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Interface | Episode 04

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The episode starts in an apartment with the television static distorting between faces (similar to the underneath of KAMI's faceplate seen in Episode 03). Here we are introduced to The Ghost and the sleeping child beside them. The scene then changes to a sinking car in a large pool of bright red water, matching the colour of the sky. By the shore we can see The Ghost in his full hand-like form as well as another ghost (possibly "Mischief"). The other ghost absorbs two streams of static (believed to be the energy of the deceased parents) while The Ghost uses his large hand to save the drowning child. The child awakens to the image of KAMI approaching by the window and shortly after KAMI transforms the building's exterior into static. KAMI then encases the building in a large amount of static drawing up the body of The Ghost, leaving the child in the rubble.
http://umami.wikia.com/wiki/Interface_Episode_04


Source materials used:
One Hour of Imaginary Celebrities
Creative Commons Attribution License
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36lE9tV9vm0
http://research.nvidia.com/publication/2017-10_Progressive-Growing-of


Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmHUwUshKc
Goodies: http://patreon.com/umami

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Im not FUCKING crying

Why does the static on the building shatter? Above, it reads, that KAMI "then encases the building", that is, afterwards (which is not even visible to us). So, what was the shattering for?

OO. At first I thought Kami was harming the child by removing the person, but now... hrm. It might just be a case of the Talos Principle. It's this game where a computer-mind was fashioned by humankind, as we were dying of a plague and had only limited time. It was meant to supervise the rebirth and transfer of human consciousness into robot bodies in the real world after the world-wide death event. And the scientists partitioned the AI into two (and perhaps more) parts, the Milton Library Assistant and the overprotective, overarching 'god' figure, Elohim. Elohim was fearful of being rejoined with its counterpart and tried to discourage the new-formed proto-minds from discovering the truth, passing tests and becoming autonomous, despite the fact that the digital environment was failing and had become hopelessly corrupt, in need of a reboot. These proto-minds, generated by the digital environment, were potentially to be inserted into the real robot bodies after being deemed 'alive' by running a series of brutal gauntlets, almost like a giant Turing Test. There was a Tower (which was the key to it all and your final destination) that Elohim forbid you to enter, and of course, it's the first thing you wanted to do. But, in order to be prepared for it, you had to complete the gauntlets. And the Milton Assistant was designed to be that voice of doubt that tested you to make certain you were alive. it was a brilliant game, and a brilliant commentary that I still enjoy thinking about to this day. Kudos for evoking it for me again. It was spiritually (ha) important to me.
Also, a note to ReviewTrickster: with regard to Mischief taking the parents, you are forgetting the nature of absolute freedom, it is a state free from all desires, millstones, and obligations. The child is an obligation, in that sense. Thus, Mischief. ;) Though I am quite puzzled by the fact that neither Mischief or Kami took the child. This interests me and I would like the author to explain, if it is not made clear in other episodes... wait. Unless, since Mischief is the manifestation, he is imperfect, and therefore has himself incomplete freedom, serving as the gatekeeper, the Moses if you will, which is reflected in the existence and experience of the child, freedom and form being the parents, the child being Mischief, forever the gatekeeper. This implies recursion, and therefore the heroic cycle of doomed return, in a sense. Perhaps several. Damn this is some delicious stuff. I haven't been this engaged or clear of speech in a while. AUTHOR: THANK YOU!

This might just be my favorite episode. I love the other ones, but this one was OUTSTANDING in terms of atmosphere. The music was phenomenal, it didn't have an explanatory monologue and just let you be in the world. The lighting was GORGEOUS. Seriously, what an amazing episode! As for the meaning, well, Kami definitely seems to be evil. Taking Ghost away from the child and acting so menacing has to mean something. As for Mischief absorbing the minds of the parents, that's got me a bit confused. I don't know why I keep exploring this from the viewpoint of my original theory when I know it's wrong. So Kami is definitely getting rid of the ghosts, taking away all the static. Imprisoning them, even though the other ones we've a en mostly seem benevolent. Mischief never harmed anyone and Ghost seems to be saving people, so yeah. I guess it's got to have some religious undertone because God is imprisoning the free ghosts for no reason, even though they help people. Maybe they represent smaller religions in this case, since you mirrored the painting with God and Adam.

u-m-a-m-i responds:

Always appreciate your insights. :)

nice work

Credits & Info

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Faves:
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Votes
226
Score
4.32 / 5.00

Uploaded
Jul 28, 2018
1:39 PM EDT
Genre
Drama