RoboCop, "Prime Suspect"

"Prime Suspect." RoboCop, 24 March 1994. Paul Shapiro, dir. Lincoln Kibbee, script.

Raises but does not deal with question of whether or not Robo has a soul. Note dialog in a church between Robo and, Diana the Ghost in the (computer) Machine character (Andrea Roth). Note also reference to importance of Catholic upbringing of Murphy — mentioned in initial ROBOCOP (1987) film — as a major motif. Includes imagery of Robo's merging with Diana, the "Ghost" in the computer and becoming himself a hologram. Final symbol of Robo shaking hands with an adult male: another cop sort (cf. Robo and girl in ititial show, "The Future of Law Enforcement." If the series goes on to deal with the issues raised in this second episode, that will be significant; if the series does not deal seriously with those issues, it is significant that they chose to raise the issues without dealing with them: someone among the makers or perceived consumers of the show expect such issues to be part of the "product." See citation for ROBOCOP 2 film.