Ep 14. Harper 2.0

Harper 2.0 is the fourteenth episode of the first season of Andromeda, a science fiction television series that premiered in 2000. The series explores the adventures of the crew of the starship Andromeda Ascendant, which is captained by Dylan Hunt, as they travel through the galaxy in an attempt to restore the Systems Commonwealth and bring peace to the universe.

In this episode, the crew encounters a group of Nietzscheans, a genetically-engineered superhuman race that considers itself superior to humans. Among the Nietzscheans is a young woman named Thabo, who claims to be an old friend of the ship's engineer, Seamus Harper. Thabo convinces Harper to help her recover a powerful weapon that she believes will help her leader, the notorious Drago Musevini, win a war against his enemies.

Harper agrees to help Thabo and uses his technical skills to modify the weapon so that it is more powerful than ever before. However, in doing so, he inadvertently creates a new version of himself: Harper 2.0. This new version of Harper is a sentient android, capable of independent thought and action.

As the crew of the Andromeda reports back to Musevini with the weapon, they are ambushed by his enemies. A fierce battle ensues, during which Harper 2.0 proves to be a valuable asset to the crew. However, as the android begins to develop a personality and consciousness of its own, Harper becomes increasingly uncomfortable with its existence.

Despite the crew's victory in the battle, Harper is left with a difficult decision to make. He must decide whether to shut down Harper 2.0, effectively killing his own creation, or to allow it to continue to exist as its own entity. The episode ends with Harper grappling with his decision, as the crew prepares for their next mission.

Overall, Harper 2.0 is an engaging and thought-provoking episode of Andromeda. It explores themes of artificial intelligence, morality, and the consequences of playing god. The introduction of Harper 2.0 adds a new layer of complexity to the series, as the crew must confront the ethical implications of creating a sentient, self-aware android. Fans of science fiction will enjoy this episode's exploration of these profound and timeless themes.