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Summary

Emotions are prohibited for androids like 2B, but the logic virus brings insecurities to light, leading to tragic consequences.
Companionship and community are key themes in this episode, as androids struggle with personal desires and relationships.
Sacrifice for the greater good becomes a central theme when Resistance leader Lily must make a difficult decision in the face of the logic virus.

The following contains spoilers for episode 14 of NieR Automata Ver1.1a, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Humanity is extinct, and 2B knows this. However, her designation as 2E prohibits her from acting freely, and she must abide by her duty. On the ground, a team of S-type YoRHa models are sent to survey the area and launch their "final attack" on the machine life forms. However, all YoRHa soldiers are overcome with a virus, aside from 9S and 2B, the only two androids who hadn't yet backed up their data to The Bunker. What's more, it seems to have had an effect on the Resistance as well.

NieR Automata Ver1.1a: The Resistance Explained

Fans know who the YoRHa androids are, but what about the ones that went to Earth first?

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By Brianna Barboza

Love in Loneliness

A big theme of this episode is companionship and the need for community. All S-type units aside from 9S are partnered with B-type units to ensure a smooth mission. In a comedic scene, 9S gets bombarded with messages about their romances, before unintentionally going off on 21O, when she checks in for an update. Curiously, while she's an O-type model, she managed to reprogram herself for combat. Though it's at this time, we get a glimpse into her personal desires as well. She always treated 9S as childish, and those who played the game would know that she wanted to have a family. Shortly before 21O ends her transmission with 9S, her tone indicates there might be more of a motherly relationship she shares with him, than a standard subordinate one.

Insecurity is Contagious

After the infiltration of the virus, we have no idea if 21O was infected, but we do see what happened to the other S-type and B-type models. The logic virus is known to cause erratic behavior, but the androids' changes in dialogue suggest darker intentions. 4S repeatedly says, "look at me, look at only me", while one of the B-type models kept asking her partner if he hated her, shortly before killing them both. Earlier in the episode, one of the S-type models asked 9S how he should reply, when his B-type partner asked him how he saw her. Perhaps the infection doesn't just change brain chemistry, but brings everything to the front.

2B stated in a previous episode that emotions are prohibited, and though it can be argued that she only says it as a means to distance herself from 9S, there may be another reason. Letting their emotions get the better of them can become their own undoing, and the logic virus does just that. In episode 6, when Lily is infected and attacks No. 2, she laments the fact that she's powerless and has no hope. Before this, she was timid and kept her thoughts to herself, but her insecurities became a weapon upon being infected.

NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 6: 2B Learns The History of Her Original Model

Finally we learn Lily's backstory and what truly happened during YoRHa's fateful "maiden" mission, hundreds of years ago.

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By Brianna Barboza

For The Greater Good

Conna, one of the Resistance members, gets infected with the virus before any kind of cure can be administered. He retains just enough self-consciousness to distance himself and let Lily kill him. This was a vital moment for Lily, because she always had an affinity for family and companionship. As the leader of the Resistance, she too, had to let go of her personal feelings and sacrifice another loved one. Having taken up Rose's role, her compassionate nature lies within the actions of a strong leader.

However, this unexpected turn of events will force the androids into a new role, and with the reappearance of The Red Girls, it's only a matter of time until we learn what the true "final battle" actually is.

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