Electric Dreams was surprisingly fresh to me, even though the show was based on Phillip K. Dick's works and bore the mark of overused tropes in sci-fi narratives. It is an anthology series—each episode having their own tale to tell. Almost all of them questions our deepest techno-fears, and they are thought provoking; and downright enjoyable, if we decide on losing all the aestheticism.
I want to talk about a few of my favorite episodes. Let me know if you find them intriguing enough to see the show.
Episode 06, "Human Is"
Vera is somewhat Bewildered. Her rough, insensitive, son of a bitch husband—an army colonel named Silas—is back from the alien planet; but he's completely transformed! He has turned into a genuine, kind hearted, benevolent human being! There's not a single man in all of seven worlds who's more loving and caring as a partner.
What is this sorcery?!
Perhaps, this is the answer! If you want your partner to behave, send them to alien planets!
In this futuristic story, Earth has been completely overrun by human technology and their desire to destroy the environment. The atmosphere is no longer breathable, and so, not inhabitable. Everyone lives indoor and all the structures are made to support such a lifestyle. They still need to produce breathable air though. And to purify toxic air, a unique substance is used. But it is in short supply and you can find it in another planet.
However, the inhabitants of that planet—an alien race—ain't so keen on giving humans resources that are rightfully theirs. But they're weaker in technology. As a result, humans attack that planet with the intention of plundering it. Like how stronger nations invaded weaker nations throughout history.
Planetary invasion is a common trope in sci-fi literature—whether it is human invasion of an alien race or vice versa. We usually always side with the invaded side, whether they're human or alien. Perhaps our moral humane compass lead us that way. But what do we mean by that?
This episode explores a fundamental question, what is the definition of humanity; or rather—what characteristics makes a human humane?
This is why the episode is named as "Human is."
Episode 05, "Real Life"
Perhaps the most common and widely understood fact about dreams is that, they are not common. We don't even see dreams from our own perspectives always. I've been a dog. Some random unknown guerilla starfighter. I've been heartbroken young woman. These wide range of characters are weaved by my ever so active subconscious mind. These lived characters in my dreams are hyper-realistic, so are their environment and their emotions. I usually forget my dreams right after I wake up as is the case for most people. But the ones that shake me deeply, leave their residue—like fumes left by jet engines.
Let's zoom ahead 500 years in our story.
*A lesbian police officer is on the verge of nervous breakdown due to a recent violent shootout and killing at the job. But the technology has advanced sufficiently. Her wife hands her a virtual reality device. With this device, you can enter into the virtual world and just like in dreams, live as another character. To spend some time there. To shake off fatigue, emotional ones, physical ones. Leisure in future!
Lesbian police officer turns into a straight tech giant in her virtual reality. That reality feels so realistic and so relatable to her that she cannot distinguish reality from virtual reality anymore. Her alter ego also suffers from the same dilemma. Like a chain reaction, the audience, too, starts to question which reality is the actual one!*
This episode is built upon the age old philosophical debate—if I stop to perceive the world, does it cease to exist?
Thanks for reading.
