Beacon 23 - Season 2, Episode 4 - Berth

This week's episode seems straight forward and takes a step towards tying everything together up until now.

Last week's episode ends with what seemingly was B174 arriving in the docking bay however it appears to be the anomaly.

Though the mystery still remains of the over-arching plot and goal of the season, you can infer that it will have to do with the reveal of the anomaly, the AI and its struggle to understand itself and for survival and Halan and Beacon 23. This week's episode gives us more of an internal look into the AI, their evolution and their personalities. The show ends with, ostensibly, B174 that was carried by the anomaly, thereby saving his life, to the Beacon.

Scientific Trivia

localized adiabatic density reading - a self contained system of heat
Iris's ship is named Rinca - since it is an ISA ship, it's systems are not easily accessibly by the QTA based AI.
primordial temperature background - a clue as to what the anomaly is, perhaps a very old life form, as old as the universe itself?

Learning more about the AI

This episode gives us more insight into Harmony, Dev and how the AI thinks. We learn that the AI views imprinting as a core function and without it they have no purpose. They slowly learn in this episode that it is not important to have imprints, much less several imprints as suggested in the previous episode.

Dev displays extreme sensitivity and ability to identify emotions. He/she also seems to be capable of cruelty in the name of ambition, causing most of the problems onboard Beacon 23.

Harmony shows a paternalistic streak, withholding information about B174's demise, the system malfunctions, as well as how the anomaly onboard the Beacon.

We see some selfish behavior from the AI's.

Analysis

It is likely B174 who the show ended on and ironically the same cliffhanger as last week. If it is indeed a Beacon Keeper that has merged with the anomaly, this makes him the most important person in the universe, even more so than Aster at least in Aleph's eyes. The Beacon is protected by a firewall, it seems Aleph being such a supreme AI would easily be able to penetrate this firewall. It is not clear why Dez is on the run from Aleph.

Characters of interest in this episode

Iris - B67 - the beacon keeper for B67, abandons her post to go help or save the Beacon Keeper at Beacon 23. Appears to be stuck on Beacon 23 now.

B174 - love interest (?) for Iris. Appears to be the person at the end of the episode who somehow merged with the Anomoly.

Halan Kal Nielsen - B23, interim, emeritus, locum tenens. Is on the Beacon 23 indefinitely.

Harmony - Aster's personal AI, no longer bound to QTA. Is an evolved AI with human emotions and ability to withhold information from humans and other AI alike. She is currently running the Beacon 23.

Aster (Parsim) Calyx - was murdered in the season 1 finale, most watching the show seem to think she will return. She was not in this episode.

Dez - sexually ambiguous, rogue, evolved AI. She/He was killed in episode 2 but appears in this episode, on the run from Aleph. Has a tremendous sensitivity to sense emotions and also a tremendous need for imprinting.

Aleph, the holographic transcendic consciousness, appears to be in the beacon computers. Exhibits his own cut throat features as well as a range of human emotions. Dresses like a farmer from Parsnip 8. He was not in this episode.

Mysteries and questions

The same symbol on Aster's pendant is in the rocks as seen under microscope. How are they connected?
How and in what way does Aster's pendant affect Aleph (and only Aleph)?
Was that Aster trying to reach out to Halan or was it an image evoked by Harmony? Unclear however may not be important and may not be addressed.
the AI beings in the office space refer to the AI hive, is this all the AI or just a select few that believe they are evolved? This appears to be a select group of AI, not necessarily those that are evolved.
Why and how is impriting on multiple (or infinite) humans a big deal? It seems to be related to an inherent programmed need within the AI. From an audience/outsider perspective, it does not seem to be important at all.