Act 1 – Akiko September 13, 2009 at 10:22 am
The 1st episode start off at the home of Rikuo and he was checking through the activity log of his houseroid Sammy. When suddenly browsing through the activity log Rikuo notice 1 strange log entry and just before going into the details about that mysterious entry Sammy pull the plug from her body and said that log have been output correctly. Since Rikuo are not sure on what to ask regarding the strange log, he order Sammy to make him a cup of coffee instead. Then Rikuo sister Naoko wakes up and get out bed and turn on the TV. The TV channel was broadcasting topic on “Android Holic” which means humans who like to depend on android and treats these android like human. Then Rikuo browse through again the activity log of Sammy that were saved in his cell phone and notice that the strange log recorded is “Are you enjoying the time of eve?” question statement rather than movement coordinate.
While at school Rikuo still view the strange log from Sammy with curiosity then his friend Masaki interrupted him and explain the first android programming logic rules. The first rule is “Don’t allow humans to be harmed. Protect humans. After school Rikuo then invites Masaki to tag along with him to trace the movement log from Sammy which led them to a door in the back alley in the city. They notice an android with the digital turning ring above its head enter that door. With curiosity they enter the door as well and found out that is a café. The name of the café is “Time of Eve” and the rule of the café is “No discrimination between humans and robots. Obey the rules and enjoy yourself!” stated at the entrance of the café.
They were greeted by Nagi who manages in the café and then seated themselves on an empty table in the café. Both Rikuo and Masaki notice that the android who entered earlier in the café no longer have any digital circulating ring above it. They were suspicions about the rules of the café over the law of the android that they must show their digital ring over their head and suspect that there is grey areas over the android rules to allow them to hide their digital ring in conjunction with the rules of the café. Then they (Rikuo and Masaki) ordered 2 cups of coffee from the Nagi. During Rikuo and Masaki conversation they were interrupted by Akiko who wants to meet both Rikuo and Masaki because they are newcomers to the café. Akiko then introduce the people who are usual to the café and explain both humans and android are same in the café. As for Nagi who manages in the café don’t like people who use word that differentiate between humans and androids.
The following day after school hours it was raining heavily and there were several houseroid awaiting at the school with umbrella to walk the humans owner children back home. Rikuo and Masaki was having a conversation in the class and notice Akiko with digital ring above appear with an umbrella at school and passes to its master then grab its bag and function like a machine. This actually shock both Rikuo and Masaki as they was expecting Akiko to be a human as they just meet Akiko yesterday in the Time of Eve cafe whom appear to have personalities of a human rather than a machine. Then later Sammy appears get Rikuo back home with an umbrella.
While back at home Sammy was soaking wet while making coffee for Rikuo and also as if Rikuo did not share the umbrella with Sammy while walking back home in the rain. Rikuo drinks the coffee and notice that it is the same taste from coffee at Time of Eve café. But Sammy inform Rikuo that she change the way she makes the coffee and then Rikuo got his temper up and that he did not give her any order to change the way she makes the coffee. Sammy reply that that she thought Rikuo be might pleased and then Rikuo question Sammy why she did that? And also question her if she is trying to imitate humans. Well Sammy said that she is android and not a human. Then Rikuo recalls back what have Akiko mention to him that human and android are the same outside but different inside and that is why both humans and android were family want to understand them better. Rikuo just gazed at Sammy after he recalled what Akiko have said.
Time of Eve concept about android or robot to have individual IA humanlike personalities is nothing new in the sci-fi world as the famed A.I. movie from Steven Spielberg have showcase. But Time of Eve maybe using that concept but it came with twist and a different objective instead which make it quite out of the box stuff. First of all is the mysterious café that somehow enable android to have individual IA personalities which is quite interesting as it allow android to express their own expression and see the other side of the story rather than a smart talking machine. Even Nagi is mysterious person whom seems who seem to have her own agenda which I think she does not only manages the café but there could be something else behind. In this episode is still uncertain whether Nagi is an android or not. Akiko is also another abnormal android that can eat sugar cubes that defies the logic of machine only consume electricity. This episode certainly caught Rikuo and Masaki by surprise and changes the way they think about android machine when they discover Time of Eve café.
Episode Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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