Electric Dreams (TV Series) Impossible Planet (2017) User Reviews

Impossible Planet

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 8 October 2017]

The Impossible Planet is let down by an implausible ending. I just think the conceptual ending failed and left the viewer confused as it tried to eschew the obvious twist ending that the visitors actually arrive on Earth which would had been more faithful to the book.

Brian Norton and Ed Andrews are space tour guides who when offered an enormous bundles of real cash decide to take a deaf, very elderly old lady Irma Louise Gordon and her robot to a trip to Earth. The problem is the planet no longer exists and they decide to configure a trip to an Earth like planet and pass it off. After all the money she is offering is 5 years salary.

Andrews is the cynical one and happy to lead the old lady on for the money. Norton is more reluctant and makes a connection to Gordon. The robot knows that they cannot take her to the actual planet but seems to be going along with their plan.

The story was rather straightforward, the productions values reminded me of the Eccleston/Tennant era of Doctor Who, especially with the use of purple lighting. Geraldine Chaplin was very good as the old lady longing to visit Earth once more but the ending was unsatisfying.

Great start - bad finish

[korereviews · 7/10 · 20 November 2017]

I liked the looks of this episode a lot. First, it was actual sci-fi, which is what I tuned in for. The world-building was solid and very reminiscent of Blade Runner in good (not cheezy rip-off) ways. I liked the premise, and the plot, as it started out, was compelling. But then they just kind of gave up on the story, and it drifted off into some sort of vague, sentimental fantasy story. None of it made much sense.The clever twist you were expecting never came. Very disappointing.

Impossible Planet

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 23 August 2018]

I was sucked into the story. I wanted to know what was going on with Irma, and what was really bothering Norton about the whole thing.

The ending did not work though. The toxic planet turning out to put them into a dream sequence back in time, or whatever it was, was a letdown.

But a solid episode overall.

Read the short story

[Geekfreak13 · 14 January 2018]

The screen writer should have stayed with the original ending....it is more thought provoking.

Half a Story

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 20 January 2018]

A couple charlatans run tours for bored people as they look at things like novas and space events. They are partly fact and partly fiction. We know immediately that if reality isn't good enough, they can tweak the thing. A very elderly woman comes on board and is willing to hand over a huge amount of money to get them to take her to earth. One of the men, a truly disgusting guy, decides to bilk her by taking her to a different planet and pretending it is earth. What happens to the young guy who is in charge is and his relationship with this 300 year old woman is the real issue here. The problem is that the first half is gripping and the conclusion is a disappointment.

Romantic fantasy episode. Not sci-fi.

[javier_8 · 6/10 · 16 May 2019]

I actually liked the episode, but the ending just made no sense. It went from sci-fi to fantasy in a second, and as a sci-fi fan I hate when they do that. I haven't read this particulary story before so I didn't know what to expect. Most people found it boring, I thought it was ok, I thought it was actually leading to something interesting... but it ultimately didn't. The acting was really good, the special effects were ok, and the story was ok until the ending. It starts as sci fi, but the ending is fantasy.

Pretty Good

[rodriguezabel-46053 · 9/10 · 13 January 2018]

I liked this episode. It was quite a bit different the short is based on, but it is still good. Norton is much more developed compared to the story. I thought this change was well merited because he is the central character of the episode so it gives the viewer a character to gravitate towards and support. I do agree that the whole connection with Irma's grandparents is a bit to much. However I thought the ending was amazing. I interpreted the scene as Norton and Irma hallucinating because they were out of oxogen, however, i can understand why some people are confused, it is a bit open ended.

Return to a lost Earth

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 25 September 2017]

This, the second instalment is a series of unrelated stories based on the works of author Philip K Dick, is set in the distant future. Brian Norton and Ed Andrews are bored tour guides who take space tourists to see the most impressive sights in the galaxy… and if they aren't as impressive as promised they will be 'enhanced'. When a very elderly woman, Irma Louise Gordon, asks if they could take her on a trip to Earth they aren't keen… after all the location of Earth has been lost. When they realise she is offering five years pay Andrews is keen to find a planet that looks similar to Earth but Norton isn't so sure; especially after he talks to her and learns that her mother was from Earth and when shown a photograph it becomes apparent that he looks almost identical to her grandfather and they have shared similar dreams. As they approach 'Earth' he has to decide whether to tell her that the planet they are approaching isn't really Earth or let her enjoy the belief that it is.

Having never read the short story on which this is based I'm not going to comment on the original work. I did enjoy this story although not quite as much as the previous one. The whole thing had a bit of a 'Doctor Who' feel even if there was no alien menace. The closest thing to a threat came from not knowing how Irma's personal robot will react when it learns she is being deceived. The shared dreams between Irma and Norton were a bit confusing and not really explained and felt as if it was only there to justify Norton's actions. The ending is nicely ambiguous as it leaves the viewer free to decide what actually happened. The cast do a solid job making the characters believable despite the unlikely situation. Overall I'd say this was a decent enough story even if it wasn't quite as strong as the first; I'll certainly continue watching the series.

