Why yes, she is "fully functional".
- The Control Voice: Poets argue that you are truly alive if you possess the ability to feel and love. Scientists, on the other hand, choose to define life in terms of proteins and carbon building blocks. But what happens when these two beliefs come crashing together?
A human-like android woman (Sofia Shinas) is created to be the companion of a paraplegic scientist (William Sadler).
- The Control Voice: The pursuit of technology exists to make human life easier and more pleasurable. But once such forces intrude upon the most intimate parts of our lives, will we then forfeit our very soul?
This episode was followed by "Mary 25".
Tropes 23:
- Alas, Poor Villain. Valerie 23. She's a Robot Girl designed for love, then goes on a jealous rampage when she thinks that another human is taking the object of her affection away from her. When she's destroyed she acknowledges that she fears death, which the protagonist had earlier deemed is what makes something truly alive.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Charlie, played by Tom Butler, who doesn't show his true colors until "Mary 25." In his first appearance, he appears to be an easy-going guy and a good boss to work for.
- Do Androids Dream?: The question is posed when the protagonist gets involved with a Sex Bot and wonders if she could truly be considered alive. He determines that the difference between a Ridiculously Human Robot and a real human being is that the latter has fear of death. His belief is confirmed when she proves unafraid at the prospect of her own destruction when she is due to be dismantled after developing a psychotic obsession with him. When he ultimately destroys Valerie after she tries to kill his human love interest again, she admits that she's afraid of what's coming.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: The protagonist who's in a wheelchair and works at a robotics company is approached by his boss because they want him to test the new robotic companion they've built. He's incredibly pissed off at the suggestion and that his colleagues would think of him as "a loser who couldn't get a real girl". It takes a lot of time for him to be open to the suggestion, and even more time before he eventually relents to her advances.
- Fanservice: The very attractive Sofia Shinas appears fully nude in one scene.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Charlie, whose true villainous colors would be revealed in "Mary 25."
- Not So Above It All: Hank insists that Valerie is nothing more than a machine to him and that he would never "stoop to the level" of fulfilling his sexual needs with a Sexbot, but on a lonely night he finally relents and consummates his relationship with Valerie.
- Public Domain Soundtrack: In the dining scenes at home, the movements 3 and 4 from Antonín Dvořák's Stabat Mater can be heard.
- Robotic Reveal: Hank is confused as to why none of his colleagues tried hitting on the rather attractive girl he was just introduced to. He quickly finds out why when they take him to a side room where a group of scientists are working on the wiring inside the gynoid's exposed skull.
- Robotic Spouse: What Valerie is intended to be.
- Uncanny Valley: Valerie is introduced to Hank like the Ridiculously Human Robot she is, enough for him to mistake her for a real woman. Then he's re-introduced to her with her wig removed and the back half of her head pryed open, exposing all of her wiring. She's just as cheery as ever. Later, Valerie sustains a serious head wound and loses her hair to make her look creepier when she goes full Yandere.
- Villain of Another Story: Charlie, as shown in the sequel episode "Mary 25," is not the Benevolent Boss and best friend of Frank that this episode makes him out to be.
- Yandere: Robot Girl Valerie. Made to care for the disabled, she begins a relationship with one of her patients. When said patient starts falling in love with a human woman, she goes all out psycho trying to Murder the Hypotenuse. Suffice it to say these are NOT Three Laws-Compliant.
