Metalhead
In the episode, there appears to be a stronger focus on the material technology rather than the immaterial. The robot ‘dogs’ are the material aspect and it is shown how they chase after humans with the sole intention to kill. The immaterial technology would be the artificial intelligence dictating the dog’s actions, and this idea can be inferred from the episode even though it is not explicitly mentioned. A few minutes into the episode, when Anthony lifts the box they were looking for in the warehouse, the dog lying behind it sprays him and Bella with trackers. The dog then brutally murders Anthony and Clarke and pursues Bella. It manages to enter the car she was trying to flee in, but she jumps out just as she sent the car falling off a cliff. A little later, the dog is shown to be still functioning but stuck in the wreckage, and it sacrifices one of its legs to free itself and continue to hunt down Bella (shown below). At the end of the episode, it is revealed that the box they were trying to retrieve was filled with teddy bears that they had hoped would help ease the pain of the dying Jack. The fact that the dog is programmed to begin tracking even with the slightest of disturbances and that it would readily give up a part of its body to kill its target shows a lack of empathy in the artificial intelligence controlling it. In Blade Runner, empathy is considered to be what distinguishes humans from replicants. There is a similar connotation here, as the dog is coded to ignore the reason they needed the box. It also shows no remorse in mercilessly finishing off its victims.
Nosedive
This episode depicts a world in which people are judged for almost every action by a social rating system. In contrast to Metalhead, the episode revolves around this immaterial system while the material technologies, such as the devices used to rate or the smart lenses that allow people to see others’ ratings at a glance, are of lesser importance. The rating system determines a person’s status in society and the quality of services and properties that they can acquire. This has forced people into an abnormal way of living, where they are unable to express their true selves and thus lose their identity. Naomi is a perfect example of this. At first, she appears to care deeply for Lacie and invites her as a maid of honor to her wedding. Yet, Ryan recalls how she was rude to Lacie in their childhood, and this negative side of hers is revealed when she learns that Lacie’s rating has dropped drastically and orders her to stay away from the wedding, as she does not want someone low-rated to be present amongst her high-profile guests (shown below). Combining this with the obviousness of how staged her video calls were, it is clear that Naomi’s life is dictated by the ratings. Furthermore, the rating system has evidently created a new form of discrimination in society. This is similar to Gattaca, where there is genetic discrimination. Here, people are seen as a reflection of their ratings. A high rating earns respect and a luxurious lifestyle, while low-rated people are isolated and prejudged to be psychopaths. In fact, individuals with a rating below 1 are put into confinement and have their smart lenses removed, which is what Lacie experiences when she decides to live life on her own terms.
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