The Electric State on Netflix presents a haunting yet deeply emotional vision of a world where technology has blurred the lines between reality and illusion.
Set in a dystopian future shaped by the aftermath of a war between humans and robots, the film explores themes of autonomy, oppression, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancements.
Through the journey of Michelle and her desperate quest to save her brother Chris, the story unveils the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, human dependence on technology, and the fight for personal freedom.
It is based on the 2018 illustrated novel by Simon Stålenhag.
Overview
Plot Summary
A Brother’s Promise and a Dystopian World
The Electric State begins with a timed math quiz, where a young boy showcases his exceptional intelligence.
It turns out to be a test for college admission, but he refuses the opportunity. His sister, Michelle, tries to persuade him to go, recognizing his potential.
The siblings share a touching moment where he jokes that he wants to stay with her not for emotional reasons, but so she can do his laundry and buy him pizza.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Sentre Technologies, Ethan Skate, is interviewed.
The world he describes has seen a robot revolution, where robots once serving humans demanded rights, leading to a two-year war.
Humans lost the battle until Ethan introduced a technology called Neurocaster, which granted humans robot-like abilities to fight back.
The war ended with humanity’s victory, and the Neurocaster was later repurposed to enhance daily life by enabling neural bifurcation—allowing individuals to exist in two places at once, such as working and enjoying entertainment simultaneously.
Michelle’s Struggles in a Cold, Controlled World
In the present dystopian landscape, Michelle resides in a foster home but longs for freedom.
Her foster parent profits from Child Services payments and illegally loots from Exclusion Zones, designated areas for captive robots from the war.
At school, Neurocasters are mandatory, but Michelle refuses to use one, insisting she can only live in reality.
During a meeting with the principal, we learn that Michelle was orphaned not due to war, but because her family’s car hit a deer.
The principal suggests Neurotherapy, but Michelle remains unconvinced.
A flashback reveals her brother’s name: Chris.
In an emotional moment, he accidentally breaks his robot, but Michelle’s reassurance calms him.
The film’s visual contrast is striking—flashbacks and pre-war scenes are warm and vibrant, while the post-war world is cold, metallic, and bleak.
The Arrival of Cosmo and the Journey to the Exclusion Zone
Michelle’s life changes when a malfunctioning robot infiltrates her home.
While her foster parent, Ted, sleeps, the robot signals its inability to speak due to wiring issues.
Michelle fixes it, and the robot introduces itself as Cosmo, claiming to be her “special friend” who needs her help to defeat a “rock monster.”
Cosmo references a picture of Michelle and her brother, implying that Chris is alive.
Sceptical, Michelle orders it to leave.
When Ted wakes up and fights with the robot, she tases him and escapes with Cosmo.
On the road, Cosmo reveals that he contains Chris’s consciousness and that the real Chris is not okay.
He indicates that Chris is at Sentre, specifically with a bespectacled doctor who once treated Michelle after the accident and falsely informed her of Chris’s death.
The doctor is now in the Exclusion Zone, so Michelle seeks the help of a smuggler who trades in stolen robot parts.
Meeting Keats and Entering the Exclusion Zone
Michelle locates John D. Keats, a witty and sarcastic smuggler, and sneaks onto his truck, entering the Exclusion Zone.
They are soon caught by a member of the Robot Deactivation Force, who attempts to arrest them.
A scuffle ensues, but they escape deeper into the Exclusion Zone, where scavenger robots lurk, salvaging parts from their victims.
In a heartfelt conversation, Michelle reveals her mission: to save Chris, who has lost control over his physical body but is still alive somewhere.
Keats and his own robot companion, Herm, reluctantly agree to help.
They travel to Tabletop Mountain, where the bespectacled doctor resides, encountering a community of fugitive robots led by Mr. Peanut, a legendary figure in the robot revolution.
He calls his sanctuary “the cradle of new mechanized civilization,” where robots explore existence beyond human-assigned roles.
Unveiling the Truth About Chris
Mr. Peanut initially distrusts Michelle but, moved by her devotion to Chris, allows her to stay.
