BladeZone's Off World Forums

Because of this four year life span many things are hard to find a answer on.
While we move on with the blade runner project more new questions are showing up, and i slowly getting my doubts if the creators of Blade Runner as the book ever thought about it's answers.
Maybe because our technology isn't so much evoluted to give any answers on and i hope that that was the same thought of the BR creators

Racheal didn't had the four year life span, so in the case of reproduction it seems to be possible.
i would see a human/replicant couple child something like of a white/black couple.
However black genes are much more stronger as the white.


Scary thought.

well i think this argument is moot as the blimp adverstisment states replicants are geneticly engineerd so it'd be just as easy to engineer a four year life span as sterility

I thought this would be more relating to the issue of their souls, but in any case the answer to this poll is Full humanic organs / tissue

Yes, but after one answer it turned out to more questions.
You might think what's the point of this discussion, but on one side this is a fine place to share our own vision about the replicants and searching what would be the most common for a replicant.

I did actually raise this issue in the general discussion forum about god, here's a bit from my input

I have to say that replicants are all organic. The superior strength and other aspects come from genetic engineering. The genetic make-up was altered to produce a superior being.

This is alluded to in the movie. The alterations reduced life span "automatically". I fell that was what Dr. Tyrell was saying when he told Roy he had burned so very very brightly. Roy would however "burn out" much more quickly. Once the genetic code or sequence is made it can not be altered, which was discussed by Tyrell and Roy.

In Rachel's case (assuming no 4 year life-span) the genetic code had to be altered again so she could essentially live forever. Perhaps Rachel would need a bone marrow transplant or bone marrow injections to "keep going". But that would be difficult since her genetic make-up is altered, her bone marrow would have to altered as well. She probably should have never left the Tyrell Corporation. Tyrell could keep her living. Deckard obviously could not. In other words, as is, Rachel's days were still numbered....just many many many more days.

mike81859

I'd hate to be considered a party-pooper but is'nt all this speculation redundant? Replicants were flesh and blood in the film because it makes a greater visual impact seeing them gunned down, its more visceral and emotionally involving. In 'Electric Sheep' Dick didnt make the black and white distinction between replicants and humans, he included the factor of deterioration due to radio-active fallout which led to a percentage of the population becoming 'chickenheads'. The blade-runners had to filter out these from the real replicants in case they ended up 'retiring' a human of diminished mental/emotional capacity.

I actually talked about this on another forum. It definitely is something that causes debate. But I've concluded that they are robots with skin and organs. My reasons:

The book's interpretation of the androids is like the conclusion I've made.

The opening mentions that the "Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the NEXUS phase." Now I don't know about you, but a clone seems VERY different from a robot.

Another example is when the ad blimp mentions them being "humanoid replicants". A clone is essentially a twin, which is human. Humanoid implies that its something that resembles human anatomy.

Red eyes: It seems rather weird that they would use red eyes as a cinematic device to reveal clones. Red eyes typically mean one of two things in film; either the character is evil or the character is something like an alien or machine.

Eye works: The eye-making area shows Hannibal Chew doing genetic design on eyes. Clones are not stitched together like Frankenstein's monster. This would make sense if applied to a robot/android/etc.

Deckard at one point mentions that "replicants are like any other machine."

There's a lot of material that suggests that they have artificial brains. The book, not to mention movie shows that they are given memory implants and programmed with a specific function.

Dictionary definition calls them a humanoid automaton. Most people associate the term automaton with robot, so it seems natural that they would use it in that context.

J.F. says that he is a genetic designer, yet he doesn't know much about biomechanics. The term biomechanics refers to the functions of a living thing, however in SF (like the Jeter sequels) it generally means part-living part-machine (the alien xenomorph, for example, is often called a biomechanical life-form) If biomechanics is used in its factual context, then J.F.'s statement makes no sense. A genetic designer would have to understand the biological functions of an organism in order to effectively produce a healthy replicant.

Durability: Replicant's flesh is exposed to extreme hot and cold, but there is no sign of blistering or anything serious. They can take several bullet wounds, a punch and pipe to the face, and plow their head through a wall and not even flinch. The only time they ever seem to experience pain is when the outer skin is penetrated. I feel this is a weaker argument as the genetic designers could have merely chemically altered the skin or create the replicants without outer pain receptors.

I'm sure there's some other stuff I can dig up, but I'll do it later.

if this is true would they be able to be detected with a simple x-ray or even a blood test rather than a complex psychological exam?

Maybe they no longer use X-rays. Or maybe whatever part of them that is synthetic looks organic on x-ray. You make a good point, but this same question could be applied to the book, where they're partially mechanical. Why didn't the bounty hunters just carry around little mini x-ray devices? It would save them the trouble of administering the V-K, Boneli-reflex, or bone marrow test.

I mentioned on another thread about the rep definition. The term synthogenetic, which I'm not even sure is real, seems to imply that they have fake genes. I like the theory that the genes, cells, etc. are some sort of nanotechnology that can give the impression of a living thing.

I suppose when it really comes down to it, perhaps Scott wanted the issue to remain ambiguous, so as to question whether or not the replicants are human. And let's face it, Blade Runner is one of the most interpretative SF films out there (standing tall next to 2001 and Donnie Darko), so this wouldn't surprise me.

I associate this technology with the man who inspired the story...thus my answer is: none of the above.

I came to the conclusion after looking at the film and even cosidering the debates. There is an answer, but you wouldn't like it. It is simpler and fits better into a PKD frame of reference.

The clues are in the film. We know that they are indistinguishable from human. This would mean their eyes as well. It is quite possible that 'enhancements' that Eldon mentions are available to natural humans as well. Consider that even today that artificial parts like knee replacements are already advertised on TV! Ala Cyberpunk.

I know this blows away the 'subtle hint' that Deckard is a Replicant, but it is a possiblity that the rich (i.e. Tyrell) and police (i.e. Deckard) might have enhancements.

It follows then, that maybe Eldon lied about (and to) Rachael.

Consider:If you woke up tomorrow and somone told you that you were a copy and that you had all the memories of the original...how would you know if it were true?

You wouldn't, couldn't, know. If memory implants were possible, you could be lied to..even while being the original! You would never be able to reason it out.

It is possible then that Rachael could have been the real one confused by a lie and the technology. How could she know?? Eldon had plenty of time to harvest her memories and examine them.

It is also possible then that Deckard could be some shmoe taken off the street, processed and enhanced into being a BladeRunner.

If that were the case...what else did Eldon lie about???

Good thoughts. I like the direction you are going. It is pretty close to my script idea, and I would like to give a hint into it. Look at Gaff's Eyes. They do not belong to him. The Name "Gaff" is a term used for Taxidermy Chimera, of patched together animals (i.e. the Fiji mermaid, and Frankenstien). Hopefully I haven't said to much.

Gaff also refers to a hook or control. It also can refer to a 'boss'.

Interesting, I didn't know that. We know E.J.O. wore contacts during filming and your idea of Gaff's eyes not belonging to him is cool. Even his cityspeak is a sort of patchwork. I think you said too much You may as well just let me read your script now

"...Replicants are people!"

The recicled organs are refurbished with genetic tech, but in the end can not endure more than four years.