The Electric State may be packed with robots, but at its heart, it’s a story about connection, and not just the typical kind. While Millie Bobby Brown’s journey takes the spotlight, it’s the unexpected bond between Chris Pratt’s character, Keats, and his loyal robot sidekick, Herman, that’s really turning heads.
In a world ravaged by a human vs. robot war, their relationship feels warm and wholesome, but some viewers couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more beneath the surface, especially after Keats’ puzzling lines near the end. Well, Pratt himself recently weighed in, and let’s just say, things might head a little deeper than friendship.
Did The Electric State hint at a human-robot gay romance?
The Electric State may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who enjoyed its action-packed, family-friendly vibe, say there was plenty to appreciate. However, one particular moment had viewers raising eyebrows, and questions.
And that is towards the end of the film, the Chris Pratt‘s character, John Keats, mourns the loss of his robot companion, Herman voiced by Anthony Mackie. In an emotional speech, Keats confesses he loved Herman “more than a friend” and reflects on how his other friends are married, leaving him feeling alone.
So, was this just a quirky bit of dialogue? Or was the film hinting at something deeper, perhaps a romantic connection between Keats and Herman? In an Entertainment Weekly chat, Pratt explained,
Maybe he likes him more than a friend, yeah,I love it. We’ll see. Maybe if there’s a sequel, we’ll explore that further. I think he loves him maybe more than a friend
And it is very understandable with all his human friends moving on and building their own lives, Keats found himself alone. In that emptiness, Herman became more than just a companion for him. Their relationship may have been unconventional, but it proves one thing, love doesn’t follow rules. For Keats, Herman was more than metal and wires, he was family. And fans for sure will be watching closely if a sequel ends up happening!
This moment was completely improvised by Chris Pratt!
Interestingly, that heartfelt confession wasn’t part of the original script, it was actually Chris Pratt’s improvisation.
The Russo brothers loved the unexpected moment so much that they decided to keep it in the final cut, Pratt, in his EW interview, further explained,
That came to me in the moment — I hadn’t been planning it,And then they showed it to me in one of our ADR sessions… and I was just crying laughing. God, that’s amazing. Please put that in the movie… I’m really proud of it dangerously balancing on the precipice between drama and comedy.
According to Joe Russo, the spontaneous moment felt authentic and impactful, a clever bit of improv that redefined Keats and Herman’s whole bond in a new light that made more sense, making it an essential part of the final cut. As he explained,
It was so entertaining and so heartwarming,It really dimensionalizes the relationship and adds a lot of context to it. And we just thought it was a brilliant piece of improv and it kept it in the film and it reshapes their relationship.
And thus, despite the film’s mixed reviews, with critics slamming its clunky writing and messy execution, fans can’t help but stay curious about what happens next for Keats and Herman. Even though many voted against a sequel, that lingering curiosity (and the film’s feel-good charm) might just be enough to change some minds.
The Electric State is now streaming on Netflix.
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