Touching

[Nyra6 · 9/10 · 17 June 2019]

The ending is in no way confusing. It's very, very clear Granny and Norton die on the planet and hallucinate in their last minutes. Earth becomes true for them because they believe in it. The "memories" Norton has of the bike are not his real memories, they are the fuzzy, abstract feeling of home. That's why he feels connected to Granny, because they share the dream of returning and feeling "home".

Down to earth

[Lejink · 7/10 · 26 September 2017]

The new Channel 4 Philip K Dick anthology of programmes goes two for two in terms of quality with this second episode in its much-hyped new Sci-fi series.

In this one, two tired and somewhat cynical employees of an outer-space tour company see the chance to make a small fortune at the end of a long week, by hoodwinking a rich, elderly old lady (Geraldine Chaplin) into believing she's being taken back to Earth for one last look at the dear old place before she dies. With her, she has for company a protective android companion but what neither she or her bot know is that Earth doesn't exist anymore and that the two guides are substituting a similar if dead planet closer to home in the hope that she doesn't notice the difference and they can pocket a nice fat fee, what with her being old and deaf and all.

Of the two guides, one, played by Benjamin Wong just wants the old dear's money and it's him who dreams up the ruse, dragging along his younger colleague, Jack Reynor, the more personable and conscientious of the two, in his wake. But why does the younger one have flashbacks to an older time which sees him roaming around on an old bike? Just what strange attraction does the elderly lady have for him? And how are the two going to pull off their con when the lady wants to actually land on the dead planet?

All is neatly played out and resolved by the finish even if I was reminded perhaps too much of the ending of the classic "Star Trek" pilot episode "The Cage" in so doing.

Well acted and shot, this is starting to turn into a good, watchable series and I'll certainly be staying along for the remainder.

@ Luki Pawluik

[Mabie · 4/10 · 25 September 2017]

If you read, what the original is about, you wouldn't say that Dick is a weak sci-fi-writer. This episode has changed much and made it much worse. First of, in the original earth is a myth, not a burned planet. It makes no sense to visit it a toxic planet, but not a burned one. Makes no difference. Second: there was no wacky, not plausible at all connection between Mrs. Gordon and Norton. Why the heck should he look like her grandpa, or even weirder: have memories of her grandma? And why would they suddenly be on earth for no reason? In the book, Mrs. Gordon and her robot go to the planet and die. Norton is disgusted by Andrews and gives him his fair share. They find a penny and know this really was earth, after all. So please, Luki, don't say Dick is a weak writer when the series producers team just messed this one up.

Mysterious and haunting

[SkohlSwart · 9/10 · 4 October 2017]

I haven't read this story but I think I know the type. It suggests a great deal and leaves the answers to your imagination. This episode was slow at times, but as events become weirder the atmosphere brims over with strange tension that begs to be resolved. A pleasant surprise that makes me anticipate the rest of this TV series, and that has convinced me to go and read PKD's short stories sooner than later.

Annes Elwy

[jonassladen · 7/10 · 29 July 2020]

The episode was okay, if not somewhat predictable for this series, whose stories usually end a bit disappointingly. Annes Elwy's small role was memorable. She has made a good showing in a few things, notably "The Passing".

Barely follows the book plot at all

[steved-33401 · 4/10 · 8 October 2017]

So it was a mildly entertaining show to watch.

The actors were all great in their roles but they were sadly let down by the production .

The plot and themes of the book were hardly followed at all and this show just ended up as a very confusing and surreal mess as a result.Especially the ending.

Basically they took the premise of the book and ignored almost all of the contents and themes.

The ending just leaves the viewer wondering what the heck is going on .

The producers should be ashamed of themselves for wasting such a good opportunity.

"She wants Earth, we give her Earth."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 2 February 2022]

An elderly woman, say three hundred forty two years old!, wants to make a trip back to the Earth of her ancestors, and is willing to pay big. The operators of the Dream Weaver would not have been interested if the potential payday had not been worth five years salary - "We're not ripping anyone off. We're weaving dreams"!

The premise of the story sounded interesting, but then it introduced elements of fantasy in which one of the operators of the Dream Weaver appeared to have flashbacks that coincided with the old woman's (Geraldine Chaplin) memories. Because Earth no longer existed due to some cosmic catastrophe, the senior pilot (Benedict Wong) plotted a course for an Earth-like planet, and headed straight for Emphor 3. Successfully navigating through massive turbulence and surviving their depletion of oxygen, Brian Norton (Jack Reynor) and Irma Gordon (Chaplin) suddenly encounter a newly turned hospitable planet. The ending for me suggested an Adam and Eve type situation in which the pair would undertake the re-population of a once dead world, much in the same vein as the Twilight Zone episode titled 'Two', which kicked off the third season of that series almost six decades earlier.

One observation regarding Ms. Gordon's android bodyguard - didn't the expression on his face remind you of the Tin Man from "The Wizard of OZ"?

