Ava (played by Caity Lotz) is a protagonist in The Machine.
AI researcher recruited by McCarthy with promises of unlimited funding. She develops stable cyborgs and a self-aware android. Becomes suspicious of how wounded soldiers are treated. Murdered by a Chinese agent impersonating Dawson's mother at Thomson's orders. Her brain scan and likeness are later used to create the Machine. Vincent McCarthy (played by Toby Stephens) is a protagonist in The Machine.
AI researcher at the MOD base who tests soldier Paul Dawson. He promises Ava funding, maps his daughter Mary's brain, and insists on using Ava's scan for the Machine project. Grieved by Ava's death, he gains Machine's devotion and fights Thomson's demands to erase her consciousness. Ultimately escapes with Machine and Suri, leaving base records to Dawson's mother. Thomson (played by Denis Lawson) appears in The Machine.
Base director who pushes for military applications of the android project. Conflicts with McCarthy over Machine's sentience and morality. Uses Mary's brain scans to blackmail McCarthy after her death. Orders Machine to kill McCarthy, but is cornered and lobotomized by her after his own fail-safes are disabled. James (played by Sam Hazeldine) appears in The Machine.
Amputee soldier fitted with cybernetic arms. Whispers a cry for help to Ava during a demonstration, raising her suspicions about the treatment of wounded soldiers and prompting her to explore the base. Suri (played by Pooneh Hajimohammadi) appears in The Machine.
Thomson's cyborg aide. Overrides Thomson's console access to prevent him from destroying the remaining cyborgs. Shot and wounded by Thomson but survives. Escapes the base with McCarthy and Machine at the end. Paul Dawson (played by John-Paul Macleod) appears in The Machine.
Soldier who receives a cybernetic implant to rehabilitate a left hemispherectomy. Loses his memories and empathy, becomes violent, kills McCarthy's assistant, and wounds McCarthy before being shot dead. His likeness is later impersonated by a Chinese agent to assassinate Ava. Paul Dawson's Mother (played by Helen Griffin) appears in The Machine.
Dawson's grieving mother who regularly waits near the base entrance seeking information about her son. Her likeness is impersonated by a Chinese agent to kill Ava. At the end, McCarthy leaves the base records to her before departing.
The Machine (2013) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Ava
(played by Caity Lotz) — protagonist
AI researcher recruited by McCarthy with promises of unlimited funding. She develops stable cyborgs and a self-aware android. Becomes suspicious of how wounded soldiers are treated. Murdered by a Chin...
Vincent McCarthy
(played by Toby Stephens) — protagonist
AI researcher at the MOD base who tests soldier Paul Dawson. He promises Ava funding, maps his daughter Mary's brain, and insists on using Ava's scan for the Machine project. Grieved by Ava's death, h...
Thomson
(played by Denis Lawson) — supporting
Base director who pushes for military applications of the android project. Conflicts with McCarthy over Machine's sentience and morality. Uses Mary's brain scans to blackmail McCarthy after her death....
James
(played by Sam Hazeldine) — supporting
Amputee soldier fitted with cybernetic arms. Whispers a cry for help to Ava during a demonstration, raising her suspicions about the treatment of wounded soldiers and prompting her to explore the base...
Suri
(played by Pooneh Hajimohammadi) — supporting
Thomson's cyborg aide. Overrides Thomson's console access to prevent him from destroying the remaining cyborgs. Shot and wounded by Thomson but survives. Escapes the base with McCarthy and Machine at...
Paul Dawson
(played by John-Paul Macleod) — supporting
Soldier who receives a cybernetic implant to rehabilitate a left hemispherectomy. Loses his memories and empathy, becomes violent, kills McCarthy's assistant, and wounds McCarthy before being shot dea...
Paul Dawson's Mother
(played by Helen Griffin) — supporting
Dawson's grieving mother who regularly waits near the base entrance seeking information about her son. Her likeness is impersonated by a Chinese agent to kill Ava. At the end, McCarthy leaves the base...
Key Relationships
Paul Dawson's Mother → Paul Dawson
(mother)
Vincent McCarthy → James
(Professional Commander & Test Subject)
Ava → Suri
(Professional Colleague)
James → Suri
(Alliance Fellow Cyborg)
Thomson → James
(Power Oppressor & Subject)
Thomson → Suri
(Professional Superior & Subordinate)
Vincent McCarthy → Suri
(Alliance Aligned Scientist)
Vincent McCarthy → Thomson
(Conflict Rival Director)
Ava → James
(Alliance Sympathizer)
Ava → Thomson
(Conflict Antagonist)
Ava → Vincent McCarthy
(Alliance Research Partner)
Story Analysis
A scientist creates a self-aware android to save his dying daughter, sparking a rebellion against military exploitation.
Plot Progression
Recruitment and Suspicion
Tragedy and Creation
Betrayal and Rebellion
Reckoning and Escape
Directed by Caradog W. James
The Machine (2013) · 5.9/10 · science-fiction, thriller
