Androids; they act, look, and seem real.  They are “living” but not alive.  Over the course of the film Blade Runner, a recurring theme exploring the idea of being alive and human can be observed.  Blade Runner is set in a time where technology has gotten to the point where realistic versions of machines aka replicants/androids are being produced to the point where it is impossible to visual distinguish them from real humans.  In the film, the main protagonist of Rick Deckard, as portrayed by Harrison Ford, holds a job title of blade runner/bounty hunter.  It was Deckard’s job to hunt down and “retire” fugitive replicates on Earth.  The character of Deckard and the job he holds is a great counter weight for the observation of the theme/ideas being presented.  This is a man who is hardened and knows he must get the job done.  At the start of the film, Deckard shows zero remorse for the replicants.  He has been doing this job for a long time and is set in his ways.  To explore the theme, a character like this is necessary because you need to see it presented through the view of someone so sure of the thoughts they hold.

                As Deckard is coming out of retirement and back to investigating one final mystery he encounters events, people, or not people that slowly change him.  One of the first moments that shows the start of Deckard’s metamorphose is when he meets Rachel for the first time.  Rachel is a replicant but does not know.  Deckard clues her in on the truth of her “existence” without hesitation.  Following the new found information that Rachel has just received, she becomes sad.  Rachel is putting across a genuine emotion but if she’s not human/alive then how is this considered a real emotion?  Deckard sees this emotion being put out and tries to comfort her.  He tells her he was just joking.  This is interesting because he knows she is not real but still feels bad.  Rachel’s non-real emotion triggers a real emotion for Deckard.  This is a human interaction but only for one of them.  (Note: This is talking prior to the ending revelation.) 

                Deckard now being back in the game and exposed to his old life style realizes he does not like what he does.  This can clearly be seen right after Deckard guns down the replicant prostitute.  Deckard knows he has four replicants to hunt down and after gunning one down as she was running for her “life”, he knows there are only three left.  After her “retirement” at the scene, an officer approaches Deckard and says he still has four more to find.  Deckard goes to great length to inform the officer that there are only three left.  Deckard is in shock after such an act and wants it to be over with.  The officer informs him that Rachel has gone missing.  This throws him through a loop of emotions because he feels as if it is his fault as he revealed to Rachel her true “existence”.