Oedipus complex, apparently desiring to smite his creators for making him simply because 'they could'.
I feel the Alien series as a whole has given us a great mirror to look at humanity through with these creations. Like the Xenomorphs themselves, the depictions of artificial intelligence change and evolve to reflect our own status quo.
Oh, and the next synthetic/android/auton must have a name starting with 'E'. It's tradition at this point!
Until The Company becomes benevolent, I remain
frogoat
