Escapism aside, science fiction is at its best holding up a mirror to today's world. If it wants to also be predictive, there has to be a path suggested of how we got from "here" to "there", even if copious amounts of handwavium are used. The Expanse, for example, has this path. Trepalium does not. It's tough for me to see a path from "here" to "there", at least in the time frame given. But as a mirror held up to certain trends in today's world, it was spot on. The designs are exceptional and the overall mood is a bit Ballardian. Some of the buildings even reminded me of Ben Wheatley's excellent adaptation of High-Rise. J.G. Ballard is even quoted at the beginning of an episode. The acting is appropriate to the plot and the plot (once we accept that the world depicted exists) was good and didn't have any major holes. I'm glad that I watched it. Thanks to Sundance Now.
Review of Trepalium
