#dbh character analysis

[connorology]

i know the discussion about machine connor actually being a deviant has been had a million times before but something that makes me feel crazy about machine connor and deviant connor is that they’re both equally driven by a desire to live.

in both routes connor has a fear of failure and subsequently deactivation. the only difference is that deviant connor realizes that cyberlife will never give him the chance to truly live so he must take it into his own hands to deviate, to choose himself.

machine connor on the other hand equally has this same desire, but instead of deviating and to cope with his fear, he decides to complete his tasks for cyberlife because to him, there’s safety in familiarity. in cyberlife. he’s just grasping at straws doing their bidding simply to guarantee his life which makes it so much more devastating that he ends up getting replaced despite doing everything right. all of that for nothing at all. all of that just to meet the very fate he feared the most.

the core of his character and his inner conflicts pertaining to identity and fear and repression remain exactly the same. its just a question of: to do what’s expected of you to guarantee your safety or to take your life into your own hands and be who you truly are? (dare i say connor’s character is a queer allegory but that’s a whole other post)

[dbh-rambling]

The way Hank treats Connor doesn’t have anything to do with how human Connor acts. It’s actually determined by how much Hank likes him, and if Connor doesn’t go with nice, flattering, and conciliatory conversation options, he’s pretty much screwed.

'But OP, there's intersect where a lot of the 'nice' options tend to be ones that are compassionate and empathetic to androids.'

Hank doesn't even blink if you pick the ‘yes I’m scared of death’ option while he has a gun to your head. Saying 'No way! I'm coming with you!' weighs as much as 'All I did was neutralize two machines, Lieutenant. I didn't hesitate for a second, if that's what you're asking.' Spilling Hank's drink makes him hate you as much as shooting the Tracis does. There’s no connection between Hank liking you for your humanish or empathetic or moral choices. All that matters to him... Is if you're pleasant.

I feel like this makes for an interesting facet to him that I don't see explored very often. Hank is imperfect; he can be your friend, if you're inclined towards friendliness, but he can also be an antagonist, as dangerous to you as any other human.

[dbh-rambling]

There was an interesting by-play in Perkins’ introduction in the Stratford Tower that I didn’t notice until someone pointed it out: Perkins tries to draw Hank in on bullying Connor, and Hank brushes him off.

To break that scene down: Chris introduces Hank and Perkins, and Perkins skips right over acknowledging either of them, throwing a glance at Connor. 

He treats Connor like a thing, asks Hank about him like Connor’s not even listening, and doesn’t look at Connor while Connor answers anyway.

And after Connor does reply:

He lifts his eyebrows invitingly.

If Hank had been as much of an asshole as Perkins is, he might’ve smiled, might’ve said something just as wickedly sharp, like two villains crossing swords over defenseless prey.

Instead, Hank grimaces, and when Perkins doesn’t recognize a fellow tormentor in him, his treatment takes a hard turn. Without missing a beat or even changing his tone, now he aims his shit at Hank.

Perkins walks off, and Hank gives his famous ‘what a fuckin’ prick!’ line. 

It was always obvious that Perkins was a villain--the insults and sharpness and oily weaselness of him give that away easily enough, but this particular nuance where Perkins was gauging Hank as much as he was taking cheap shots at the android in the room strikes me as interesting. It’s an exchange that reveals a lot about everyone involved: Perkins, testing and maneuvering, and Hank, recognizing this bullshit from a hundred yards.