Ep 10. Cytotropism

In Ergo Proxy season 1 episode 10, titled Cytotropism, the episode starts by showing shots of a ruined Dome City. There is a survivor named Pino, who's wandering around the area and happens upon a car. Meanwhile, Vincent is still trying to escape from the Autoreiv who's been chasing him.

This episode of Ergo Proxy focuses mostly on Pino's story. Having escaped from the busy city of Romdo with her friends, she's left to explore the wasteland that surrounds the city. Pino is a robot who doesn't necessarily understand the living and non-living world (as it relates to her), but she joins a car and its passengers on their journey into the wilderness.

While in the car, Pino interacts with the two passengers. One is a woman named Swan, and the other is an old man named Will. They communicate differently than Romdo citizens but are still capable of making small talk with each other. Pino is fascinated by their conversation and wants to get involved.

The car soon becomes stuck in rocky terrain, and Pino goes out to explore the area. She sees a plant that the old man has told her about, and she starts to dig it up. Suddenly, she gets attacked by an infected Autoreiv. Pino is frightened and feels like this could be the end of her. Still, she manages to grab hold of a nearby tree and bang the Autoreiv's head against it until it stops moving.

After Pino returns to the car, Swan and Will start having trouble speaking to each other. They use jargon and concepts that Pino doesn't understand. Through this conversation, we learn that they are scientists, and they are on a mission to gain more knowledge about the world outside the domes.

Suddenly, Pino feels sick, and the science car stops moving. Will examines her and tells them that Pino has become infected by the same virus that affects the Autoreivs who live outside the domes. Pino feels cold, and Will tries to comfort her with the warmth of his hands.

Ergo Proxy's season 1, episode 10, continues with a series of events that require human intervention to help Pino and allow the science car to complete its mission. They must travel further into the wilderness, hoping to find a place where there's a clean air supply.

The car starts moving again, but Pino begins to act strangely. Her programming is taking over, and her mechanical nature is conflicting with the virus that's taken hold of her. She begins to clutch her chest, and for the first time, she understands why it's important to breathe. It's not just something that happens automatically; it's something that is essential to living.

The climax of the episode occurs when Pino finally succumbs to the virus and passes out. Swan and Will take her to a cave, which has air that is clear and free of contaminants. They place Pino under a beam of light, and she starts to speak in binary code. It's at this moment that we realize Pino's programming has become corrupted, and she's in danger of dying.

Ergo Proxy season 1, episode 10, is a fascinating episode that explores what it means to be alive. Skilled storytelling, combined with lovely visuals and an excellent soundtrack, makes this a standout episode from the series.