The Machine gives in to a demand made by its proxy. Similarly, God cares for each one of us and hears our fervent prayers. “Samaritan” only values its agents for what they can do for it and is only concerned with unquestioning humans (others are killed, not saved).
Part 1 of “Person of Interest’s God/Anti-God Allegory in Season 4” covers some show background, a description of the series, and an overview of the God and Anti-God allegory found in this latest season (and developed in season 3). Please see that part for those topics. This part includes an answer to the questionable name given to the antagonist, “Samaritan.” It also includes a section on the biblical verses related to the show’s allegory.
Why “Samaritan”?
It seems really odd that the metaphor for God is “The Machine” and the anti-God is “Samaritan.” We normally think of “the machine,” when the expression is used, as something cold, mechanical, and all that is opposite of human concern and empathy; as such, the result of its machinations tend to be against our best interests. I don’t fully know why the creator of this series chose name The Machine for this role, but there are two considerations I can immediately think of. One, the AI’s creator, Finch, has doubts about his creation and chooses not to give it any other name. Two, since the metaphor grows to allegory in seasons 3 and 4, perhaps the show’s creator and writers didn’t have the it all fully conceived earlier on. The first two seasons were much more about solving crimes before they happened, and corruption in law enforcement and government, than about massive dueling AIs.
As usual–for anyone that reads my media reviews, that is–I’m writing about something that is not new. We don’t have cable or satellite, but in the case of the show Person of Interest, we couldn’t even get the channel in on our TV that ran it (CBS). So, I finally was able to watch the latest season, the 4th, on DVD (it’s now available on Netflix, too), and will share my “God is working in the world” observations with you.
After not expecting much, really, from a show in its 4th season (the writing tends to go south in aging shows), I was pleasantly surprised by this season’s quality and freshness. That basic laud can be considered a recommendation, if you will, but I’m not here to write a review.[1] I’m here to discuss the show’s underlying God/Anti-God story, which seems more obvious than ever this 4th season. I’m just happy to see that there are still stories being presented in the US that don’t altogether ignore the Judeo-Christian God. Of course, the concepts brought up in Person of Interest (PoI ) may be too subtle or esoteric for most of the population to understand in any other sense than a generalized “good vs evil.”
Hello gamers! So have you taken some time out from playing Fallout 4, which just came out today, or are you visiting here because you’re curious about it? Well, my family looked very much forward to playing it, and now it’s here! We ordered a Fallout 4 bundle from Gamestop because we knew we could use a new XBOX and controller, and Gamestop’s bundle came with an exclusive Fallout faceplate. (We made an unboxing video of it, posted at our Youtube channel, Lingering Trees.)
I knew I missed something in the new The Descent DLC playthrough I did for Lingering Trees, but, being busy doing other things, I waited a bit to go back and try and figure it out. OK, so I did figure it out, and I found about the best part of the DLC. The Nug King with his nug minions.
The King is accessed from an area that looks inaccessible on the fourth map (Forgotten Caverns) down in the deep. But first, to get to that area on map 4, you have to walk to it from map 5 (Bastion of the Pure). Travel to the farthest area on the left side . . . it looks like an undiscovered area, but it’s jut that it goes back “upstairs.”
Bastion of the Pure map. Travel to the west to go back up to the Forgotten Caves map.
Once you’re back on map 4 (Forgotten Caverns), go left and then south toward the big chasm. When you reach the chasm, look to your left, and along the wall there’s a rock that has some writing on it. It says something like, “only those who believe can cross.” I can’t read it now because the dialogue ceases to exist after you find your way across. Anyway, from that rock, just start crossing into the chasm on faith, and . . . a green bridge forms in front of you.
Forgotten Caverns map. Travel west, and then south, to the chasm that’s for believer’s only.
I won’t say more, but let you enjoy the Nug King for yourself if you haven’t yet. But, for anyone interested, I have an episode about it up at YouTube.
A view in the Deep Roads of The Descent DLC, Dragon Age Inquisition.
I purchased and have played the new Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC, The Descent, as soon as I could since we wanted to put it up at my husband’s and son’s YouTube Channel. I’ll do a formal review of it sometime soon, but for now, suffice it to say that this new add-on seems VERY short for the $14.99 price tag.
I was fairly dumbfounded when, at the new “expeditions” table, opening areas for 8 power points only opened bridges to small loot areas. The new dwarven dungeon is neat, but not as spectacular as anything in Skyrim. In fact, the blue-light speckled ceiling in one area looked like a copy of Skyrim’s Blackreach and other falmer dungeons). I’m not quite done yet, so I’ll see if I’m correct in assuming The Descent is very short. So far, however, the only reason why it has as many episodes in our playlist as it has is because of my mistakes!
In any case, I try and do a thumbnail for each episode and therefore have lots of screen shots. Here are some views from The Descent, and images that reflect Dragon Age: Inquisition, and all it’s add-ons, generally. They of course represent spoilers. (Feel free to use any you like, but only if you are willing to link them to this page.) Click on the images to see the full-size views (much better!).