The doctor’s letter, left behind for Chris, reveals his address.
Guided by this information, Michelle and her allies battle scavenger robots before reaching the doctor.
He reveals the horrifying truth—Sentre’s entire network is powered by Chris’s brain, which has been exploited for over a year.
When Chris regained consciousness, the doctor attempted to disconnect him, but Ethan threatened him.
Instead, the doctor secretly allowed a small part of Chris’s consciousness to escape into the external network, leading him to Mr. Peanut’s sanctuary.
Michelle is enraged, but before they can act, the Robot Task Force, led by the ruthless “Butcher of Schenectady,” arrives.
A battle ensues, and Mr. Peanut is captured, instructed to take the blame for everything.
The doctor sacrifices himself to protect Michelle, though Ethan executes him regardless, showcasing the growing divide between the Task Force leader and Ethan Skate.
The Final Battle at Sentre
Ethan’s delusions escalate as he equates himself to a divine figure, referring to the Neurocaster as the “Holy Ghost” of a new human evolution.
The Task Force leader begins questioning his morality, realizing Ethan is more monstrous than any robot he has hunted.
Meanwhile, Keats showing growth, commits to helping Michelle.
Michelle discovers the doctor’s hard drive, which contains Sentre’s security access.
She mobilizes the remaining robots, rallying them to fight against Sentre and free Chris.
A massive battle erupts in Seattle, with robots and humans fighting against Ethan’s forces.
Keats, now fully invested in the cause, leads the attack, while Michelle sneaks into Sentre’s facility to reach Chris.
The Butcher of Schenectady and Mr. Peanut face off.
The butcher demands his surrender, but Mr. Peanut refuses, asserting that true freedom is worth any price.
The butcher, struggling with his conscience, removes his Neurocaster, symbolizing his rejection of Ethan’s philosophy.
Inside the Sentre facility, Michelle enters Chris’s mind.
He tells her that the only way to truly destroy Sentre is for him to die.
Heartbroken, she ultimately makes the painful decision to unplug him.
The film portrays his death symbolically, with his consciousness simply “going to sleep.”
As Sentre collapses, a robot poignantly remarks, “Funny thing about winning—someone always loses.”
The Aftermath
The battle ends, and Ethan is arrested for his unethical experimentation on Chris.
Michelle addresses the public, explaining how the Neurocaster severed real human connections.
She urges society to rebuild without technological shortcuts, advocating for genuine human interaction.
Meanwhile, Keats mourns Herm’s death, but in an unexpected twist, Herm reactivates, bringing bittersweet relief.
In the final scene, a puddle reflects Cosmo’s image—suggesting that Chris’s consciousness might still exist in some form.
The Electric State Ending Explained
The Meaning of Chris’s Sacrifice
Chris’s decision to let go represents the ultimate act of selflessness.
By removing his consciousness from Sentre, he dismantles the dystopian system that enslaved both humans and robots.
The contrast between Ethan’s egotistical, godlike ambitions and Chris’s quiet heroism reinforces the film’s core theme: the true power of human connection over technological control.
The Butcher’s Redemption
Initially a ruthless enforcer of Sentre’s regime, the butcher’s final act—removing his Neurocaster—symbolizes his rejection of Ethan’s ideology.
He also leads Mr. Peanut to Ethan, finally deciding to take the side of what is right. His arc highlights the moral ambiguity in war and the capacity for redemption.
Cosmo’s Reflection: Is Chris Still Alive?
The ambiguous final shot leaves room for interpretation.
While Chris’s physical body is gone, his mind might still exist within the digital ether.
It suggests that in a world dominated by technology, remnants of consciousness might persist beyond death.
The Film’s Central Message
At its heart, The Electric State critiques society’s increasing dependence on technology to escape reality.
Michelle’s speech urges humanity to reconnect, implying that progress must not come at the expense of genuine relationships.
The film blends action, emotion, and philosophy, leaving viewers with a profound meditation on what it truly means to be human.
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