Why robots suck Pt. 3: Cylons
This week we’re exposing examples of robots in pop culture that hinder the development of actual badass bots. If you missed the initial post on the subject, here’s a recap. Movies like I, Robot and that forthcoming Bruce Willis stink bomb feature pissed-off androids bent on human destruction. Who wants to fund a project like that? Here’s the 3rd guilty party in our series.
This one isn’t even fair. They’re sexy. They’re handsome. They’re responsible for the genocide of the entire human race. Light years from the cheesy ‘bots from the original series (“By your command”), Ron Moore’s cylons gave the series the dark edge it deserved. The theme of man-made machines that rise up to destroy their masters isn’t new, but few have pulled it off with such grim perfection as Moore.
Even today, I can’t watch clips of human-like robots without thinking, someday this machine’s successors will burst into my home with bloodlust software running full-tilt. Seriously, can’t you picture this thing putting a gun to your head?
Yes, cylons were an easy choice. But for very good reason.