Update (September 9, 2015): The last DLC for DA Inquisition, Trespasser, came out yesterday, but I did not purchase it. Since The Descent would take an experienced Dragon Age player only about 5 hours to go through–which is ridiculous for the $15 price tag–I decided against spending our limited funds on another Bioware DLC. Gamers need to stop supporting gaming companies that abuse their player base like this. The much much longer-playing (and interesting) Jaws of Hakkon was sort-of worth the $15; The Descent should’ve been $5. I’m serious. It is a short, straight forward run to simply get some new gear. I think the Destiny guy who angered so many simply voiced what all the game developers know: gamers simply “throw money at the screen.”
Darkspawn in the Deep Roads; The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition DLC
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Another type of Darkspawn or related demon. The Descent, Dragon Age.
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Female Dwarf statue – right? The Descent, Dragon Age
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Dragon Age humor, “barreled treasure” in The Descent
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Check out those demons! Fighting Darkspawn in The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition
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Looks like hell. “Reclaiming the Thaig” in Dragon Age, The Descent.
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Battling an Emissary Alpha in The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition.
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Valta at the Ancient Lift, The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition.
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Renn at the Ancient Lift, The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition.
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In the Forgotten Caverns, The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition. It’s pretty dark, and are those blue glowing eyes?
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Crazy guardian dwarf with lyrium gun, The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition. You can only see these in a VERY DARK video (this image was filtered).
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Bridge exploding. An expedition will replace it.
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Lyrium veins in The Descent.
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The Barrier, rigged, The Descent.
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Exploding lyrium, The Descent, Dragon Age.
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Mysterious Bed, The Descent, Dragon Age.
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Battling an Emissary that was behind a Gate of Segrummar.
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Wellspring view, The Descent, Dragon Age.
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The Lyrium heart in Wellspring.
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The heart transforms into The Guardian, but the Titan itself seems to not wish the team harm (or any more harm).
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Nug King, The Descent, Dragon Age. Love the crown!
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Battle in The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition. I don’t know what that purple attack is!
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Using the Veil against a Demon (or Darkspawn), The Descent, Dragon Age Inquisition.
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Sometimes battle is like a dance. Dragon Age Inquisition, bow abilities; The Descent.
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View from Heidrun’s Monument, showing ancient Dwarven homes.
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View from Ailsa’s Camp, with Sera.
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Just for fun. Sera gone invisible at Ailsa’s camp.
One of my all time favorite screen shots so far, filtered, and (obviously) used as a cover shot, or thumbnail.
Hello! I’ve been doing a Skyrim Let’s Play (unmodded game, on XBOX 360, with all expansions) and so far have taken the time to capture screen shots for the video thumb nails. Please click on the images to see them full size – the small format on this page doesn’t do them justice.
I take many I like that I don’t have a current use for (and I have left some of my best ones out for my own use later). So, you can use any of these that you like in a blog article, but please attribute them to this site by including a link to this page (I’ll note those I used already in case that matters to you). I’ll be adding more images and replacing some of the olde ones frequently. Thank you, and enjoy! (PS – Even though I’ve spent a great deal of time playing Skyrim in the past, I’ve learned more from viewing it slowly via video and from seeing characters in these stills!)
Some Draugr are after me! (Previously used as a thumbnail image)
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A dragon, all bloodied, about to meet his demise.
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Jyrik Gauldurson and the Eye of Magnus. Love his helmet! (Previously used as a thumbnail image.)
With Christian Eyes author does a Skyrim “let’s play” with a cool-looking (magish) female Breton. For any Christians or simply parents interested in getting a general impression of in-game dialogue and violence, the game introduction isn’t bad way to do it. There is a little swearing in it, which is actually more than in the rest of the game — most swearing, when characters happen to do it, is in ways reflective of the in-game culture (not standard real world curses).
A beheading takes place in the introduction, fairly representative of pretty much the worst you’ll see in-game. Certain perks (like Devastating Blow and Savage Strike) can be chosen later on to emphasize bloody violence, but, as said, that is a choice a player can make. Unfortunately, however, you can’t turn off the slow-mo killing scenes which happen once-in-a-while (in Fallout New Vegas, which Bethesda also produced, you can. Maybe the next Elder Scrolls game will have this feature). There are reasons why Skyrim has a “mature” rating, but as far as mature games go, it’s quite tame. Thanks for watching!
I’ve been waiting, not very patiently, for news of the next Fallout series game for some time now, just like all the other fans (I’ve been annoyed with Bethesda, the developer, over their related court battles though, too). My son texted me today about it, with this image personifying his feelings over how Fallout 4 looks in the trailer (and with XCOM coming out, E3 coming up [June 14], and Doom, too . . . his body is looking to explode):
With Christian Eyes 