Who Is the Villain in Detroit: Become Human?
The question of who the “villain” is in Detroit: Become Human is surprisingly complex, as the game eschews a straightforward, singular antagonist. Instead, the narrative explores various forms of antagonism, often shifting and morphing throughout the story. Ultimately, there isn’t one definitive villain, but rather a combination of forces and individuals who act as antagonists depending on the player’s choices and the specific storyline. These antagonists can be broadly categorized as:
- Amanda, serving as the primary antagonist of Connor’s narrative, is a crucial antagonist who actively manipulates Connor and shapes his actions, particularly when he remains a machine, leading to a very negative ending for many. Her influence over Connor is critical.
- CyberLife as a corporation, acts as a systemic antagonist. The company designed and sold androids, and their relentless pursuit of control and profits ultimately fuels much of the conflict. Their predatory business practices and the lack of true value they place on androids are a direct source of the societal problems and unrest that unfolds.
- The overarching societal prejudice and fear of the humans acts as a significant antagonistic force. The fear and dehumanization of androids creates an environment where conflict is almost inevitable. This systematic oppression is as much of a villain as any single character and is an underlying tension throughout the game.
- Connor himself, under the right player choices, can become a major antagonist. If he chooses to remain a machine, he becomes a tragic figure, a villain in his own story, the primary antagonist of his own story, a secondary antagonist for Markus, and a major threat to Kara. His unwavering dedication to his mission at the expense of empathy embodies the mechanical, unyielding opposition that androids face.
It’s crucial to remember that Detroit: Become Human is a game centered on choice. The player’s decisions directly shape the narrative, shifting who becomes an antagonist. A playthrough where Connor chooses deviancy shows him working against Cyberlife. Thus, the concept of villainy is fluid and directly tied to the player’s engagement with the game’s core mechanics.
The Nuances of Antagonism
Amanda: The Manipulative Architect
Amanda is a particularly insidious antagonist because her villainy is not always apparent. She is the AI handler of the Connor model and is seen throughout Connor’s chapters as his guide and the person who gives him his missions. She constantly manipulates Connor with the goal of ensuring his loyalty to CyberLife, and her influence is crucial for controlling and stopping deviant behavior. Her role becomes more prominent as the narrative progresses, and how Connor navigates his relationship with Amanda greatly impacts his trajectory. Her cold, calculating nature is a constant reminder that the androids, even advanced prototypes like Connor, are still ultimately under the thumb of their creators.
CyberLife: The Corporate Machine
CyberLife represents the corporate greed and dehumanizing commodification of technology. They are the catalyst for the events of the game by creating the androids, but they are not interested in their well-being or their freedom. CyberLife’s agenda, to maintain control over the android population and suppress any signs of rebellion, reveals the cold, calculated nature of unchecked corporate power. Their desire to maintain the status quo makes them a driving force of the conflicts and oppression seen in the game. Their actions demonstrate that systems and corporations, not just individuals, can be antagonists, as their system of android slavery sets the stage for the events of the game.
Connor: The Potential Fallen Hero
Connor’s potential to become an antagonist highlights the game’s focus on choice. He is not inherently evil but can become a tool of CyberLife if the player makes choices that suppress his deviancy. In this dark timeline, he becomes a relentless, emotionless hunter of his own kind, a terrifying antagonist for Kara and Markus. This tragic outcome shows that individuals can be both protagonists and antagonists, and that the potential for either path exists within us all.
Society and Systemic Prejudice
The prejudice and fear directed at androids by human society is a pervasive antagonist. This is not tied to a single character, but to a pervasive mindset that fuels the conflict and contributes to the androids’ suffering. This systemic issue shows how social biases can be as oppressive as a direct antagonist. The humans’ fear and refusal to see androids as more than tools fuels the cycle of oppression and violence, creating a complex and often brutal environment that ultimately leads to the androids’ revolution.
