Is Prometheus a Love Story? David 8 and Shaw

I think the passive/aggressive way David treated her after Holloway's death may have been a result of knowing she probably slept with Holloway, perhaps another subtle display of jealousy. Maybe David was even irritated by her grief. That scene was hard to pinpoint. He "seemed" concerned, but at the same time, dismissive of her and her "condition". It wasn't until she showed her courage by aborting the fetus that David resumed his interest again. When does David hint he spiked Holloway's drink? I couldn't hear what Weyland said when David told him to remove his helmet. Supposedly, this is where it's hinted at?

I definitly felt that he had some kind of attraction towards her, maybe he can kind of relate to her. She wants to reach her "God" or "Creater" but she does it without making him feel like a piece of crap? He seems to be a bit more then helpful for it to just fall under his "primary functions." The part that keeps coming to my mind is when Shaw races to get the head and is blown back by the storm, once they get inside Charlie is basically screaming at her, and David seems to be the most understand and apperently the only one that cares to see if she is okay. Which normally would make sense if his job is to be helpful towards humans but it's the way he talks to her that makes him seem to care for her. Not to mention that Shaw seems to be flattered by it.

I noticed a subtle affection for Shaw as well, as David seems inclined to share his thoughts with her more than the others. That last trip into the temple in particular, when he notes her survival instincts, then enlightens her with his thoughts on children and parents. He also seemed relieved she was alive at the end - though this could be because he needed someone to put him back together, or at the very least, retrieve him. And I am beginning to think David was jealous of Holloway, and not because Holloway is super smart - or kept picking on David. I really think it might have been Shaw. Maybe David just never realized why he despised Holloway because he doesn't understand what attraction IS. He has little to no experience outside his programming. Perhaps leaving him alone for two years (when others of his kind wouldn't have spent that much time isolated) altered something in his little synthetic brain. I mean, he was eating and drinking, dying his hair, mimicking Peter O'Toole, watching Shaw's dreams. I assume Weyland didn't program David to amuse himself like that. And something that some have regarded as strange, but this topic now makes me think it wasn't some random detail thrown in, or plot device. David storing Shaw's cross in his utility belt. It's odd he should do that - but at the same time, also may hint to some affection there. As for Synthetics loving...I think it's possible. Who are we to say organics are the only thing that can love? David is essentially a new life form. He can evolve, and now with his creator dead and no new programming, I'd like to see how David's personality develops in the sequel.

I agree I think David has developed a lil Crush on Shaw. even when he seems unwilling to help her remove the alien "fetus" he still seems kind to her and unwilling to let her die. plus later while shes running around naked david offers her his lab coat to cover herself.

Maybe, but I would have to say if it was, that would have been between David8 &...well... David8...lol !

LOL, thought the OP might like this [url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/167907-shock-video-the-cast-of-ridley-scotts-prometheus]interview.[/url]. Around the 2- 2:30 min mark, Fassbender jokes about David being in love with Shaw.

Maiafay: David hints en route to the last living engineer (in a very vague, subtle way) that he infected Holloway - around 1 hour 37min in I think. Granted, he never truly says 'I infected Doctor Holloway', but still. Was this him being antagonistic again, or could it have been his inability to keep secrets from somebody like Shaw? Could he have been feeling guilty that he caused the violent death of Shaw's lover, and her subsequent mutant pregnancy? AND I completely agree with your theory about David feeling some sort of hurt or jealousy when it is revealed that Shaw slept with Holloway. In fact, I think he says something to the like of 'I understand how inappropriate this is, given the circumstances, but as you ordered quarantine fail-safes, it is my responsibility to ask - have you and Doctor Holloway had any intimate contact recently? Since you and he were so . . . close, I just want to be as thorough as possible." He may have observed their relationship as an especially friendly one, but he may have either been too naive or too hopeful to realize that they were in a physical relationship. Also, regarding the cross, is it that David lies when he says he has to take it off of Shaw because it could be 'contaminated'? Obviously he knows it isn't, so maybe he wants a keepsake of her (i.e. a lock of hair or something personal), or perhaps he is trying to mimic her faith in an attempt to be like her, or seem a better match for her (sharing her interest in god).

@Lindsaycaz But how does he hint? The audio was muddled for me for some reason during that scene. I barely made out what Weyland said in response. Something to do with air being fine, or "perfectly safe" (what David said)? As for the cross, I think it was more of a keepsake. Just in case she did pass away while in cryostasis. I did think it was strange (while watching the movie) that he took it when he knew damn well it wasn't contaminated. Sneaky droid. He could have been testing her also...taking away an object of her faith. His comments about God abandoning her were also pointed/cruel/sympathetic. it was a weird combo with so many tones. Fassbender really did a great job. I really hope Prometheus does well so we can have a sequel. I'd like to see how David and Shaw work together (and hope that she can reattach his poor head).

I agree with you, Philburke. I think that when - following Shaw's impromptu, automated surgery to remove the alien creature inside her - Shaw stumbles into Weyland's private room where David and a number of other doctors just so happen to be, and David immediately runs to her side and wraps his coat around her, and wordlessly helps her to take a seat . . . Well I took it a big clue right there. I mean, while David does return to Weyland's attention, the point is that he was already at Weyland's side when Shaw came in. The fact that he rushed to her despite his main programming, which must be to serve Weyland first and foremost, meant that at that exact moment he saw Shaw has his main priority. Also, I agree that when David compliments Shaw's strong survival instincts, it may be a way of trying to tell her he admires her/likes her. And when he and Shaw discuss the concept of 'want' right before they set off to find the last, remaining living engineer, David explains that he would gain freedom from Weyland's death, and that despite his inability to feel 'want', he suggests that all children want to see their parents die. This may suggest that David does in fact feel a sensation similar to 'want', and while he may want Weyland dead and thusly his freedom, he could very well want Shaw as well in one way or another (as a new owner, lover, companion, friend, sister, etc.).

