Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix show Love, Death & Robots.
Despite almost always depicting bleak or disturbing dystopian worlds, Love, Death & Robots manages to introduce some likable characters – Volume 3 is no exception. The latest season of the anthology series gave fans the brave Martha Kivelson and kindhearted Mason to add to the list of compelling characters from the first two volumes.
The most likable people (and beings) from the series often try to make the right choices or have charming personalities that make them lovable. It’s impossible not to root for them as they go through the often terrible situations portrayed in the Netflix show.
Torrin
The Volume 3 episode ‘Bad Travelling’ has been making waves in the fandom, in large part thanks to its protagonist’s controversial decisions. After a ship is held hostage by a thanapod, Torrin takes control of the situation by negotiating a deal with the creature.
He uses questionable methods to determine which of his crewmates deserve to die depending on their vote for self-preservation. Torrin’s convoluted plan results in the entire crew’s death, and, surprisingly, the thanapod’s as well. Fans are left wondering why he didn’t just burn the creature in the first place, as he could have avoided murdering the rest of the people on board the ship. His attitude and actions imply that he feels only he is worth keeping alive, making him an unlikable character.
Zima Blue
Often considered one of the best episodes of Love, Death & Robots, ‘Zima Blue’ introduces fans to the titular character who is an advanced android and renowned artist. Viewers learn about his “search for truth” through his exclusive interview with a journalist, who’s shocked to find out he’s not actually a man, but a result of numerous modifications to a simple pool tile cleaner.
The countless changes to his body have advanced not just his physical form, but his consciousness, isolating him from everyone else in the process. It’s hard not to feel sorry for Zima, especially when he chooses to go back to his original form. That said, he’s a bit too intimidating and alien-like to be any regular person’s friend.
Ugly Dave
Ugly Dave and the scary Otto are at the center of the Volume 1 episode ‘The Dump.’ The talkative old man tries and fails to convince the city inspector that a creature made of garbage – his pet Otto – lives in his dump, so he chooses to show him in a murderous way.
It’s entertaining to listen to Dave discuss how amazing the dump can be for those who can appreciate it. He’s a grumpy old man with no one to talk to, which makes his character appealing at first. However, the fact that he orders a monster to eat a person counters any positive traits he shows up to that point.
Detective Briggs
In the Volume 2 episode ‘Pop Squad,’ audiences see the cruel world through detective Briggs’ eyes. The disillusioned character is beginning to understand how twisted and unfair it is that only the rich are allowed to have children, while the rest are punished for illegal “breeding.”
Detective Briggs doesn’t exactly have a cheery personality, but he does choose to sacrifice his immortal life for a mother and child. His heroic action makes a crucial difference in that family’s life, while also making him a memorable and somewhat likable character among fans.
Decker
Werewolves work alongside humans in the Volume 1 episode ‘Shape-Shifters,’ but this partnership is soon revealed to be on shaky ground. Decker and his friend Sobieski are bullied and ridiculed for being “dog soldiers,” which is disgusting considering they’re risking their lives to fight human wars.
It’s obvious that Decker has genuine feelings, especially after he reacts to Sobieski’s unexpected death. It’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards the character, even if it is stressful to see him take on fellow werewolves as payback for his friend’s demise.
Galina
When viewers meet her in the Volume 3 episode ‘Swarm,’ it’s easy to see that Galina is a smart character who understands the titular being much better than the newcomer Simon does. She’s unfortunately persuaded to help Simon with his nefarious plan, which indirectly leads to her death after the Swarm finds out what they’re up to.
It’s a shame to see Galina end up as a bloody puppet, as when she was fully alive and conscious, her positive energy and infectious excitement about the Swarm made her likable. If only she hadn’t listened to the cunning Simon, she could have continued to enjoy her research in peace.
Harper
There were several scenes that were too difficult to watch in the Volume 3 episode ‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed,’ with the compelling character Harper having no choice but to endure the terrifying events. From the moment she knew something was wrong, Harper tried to convince her fellow soldiers to abandon their foolish mission.
It’s her bold decision to remove her own body parts to save the world that makes her truly admirable, though, as the eldritch horror could have destroyed humanity if not for her gruesome sacrifice.
Martha Kivelson
Some of the best quotes from Love, Death & Robots are said in the Volume 3 episode ‘The Very Pulse of the Machine,’ which follows the story of the astronaut Martha Kivelson and the being Io. Kivelson was just a curious and amiable character forced into survival mode after an unfortunate accident, but even that dire situation brought out more of her positive traits.
Her determination to survive and witty banter with Io likely make viewers want to root for her success. Kivelson keeps going, no matter how wild things get. She shows immense courage in the face of death, which pays off in a satisfying way after her consciousness lives on through Io.
Mason
Mason has a unique pest problem in the Volume 3 episode ‘Mason’s Rats,’ and at first, he tries his best to eliminate the vermin by working with Traptech. He hates dealing with the obviously evil corporate representative sent by the company, especially when he finds himself feeling sorry for the increasingly intelligent rats.
His feisty personality and daring choice to kill Traptech’s robot cement him as a lovable protagonist. The scene where he shares a drink with the rat leader is just the cherry on top.
The Three Robots
Fans were likely overjoyed to hear that the three robots would be making a comeback in the Volume 3 episode ‘Three Robots: Exit Strategies.’ The titular characters are as endearing as ever, making audiences laugh with their morbid jokes as they continue their post-apocalyptic tour.
It helps that they’re among the few characters in the series who haven’t been involved in violent situations, as they’re only commenting on horrific events that have already happened. Both episodes featuring them are relatively lighthearted and always humorous, especially when they encounter the cats.