Michael Waters at 2016-01-07 10:03:28:

It seems to me Caleb is the Protagonist. The story starts with him and is largely told from his point of view. The audience/reader doesn't know any more than he does despite this being a sting movie. Nathan must be the mentor figure. Initially he is seen as the successful version of Caleb, that Caleb would like to be. But Nathan is a trickster wearing a mask. This is a pseudo-experiment; Caleb cannot know that the true experiment is to see if Ava can manipulate him as she would see through Caleb (human manipulation appears to be Nathan's test for 'Have we created AI?'). Ava is either Caleb's nemesis (or opposition if you don't recognize her as human) or the Protagonist. She is of course a trickster, trying to escape; trying to experience the freedom of just people watching at street corners that makes her human. If we see her as the Protagonist then telling the story from her POV seems like a dull affair; a bee with a predictable sting. Telling it from Caleb's POV makes for better reveals and gives the thriller elements more 'umph'. Kyoko is a forerunner to Ava. Her inclusion, and in particular the fact that she has been down the same path as Ava (learning to serve the master, sexual exploitation, learning how to use a knife!) means she has foreshadowed Ava's journey (albeit with a lesser AI brain). This adds depth to Ava's character and strengthens the case that Ava is the real Protagonist. Also have you noticed how the film's title bears a uncanny resemblance to Deus Ex Machina - a term for a plot device, frequently brought about by a God. See NNB's eagle eyed note at page 86 of his breakdown and the occasional comparisons of Nathan's breakthrough to God. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina

Scott at 2016-01-07 23:04:51:

Michael, your comments reminded me that we have discussed Ex Machina as part of our Movie Analysis series (I had honestly forgotten that). Your point of comparing Ava to Kyoko is what piqued my memory. Check out my comments here. And also this about Deus Ex Machina. Re characters: I think we have to look at the story as it plays out with Caleb as the Protagonist. What's interesting is to look BACK at the story in hindsight and switch POVs, first to Nathan to grasp the conniving nature of his plan, then to Ava to grasp the conniving nature of HER plan. That way we really appreciate the theme of deception. If we look at Caleb as the P, one could argue that Nathan is a Mentor, as you suggest, but a Dark Mentor. And Ava is an Attractor, but a Dark Attractor. OTOH it's interesting to look at the layers of deception peeled back with both characters as they remove their masks: NATHAN Act One: Mentor Act Two: Trickster Act Three: Nemesis AVA Act One: Attractor Act Two: Trickster Act Three: Nemesis As Protagonist, Caleb loses the Final Struggle with Nathan... but then both he AND Nathan lose the Ultimate Final Struggle with Ava. It's like in the end, she's the Uber Nemesis. In any event, this is one of those stories where masks play a BIG ROLE, befitting a story so caught up in seduction and deception.