Contains major spoilers for ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Interstellar’, ‘Ex Machina’ and ‘Westworld’.

There are many ways to look at human nature. ‘Blade Runner’ did it so well in 1982 that it was considered to be a classic and later it became the major influence for many years until now. ‘Blade Runner 2049’ continues to investigate the themes it starts in the first part. Moreover, it focuses even more on human nature and becomes even more artistically and visually unique because of a new director — Denis Villeneueve.

If you ask any person what makes humans unique, you will figure out there is no particular answer, as the variations are numerous. However, in order to come closer and answer those questions it is also important to limit yourself and answer the question through only one prism.

Interstellar does that by investigating the theme of love and that only love makes people unique. It helps them answer the important questions and find the solutions to save the humanity.

Interstellar

"Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space". - Brand

‘Ex Machina’ seems to investigate the similar theme as ‘Interstellar’ but slightly in a different way. In this case the robot tricks the human trapping him in his own weaknesses.

Ex Machina

"Isn't it strange to create something that hates you?" — Ava.

‘Westworld’ examines human nature in even more severe angle. It suggests that human nature is violent and robots become humans when they also start to entertain like humans — by killing and dominating.

Westworld

“These violent delights have violent ends”. — Bernard.

Blade Runner 2049 looks at human nature in a slightly different angle. It really shows how human nature might not exist at all, and I will explain why.

Blade Runner 2049

In order to make a replicant that will be 100% identical with a human, first you need to understand what makes human a human. Wallace , the creator of replicants tries to find the answer to that question. He thinks that the key is reproduction, and what really makes human a human is being able to create the new life without him involving in that.

Blade Runner 2049

By finding Rachel who was able to give birth we ask the question: “How is it possible? Was she created by the Tyrell company in order to make it possible to give birth, or is it really the magic that happened?’ We don’t really get an answer to that, and we will never know for sure, however, it does not really matter because in either case the replicant such as Rachel became just like a human — she was able to give birth to a new life.

Blade Runner

Does it mean then that humans as well as replicants have some memories, feelings, compassion and re-productivity. So then it makes them humans just like us. I think by suggesting that we might say that the authors deny the existence of God. The complexity that we think exists in humans might not be that unsolvable. Because most of investigations of human nature states that humans are unique however it usually does not specify why. I think ‘Blade Runner 2049' answers that perfectly and a little bit frightening at the same time because does it mean then that there is no such thing as human nature?