Season 1 |
Episode Guide
Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 7 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 8 – | Review Score – 2.5/5
When the trailer for The Peripheral came out, it promised a polished, sci-fi experience and an intriguing story that dealt with large questions. While Season 1 of the show fulfils the first of those expectations, it lags behind on the second.
The Peripheral follows the life of Flynne Fisher, a young girl living a simple life in a small town in the year 2032. She spends her time indulging in VR video games called sims. One day she and her brother beta test a new sim that introduces them to a fantastic new world. But Flynne soon realises there is nothing virtual about this world — it is the future itself.
The 10-episode series starts off well enough. It throws you into two worlds — Clanton, USA in 2032 and London in 2099. A yellow haze overlays the Clanton scenes while future London has the polished steel-and-glass look of any futuristic setting. All the visual checkmarks of a sci-fi series are present — sophisticated robots, high-end tech and appropriately avant-garde fashion.
But while the high production value reels viewers in, the narrative lets them down. At any given point, it feels like there are five different storylines. And while each of them are intriguing on their own — whether it is the relationship between a nephew and his abusive uncle or an assistant’s politically motivated betrayal — they don’t quite fit together to form a bigger picture. The show struggles to balance out all these storylines leading to a confusing structure.
To make an unevenly paced show even more off-balance, The Peripheral is also peppered with tons of one-on-one conversations. The characters talk to each other, a lot. They discuss the future and the past, memories and history, control and violence. While some of these conversations led to the show’s more poignant moments, a majority of them dragged down the pace without offering any special insight.
The creators of the show have mentioned that they wanted to focus on the humanity of the characters. While these conversations make a commendable effort, it falls short of a strong emotional impact. Sadly, some of them just amount to telling rather than showing.
The weak narrative feels like even more of a letdown because of the show’s unique and intriguing characters. T’Nia Miller’s charisma as the primary antagonist is irresistible and Eli Goree does a fantastic job as the disabled Conner. Charlotte Riley’s Aelita takes the cake though. Her sarcasm and inscrutability make her the perfect enigma. It’s a shame then, that she gets such less screen time. It’s a further shame that neither Flynne nor Wilf Netherton, the series’ leading characters, made it to this list. Both are compelling characters but don’t have much in the way of personal growth and, as a result, feel a little flat towards the end.
At its heart, this series could not decide what it wanted to be. And there were several options: a contemplative look at the relationship between technology and humans and how one affects the other; a post-apocalyptic future with three primary political powers in constant struggle with each other; a battle between the past and the future that reflects colonial themes mixed in with a romance. Instead, the show tries to pack all of this into one and it’s like mixing three very delicious meals into one unappetizing whole.
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Verdict - 5/10
5/10
I don’t understand why Cherise killer Grace when she could have used Grace to get to Aelita?
—i havent read the book, just started the tv series yesterday.
FFS, the novel was hard to follow, but, like all adaptations, this is simplistic at best. Much of the interesting bits of this story are lost to plot and character delineation and visualization of the future. I am getting so much more from the series because I read the book. It’s far from Gibsons best, but so much better than this. I’d suggest reading the book, but I think that’s against your religion, yes?
You complain that it isn’t intriguing enough and then you complain you found it hard to follow. It sounds like it wasn’t bland and formulaic enough for you.
I didn’t find it hard to follow, because I paid attention while it was going on. We don’t all need to be spoonfed as we go. Stick to NCIS and LA Law.
I find it surprising that in a new series everything needs to be wrapped up completely and be transparent. What would be the incentive to keep watching. Give it a chance to grow and evolve before deciding it’s not worth watching. Personally I like that there is more to learn n multiple sub plots. Will it need to tie together yes 100% but that will happen in due time and if not then I’m sure it will get cancelled. Look for what was great at least it’s a fascinating storyline and has potential to really have some deep growth for both the characters and characters and world.
I have read each of your episode reviews as well as this series review.
The general explanations are generally ok, but not very well written. The summaries at the end as this whole page are terrible. It’s like the show isn’t quite what you expect, or you don’t understand it, and so you slate it. If you read reviews posted by other sites, you’ll find them to be far better written and far less biased.
That said, I do share some of your thoughts that it is a flawed show, mainly due to these reasons:
– Some of the acting is poor
– Some info is given that is either a plot hole or was unecassary
– In the future world, we only see the RI, the Klept, the police & the Neoprims. Whilst they say the population has been decimated, how much of a danger are the RI to that world, when there’s such a tiny population & each group seems fairly safe so long as they stay away from the others.
– Minor plot flaws don’t really bother me (how was the peripheral riding a motorbike when Flynn first connected)?
Sorry you couldn’t follow the various things going on in all the characters’ worlds and see how they relate to the whole. I can, and it makes it more real and very interesting!