Robot Or Not?

Security expert Bruce Schneier said the Internet of Things was a robot, but what does John think? You can probably guess.

Two enemies wrapped in metal shells from “Doctor Who” face their ultimate foe—the judgment of John Siracusa.

It’s right there in the name of this character from the acclaimed comic book “Saga,” but as we’ve learned, names can be misleading.

This one seems to have gotten in by mistake.

Things that clean your swimming pool: are they Roombas or just dumb hoses? Also, if a toaster can’t be a robot, can a robot be a toaster?

If the cars in Pixar’s “Cars” movies aren’t cars, what are they, and where did they come from?

Just in time for the holidays, some existential questions. Also, could a robot be on a podcast?

Doctor Who’s clockwork repair droids (from the episodes “Girl in the Fireplace” and “Deep Breath”) come under scrutiny. Sure, they start out as robots, but do they become something else..?

From the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and specifically “Iron Man 3” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” deep robot-or-not questions about Iron Man’s suits, Ultron, and the Vision.

A Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of his own!

GlaDOS, Wheatley, turrets, cubes, spheres and more.

She’s a small wonder, pretty and bright with soft curls. She’s a small wonder, a girl unlike other girls. She’s a miracle, and I grant you She’ll enchant you at her sight. She’s a small wonder, and she’ll make your heart take flight. She’s fantastic, made of plastic. Microchips here and there. She’s a small wonder, brings love and laughter everywhere.

Cloud City’s majordomo from “The Empire Strikes Back” is in the spotlight.

It’s right there in the name, but what about the things that connect to it? And what about when Merlin talks about putting things “in the robot”? We need answers, John!

We take you back to the days of “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” to debate the show’s two artificial sidekicks.

That little guy from “Short Circuit.”

The blue box from “Doctor Who” might be sentient, might be alive, but is it a robot?

V’ger and the Ilia probe, both from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”. Also, John complains about fake skin on androids.

The metal robots (and their fleshy successors) from the old and new “Battlestar Galactica.”

What would a toaster have to do in order to be a robot? This episode introduces Siracusa’s Law, which somehow involves kitchen countertops.