Key conclusions
- Devola and Popola's carelessness led to the extinction of humanity due to the failed Gestalt project.
- Kindness and gratitude can break the cycle of hate and polar thinking.
- 9S's existential crisis is fueled by the truth behind YoRHa and his relationship with 2B.
The following are spoilers for NieR Automata Episode 22 Ver1.1a, which is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
In 2003, a mysterious object fell from the sky in Tokyo. It was at that time that the pandemic gripped humanity. Using the mysterious object they could find, the scientists came together to create a project that would ensure the survival of humanity, which was named “Project Gestalt”. Then the souls of people would separate from their bodies, and their place would be temporarily taken by replacements, which were called “replicants”. Then people will take the form of “gestalts”, similar to the shadows of ghostly creatures.
When the virus dissipated, two androids, Devola and Popolo, were put in place to oversee the implementation of the project. However, as a result of their carelessness, the project failed and humanity became extinct. From now on, all Devola and Popola models will be programmed with infinite guilt so that they never deviate from orders. Meanwhile, 9S visits one of his former selves and learns about his past fate from 2B.
Sins of the past
Those who played NieR: Replicant will be familiar with Devola and Popala, as the player fights them in a boss battle at the end of the game, when it is revealed that the main character was not human, but a Replicant. The original plan was to unite the Gestalts with the Replicants to ensure the full survival and restoration of humanity. However, they went that way, pretending to be allies of the player and eventually forcing them to team up, as the two androids did not see the Replicants as humans, let alone equal. This course of action failed, and along with the original models of Devol and Ash, humanity ceased to exist.
But thinking about the past does not create a bright future. Conversely, while the final twin models bemoan their predicament, believing they've failed a second time, they decide to help 9S as he enters the tower for the final battle. Ironically, it was the fact that they received thanks from Lily and the Resistance that gave them the determination to go forward. Maybe there is some hope for them. The biggest cause of conflict is polarized thinking and preconceived attitudes, and it's easy to fall into that mindset. Something as simple as being grateful can make a big difference. Hate is contagious, but so is kindness.
Acceptance of modernity
It goes without saying that 9S is in love with 2B, and given the events of the previous episode, it's confirmed that 2B returns his feelings. Upon entering, as he confronts his past and realizes that 2B's sole purpose was to kill him, 9S has an existential crisis. Around the same time, Zinnia, an android identical to the 9S, is shown. For a quick backstory: Zinnia was the initiator of the YoRHa project, but eventually abandoned the plan.
#9, the original 9S model found out about humanity's extinction and couldn't accept it, killed Zinnia and ended the YoRHa project by installing a backdoor in the Bunker to ensure the truth would never come out. Shortly after, #2 eliminated #9 and the facility they were in was destroyed. From now on, all 9S models are at risk of going down the same path, needing 2B (or 2E) by their side to ensure they never learn the truth and go insane in the process.
This realization presents the current 9S with a dilemma: why is he alive then? It's simple, 2B wants to break the cycle, and 9S shows it for a reason. It doesn't always have to be this way, and so without fate pulling the strings, his own actions will determine what happens next.
