This review may contain spoilers
I Want One
Yup, I said it. I want my own personal AI Ever 4. I want to wake up every morning next to someone who will love me for me as I age, until the day that my bolts get rusty and I leave this earth, peacefully of course. My AI has to be a replica of Sam Lin tho, my Taiwanese perfection. No offence to Kevin Chang. You see, I do understand why Bu Shi fell in love, yes it was love, with him.
Bu Shi was frustrated with his world as it was. He was tired of depending on people who saw him as a nuisance or a walking atm. He rebelled as any person would confined to the expectations of a father who had no time for him. I can not say that he didn't love Bu Shi, as he displayed immense patience with his rude reckless behavior and the best thing he could have done is to unknowingly find his son a partner for life. Someone who will be there for him, protect him, always have his best interest at heart(well really it would be the centre of his AI life force) and under no circumstances would he leave him.
So the burning question is, how can AI love a human and vice versa. Here's why the script worked. Ever 4 was the latest model of AI and the most expensive but like every program, he was governed by set rules. He warned Bu Shi early on that the removal of his glasses would change his programming. Bu Shi didn't listen and found out the hard way. Yes, sitting was an issue until he got accustomed. Up until this point there is no difference between the AI and a human. We are all governed by our environments laws and precepts and when we do F around, we do find out.
Petulant, full of pride and willful as ever, Bu Shi runs away, not before giving his best friend all his cash to help his boyfriend clear his generational debt. At no time did the script say Bu Shi was smarter than the average person. Even those with the lowest wattage would know, the streets are unforgiving and if you do not have life skills, you will starve. Here Ever 4 steps in and patiently step by step, walks the path with him. He could have just as easily, man handled, well robot handled him and forced him to go back home. He didn't because he had already begun to care deeply for him. He shifted from his protector mode to partner and lover.
How can he care? All of his AI is artificial and limited to the input info. He gets upgraded as new info is inputted and adapts to said info. He sees Bu Shi for what he is with all his faults and integrates it in his responses to him. So where is the difference between Ever 4 and a human who is deeply connected to their partner? He said I love you. What would AI know about love? He was programmed with the knowledge of love and loyalty. As humans, we are shown what love and loyalty is by those who nurture us. Same info different methods.
He allows Bu Shi to go through his emotions while he provides the means to do so. Albeit, the highest level of intelligence should have known better than to do manual labor but again what professional proof of his abilities did he have. No high school diploma. No college degree. Why then a love motel? No questions asked and cheaper than a standard one. He then becomes an escort and at this point, I have to agree, he knew his worth.
Here is where the script diverts into a bit of nonsense and lost points. Why include a plot of trying to kill the young master when it abruptly stops as it starts after Ever 4 steps in. This should have been woven throughout and not just verbalized by the father. The second couple, though cute in their own way, really wasn't necessary to the plot. Was it to show Bu Shi's heart of gold? Was it to elongate the episodes to 12? Was it to show the loyalty and love between two humans? We liked Anti-Reset because it dealt with the relationship between AI and a human. Why wouldn't we like the same here? If it was used to show that there was no difference in how love is given and received, then it succeeded. We are all caught up in this feeling we call love.
There were moments that the acting was not the best and the lengthy professions of love at the end detracted rather than added to the series. I did like the part where they adopted an AI son. Bu Shi, matured by then, truly thought of Ever 4 as his partner and lover. He didn't want him to be lonely should his demise happen before Ever 4's. How could he love an AI? The better question is, how could he not. He met him intellectually, he always spoke from a place of care and concern, he showed him that his feelings were valid and made him happy. As a human who wouldn't want that? Have you seen what is passing for hoomans lately? Yes, one Sam Lin replica to go, please.
Lastly, Ever 4 began to think independently hence the reason he defied his previous protocols and followed Bu Shi. If this isn't being human, I don't know what is. Bu Shi went against the expectations and chose Ever 4. So a pair well matched. The only deterrent to the pairing is Ever 4's eternal youth. Just as humans age and adapt to the changes in their relationships, so would theirs.
