Warning: large time spoilers for Companion are in play!
Earlier within the 2025 film schedule author/director Drew Hancock’s comedy-thriller Companion took the sci-fi custom of people abusing robots and made it into an Agatha Christie-esque enjoyable home. Sadly, throughout the movie’s theatrical launch window, it didn’t appear to search out as large of an viewers because it ought to have – however that’s most likely about to vary.
Viewers can now stream the film via a Max subscription, and to have fun, I would like to speak about one thing I simply realized in regards to the image. Because it seems, Jack Quaid’s Josh isn’t the worst human on this lineup once you dig just a little deeper.
Jack Quaid’s Josh Is Positively Companion’s General Villain
On no account am I excusing Josh, considered one of fiction’s most despicable romantic companions, for his crimes in Companion. The dude willingly entered right into a homicide conspiracy to impress Kat (Megan Suri), the lady with whom he thought he had a shot. To get the job completed, he allowed his Companion robotic Iris (Sophie Thatcher) to hold out the deed and take the autumn.
Regardless of Jack Quaid being an cute persona in actuality, his function as Josh is to be an entire piece of shit. Hell, he doesn’t even actually love Iris, as he is so simply swayed to torture her to save lots of himself. There was by no means a highway to redemption for Josh, which is a part of why I believe there’s another person who’s comes off as an much more devious human. And no, whereas Sergey (Rupert Buddy) tries to rape Iris and Kat masterminded this entire debacle, they’re not the worst both.
I Suppose Harvey Guillén’s Eli Is An Even Worse Human Being
If rating Companion characters by horridness was a sport, I’d should say that Eli (Harvey Guillén) is on the absolute backside. My general case is predicated on the truth that he didn’t should play a component on this drama in any respect. He wasn’t concerned within the plot to kill Sergey and steal his cash, so his motivation to leap in is sweet old school promoting out.
There are some critical ethical failings constructed into this man, which is admittedly refreshing after seeing Guillén wrapping the just lately concluded run of What We Do within the Shadows. However whereas he was taking part in the adorably beleaguered Guillermo de la Cruz for six seasons, within the span of only one movie, Mr. Guillén put in a subtly despicable efficiency as Companion’s Eli. So apologies to my fellow followers, as I’m about to go to city on this most devious member of an already rotten bunch of people.
Eli’s Solely Downside With Sergey’s Homicide Was He Wasn’t Invited
Strike one towards Eli is that human life is clearly not of worth to our Companion nemesis when cash’s on the road. Moreover the tried violation of our protagonist, Sergey’s worst crime was that he was a philanderer. He wasn’t even mobbed up, he was only a creep, and with out some extenuating circumstances, that’s not likely a justifiable motive for homicide.
So when Harvey Guillén’s Companion co-conspirator complains about not being invited somewhat than his pals murdering a human, that’s greater than a slight downside. It’s an important betrayal to the viewers, however one which works to maintain issues recent. As a result of once more, most of us are considering, “Guillermo, No!” earlier than settling into truly hating this man.
Even Having His Personal Companion Doesn’t Make Eli Any Extra Sympathetic To Iris
Whereas Companion’s story performs coy with the truth surrounding Iris, the entire people gathered for this lethal weekend on the lake know that Iris is a synthetic individual, actually. However the further twist of Eli’s boyfriend Patrick (Lukas Gage) being a Companion is one which’s dropped somewhat successfully.
Claiming to actually love his artificial boyfriend, you’d suppose Eli can be all about robotic rights, and that assumption is inaccurate. Our boy is completely cool with one other unit having its Three Legal guidelines of Robotics safeguards tampered with, being confined, used as a scapegoat for homicide and even willingly hunts Iris down for the trigger.
Additionally, he had no clue that his personal Companion love connection found out he was a robotic over time. As soon as he’s made conscious of that reality, he proudly claims he’s in love with a robotic… proper earlier than resuming his efforts to wipe out Iris. I don’t suppose even Alexa would belief him after making such a nasty life alternative.
If Eli Actually Beloved Patrick, He Wouldn’t Have Gotten Them Concerned
Even worse than the factors made above is that this closing declare I’m going to place on the market. If Eli had actually beloved Patrick, he would haven’t solely been a supporter of robotic rights, he wouldn’t have allowed his companion to be concerned in any respect. Eli may have very simply despatched him away or saved him in sleep mode for the remainder of the image.
As a substitute, he introduced him alongside for the hunt, which is tousled in its personal particular manner. It is type of like taking the household canine to hunt… one other canine. Yeah, not look, Eli.
All of it provides as much as a particular ethical quagmire that’s worse than something Companion’s remaining solid of characters does. At the least you knew from the leap that Josh and Kat had been dangerous apples, and their comeuppance was baked in. Harvey Guillén’s Eli had a alternative and he determined to affix the gang anyway – finally contributing to Patrick’s robo-suicide.
With the one actual “good” character being Sophie Thatcher’s Iris, Companion actually provides us loads of decisions for the “Worst Human” award. From the place I’m standing, that trophy goes to Eli with out query; and if something, that’s made me much more of a fan of Harvey Guillén.
Save for that final half, you possibly can be at liberty to debate this viewpoint your self. And when you’ve in some way learn this rundown with out seeing the movie, don’t fret; apparently, Companion is best with spoilers. Viewers new and outdated can now stream this pleasant experience on Max.