Bladerunner Notes
Character Analysis: Roy Batty by RoyBoy
Updated March 23rd 2003
Blade Runner has been errorneously labeled by some as lacking in character development. The film reviewer Roger Ebert notes in his review of the director's cut, "It looks fabulous, it uses special effects to create a new world of its own, but it is thin in its human story." It should not surprise us that in the dehumanized world of Los Angeles 2019 the human story would be difficult to uncover. This sentiment is echoed in a thought provoking review written by Sean M. Rutledge. The characters in Blade Runner are as complex, dark and beautiful as their surroundings; with their humanity equally difficult to find.
Roy Batty's character stands out in this rich background to provide us amply with both questions and answers.
Interpretation I - Roy Rises
Roy Batty like any good villain is the most complex character in Blade Runner. Being a Nexus-6 with the best physical and mental capacity afforded to Replicants, he is designed to survive, fight and kill quickly with no remorse. With these qualities Roy successfully leads a group of four of his fellow Replicants (all Nexus-6's) to Earth by hijacking a shuttle and killing the crew and passengers. In the opening sequence an eye is overlooking the "Hades" landscape. This could be someone regarding their new surroundings, but it can also be a metaphor indicating the film is scrutinizing the audience (Humanity). If the eye is Roy's, it could also be an indication of his internal conflict; or even that Humanity can be closely examined through him (Interpretation II).
We see Roy for the first time in a vid-phone as his stiffening hand indicates his biological clock is running out. With the loss of one of his friends to a security field in a direct assault, and the discovery of Leon at Tyrell Corp., Roy demonstrates great flexibility in switching tactics. Upon Leon's return Roy asks, "Did you get your precious photos?" It seems Roy did not approve of Leon
Updated March 23rd 2003
Blade Runner has been errorneously labeled by some as lacking in character development. The film reviewer Roger Ebert notes in his review of the director's cut, "It looks fabulous, it uses special effects to create a new world of its own, but it is thin in its human story." It should not surprise us that in the dehumanized world of Los Angeles 2019 the human story would be difficult to uncover. This sentiment is echoed in a thought provoking review written by Sean M. Rutledge. The characters in Blade Runner are as complex, dark and beautiful as their surroundings; with their humanity equally difficult to find.
Roy Batty's character stands out in this rich background to provide us amply with both questions and answers.
Interpretation I - Roy Rises
Roy Batty like any good villain is the most complex character in Blade Runner. Being a Nexus-6 with the best physical and mental capacity afforded to Replicants, he is designed to survive, fight and kill quickly with no remorse. With these qualities Roy successfully leads a group of four of his fellow Replicants (all Nexus-6's) to Earth by hijacking a shuttle and killing the crew and passengers. In the opening sequence an eye is overlooking the "Hades" landscape. This could be someone regarding their new surroundings, but it can also be a metaphor indicating the film is scrutinizing the audience (Humanity). If the eye is Roy's, it could also be an indication of his internal conflict; or even that Humanity can be closely examined through him (Interpretation II).
We see Roy for the first time in a vid-phone as his stiffening hand indicates his biological clock is running out. With the loss of one of his friends to a security field in a direct assault, and the discovery of Leon at Tyrell Corp., Roy demonstrates great flexibility in switching tactics. Upon Leon's return Roy asks, "Did you get your precious photos?" It seems Roy did not approve of Leon