If you’ve made it to Season 4 of “Westworld,” you’re familiar with executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan’s unique brand of non-linear storytelling. Mind-bending science-fiction, immersive technology, visions of the human condition, and tons of robots. His latest project, “The Peripheral”, based on William Gibson’s award-winning novel, follows a similar journey. However, instead of attempting to get a sense of the AI and code itself into humanity, “The Peripheral” follows a young human woman in a small town who lives in the future through the eyes of a doppelganger droid. Trying to navigate an uncertain world.
“The Peripheral”, the first two episodes of which are directed by Vincenzo Natalie, begins on Prime Video with an eight-episode season that takes place in two different timelines. One, in 2032 in rural Clayton, South Carolina, where cybernetics is the norm in the military and you can 3D print a knee brace at a local store than pick up your mail. The other narrative takes place in the year 2100, where people may pose as a companion or worker to “periphery”, a complete humanoid robot running on AI. The two timelines connect through Flynn Fisher (Chloe Grace Moretz) as a time-traveling gamer who becomes entangled in a futuristic plot trap.
Flynn and his brother Burton (Jack Raynor) live in a house on the outskirts of town with their mother, who has lost her sight and is crippled by a brain tumor. Flynn works at the local 3D print shop, while Burton, a respectably discharged Marine, collects unemployment and veteran’s benefits from his time in an unknown war. they make money power leveling VR game for rich gamers who want to increase their avatar’s stats quickly. Flynn is a better gamer, and his brother knows it, which is why he often subscribes to him to increase his earnings.
But when Burton finds a 3D printed VR headset that looks suspiciously Like a Squid from “Strange Days” As for beta testing, the pair soon learn it’s not a game. With the device, Flynn transfers her mind to a future where she kills via alcohol, food, and even robotic bodies. After a particularly grueling and painful journey through “the game”, Flynn soon discovers that he is not just a player and that the world he sees is very real.
He is inadvertently drawn into a plot in a dystopian future in London, England, where he has them create gates to the past by hacking virtual reality technology, lugging the human consciousness attached to it, and downloading that consciousness to a peripheral. ‘s technology. , The human of the past can operate the “body” in the future.
But the doors open both ways, and when an opposing faction from the future sends mercenaries to take Flynn and his family back to their reality, Burton and his cybernetically advanced Special Forces team find their way to their surprise. are ready.
There is no one in the series, including Wilf Netherton (Gary Carr), a man from 2100 who tells Flynn the truth about what’s really going on. Naturally, their interests align as they both seek answers. But the clock is ticking in more ways than one as more assassins and futuristic technology infiltrate Clayton, and Wilf’s alliances begin to unravel.
In six episodes provided to the press in advance, three factions are fighting for control of future society. kleptoWrestling for control of the post-national Russian elite; Research institutes responsible for future technology all over the world; And finally, the military-style Metropolitan Police, led by Inspector Ainsley Lobeer (Alexandra Billings), to maintain order in this new society.
Moretz gives an incredible performance in triplicate as Flynn, the struggling small-town girl holding her entire family together, her future bionic self, and the bot who is essentially a computer running in safe mode when Flynn’s consciousness is detached from the mainframe.
“The Peripheral” is also bolstered by other top-level talent, including T’Nia Miller as Cherise Newlan, the critically and sartorially surprising head of the research institute, and Eli Gorey, part of Joe Burton’s Marine Corps unit. who plays the role of Connor. After coming face to face with the business end of an IED became a triple empty. Connor’s mental struggle with physical harm while attempting to maintain his dignity is emotionally evident.
The 70-minute premiere gracefully immersed the audience in both universes, placing important details such as Easter eggs in the sets, scenes and dialogue. Besides the peripherals, the cybernetics of Burton’s team also stole the show. As each member can hack nearby technology and “drift” into each other’s consciousness.
In addition to Billings’ casting, there’s also a subtle transgender story here, as identities in the future appear fluid, and many characters conveniently hold their consciousness to various peripherals regardless of gender.
Despite the superb cinematography and excellent production and costume design, “The Peripheral” can be a bit confusing if you’re unfamiliar with time-travel tropes, virtual reality avatars, and gaming side missions. In other words, if you haven’t made it through to “Westworld,” you’ll probably have a hard time understanding the series at first. But if you’re a fan of cyberpunk crime drama anime like “Ghost in the Shell” or “Psycho-Pass,” or are looking for something to scratch the “Westworld” itch, “The Peripheral” is a delight to watch.
“The Peripheral” premiered on Prime Video on October 21 and was preceded by two episodes, with a new episode being released weekly on Fridays.