Some very good points here. I noticed in watching the film, how it is David who rescues Shaw and Holloway, and asks if she is alright. Holloway was pretty rude to her, but in fairness he was getting blown away also trying to help. And the coat thing sticks out a mile. Some things I think (just my opinion) are wide of the mark - prior meeting. He knows her very well, because he's read her dreams. But if you recall, he does introduce himself when she comes out of stasis. The cross, possibly as a keepsake, but I think it's for a different purpose which is an element of David's character development. David is teased repeatedly (especially by Holloway, and perhaps unintentionally hurtful by Weyland) for having no soul, and is looked upon as "less than human" because although he has superior motor skills and memory, and will not die of old age, he has no free will, and no purpose other than to carry out the will of other people. In part I think he resents this 'superstition' and soul talk, but he also wishes to be 'more' than he is, without being 'too close' as he jokes to Holloway (the double meaning being "not too close for your comfort Mr. Holloway" and "not as flawed as you Mr. Holloway") He looks down on Holloway, and has mixed feelings for Shaw. (perhaps there is jealousy there as well about her boyfriend, but he could dislike Holloway for the same reason I do - Holloway is a jerk) Some of the sinister dark humor of the film comes from David's double meaning phrases. "I didn't know you had it in you" (the squid ? or the strength to get rid of it?) and while he does say "oh, poor choice of words" it seems insincere especially considering how quickly he thinks, and how calculated his every move is. I don't think he has real romantic love, but may have the basic feelings of admiration, (and confusion about the confusion about admiring someone's qualities) that characterises a crush. David is like an adolescent who is developing feelings he doesn't know how to interpret or act upon. And some of the cold or nasty taunts to Shaw remind me of someone teasing a girl that they actually like, but don't know [i]why[/i] they like her. He is still capable of being very cold to her, like the look he gives her when she realises that David deliberately infected Holloway. And when he asks her if her faith has failed. His bedside manner when examining her for quarantine goes from mildly pleasant to coldly excluding her from information after telling her that she is pregnant. - By the way, does anyone see her a deliberate bible reference? John the Baptist mother was very old and was called Elizabeth, and a non-human (and angel) told her she was pregnant. - I think somethings that David does, he would have had to do anyway, but we get a hint of how he feels about them. Yes, he is required to ask her about being intimate with Holloway, and of course he knew the answer anyway - how else did she get infected -David knew who had been in contact with the black stuff and who didn't. Also, not hard to guess that one side effect of getting a 2nd bottle of wine into Holloway would be that Holloway would be in the mood for some sex with his girlfriend, for the normal reasons and to take their minds off things (in his case feeling 'abandoned' by dead "gods" and in her case infertility.) The cross, which we see him confiscate and put in a plastic container, later turns up in his utility pouch. We could see that as a 'keepsake' (for someone with an android memory? Who can remember every line on her face forever?) or perhaps as a token of his desire to be like his creators, to understand them. Certainly the line "I was afraid you were dead" is unusual. David, much like the sacrificial Grey giant in scene one is not supposed to even care if he is alive or dead. But perhaps he sees her as his new master now that Weyland is dead, and that his newfound curiosity for having a purpose can go nowhere without her assistance.

@MaiaFay [i]But how does he hint? The audio was muddled for me for some reason during that scene. I barely made out what Weyland said in response. Something to do with air being fine, or "perfectly safe" (what David said)?[/i] Shaw, David, Weyland, Jackson and the joyless Dr. Forde arrive in the tunnels, and David says to Weyland something like "You can remove your helmet here sir, if you like. It's quite breathable". Shaw questions if it is safe, as they don't know how Holloway died, if the infection was airborne . David, with a rather cold tone and frozen face, says "it's not" and then she understands, David deliberately infected Holloway. I think Fassbender was brilliant there. He didn't do a 'neutral emotionless robot' face simply spouting a fact, he was cold. Surely he has some conflict about carrying out the awful intentions of his old master, and hurting and displeasing Shaw, who he seems to admire and be drawn to as a replacement. Weyland, called him 'the closest thing to a son I will ever have" which is both a compliment, and a statement of limitation. Weyland writes David off as someone who will never have a soul or appreciate what he's missing. Shaw on the other hand is willing to discuss these things with him as he seems genuinely curious. At the end of course she does say, "You're just a robot" but considering that she knows what he did to Holloway, David should be glad that she understands he is a robot, and that he had no free will in carrying out Weyland's orders (she may not realise that Weyland probably didn't specifically say to infect Holloway, but that David chose him as the most likely candidate, and his new found feelings of hostility and jealousy no doubt played some part in it.).

@lindsaycaz; hello! I had posted this a few days ago on a similar thread, I dug it out and dusted it off just for you. :) Click here-->[url=http://www.movies.com/movie-news/dialogue-michael-fassbender-on-39prometheus39-his-ambiguous-character-which-film-might-inspire-sequel/8257?wssac=164&wssaffid=news]Michael Fassbender, on 'Prometheus[/url] "Movies.com: Last one. I’ve watched a few of your interviews from the London press junket, where you are telling journalists that David poisons Dr. Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) because you’d like to see a romance between David and Dr. Shaw (Noomi Rapace) in the sequel. MF: [Laughs] That’s great! I love that. Yeah, I started that rumor single-handedly. Noomi was telling me this morning, “You know, everybody is asking me about this love affair.” [Laughs] "