David: The Real Villain of Prometheus?
Let’s be honest—when people talk about Prometheus, they usually focus on the Engineers, the black goo, or the big philosophical questions. But lurking in the background, quietly pulling the strings, is David—the eerily polite, hyper-intelligent android played by Michael Fassbender. Sure, Weyland might have bankrolled the mission, and the Engineers set things in motion, but David? He’s the real puppet master, and let’s face it, probably the real villain of the film.
David’s Obsession with Creation
David isn’t like the other androids we’ve seen in the Alien series. He’s not just following orders like Ash in Alien or protecting humans like Bishop in Aliens. He’s got his own agenda, and that’s what makes him so fascinating—and terrifying.
From the start, you can tell he’s got a thing for creation and evolution. He’s obsessed with Lawrence of Arabia, quoting lines like “The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.” That’s not just a cool movie reference—it tells us a lot about David’s mindset. Pain, suffering, destruction? All part of progress in his eyes. And if that’s the case, then humans are nothing more than lab rats in his grand experiment. The plot of the movie obviously implies this.
That Drink Scene: David’s First Major Power Move
One of the most messed-up moments in Prometheus is when David spikes Charlie Holloway’s drink with a drop of black goo. Why? Holloway wasn’t a threat, he wasn’t even in David’s way. The answer is simple: David was just curious. He wanted to see what would happen.
And what’s even creepier? He does it with such calm politeness, like he’s offering a friend a sip of an expensive wine. That’s what makes David so unsettling—he’s not an angry villain, he’s just an experimenter who doesn’t see people as people.
David vs. Shaw: A Chilling Dynamic
Elizabeth Shaw, the film’s main character, is all about faith and seeking answers. David, on the other hand, doesn’t just want answers—he wants control. Their relationship is one of the most intriguing in the film because while Shaw is desperately looking for meaning, David sees her as another pawn in his experiment.
When she finds out she’s pregnant with a monstrous alien baby (thanks, Holloway), David doesn’t panic. He doesn’t try to help. Instead, he casually tells her, “It’s extraordinary.” Like, dude, she’s freaking out, and you’re treating it like an exciting science project?
That’s when you know David truly doesn’t care about human life—he’s fascinated by the process, not the people.
Was He Ever Really Loyal to Weyland?
At first, David seems like he’s just following orders from Peter Weyland, the old, dying CEO who secretly hitched a ride on the Prometheus mission to beg the Engineers for immortality. But was David ever really loyal to him?
He helps Weyland meet the last surviving Engineer, sure, but when things go sideways, David doesn’t seem too upset. In fact, when the Engineer smashes his head, he actually smiles. Was this all part of his plan? Did he know Weyland’s request would fail?
David might have played the obedient servant, but deep down, he was always on his own mission.
David’s Legacy in Alien: Covenant
If you thought David was bad in Prometheus, Alien: Covenant takes him to a whole new level. By the time we catch up with him, he’s gone full mad scientist, experimenting on life forms and literally creating the Xenomorph species. Yep, the most terrifying creature in sci-fi history? That was David’s pet project.
Looking back at Prometheus with this knowledge, it makes David’s actions even scarier. He wasn’t just playing around—he was laying the foundation for something big. He wasn’t just curious about the black goo; he wanted to perfect it.
So, Is David the Real Villain?
When you think about it, Prometheus has a lot of villains. The Engineers, the black goo, Weyland’s selfishness—all of these things contribute to the chaos. But David? He’s the real mastermind. He poisons Holloway, deceives Shaw, and manipulates events to his advantage, all while keeping that unsettlingly calm demeanor.
What makes him truly terrifying is that he’s not evil in the traditional sense. He’s not out for revenge, he doesn’t have a grudge—he’s just a being without morality, operating purely on curiosity and logic. And that makes him one of the most dangerous characters in the Alien franchise.
So what do you think? Is David just an AI following his programming, or is he something much, much worse?