Did I enjoy it? Yes, to a degree. Would I re-watch, probably not. Lately, Taiwan standards are being lowered and providing stories that do not capture your attention for long periods. Their plots have always been a bit outrageous but captivatingly so. This was not so, at all. If you are not looking to be dazzled but welcome a few chuckles inbetween, give it a watch.
Bu Shi was frustrated with his world as it was. He was tired of depending on people who saw him as a nuisance or a walking atm. He rebelled as any person would confined to the expectations of a father who had no time for him. I can not say that he didn't love Bu Shi, as he displayed immense patience with his rude reckless behavior and the best thing he could have done is to unknowingly find his son a partner for life. Someone who will be there for him, protect him, always have his best interest at heart(well really it would be the centre of his AI life force) and under no circumstances would he leave him.
So the burning question is, how can AI love a human and vice versa. Here's why the script worked. Ever 4 was the latest model of AI and the most expensive but like every program, he was governed by set rules. He warned Bu Shi early on that the removal of his glasses would change his programming. Bu Shi didn't listen and found out the hard way. Yes, sitting was an issue until he got accustomed. Up until this point there is no difference between the AI and a human. We are all governed by our environments laws and precepts and when we do F around, we do find out.
Petulant, full of pride and willful as ever, Bu Shi runs away, not before giving his best friend all his cash to help his boyfriend clear his generational debt. At no time did the script say Bu Shi was smarter than the average person. Even those with the lowest wattage would know, the streets are unforgiving and if you do not have life skills, you will starve. Here Ever 4 steps in and patiently step by step, walks the path with him. He could have just as easily, man handled, well robot handled him and forced him to go back home. He didn't because he had already begun to care deeply for him. He shifted from his protector mode to partner and lover.
How can he care? All of his AI is artificial and limited to the input info. He gets upgraded as new info is inputted and adapts to said info. He sees Bu Shi for what he is with all his faults and integrates it in his responses to him. So where is the difference between Ever 4 and a human who is deeply connected to their partner? He said I love you. What would AI know about love? He was programmed with the knowledge of love and loyalty. As humans, we are shown what love and loyalty is by those who nurture us. Same info different methods.
He allows Bu Shi to go through his emotions while he provides the means to do so. Albeit, the highest level of intelligence should have known better than to do manual labor but again what professional proof of his abilities did he have. No high school diploma. No college degree. Why then a love motel? No questions asked and cheaper than a standard one. He then becomes an escort and at this point, I have to agree, he knew his worth.
Here is where the script diverts into a bit of nonsense and lost points. Why include a plot of trying to kill the young master when it abruptly stops as it starts after Ever 4 steps in. This should have been woven throughout and not just verbalized by the father. The second couple, though cute in their own way, really wasn't necessary to the plot. Was it to show Bu Shi's heart of gold? Was it to elongate the episodes to 12? Was it to show the loyalty and love between two humans? We liked Anti-Reset because it dealt with the relationship between AI and a human. Why wouldn't we like the same here? If it was used to show that there was no difference in how love is given and received, then it succeeded. We are all caught up in this feeling we call love.
There were moments that the acting was not the best and the lengthy professions of love at the end detracted rather than added to the series. I did like the part where they adopted an AI son. Bu Shi, matured by then, truly thought of Ever 4 as his partner and lover. He didn't want him to be lonely should his demise happen before Ever 4's. How could he love an AI? The better question is, how could he not. He met him intellectually, he always spoke from a place of care and concern, he showed him that his feelings were valid and made him happy. As a human who wouldn't want that? Have you seen what is passing for hoomans lately? Yes, one Sam Lin replica to go, please.
Lastly, Ever 4 began to think independently hence the reason he defied his previous protocols and followed Bu Shi. If this isn't being human, I don't know what is. Bu Shi went against the expectations and chose Ever 4. So a pair well matched. The only deterrent to the pairing is Ever 4's eternal youth. Just as humans age and adapt to the changes in their relationships, so would theirs.
Did I enjoy it? Yes, to a degree. Would I re-watch, probably not. Lately, Taiwan standards are being lowered and providing stories that do not capture your attention for long periods. Their plots have always been a bit outrageous but captivatingly so. This was not so, at all. If you are not looking to be dazzled but welcome a few chuckles inbetween, give it a watch.
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