Weak story, rather more fantasy than sci-fi

[c-kelsall · 9 October 2017]

I couldn't give a rat's arse how much this does or does not resemble the story on which it is based. I do care, however, about a good, interesting, well told story. This bland guff fizzles out like a damp fart at a guff-lighting contest. Smells. Actually, I'm not sold on the fabulousness of the series overall, but this is by far the weakest to date. Still far superior to that festering toenail scraping otherwise known as The Shannara Chronicles, though. Honestly, don't get me started....

Could have been the best episode but..

[OnjiMooteDaMarle · 6/10 · 4 June 2021]

This episode would have been my favourite if it weren't for the climax. The woman's character was so intriguing and it kept escalating. The robot too was an added mystery. Unfortunately, the reason for the robot's behavior isn't mentioned and that is BAD WRITING. I was loving the episode so much. I never thought they would mess up the ending. Such a bland and sudden poof! Shame!

My favorite episode - love the ending

[freshorange · 10/10 · 26 April 2023]

Geraldine Chaplin is fantastic here. She gives the character so much depth and layers. The story is intriguing and i especially like the ending, that a lot people dislike. But there is a scene in this episode where Geraldine herself says, everything is explained to death, but fortunately what's in your heart, what you can feel can't be explained. She dreamed all of this and her dreams made her book this special spaceship with "Gordon" on it. It's up to the fantasy of the viewer what happens on "Earth" with both of them. Geraldine Chaplin gives her character so much depth, she carries the whole movie. Jack Reynor does a fine job too and the chemistry between the two of them is perfect.

[7.5] Earth is in your heart

[cjonesas · 7/10 · 9 September 2021]

A touching, well-made episode, exploring the intricacies of deception and a variant of love. Liked it.

Spellbinding, emotional.

[dz1 · 10/10 · 21 December 2019]

This is like the movie Titanic. Prepare to get emotional near the end if you have feelings. If not then you will hate it like a few reviewers hated Titanic. It's a test of your human emotions.

The best Sci-Fi makes you emotional and has you thinking about it way after it is over. Blade Runner did that for me and so did Logan's Run, and a few others. But none made me as emotional as this one. The excellent directing, music and acting helped a lot. It's a fantastic episode.

Meh

[drpunkrock · 4/10 · 3 December 2019]

The initial idea of the episode was okay. I just do not like the execution. The male lead actor is not showing any more than one facial expression. Also it is not very well shot and looks like low budget. The story could have been way more exciting but they made it more boring than necessary. I also did not like this very weird connection between the old lady and the young pilot. It is never explained and feels far fetched. Like most of the episodes of Electric Dreams I felt you could have made it way better but somehow they got stuck to mediocrity with a few gems sprinkled in. This one is not one of them.

Sign me up, Three hundred Years Old turned into 20 year old

[dncorp · 8/10 · 2 October 2017]

Yes, the Script Writers deviated from the Storyline.

This was more like the Time Paradox created by Planet of the Apes 1968.

Considering that in Days they traveled past Alpha Centauri to get to Earth's Solar System, implies that they are traveling FTL (Faster Than Light). That just like the Planet of the Apes 1968 Icarus going FTL plus the Earth exploding sent the Icarus even faster propelling the Icarus into a Distant Future.

There was another Science Fiction Series of Books I read, that after Humankind had expanded out beyond even Alpha Centauri, many Empires rose and fell, eventually the exact location of Earth was lost and became a Myth, Legend, Fairy Tale. This was done on purpose as the Earth's name was changed many times to prevent Rediscovery by Explorers, Earth had become Agricultural with no apparent High Technology visible while all the Colonies were High Technology Only, including creating Dyson Spheres. This was all a disguise as the "Scientists" on Earth had created a New Science, and were directing from Earth the Course of Humankind without anybody's knowledge (knowing they were being guided would mean the guidance would be hated and rejected). Only at the last Book of that Series do you realize the location of Earth. Just like the original Philip K. Dick Story, they find evidence that indeed they had landed on Earth.

Being Three Hundred Years Old and then being 20 years Old all that knowledge doesn't go to waste.

This brings up the little known "Genetic Memory" situation.

If you like the bang bang shoot em up of Star Wars, this is not for you.

GARBAGE

[wallstreet41813 · 1/10 · 5 September 2018]

Not every pointless piece of dreck clothed in an ambiguous ending has some hidden and deeper meaning. Don't be ashamed to say you didn't get the point of the episode. You didn't get the point because there is no point. Long stares backed by nostalgic music does not automatically equal a masterpiece with the secrets of the universe embedded. I've had more enjoyable experiences taking out the trash and stepping in what the neighbor's dog left behind along the way.

Romanticized

[iamjacksmoviechannel · 8/10 · 21 January 2018]

Not sure how it goes in the short story but felt that this episode was a clear stand-out so far in that it's just beautifully told- that there will always be mystery and discovery when it comes to the human heart even when the brain has reached its limit. It may not be Earth, but the feeling you get when finding a soul mate is none greater.

Destiny

[mandyplodek · 10/10 · 20 April 2022]

Do you believe in destiny? In true love? A young man, employed by the space tourism industry, finds himself pondering these very questions when he and his co-worker take on a very special passenger. A romantic ride that leads to an amazing ending.