what's so interesting to me about it is that the machine version of neil isn't just eva's perception of him like we've seen with characters before, like river being seen only through john's memories. this version of neil is also his own memories, he put himself in there as complete as possible, and eva only added to it with her own perception. it's a ship of theseus situation. how much is he still himself? is it unfair to the real neil if eva continues to just... live in the memories, or create new, simulated memories with this copy of him?
obviously it's not healthy to live in a fantasy but is it still a fantasy? how 'alive' are the people in this machine? if you believe you're real, are you? if you don't believe you're real, does that make it true? who or what decides what is or isn't real?
and because he's still neil, he can't ever accept it, he pushes her away even now, because he knows she should move on... but he still built the machine. could he ever just accept the fact he was close to someone and loved her and no matter how hard he tried to keep her from getting hurt she still misses him dearly when he's gone and he still longs for connection even when he feels he shouldn't reach out. the time they had together would never be enough, and could this ever truly make up for it? should it? it's such a fascinating conundrum.
Do you think that by the very end, Neil told Eva how he felt?
Do you think Eva, after knowing why he was pushing her away, ever told him he would never be able to control her emotions? That she would still miss him and suffer from his absence regardless?
Do you think that's why he gave her the machine even though she was never supposed to see it?
Do you think they got to be honest with each other by the end?
That they were able to let the other know how much they cared?
"You've been coming in here too often."
"Maybe I wouldn't need to if you would just be here! You were distant when you were alive, you're distant even when you're dead. If you'd only-"
"Oh. So…Really dead, huh? Really really dead?"
"Sorry."
"No, I mean…Of course I'm dead. That's why, you know…all this. But it's just…strange hearing you say it out loud. I guess we just never really talked like this here since then."
Just A To the Moon Series Beach Episode (2024) developed by Freebird Games
I’ve said it before but the fact that bestest detectives continues to be a persistent leitmotif for the two, an initially goofy tune turned harrowing and melancholic as we learn more and more.
today's the day ... it still doesn't feel real, but thank you sigcorp for everything 🫶💕
special thank you to @neilsmachine for composing the track for this video, and to @ltwilliamhavers for helping me find the inspiration for this video!!