Alex Murphy is back.
As RoboCop walks out the door, the Old Man asks the robot to say his name.
Murphy, RoboCop answers, and the movie cuts to black.
For many fans, Murphys declaration givesRoboCopa triumphant ending.
Throughout the film, RoboCop starts recovering Murphys memories.
So when RoboCop refers to himself as Murphy, some fans believe that his quest is complete.
Murphy has solved the crime and reclaimed his identity.
Thats a completely reasonable reading.
But it does seem a bit optimistic, especially for a film as acidic asRoboCop.
None of the creators seem too interested in giving the hero a happy ending.
Although Dick Jones preferred the more imposing ED-209, the Old Man knows the importance of appearances.
Just look at the advertising for clean and shiny Delta City, or his folksy Old Man persona.
OCP also needs the public to go along with it, to be willing participants in their own subjection.
When RoboCop finally identifies himself as Murphy, the Old Man gets what he wants.
A robotic killing machine with a human face.
Something that looks like a person, capable of empathy and care, but acts like a lethal weapon.
Its not hard to understand why viewers in 1987 would miss the darker implications of the final moment.
One year afterRoboCop,Die Hardwill end with Sgt.
And what is RoboCop, a killing machine with the face of a human, if not walking copaganda?
But the more cynical ending leaves open storytelling potential.
Is Murphy actually still in there?
And, if so, can he fully break free from the corporate-friendly murder bot hes become?
How does the rest of the world feel about RoboCop masquerading as Murphy?
Will his family, or even his partner Lewis (Nancy Allen), undo the abomination OCP made?
Will the people just accept a hunk of flesh stretched across a piece of cold metal?
Amazon and MGM have not yet announced a release date for the RoboCop TV series.
