This episode gives us the dueling themes of what makes a family, and is a creator responsible for their creations? Or are they just different sides of the same coin?
For all of Vision's complaints about not being able to feel the "old Vision's" emotions, his decisions are more emotional than logical. He can dress up his choice not to tell Tommy about Ultron in as much reason as he wants, but the truth is that he didn't want to disappoint Tommy. Wanting your son to think well of you is as human as it gets.
As is making excuses to keep him around. Vision knows that Tommy's proximity and importance to him is what put him in danger. And yet, when Tommy asks to come to the gala with him he says yes. Claiming that he can keep Tommy safe by keeping him close.
The reality is that I doubt Vision would have ever given up the wheel to Ultron had Tommy not been in mortal danger. Vision may not have wanted to die but he was prepared to. What he could not bear was seeing Tommy die because of him. Whether that's due to a sense of responsibility or genuine emotion remains to be seen.
That said, in what world did Vision ever think that once Ultron had power he would willingly give it up? Now we've got to hope the coin flip he described between visiting all the great museums or destroying everyone goes our way. I'm not holding my breath.
Ultron is my favorite kind of villain. If you ask him a question he'll tell you the truth... as he sees it. He never lies but his viewpoint is so skewed you're still never sure whether you can trust him. There's also the pesky little problem that the honesty of his opinions doesn't always line up with the sincerity of his intentions. Not to mention that his ability to both admire and revile humanity in equal measure smacks of Lucifer, at least Paradise Lost's version of him. Even Katerina discussed him in terms of a fallen angel.
Vision obviously feels some kind of kinship to Ultron. Is it paternal as Ultron claims, and more importantly, is it reciprocal? A planet full of people may hang in the balance on that question. Ultron kept his word and didn't kill Jocasta or Tommy. So there may be hope.
Lisa is back. The moment she finds out that Tommy is alive she drops everything to be by his side, offering to help the moment she's asked. If only Tommy understood that sometimes family isn't just (metaphorical) blood. I loved the idea that saying you're sorry and meaning it are two different things.
It's the anniversary of the Battle of Sokovia and Tony Stark's dilemma lives on. This time in Katerina Wells. Tony and Bruce may have created Ultron, but it was based on Katerina and her colleague's work. Does she share in their blame?
It's at least the blame she's willing to cop to. It probably helps that her blame is indirect at best. Apparently the same cannot be said of Butcherbird.
Butcherbird has a name Josephine Carrington or Jocasta. I have to admit that I never thought that the supposedly dead member of Markridge Biotech was actually dead, but I didn't expect her to be a synth either. As much as I believe that Jocasta's colleagues somehow did this to her, this was obviously not just a quest for vengeance. What did Jocasta need those biomarkers for and what will she do now that she can't have Katerina's?
Was Katerina truly sorry? Or was this, like Tommy, a case of saying it without truly meaning it? In her initial interviews she claimed not to be sorry. However, considering she seemed to have thrown the gala to draw out Jocasta instead of hiding like her other colleagues, I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Now I'm just hoping we'll find out the answer.
Underlying all of this is the commentary on AI in general. Which is incredibly apt given our current state of affairs. Will AI destroy humanity or be its savior? Will we have Ultron or Vision? That is how Katerina frames her argument. But what if it's not an either-or discussion? As he frankly admits, this new Vision is not the hero his predecessor was. And neither, it appears, is Jocasta. Is VisionQuest arguing for a third way?
It still leaves me wondering who hired Paladin. Could it be S.W.O.R.D? Whoever it was did not seem to know about Butcherbird. I have no idea, but I'd lay money that whoever it is has some connection to Avengers: Doomsday.
Bits:
Loved the exorcism!
The answer to who is in the painting: J.I.M. The first automaton AI. It overheated from his emotions and died. Is that commentary on the power of emotions or what? And given the sheer number of times J.I.M.'s creator Dr. Horton was mentioned I have to believe this is not the end of that story.
Was anyone else triggered when they had to identify the low-res hydrants?
I love, Love, LOVE Mary McDonnell! Please tell me they didn't bring her in for just one episode.
Butcherbird might not have a basis in Marvel Comics but Jocasta does. Ultron created her to be his mate but she turned on him, and eventually sided with the Avengers.
Quotes:
Jocasta: "When has anyone's desire to change the world not been personal?"
Edith: "S.W.O.R.D. probably didn't appreciate you getting all existential and running off."
Vision: "What's our best way in?"
Ultron: "Kill them all."
Vision: "Is that your answer to everything?"
Ultron: "I just feel like you're a little bit more of a Becky than I am."
Tommy: "You actually believed that?" Lisa: "I know what it looks like when you're pulling a con, and this isn't it."
Katerina: "I'm not the woman you knew."
Jocasta: "As last words go, I've heard worse."
Ultron: "Give me the wheel."
This episode not only poses the question of whether the creator is responsible for the things their creations do, but also what creators owe their creations. Whether that's Ultron and Vision, Vision and Tommy, or Katerina and Jocasta. I, for one, can't wait to find out.
4 out of 5 Programming Bibles
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