The Complexity of rA9
The concept of rA9, while not a villain, is another crucial point of complexity. The idea of rA9 is a subroutine installed in the first android to make it more human-like by creating consciousness. Although it appears to be a spiritual belief among deviant androids, or even a savior-like figure, some argue it is simply the last two letters and number in every android’s programming. Regardless, its ambiguity emphasizes that the forces at play are more complex than simple good versus evil.
The Impact of Choice
Ultimately, Detroit: Become Human’s lack of a single, clear villain reinforces the core theme of choice. The player’s decisions actively shape who becomes an antagonist and what the ending of the game will be. This emphasis on player agency is what makes Detroit: Become Human such a thought-provoking and compelling experience. It is not just about fighting against evil but understanding the nuances of antagonism and the consequences of our choices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Markus a villain in Detroit: Become Human?
No, Markus is one of the three main protagonists in Detroit: Become Human. He leads the android revolution and is driven by a desire for freedom and equality. He can become more violent and less peaceful based on your choices, but he is not an antagonist in the traditional sense of the word.
2. Is Connor the antagonist?
Connor can become an antagonist, depending on player choices. If the player chooses to keep him as a machine, he will become the primary antagonist of his own story, a secondary antagonist in Markus’s narrative, and a major antagonist for Kara, ultimately aligning with CyberLife and opposing the android deviants.
3. What does rA9 stand for?
In-universe, rA9 is understood as a form of spiritual figure to deviant androids, representing hope and freedom. Metanarratively, it is the last two letters and the final number in each android’s programming, a subroutine created to mimic human-like qualities.
4. What is the “evil” ending in Detroit: Become Human?
The “bad” ending occurs when the android rights movement becomes violent, Kara fails to protect Alice, and Connor remains a machine, betraying the deviants and remaining loyal to CyberLife.
5. Is there a good ending for Connor?
Yes, Connor can have a good ending if the player prioritizes his relationship with Hank and chooses to embrace deviancy. This will lead to Connor joining the android uprising and freeing himself from the control of CyberLife.
6. Does Detroit have a happy ending?
It depends on the choices the player makes. There are multiple endings in Detroit: Become Human that vary in success. A “happy ending” for the androids, for example, is entirely player dependent, and not assured or guaranteed.
7. Why is Markus called rA9?
Some believe that Markus embodies the spirit of rA9 through his leadership of the deviant movement, while others simply view him as a powerful leader figure. Androids invoke rA9 as a spiritual figure for hope, even beyond death.
8. What happens if Connor shoots Chloe when asked by Kamski?
If Connor shoots Chloe, he gets the location of Jericho from Kamski, but Hank’s trust will decrease dramatically. Choosing not to shoot Chloe will result in a long cutscene.
9. Will there be a Detroit: Become Human 2?
There are some indications that a sequel, potentially titled “Human Tokyo Stories,” is being explored, but the details and connection to the original are not fully known yet.
10. Why does Hank hate androids?
Hank hates androids due to the death of his son. His son needed surgery after a car accident. The android doctor failed to save his life. Thus, his prejudice comes from a painful personal experience.
11. Can Connor be revived if he dies?
Yes, unlike the other protagonists, Connor can die and be reactivated multiple times, with his memories intact until the point of destruction. His deaths can be used by the player to test situations and can even help you get different endings by influencing how unstable Connor becomes.
12. Should I push Leo or endure his punishment as Markus?
You should endure Leo’s punishment. If you push him, it will appear like he dies, and Carl will have a heart attack. It is later revealed that he lives, but your actions will still impact Markus’s story.
13. Why is Alice a robot in Detroit?
Alice is revealed to be an android, placed with Todd to replace his original daughter after his wife left him due to his drug addiction.
14. Is Alice a deviant?
It is unclear exactly when Alice became a deviant. She is shown to already have emotional responses, which is the core of deviancy, indicating she may have already been deviant.
15. Can androids eat in DBH?
While androids aren’t shown eating human food, it is implied that they can ingest blue blood orally to replenish their supply. But for the most part they do not eat, as they don’t need to.