Companion's Robots Explained: Where They Come From, Their Purpose & Future
Companion's robots are unique machines that resemble humans but can have their full potential unlocked. Companion focuses on Iris, a young woman who is horrified to discover that she's actually a robotic "companion" for her boyfriend, Josh. The film largely centers around a plan to use Iris to commit a horrifying crime, which requires unlocking her full potential. However, this quickly takes a dark turn for Companion's cast of characters, most of whom don't escape the film alive.
Companion is a compelling sci-fi film that uses the advancements of its world to set up a story about a young woman escaping a toxic relationship. The ending of Companion also uses this as a springboard to establish the full potential, possible weaknesses, and unique skills of the robots. It even teases a wild direction that Iris could go towards in the future, setting the stage for a potentially wild sequel that expands further on the robots.
Robots Are Commonplace In The World Of Companion
The Future Of Companion Is Super Advanced
The world of Companion is one where androids are commonplace and technology has advanced in some major ways from the present day. While it's not initially obvious that Iris is a robot in Companion's first act, there are several indicators that the film takes place sometime in the future. The available technology for most people is impressive, especially in terms of communication, computers, and automobiles. Josh and his friends have seemingly advanced phones and handheld technology, with Josh capable of using a tablet to fully hack into robots like Iris and Patrick.
The more obvious advancement is the car that Josh owns. The car is fully self-driving, listening to Josh's commands and capable of going to destinations entirely on its own. The cars are voice-activated, which is a great security measure in theory (and one that Iris overcomes by modifying her speaking voice to impersonate Josh). The cars are so automated that when Josh calls the police to report that Iris has stolen his car, the car is able to automatically pull off to the side of the road and shut off. All of this indicates technology has advanced alongside artificial intelligence.
What Companion Robots Are Meant For
Companion Robots Are Mostly For Pleasure, But Can Develop Love
The robots in Companion are designed entirely for the titular companionship, although the specific nature of that companionship seems to be flexible depending on the user. The robots are owned by a larger company that sells (and leases) robots to people who want a dedicated companion. It's explained to Josh that his android is almost entirely customizable to his desires and that their connection can be defined by an app. For the most part, companions seem to be used for romantic purposes, as they use a pre-set number of meet-cute scenarios to establish a connection with their person.
Eli and Patrick prove that people and robots can genuinely fall in love...
The two confirmed "companions" in the film are Iris and Patrick, who are in "relationships" with the humans who own them. However, while Patrick's affection for Iris is a surface-level emotion that barely masks a more vindictive side, Eli and Patrick prove that people and robots can genuinely fall in love. Eli has kept the outdated Patrick because he seems to have genuinely developed feelings for the robot. This is reinforced by Patrick's admission that he knows he's a robot, but that he has decided that his love for Eli is as genuine as anything else in his programming.
How Powerful The Robots Are In Companion
The Companion Robots Are Comparable To Most Humans
The robots in Companion are surprisingly powerful, especially when they get freed of their programming. The company that produces the robots has placed a number of guardrails to protect humans, including measure that keeps the companions docile and from killing one another or any person. Their intellect is completely controlled by the app, meaning they can be reduced to mindless automatons or elevated to Ivy League graduates. They aren't any stronger than people, though their robotic attributes make them more durable than most people.
Iris later has her full potential unlocked by Teddy the technician, which allows her to finally get the upper hand on Josh.
However, "jailbreaking" the robot by hacking into the machine and unlocking certain programming patterns can make the companions far more dangerous. Josh is able to turn off the protections against violence, allowing Iris and Patrick to kill people. Once Iris gets hold of Patrick's device, she's able to use it to amplify her intellect. Iris later has her full potential unlocked by Teddy the technician, which allows her to finally get the upper hand on Josh.
Some People Are Trying To Free Robots In Companion
Teddy Teases A Larger Scope Of Opinions About Companions
One of the more enticing teases in the climax of Companion comes from Teddy, the surviving technician who is sent to retrieve Iris. Although his partner is killed by Patrick, Iris is able to rescue Teddy before he can murdered as well. During his attempt to escape the robots, Teddy admits that some people see the companions as more than just automated slaves. There's even an implication that some people may be trying to free the machines, which Teddy proves is entirely possible with the right amount of programming.
Teddy is played by Jaboukie Young-White in Companion.
While the full scope of this idea remains ambiguous, given the film's primary focus on Iris and Josh, it is an interesting idea. This sets up the idea that, like Eli, some people have come to see the companions as far more important than just as "sex bots." Teddy could even be just one of the many people who are capable of unlocking the companions' full potential, allowing the possibility that countless other machines like Iris could be out there without the programming preventing them from reaching their true potential.
Companion's Ending Sets Up A New Future For The Robots
Iris Could Easily Return For A Sequel That Expands The World Of Companion
Companion's ending is an interesting way to set the stage for how this futuristic world will likely develop down the line. The movie ends with Iris freed from the control of Josh and other humans, fully capable of defining her own future. Notably, she doesn't immediately try to hide her true nature, instead leaving her robotic arm exposed to the world. This gives her sweet hand wave to another woman (and possible companion) a deeper meaning.
Iris' future remains open-ended, meaning she could go into hiding to avoid recapture by the company that built her — or she could embark out to find other like-minded people like Teddy or other companions like her who have been broken free of others' control. This sets the stage for the companions to rise up and find a larger sense of independence as a whole. It's a potentially very compelling concept and one that could easily set up a world where the companions take charge over their futures, which could be a compelling story for a sequel to Companion.
How The Robots In Companion Compare To Others From Movies & TV Shows
Iris Mirrors Some Iconic Robots From Pop Culture
Companion is only one of many movies about robots, but its version sets itself apart from those. Obviously, the most notable aspect is that these are robots made to resemble humans, which is something that has been used many times in movies before. Notably, The Terminator features Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 with its human disguise meant to allow it to blend in with humans. However, Iris is able to mimic the way humans talk and behave much more convincingly.
The robots in Companion are there to serve humans, which is another notable theme in robot movies and TV shows. A.I. Artificial Intelligence explores the idea of a robot meant to serve as a child for couples who are unable to have children or who have lost children. The Stepford Wives is even more similar in its eerie look at a suburban world in which robots replace women as the ideal obedient wives, mirroring the relationship dynamic in Companion.
Interestingly, one of the closest examples of robots in pop culture to Companion in the HBO series Westworld. Similar to Iris and the other robots in Companion, these robots are not aware they are artificial and exist to please the guests of this interactive theme park. However, the series explores what happens when these "hosts" discover their reality. The character of Maeve even increases her own intelligence, similar to Iris in Companion.
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